Widmeyer Communications » Association for Computing Machinery http://www.widmeyer.com Fiercely Independent Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:06:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Widmeyer Client, ACM, Supports New Legislation to Bolster Computer Science Education Programs http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/widmeyer-client-acm-supports-new-legislation-to-bolster-computer-science-education-programs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=widmeyer-client-acm-supports-new-legislation-to-bolster-computer-science-education-programs http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/widmeyer-client-acm-supports-new-legislation-to-bolster-computer-science-education-programs/#comments Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:56:31 +0000 Kabakoff Sara http://www.widmeyer.com/?p=3419 On Friday, July 30th, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced the Computer Science Education Act, a key legislative initiative that is part of a continuing effort to address the growing crisis in K-12 computer science education. The legislation will bolster computer science education programs across the country, and help ensure that the education pipeline will produce [...]]]> On Friday, July 30th, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) introduced the Computer Science Education Act, a key legislative initiative that is part of a continuing effort to address the growing crisis in K-12 computer science education. The legislation will bolster computer science education programs across the country, and help ensure that the education pipeline will produce the workforce the nation will need to thrive and compete in the 21st century.

The legislation is supported by major stakeholders in the computing field ranging from industry—Microsoft, Google, Intel and SAS—to nonprofit associations including the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT), Computing Research Association (CRA), and Anita Borg Institute (ABI).  As Congress reviews the recently enacted Elementary and Secondary Education Act, these organizations are working to make sure that the proposed Computer Science Education Act is a central part of the discussion.

Find out more on Education Week’s Digital Education blog and in ACM’s news release.

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]]> http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/widmeyer-client-acm-supports-new-legislation-to-bolster-computer-science-education-programs/feed/ 0 Raising Awareness of Computer-Science Education http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/raising-awareness-of-computer-science-education/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=raising-awareness-of-computer-science-education http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/raising-awareness-of-computer-science-education/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 20:48:33 +0000 Kabakoff Sara http://www.widmeyer.com/?p=3312 Widmeyer clients, the Association for Computing Machinery and the Computer Science Teachers Association, continue to support efforts such as Computer Science Education Week to increase awareness of the importance of including computer science in the national education conversation. A recent article in Education Week featured quotes from both organizations while highlighting a multitude of initiatives [...]]]> Widmeyer clients, the Association for Computing Machinery and the Computer Science Teachers Association, continue to support efforts such as Computer Science Education Week to increase awareness of the importance of including computer science in the national education conversation. A recent article in Education Week featured quotes from both organizations while highlighting a multitude of initiatives intended to raise awareness of computing and its role in society.

View the article

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]]> http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/raising-awareness-of-computer-science-education/feed/ 0 Widmeyer Communications Recognized With Three 2010 SABRE Nominations http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/widmeyer-communications-recognized-with-three-2010-sabre-nominations/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=widmeyer-communications-recognized-with-three-2010-sabre-nominations http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/widmeyer-communications-recognized-with-three-2010-sabre-nominations/#comments Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:38:07 +0000 Kabakoff Sara http://www.widmeyer.com/?p=2745 The Holmes Group’s 2010 North American award’s competition attracted more than 1,600 entries. Widmeyer Communications is a finalist for two 2010 Gold SABRE awards and also received a certificate of excellence in the Bronze category [...]]]> The Holmes Group’s 2010 North American award’s competition attracted more than 1,600 entries. Widmeyer Communications is a finalist for two 2010 Gold SABRE awards and also received a certificate of excellence in the Bronze category. Widmeyer has been nominated for the following campaigns: Pfizer: Think Science Now – Employee & Internal Communications and The Association for Computing Machinery’s Computer Science Education Week – Special Event (Less Than 7 Days). Honorees in all categories will be recognized on May 11 at an awards dinner in New York, and Gold and Silver SABRE winners will be announced.

