Exploring Transfer Between Computing and Algebra and Its Effects on Mathematics Pedagogy and Self-efficacy in Computing Teachers

随着计算成为STEM学科不可或缺的一部分，STEM+计算伙伴关系(STEM+C)计划推动了STEM教与学中计算方法的整合，以及这种整合如何改善STEM的学习、参与度、持久性和计算思维。计算思维(CT)是一个相对较新的教育热点，显然需要学习者作为21世纪的技能。这项建议在高中层面解决了这一具有挑战性的新领域，利用旨在整合数学和计算的课程来改善这两门学科的学习，以了解同时学习这两门学科如何能够提高学生对这些学科的理解以及教师对这些学科的看法和知识。了解学习数学影响学习计算的方式，反之亦然是一个重要的研究目标。学习计算机对于今天的学生为这一领域提供的众多就业机会做好准备至关重要。此外，该项目将培训不同学校的600多名教师使用该课程，从而可能对提高STEM和计算的学习和保持能力产生强大的影响。该项目将调查学习数学和编程相互影响的方式。该项目使用Bootstrap课程，在该课程中，学生们为视频游戏编程。Bootstrap是一种基于函数的计算语言，以重要的代数概念为目标。该课程围绕关键的数学实践标准进行设计，以帮助教师将其纳入现有课程。关于学生学习的研究将集中在：1)哪些预期的概念从Bootstrap迁移到代数，2)什么类型的支架最能支持这种迁移，3)课程的哪些方面有助于这种迁移。关于教师的研究将集中在：1)使用Bootstrap对教师感知数学和计算之间的联系的影响；2)课程的教学风格和专业发展方面对教师教授计算的技能和信心水平的影响；3)在使用Bootstrap之前，对以数学或计算为主要专业的教师可能产生的差异影响。除了项目组已经培训的200名教师外，他们还将在项目过程中再培训600名教师。在项目期间，他们将收集项目第二年和第三年每年至少100名教师的教师数据，以及其中20个教师班级的学生数据。

As computing has become such an integral part of the STEM disciplines, the STEM+Computing Partnership (STEM+C) program advances the integration of computational approaches in STEM teaching and learning and how this integration can improve STEM learning, engagement, persistence, and computational thinking. Computational Thinking (CT) is a relatively new educational focus and a clear need for learners as a 21st century skill. This proposal tackles this challenging new area at the high school level by leveraging a curriculum designed to integrate mathematics and computing to improve learning in both to understand how learning these two subjects together can lead to improvement in both students' understanding and teachers' perceptions of and knowledge about these subjects. Understanding the ways that learning mathematics impacts learning computing and vice-versa is an important research goal. Learning computing is vital for preparing today's students for the many job opportunities available in this area. In addition, the project will train over 600 teachers in diverse schools in using this curriculum, leading to a strong possible impact on improving learning and retention in STEM and computing.The project will investigate the ways that learning mathematics and programming mutually influence each other. The project uses the Bootstrap curriculum in which students program videogames. Bootstrap is a function-based computing language that targets important algebraic concepts. The curriculum is designed around key mathematical practice standards to help teachers incorporate it into their existing courses. The research on student learning will focus on: 1) which of the intended concepts transfer from Bootstrap to algebra, 2) the type of scaffolding that best supports this transfer, and 3) the aspects of the curriculum that contribute to that transfer. The research on teachers will focus on: 1) the effect of using Bootstrap on teacher perceptions of connections between math and computing, 2) the aspects of the curriculum's pedagogical style and the professional development provided that affect teachers skill and confidence level teaching computing, and 3) possible differential effects for teachers whose primary area was mathematics or computing prior to using Bootstrap. In addition to the 200 teachers the project team has already trained, they will train an additional 600 teachers over the course of the project. During the project, they will collect teacher data from at least 100 teachers in each year for Years 2 and 3 of the project and student data from 20 of those teachers' classes.