I-Corps L: Investigating Commercialization Strategies for the CryptoClub

I-Corps L：研究 CryptoClub 的商业化策略

• 批准号: 1518982
• 负责人: Janet Beissinger
• 金额: $ 5万
• 依托单位: University of Illinois at Chicago
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-02-01 至 2016-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1518982&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Corps; Investigating; Commercialization; Strategies; CryptoClub

There has been a rapid expansion in afterschool programs in the past fifteen years. Although afterschool is not a new idea, the focus on quality enrichment opportunities for all children, not just those who can afford them is relatively new. One challenge in afterschool programs is to find activities that are school-relevant, but not necessarily school-like. It is often reported that there is a shortage of curricular materials that offer mathematics activities designed for informal settings. Afterschool programs often offer tutoring in math topics, using materials from the regular day. Some purchase "Math Kits" with a collection of manipulatives. Some use hands-on science activities that are typically isolated one-lesson activities. There are some STEM curricula with a theme that is sustained over several sessions, such as robotics. Others report that they do not have material for informal math programs.In the proposed "CryptoClub" afterschool program, middle-grade students will explore cryptography while applying mathematics to make and break secret codes. The playfulness and mystery of the subject will be engaging to students, and the afterschool environment will allow them to learn at their own pace. Some activities will involve moving around, for example following a trail of encrypted clues to find a hidden treasure, or running back and forth in a relay race, competing to be the first to gather and decrypt the parts of a secret message. Other activities will involve sitting more quietly and thinking deeply about patterns that might help break a code. On the other hand, in the proposed CryptoClub Online approach, the CryptoClub Website will provide additional opportunities for applying and learning cryptography in a playful way. It currently includes cipher tools for encrypting and decrypting, message and joke boards where users decrypt messages or submit their own encrypted messages, historical comics about cryptography, and adventure games that involve secret messages.

过去十五年来，课外活动迅速扩展。尽管课外活动并不是一个新想法，但关注所有孩子（而不仅仅是那些有能力负担得起的孩子）的优质丰富机会是相对较新的想法。课外活动的一大挑战是找到与学校相关但不一定与学校相似的活动。经常有报道称，缺乏为非正式环境设计的数学活动的课程材料。 课后项目通常会使用日常材料提供数学主题辅导。有些人购买带有一系列练习的“数学工具包”。有些人使用实践科学活动，这些活动通常是孤立的一课活动。有些 STEM 课程的主题会持续多个课程，例如机器人学。其他人则报告说，他们没有非正式数学课程的材料。在拟议的“CryptoClub”课外计划中，中年级学生将探索密码学，同时应用数学来制作和破解密码。该主题的趣味性和神秘性将吸引学生，课后环境将允许他们按照自己的节奏学习。有些活动将涉及四处走动，例如沿着加密线索的踪迹寻找隐藏的宝藏，或者在接力赛中来回奔跑，竞争成为第一个收集和解密秘密消息部分的人。其他活动包括更安静地坐着并深入思考可能有助于破解密码的模式。另一方面，在拟议的 CryptoClub Online 方法中，CryptoClub 网站将为以有趣的方式应用和学习密码学提供额外的机会。目前，它包括用于加密和解密的密码工具、用户解密消息或提交自己的加密消息的消息和笑话板、有关密码学的历史漫画以及涉及秘密消息的冒险游戏。