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]]> http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/widmeyer-communications-recognized-with-three-2010-sabre-nominations/feed/ 0 ACM’s “Nobel Prize for Computing” Winner Announced http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/acm%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%9cnobel-prize-for-computing%e2%80%9d-winner-announced/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=acm%25e2%2580%2599s-%25e2%2580%259cnobel-prize-for-computing%25e2%2580%259d-winner-announced http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/acm%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%9cnobel-prize-for-computing%e2%80%9d-winner-announced/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:55:17 +0000 Kabakoff Sara http://www.widmeyer.com/?p=2606 On Tuesday, March 9, the Association for Computing Machinery announced the winner of the 2009 ACM A.M. Turing Award, one of the computing community’s highest distinctions. Widmeyer worked with the Associated Press on an article that was featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Huffington Post and more.]]> On Tuesday, March 9, the Association for Computing Machinery announced the winner of the 2009 ACM A.M. Turing Award, one of the computing community’s highest distinctions. Charles P. Thacker was recognized for his pioneering design and realization of the first modern personal computer, contributions to the Ethernet local area network and work on the prototype for today’s most used tablet PC. Widmeyer worked with the Associated Press on an article that was featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Huffington Post and more.

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]]> http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/acm%e2%80%99s-%e2%80%9cnobel-prize-for-computing%e2%80%9d-winner-announced/feed/ 0 Featured Work: Computer Science Education Week http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/featured-work-computer-science-education-week/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=featured-work-computer-science-education-week http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/featured-work-computer-science-education-week/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:45:37 +0000 Kabakoff Sara http://www.widmeyer.com/?p=2553 Recognizing the transformative role of computing and the need to bolster computer science at all educational levels, Widmeyer Communications worked with The Association for Computing Machinery to build public awareness of the first Computer Science Education Week.]]>

Overview

  • Recognizing the transformative role of computing and the need to bolster computer science at all educational levels, Widmeyer Communications worked with The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to build public awareness of the first Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek), designated by the U.S. House of Representatives as the first full week of December 2009.
  • In addition to building a strong pipeline to support students in pursuit of computing careers in an increasingly tech-focused society, the nation needs to engage all students in computer science education and its lessons in computational thinking—an important 21st century skill among all career paths. To spread this message, ACM tapped Widmeyer to develop and carry out a campaign to launch CSEdWeek and build awareness among a variety of audiences, including policymakers, educators, educational organizations and national and local media.

Communications Challenges

  • Raise awareness of the critical role of computing for our global information society
  • Promote efforts to expose students—particularly in grades K-12—to robust computer science education
  • Provide a social platform to share ideas and celebrate CSEdWeek at the national and local levels
  • Highlight the challenges facing computer science education
  • Widmeyer faced the challenge of garnering attention for the week-long event, while weaving in the importance of exposing students to computer science education among all of the other competing education issues

Strategy

  • Develop a central resource hub not only for CSEdWeek, but also to serve as a leading computer science education resource
  • Target thought leaders in the fields of computing, technology and education
  • Use social media to promote the effort and build an online community of interested audiences

Tactics

  • Designed an interactive Web site to provide a central resource hub for CSEdWeek and computer science education information, including reports and presentations; data and facts; computer science curriculum; programs, event and ideas; videos and contests; and distributable posters, brochures and classroom kits.
  • Created a brand identity and consistent messaging that were utilized throughout all CSEdWeek marketing and communications, including the Web site.
  • Built a comprehensive set of CSEdWeek social media tools, including an official Facebook Fan Page, Twitter Profile, YouTube Channel and LinkedIn Group.
  • Worked to build early support for CSEdWeek and its social media channels by engaging organizations and tech bloggers such as Alfred Thompson, K-12 Computer Science Academic Relations Manager for Microsoft and Dr. Dobb’s Journal bloggers to post teasers about CSEdWeek and the accompanying site in the weeks leading up to the launch of the effort.
  • Drafted an op-ed outlining the importance of computer science education and implications of ignoring the challenges facing this field of study. The op-ed was signed by Maria Klawe, President of Harvey Mudd College and a member of Board of Directors at Microsoft, Inc.; Andrew Chien, Vice President at Intel Labs and the director of Future Technologies Research; Rick Rashid, Senior Vice President of Research at Microsoft, Inc.; and Alfred Spector, Vice President of Research and Special Initiatives at Google, Inc.

