Collaborative Research: BPC-DP: Improving Minority Student Participation in the Computing Career Pipeline with Culturally Situated Design Tools

伦斯勒理工学院提出了一个项目，旨在扩展文化定位设计工具（CSDTs）的使用，以吸引未被充分代表的少数族裔参与计算。csdt是基于网络的基于民族数学的小程序：将数学知识嵌入文化设计中，如玉米辫发型、美洲原住民珠饰和拉丁裔打击乐节奏。他们允许学生使用这些基本的数学原理来模拟原始的文化设计，创造他们自己发明的新设计，并从事具体的数学探究。它们已经在K-12学校中使用，那里有大量的非裔美国人、拉丁裔和美洲原住民学生，初步评估表明，在统计上，数学成绩和对以技术为基础的职业的态度都有显著提高。这项提议的工作是双重的。首先，它将为CSDTs开发一个新的用户界面，学生可以通过输入伪代码来创建设计，从而将学习内容的重点从数学转移到计算机编程。其次，它将利用bpc赞助的STARS联盟的学生领导团（SLC）中的CSDTs，允许本科SLC成员通过7-12年级和校外教育的外展项目为学生提供新的培训和资源。SLC学生也将有机会开发自己创作的csdt，遵循设计协议，确保在当地教育和文化社区成员参与的过程中尊重文化材料的使用。该项目的评估将会检查csts对SLC学生及其外展选区的影响。

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute proposes a project to extend the use of Culturally Situated Design Tools (CSDTs) to engage underrepresented minorities in computing. CSDTs are web-based applets are based on ethnomathematics: the mathematical knowledge embedded in cultural designs such as cornrow hairstyles, Native American beadwork, and Latino percussion rhythms. They allow students to use these underlying mathematical principles to simulate the original cultural designs, create new designs of their own invention, and engage in specific math inquiries. They have been used in K-12 schools with large numbers of African-American, Latino, and Native American students, and preliminary evaluations indicate statistically significant increase in both math achievement and attitudes toward technology-based careers. This proposed work is two-fold. First, it will develop a new user interface for CSDTs in which students create designs by entering pseudocode, thus shifting the learning content emphasis from mathematics to computer programming. Second, it will utilize the CSDTs in the Student Leadership Corps (SLC) of the BPC-sponsored STARS alliance, allowing undergraduate SLC members to provide new training and resources to students with outreach projects in grade 7-12 and out-of-school education. SLC students will also have the opportunity to develop CSDTs of their own creation, following a design protocol that ensures respectful use of cultural materials by a participatory process involving local members of educational and cultural communities. The project evaluation will examine the impact of CSDTs on both SLC students and their outreach constituency.