[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 182 (Tuesday, September 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48316-48317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-22772]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Notice of Intent To Seek Approval To Establish an Information 
Collection

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) is announcing plans to 
request clearance of this collection. In accordance with the 
requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), we are providing opportunity for public comment 
on this action. After obtaining and considering public comment, NSF 
will prepare the submission requesting that OMB approve clearance of 
this collection for no longer than 1 year.

DATES: Written comments on this notice must be received by November 23, 
2009 to be assured of consideration. Comments received after that date 
will be considered to the extent practicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Plimpton, Reports Clearance 
Officer, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, 
Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone (703) 292-7556; or send e-mail to 
[email protected]. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for 
the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 
1-800-877-8339 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through

[[Page 48317]]

Friday. You may obtain a copy of the data collection instruments and 
instructions from Ms. Plimpton.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title of Collection: Revitalizing Computing Pathways (CPATH) in 
Undergraduate Education Program Evaluation.
    OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
    Expiration Date of Approval: Not Applicable.
    Type of request: New.
    Abstract: The CPATH program was established by the National Science 
Foundation's Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) 
division with a vision towards preparing a U.S. workforce with the 
computing competencies and skills imperative to the Nation's health, 
security, and prosperity in the 21st century. This workforce includes a 
cadre of computing professionals prepared to contribute to sustained 
U.S. leadership in computing in a wide range of application domains and 
career fields, and a broader professional workforce with knowledge and 
understanding of critical computing concepts, methodologies, and 
techniques. To achieve this vision, CISE/CPATH is calling for colleges 
and universities to work together and with other stakeholders 
(industry, professional societies, and other types of organizations) to 
formulate and implement plans to revitalize undergraduate computing 
education in the United States. The full engagement of faculty and 
other individuals in CISE disciplines will be critical to success. 
Successful CPATH projects will be systemic in nature, address a broad 
range of issues, and have significant potential to contribute to the 
transformation and revitalization of undergraduate computing education 
on a national scale.
    The qualitative data collection of this program evaluation will 
document CPATH program strategies utilized in infusing computational 
thinking across different contexts and disciplines, examine the 
development of communities of practitioners and the dissemination of 
best practices around computational thinking, and analyze preliminary 
evidence for how the CPATH program is preparing students for career 
options in the STEM workforce.
    Five overarching evaluation questions will guide this program 
evaluation:

    (1) How is the CPATH program infusing computational thinking into a 
wide range of disciplines serving undergraduate education?
    (2) What is the evidence that university and community college 
departments and faculty are integrating computational thinking into 
their courses?
    (3) How are undergraduate students benefiting from participating in 
CPATH projects?
    (4) What is the evidence that the CPATH program is developing 
communities of practitioners that regularly share best practices across 
different contexts and disciplinary boundaries?
    (5) How is the CPATH program promoting sustainable multi-sector 
partnerships that represent a broad range of stakeholders (e.g., 
industry, higher education, K12) and contribute to workforce 
development that supports continued U.S. leadership in innovation?
    Answers to these questions will be obtained through the use of 
mixed evaluation methods including document analyses, site visit 
interviews, and telephone interviews with selected CPATH grant 
participants including principal investigators, staff, faculty, 
administrators, students, and external partners. Participation in CPATH 
program evaluation activities is a mandatory requirement for all CPATH 
awardees in accordance with the America Competes Act, H.R. 2272, and 
implementing directives.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.5 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Form: 200.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 300 hours (200 
respondents at 1.5 hours per response).
    Frequency of Response: One time.
    Comments: Comments are invited on (a) Whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the NSF, including whether the information shall have 
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the NSF's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on those who are to respond, including 
through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

    Dated: September 17, 2009.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. E9-22772 Filed 9-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P