Research on the Development of Computational and Systems Thinking in Middle School Students through Explorations of Complex Earth Systems

通过复杂地球系统探索培养中学生计算和系统思维的研究

• 批准号: 1542954
• 负责人: Gillian Puttick
• 金额: $ 180万
• 依托单位: TERC Inc
• 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: 2015-09-15 至 2020-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1542954&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Research; Development; Computational; Systems; Thinking

Computing has been a central tool in the development of modern understanding in many fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Skills such as modeling, data visualization, and computational thinking are all necessary for building a diverse scientific workforce that will secure a strong future for the United States. As a result, NSF's STEM+Computing Partnership (STEM+C) program seeks to integrate the use of computational approaches in K-12 STEM teaching and learning. TERC, Inc., in collaboration with Northeastern University and the cambridge, Newton, and Lowell, Massachusetts Public School Districts, will develop and study an education program that integrates computing into middle school Earth systems science by interweaving computational skills development into science game design and science content learning. The project aims to develop skills among diverse groups of young people in two crucial fields central to national interest and safety. More importantly, the project will bring these two fields together to create a learning environment in which young people learn thinking from a systems perspective, essential to solving complex scientific problems. The project will contribute to practical models for developing science content learning and computer skills, creating positive attitudes toward science, and broadening participation in the sciences among middle school students in diverse settings. The Building Systems from Scratch project will develop, implement, and study an innovative intervention that integrates computing into an 8-week Earth systems curriculum and supporting resources. The program will include: a) a standards-aligned curriculum focused on systems thinking practices, b) a 52-hour hybrid online/face-to-face teacher professional development workshop with supporting materials, c) a teacher leader guide for sustainable implementation of the program, and d) a website to support program materials, activities, and communication. Specifically, as students build their own science content games, they will engage in computational practices such as modeling, abstraction, management of complexity, and creative design, as well as iterative testing and debugging. The project seeks to understand how and what young people learn when they engage in interdisciplinary learning in technology-rich environments. It further seeks to understand how curricular structural supports influence student learning and self-efficacy. The project will address specific needs of middle school students and teachers with regard to relevant disciplinary content, science practices, and computation as specified in Next Generation Science Standards and Computer Science Standards. The project will be working with fifteen 8th grade teachers in three Massachusetts school districts across three years, reaching approximately 1,840 8th grade students, over half of whom are from groups underrepresented in STEM and computer science fields.

计算一直是许多科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）许多现代理解发展的核心工具。建模，数据可视化和计算思维等技能对于建立多样化的科学劳动力都是必要的，这将为美国提供强大的未来。结果，NSF的STEM+计算伙伴关系（STEM+C）计划旨在将计算方法的使用整合在K-12 STEM教学中。 TERC，Inc。与Northeastern University和剑桥市的牛顿和马萨诸塞州公立学区的洛厄尔合作，将开发和研究一项教育计划，通过将计算技能开发与科学游戏设计和科学内容学习相结合，将计算集成到中学地球系统科学中。 该项目旨在在两个关键领域的年轻人中发展技能，这是国家利益和安全的中心。 更重要的是，该项目将把这两个领域融合在一起，以创造一个学习环境，其中年轻人从系统的角度学习思考，这对于解决复杂的科学问题至关重要。该项目将有助于开发科学内容学习和计算机技能的实用模型，对科学产生积极的态度，并扩大了中学学生在各种环境中的科学的参与。从头开始的建筑系统将开发，实施和研究一种创新的干预措施，该干预措施将计算集成到8周的地球系统课程中并支持资源。 该计划将包括：a）专注于系统思维实践的标准一致的课程，b）a 52小时的在线/面对面的教师专业发展研讨会，具有支持材料，c）c）该计划可持续实施的教师领导者指南，d）网站以支持计划材料，活动和交流。具体来说，当学生构建自己的科学内容游戏时，他们将从事计算实践，例如建模，抽象，复杂性管理和创造性设计，以及迭代测试和调试。该项目试图了解年轻人在技术丰富的环境中从事跨学科学习时的学业和知识。它进一步寻求了解课程结构支持如何影响学生的学习和自我效能。 该项目将针对下一代科学标准和计算机科学标准中指定的相关学科内容，科学实践和计算方面的特定需求。该项目将在三年内与三个马萨诸塞州学区的十五年级教师合作，达到约1,840个8年级学生，其中一半以上来自STEM和计算机科学领域的人数不足。