This paper explores the potential use of keystroke dynamics as a tool for user identification. Also known as typing dynamics, keystroke dynamics refers to distinctives patterns of typing behavior exhibited by individual users, such as typing speed, keypress duration, intervals between keypresses and more. These behaviors can form a unique typing signature that has potential to be used for user identification. This project aims to determine the feasibility of using typing dynamics for identification purposes based on an initial exploratory pilot study. This paper outlines the experimental setup and variables that may impact typing behavior, offering insights into the challenges and opportunities of keystroke dynamics as well as providing some initial data.

This paper addresses the under-theorized issue of the digital afterlife in the Information Systems (IS) field with a specific focus on the Global South. While digital death increasingly intersects with cultural, ethical, and technological domains, mainstream IS research has largely avoided the topic and its complexities, often viewing death as a taboo topic. The paper explores how Western-centric digital afterlife services overlook cultural, infrastructural, and economic realities of Global South users, contributing to digital exclusion. Drawing from thanatology and sociotechnical systems theory, the paper critically analyzes posthumous digital identity governance, data vulnerability, and ethical concerns surrounding persistent online profiles and emerging technologies. In response, the paper introduces the Socially Aware Digital Death (SADD) framework, a culturally responsive, ethically grounded model that integrates social awareness, digital literacy, ethical considerations, and shared accountability to address digital death challenges. The paper concludes by proposing a future research agenda based on user typologies and the SADD framework, and makes a call for more inclusive platform design, legal reform, and localized digital legacy tools, challenging IS paradigms to ethically engage with death and recognize the agency of Global South users in shaping their digital legacies.

In this study, artificial intelligence based tools are discussed in the context of adapting teaching methods used in computer programming courses. Four innovative strategies are discussed: an academic integrity and ethics module, interactive programming examples, active learning strategies, and modified assessments. Preliminary approaches to these pedagogical changes and future research directions are provided.

There is value in educating computing majors about the moral concerns and biases that artificial intelligence systems raise. Future creators of these tools must comprehend AI's broader ramifications and ethical consequences despite the usefulness and the need to understand technical details. The authors highlight the importance of increasing student knowledge of potential ethical issues through instruction in computer courses by presenting numerous initiatives connected to this subject and student responses from a pilot study. Through a case study approach, students can learn to evaluate and analyze ethical concerns and engage in relevant discussions in the context of specific AI courses rather than creating comprehensive computer ethics courses.

With all of the means available now for collecting massive amounts of data, many are made possible through advancements in the internet of things (IoT). As more devices are connected and brought online, the ability to analyze rich data points will continue to grow. In this article, the authors discuss how smart cities can use this data to address concerns associated with increasing urbanization, resource allocation, infrastructure, energy, and various economic and social needs by examining potential data collection through IoT devices. As more people populate and consider moving to smart cities, one major area of concern is the potential for impacts of the human element of death and loss. With large populations living in these smart cities, a corresponding increase in the number of deaths will undoubtedly follow. The concept of death analytics and the computational analysis of related data is discussed in the context of smart cities to better leverage technology to help the needs of the bereaved, the terminally ill and to protect the final wishes and content of the dead.

Considering the many interactions we have with technology over our lifetime, many data points, records, files, and other content are recorded in many digital forms. We inevitably construct a narrative of various life events in a digital format that often lasts well beyond the expiration date of our physical form. This construction of a digital narrative is especially true regarding education records and their use for data mining as our files can be used for analysis. In this chapter, the authors discuss the idea of a digital data exorcism as the potential ability to purge educational records if it is the desire of the individual. A data exorcism can be seen as the needed process for removing or expelling data, done so to protect those from which it was derived. Many forms of data will be discussed in this chapter; however, the focus will be on educational records related to end-of-life considerations. The main theme of this chapter is that facet that we have the right to be forgotten. The right to be deleted or, in other words, “exorcised” from the various systems in which our data resides.

