The Quantum Atlas: A Visual Guide to an Unseen World

作为加强非正式环境中学习的总体战略的一部分，推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）计划旨在推进非正式环境中STEM学习的设计和开发的新方法和基于证据的理解。这包括提供多种途径，扩大STEM学习经验的获取和参与，推进非正式环境中STEM学习的创新研究和评估，以及发展参与者对深度学习的理解。该项目的目标是使21世纪的量子科学能够被非专家的非正式成人学习者理解和参与。该项目具有强大的潜力，可以增加公众对量子物理学的认知和理解的新知识。这种科学内容通常对非正式的听众来说很难掌握，而且对于非专业听众来说，相对来说很少有可获得的学习资源。这种具有短动画、图形和模拟的在线交互式资源的开发具有填补这一空白的强大潜力。它将开发一个视觉驱动的在线资源，以吸引非专业观众了解量子物理学的基础知识。网页设计将是模块化的，结合了许多多媒体元素，结构将是灵活的，允许未来的扩展。所有内容将免费提供给教育使用。非正式的在线成人学习者以及博物馆、科学中心和学校的学习者都有广泛接触和使用这些资源的潜力。项目合作伙伴是马里兰大学联合量子研究所和国家标准与技术研究所，大学公园。对该项目的独立评估将增加关于非正式学习者对量子科学和技术的看法和/或知识的新知识。通过与公众的焦点小组进行的初步需求评估将旨在了解更多关于他们已经知道的量子物理主题和术语，以及他们想要知道的和他们喜欢的格式（游戏，模拟，播客等）。面对面的用户测试将与使用结构化的有声思考协议的项目在线资源的早期版本一起使用。在第一年和第二年的晚些时候，将与公众进行在线焦点小组讨论，以了解他们发现什么吸引人，以及他们从内容中学到了什么。参与者在形成阶段的反复反馈将指导在线资源的内容和格式的发展。总结性评估将通过在地图集上嵌入弹出式链接的回顾性事后调查收集数据，然后对一部分在线用户进行访谈。谷歌Analytics将用于确定他们在线导航的广度和深度，他们下载了哪些资源，以及他们随后访问了哪些网站。一项针对参与资源开发的本科生和研究生的事后调查将重点关注学生对其科学交流技能和量子物理理解水平的信心变化。

As part of its overall strategy to enhance learning in informal environments, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program seeks to advance new approaches to, and evidence-based understanding of, the design and development of STEM learning in informal environments. This includes providing multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences, advancing innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments, and developing understandings of deeper learning by participants. The goal of this project is to make 21st century quantum science comprehensible and engaging to non-expert informal adult learners. This project has strong potential to add new knowledge about the public's perception and understanding of quantum physics. This scientific content is often difficult for informal audiences to grasp, and there are relatively few accessible learning resources for a non- professional audience. The development of this online, interactive resource with short animations, graphics, and simulations has strong potential to fill this gap. It will develop a visually driven online resource to engage non-expert audiences in understanding the basics of quantum physics. The web design will be modular, incorporating many multimedia elements and the structure will be flexible allowing for future expansion. All content would be freely available for educational use. There is potential for extensive reach and use of the resources by informal adult learners online as well as learners in museums, science centers, and schools. Project partners are the Joint Quantum Institute at the University of Maryland and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, College Park.An independent evaluation of the project will add new knowledge about informal learners' perceptions and/or knowledge about quantum science and technology. An initial needs assessment via focus groups with the general public will be designed to find out more about what they already know about quantum physics topics and terminology, as well as what they want to know and what formats they prefer (games, simulations, podcasts, etc.). In person user testing will be used with early versions of the project online resource using a structured think-aloud protocol. Later in year 1 and 2, online focus groups with the general public will be conducted to learn what they find engaging and what they learned from the content. Iterative feedback from participants during the formative stage will guide the development of the content and format of the online resources. The Summative Evaluation will gather data using a retrospective post-survey embedded with a pop-up link on the Atlas followed by interviews with a subset of online users. Google Analytics will be used to determine the breadth and depth of their online navigation, what resources they download, and what websites they visit afterward. A post-only survey of undergraduate and graduate students who participated in resource development will focus on changes in students' confidence around their science communication skills and level of quantum physics understanding.