[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64743-64744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-29133]


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NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

AGENCY: National Science Foundation.

ACTION: Submission for OMB review; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The National Science Foundation (NSF) has submitted the 
following information collection requirement to OMB for review and 
clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13. 
This is the second notice for public comment; the first was published 
in the Federal Register at 74 FR 48316, and no comments were received. 
NSF is forwarding the proposed renewal submission to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance simultaneously with the 
publication of this second notice. The full submission may be found at: 
http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Comments regarding (a) 
whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of burden including the validity of the methodology 
and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and 
clarity of the information to be collected; or (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 should be addressed to: Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for National 
Science Foundation, 725--17th Street, NW., Room 10235, Washington, DC 
20503, and to Suzanne H. Plimpton, Reports Clearance Officer, National 
Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 295, Arlington, 
Virginia 22230 or send e-mail to [email protected]. Comments regarding 
this information collection are best assured of having their full 
effect if received within 30 days of this notification. Copies of the 
submission(s) may be obtained by calling 703-292-7556.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne H. Plimpton at (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 Friday.
    NSF may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless 
the collection of information displays a currently valid OMB control 
number and the agency informs potential persons who are to respond to 
the collection of information that such persons are not required to 
respond to the collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title of Collection: Revitalizing Computing 
Pathways (CPATH) in Undergraduate Education Program Evaluation.
    OMB Number: 3145-NEW.
    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

[[Page 64744]]

America Competes Act, H.R. 2272, and implementing directives.
    Estimate of Burden: Public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated to average 1.75 hours per response.
    Respondents: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Form: 200.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 350 hours (200 
respondents at 1.75 hours per response)
    Frequency of Response: One time.

    Dated: December 2, 2009.
Suzanne H. Plimpton,
Reports Clearance Officer, National Science Foundation.
[FR Doc. E9-29133 Filed 12-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7555-01-P