Using Open Source Technologies in the Classroom to Assist with STEM Growth in Urban Schools Maurice Dawson, College of Business and Public Affairs, Alabama A&M University Imad Al Saeed, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Colorado Technical University Jorja Wright, College of Business, Florida Institute of University Abstract: As more urban schools continue to lose critical funding to stay alive it is essential that the students continue to remain competitive in the global market. The graduation rates of urban schools in many areas are lower than the national average. And the overall rankings globally are not in. As part of the lower graduation rates in urban schools can be attributed to issues in the household other issues are prevalent. When students of these urban schools graduate it can be assumed that their technology competitiveness in the national and global market is not completive. It is essential to get these students able to compete in needed fields of engineering and computer science as our nation is actively working hard to increase Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. As the United States of America (USA) is continually seeking to maintain a strong hold in technology innovation and an effective cyber infrastructure it is clear that without the appropriate personnel to fill slots we will not achieve our goals. Our plan is to use innovative methods to prepare a generation that has been under represented with the appropriate skillets to meet an ever growing demand. With technology costs also continuously rising Open Source Software (OSS) is a solution that allows these students to maximize their technology learning experience.

1. Using Open Source Technologies in the Classroom to Assist with STEM
Growth in Urban Schools
Dr. Maurice Dawson1
, Dr. Imad Al Saeed2
, & Ms. Jorja Wright3
1
Alabama A&M University (United States), 2
Colorado Technical University (United States), & 3
Florida Institute of Technology (United States)
Abstract
As more urban schools continue to lose critical funding to stay alive it is
essential that the students continue to remain competitive in the global market.
The graduation rates of urban schools in many areas are lower than the
national average. And the overall rankings globally are not in. As part of the
lower graduation rates in urban schools can be attributed to issues in the
household other issues are prevalent. When students of these urban schools
graduate it can be assumed that their technology competitiveness in the
national and global market is not completive. It is essential to get these
students able to compete in needed fields of engineering and computer
science as our nation is actively working hard to increase Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. As the United
States of America (USA) is continually seeking to maintain a strong hold in
technology innovation and an effective cyber infrastructure it is clear that
without the appropriate personnel to fill slots we will not achieve our goals. Our
plan is to use innovative methods to prepare a generation that has been under
represented with the appropriate skillets to meet an ever growing demand.
With technology costs also continuously rising Open Source Software (OSS) is
a solution that allows these students to maximize their technology learning
experience.
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Department of Management and Marketing
College of Business and Public Affairs
P.O. Box 429
Normal, Alabama 35762
256.372.4801
www.aamu.edu
Point of Contact:
Dr. Maurice Dawson Jr.
Maurice.dawson@aamu.edu
Backtrack R53: Offensive & Defensive Security
Cutting Edge Technologies in Higher Education Series
Maurice Eugene Dawson, Imad Al Saeed
(2012), Use of Open Source Software and
Virtualization in Academia to Enhance
Higher Education Everywhere, in Charles
Wankel, Patrick Blessinger (ed.)
Increasing Student Engagement and
Retention Using Immersive Interfaces:
Virtual Worlds, Gaming, and Simulation
(Cutting-edge Technologies in Higher
Education, Volume 6), Emerald Group
Publishing Limited, pp.283-313
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