Increasingly social media accounts are created across multiple platforms with potential long-term use over a person’s lifespan. Social media use over long periods of time can be problematic when the account owner dies as it contains a wealth of information and connections to other users. Messages, pictures, likes, connections, and other social media interaction, over time construct a form of a digital narrative that both may need protection. Problems can occur when these accounts of deceased users are compromised as these profiles can become a treasure trove of content for hackers and can potentially be used to attack other accounts. In this project, we explore possible security implications of compromised social media accounts of deceased users and propose future exploratory studies. This includes a discussion of transitional weaknesses; the time between a person’s death and public knowledge of their death which is when accounts are especially susceptible to being attacked. In addition, we discuss concerns in order to better protect these accounts.

As data science continues to grow and become intertwined into many domains, its application becomes increasingly relevant. Data science is becoming a part of an interdisciplinary web of methodologies that can be used to extract essential insights from many types of data and are used in numerous occupations. Due to the rising importance of this emerging field, additional educational opportunities to learn data science will be beneficial in the future. In this chapter, the authors discuss the development of an associate's degree program in data science that provides students with specific coursework required to transfer to other institutions that offer bachelor's degrees in data science. Alternatively, students could also use this program to learn new skills in data science to change career paths or to continue their education. First, the general development of the data science program is discussed, followed by development challenges and opportunities, specific courses, and future directions.

Many factors contribute to student success in college-level courses. One major factor is student access to required course materials. There is a growing number of students who, for several reasons, do not have access to materials or choose not to purchase textbooks. The negative impact of textbook cost is well known and documented and often a significant contributor to not purchasing course materials. In this paper, we explore the use of an inclusive textbook access program for several computer courses at a large community college. As part of this project, we present student feedback on this initiative and examine perceptions on textbook use and purchasing habits. The research helps gain insight into having the textbook built into the cost of the course and the impact of having access to a digital copy of the text on the very first day of class.

This article introduces the Felix model, which utilizes concepts based on human physiology to simulate the influence of emotions in decision-making, the performance of actions, and memory mechanics. The model implements a fuzzy affective system, a genetically inspired emotive arousal modulation component that influences the agent’s performance. The goal of this project is to create multi-agent environments that simulate human behavior in emotionally charged situations. In addition to the model introduction, preliminary data for a sample situation is presented as well as a brief discussion of future work.

The shift in educational strategies and modalities brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the need for innovative teaching methods. Both students and educators faced numerous challenges caused or exacerbated by the shift to different learning modalities and compounded by limited services and other restrictions. Adding to this complexity is the diversity in student skillset and technology literacy within the community college environment. At the same time, instructors had to manage their own issues related to the pandemic while juggling critical changes in their courses. In this paper, the authors discuss challenges in teaching several computing courses during the shift to an online format during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several challenges and strategies for supporting students in the computer science/information technology department at a large community college will be discussed, in addition to initial feedback gained from students.

Organizations aim to employ green IT solutions to help lessen the negative environmental impact of technology, reduce costs, limit waste and energy consumption. However, implementing these initiatives and adding related devices to networks to monitor energy usage and waste into various IT systems raises security concerns. In this paper, we highlight our initial research highlighting these issues related to green computing initiatives and the need to increase security awareness. This paper also discusses the next steps in our study leading to an in-depth analysis of green IT initiatives and potential security vulnerabilities.

Virtual world technology allows for an immersive 3D experience with rich content and interactive potential for students. Through this richness and interactivity, educators have abundant creative power to design and facilitate meaningful learning experiences and collaboration opportunities. In this chapter, the authors discuss one such initiative using Second Life as an educational space for a community college course activity to enhance student engagement. A brief literature review of the educational use of virtual worlds will be presented, which underpin our pedagogical methodology for the project framework. Focusing on a specific community college course titled “Diversity in a Technological Society,” the course goals and project requirements will be discussed. The chapter concludes with a detailed description of the proposed methodology for the next phase, recommendations, and future work.

The ability to capture data from our surrounding environment while learning user preferences has the potential to make our everyday decisions more straightforward and informed. Based on the idea of capturing weather data, we present our current design of a weather sensor network using several Raspberry Pi’s, combined with external resources, that presents recommendations based on personalized affect data. The goal of the system is to learn user preferences in combination with providing emotive output utilizing a neural network. The system has visualization capabilities that can interface with the web, along with other features based on preferences set by the user. This paper presents an overview of the system prototype.