Results

  • Working with ACM, Widmeyer fostered partnerships with leading associations, government entities and technology industry leaders, including the Computer Science Teachers Association, the Computing Research Association, the National Center for Women & Information Technology, the Anita Borg Institute, the National Science Foundation, Google Inc., Intel and Microsoft.
  • Widmeyer created and supported a vibrant online community through the CSEdWeek social media networks. The sites were active from the day they were created, continuing through CSEdWeek and beyond to be the central hub of computer science education dialogue.
  • Through targeted media outreach efforts, Widmeyer secured coverage of CSEdWeek in prominent publications such as front page Business and Metro section pieces in The New York Times and The Washington Post respectively, Education Week, Examiner, Dr. Dobb’s Journal, The New York Times Tech Talk Podcast as well as blogs and media from CSEdWeek partners and a host of additional media and blog hits.
  • Widmeyer placed an op-ed in The Huffington Post, which has the second largest number of page views of all online news sources.
  • Building on the support seen in the House of Representatives for H.Res. 558 designating CSEdWeek, Widmeyer worked with the congressional staff of Congressmen Jared Polis (D-CO) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) to secure personal video messages from each on the importance of computer science, which were posted to the CSEdWeek YouTube channel.
  • Widmeyer’s strategic communication efforts helped elevate the dialogue about the importance of computer science education to a larger audience.  In addition to providing an interactive online community, creating a central resource hub for computing and raising awareness of the issues facing computer science education, computer science education has made its way into the general education reform dialogue.
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]]> http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/featured-work-computer-science-education-week/feed/ 0 Computer Science Education Week Continues to Raise Awareness of the Computing Field http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/computer-science-education-week-continues-to-raise-awareness-of-the-computing-field/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=computer-science-education-week-continues-to-raise-awareness-of-the-computing-field http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/computer-science-education-week-continues-to-raise-awareness-of-the-computing-field/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:32:43 +0000 Kabakoff Sara http://www.widmeyer.com/?p=1845 WaPost-NYT-logo-uTwo weeks after the official Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek, Dec. 6-12), led by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to raise awareness about the computing field, the issue is still witnessing an unprecedented amount of coverage. ]]> WaPost-NYT-logo-uTwo weeks after the official Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek, Dec. 6-12), led by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) to raise awareness about the computing field, the issue is still witnessing an unprecedented amount of coverage.  Today’s front pages of the New York Times Business Section and the Washington Post Metro Section feature articles referencing Computer Science Education Week’s role in the effort to lure more students into computer science courses and eventually the field.  The articles tap ACM CEO John White, Computer Science Teachers Association Executive Director Chris Stephenson and individuals with varying levels of contact with the computing industry, such as former U.S. Secretary of Labor Robert Reich and  Kira Lehtomaki from Walt Disney Animation Studios, who talk about the implications to the economy and innovation of ignoring the importance of this field.

Read the New York Times Article
Read the Washington Post Article

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]]> http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/computer-science-education-week-continues-to-raise-awareness-of-the-computing-field/feed/ 0 Widmeyer Worked with Association for Computing Machinery on Computer Science Education Week Web Site Development http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/widmeyer-worked-with-association-for-computing-machinery-on-computer-science-education-week-web-site-development/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=widmeyer-worked-with-association-for-computing-machinery-on-computer-science-education-week-web-site-development http://www.widmeyer.com/posts/widmeyer-worked-with-association-for-computing-machinery-on-computer-science-education-week-web-site-development/#comments Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:34:26 +0000 Kabakoff Sara http://www.widmeyer.com/?p=1759 CSEdWeek_LogoThe U.S. House of Representatives' recently designated December 6-12, 2009 as Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) in recognition of the transformative role of computing and necessity of rigorous computer science education at all levels.]]> CSEdWeek_LogoThe U.S. House of Representatives’ recently designated December 6-12, 2009 as Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) in recognition of the transformative role of computing and necessity of rigorous computer science education at all levels.  Widmeyer worked with the lead organization on the effort, the Association for Computing Machinery, to develop the CSEdWeek Web site, www.CSEdWeek.org, and social networking pages on sites such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.  In addition, we are conducting media outreach and partnership building to continue to raise awareness. The following organizations are partnering in the effort: Computer Science Teachers Association, the Computing Research Association, the National Center for Women & Information Technology, the Anita Borg Institute, the National Science Foundation, Google Inc., Intel, and Microsoft.

Some notable coverage:

New York Times: Tech Talk Podcast with ACM Chief Executive Offiicer John White (CSEdWeek section begins at 10:27)

Education Week Blog Post

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