Dual enrollment (attending high school and college simultaneously) can be advantageous to students for many reasons. These programs provide students with college-level coursework and expectations before completing high school. This paper explores the impacts of dual enrollment, specifically as it relates to how well students are prepared for success when they are fully in college. As a preliminary exploration, several questions are presented as well as background information on dual enrollment issues. This paper presents a first step in developing a framework for exploring the impacts and preparedness of dual-enrolled student success. The primary question this paper explores is How does dual enrollment prepare students for success?. In addition, technology is explored as a component of success.

This project describes degree and other outcomes after four years of a specific S-STEM scholarship program at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), located in Maryland USA [1]. This scholarship program was aimed at increasing degree attainment at the community college level in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related fields. From Fall 2014 through Spring 2018, 101 fulltime CCBC students majoring in specific STEM fields received S-STEM scholarships for one or more semesters through NSF funding. This paper highlights previous research [1] and presents demographics of the CCBC awardees, including transfer and graduation rates. In addition, emphasis will be placed on community building and interaction, student interventions and results of spatial visualization skills testing (PSVT:R) and practice. As all students remained in the program due to its successful implementation, student success strategies will be discussed.

To enhance and grow the database certificate program and enhance database courses offered by the Computer Science/Information Technology department (CSIT) at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), we are in the process of developing the EDNA Project. The EDNA Project- Extraction of Diverse Datasets and Analysis will be an educational database and project set encompassing several large real-world datasets that will be accessible to students in the database courses. This project was created out of the need for more elaborate examples and hands-on experience with database concepts. This repository will help serve to teach database concepts, data analytics, and lead to topics related to big data to students in these courses and certificates programs. In addition, this paper describes collaboration with the University of Baltimore and the beginnings of Project RED. This paper discusses our current work in developing this project.

It is through social media profiles that we can express loss, find support, and create online memorials of those who have died. Online profiles can be a powerful medium to both create a digital memorial and to also "communicate" with the dead. It is the communication with the deceased that is important to consider as we strive to understand how these tools can be used in the context of bereavement. At the same time, there are many security issues related to data and personal information of the deceased. The various profiles and user data we leave behind after our death can be a cause for concern from a security perspective. Complicating this issue is not knowing where data is located or account details and not having accounts secured. It is also problematic when it is not known when an account belongs to a deceased user, opening the door for exploitation. This project follows previous research on our efforts to automatically identify accounts through SADD - A Social Media Agent for the Detection of the Deceased. This project focuses on digital legacy issues from a security perspective and implications to consider for various digital platforms. In addition, we examine how social media can be used to express grief and continue bonds with the deceased.

This paper describes the results of a four-year follow-up of need-based scholarship awardees at a community college as they made progress toward their goal of associate’s degrees and/or bachelor’s degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. From 2014 through 2018, through National Science Foundation funding, need-based scholarships were offered for full-time STEM students with a minimum grade point average, and U.S. citizenship, or status as permanent resident alien or refugee alien. Spatial skills testing and practice, faculty mentoring, and a monthly luncheon workshop series with information on career and transfer were used to increase associate’s and bachelor’s degree attainment or transfer in STEM fields. Outcomes of these efforts are described, including spatial skills attainment and practice, and time elapsed from initial enrollment in the community college to subsequent bachelor’s degree attainment. Outcomes by gender, race/ethnicity, and initial mathematics placement of awardees are also provided.

As the number of profiles and user generated content online continues to grow, many accounts in time will inevitably belong to those that are deceased. Questions arise as what to do with content on these profiles when it becomes known that the owner of the profile has died. Additionally, many users have several profiles spread across various social networking sites. This project describes our efforts to create SADD - A Social Media Agent for the Detection of the Deceased. This tool aims to systematically identify social media accounts that may belong to a deceased user based on related posts from other users as well as changes in profile interaction. As part of this project, we present a basic framework and prototype for the program and include survey results about the perception of this type of tool which examine how users may wish to preserve online content. This project is a continuation of previous research related to virtual memorialization of web based and virtual world content and interaction.