Integrating Computational Thinking into a Minority Girls Program on Global Challenges

由于计算已经成为科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）实践中不可或缺的一部分，STEM+计算计划旨在通过对从高中到幼儿教育的STEM教学和学习中的计算思维（CT）和计算活动的整合进行应用研究，来解决计算STEM领域的新挑战。这个具体的项目是一个针对少数民族女孩的项目，是一个探索性的STEM+C整合项目，旨在为低收入少数民族女孩在现有的研究型科学项目中实施和测试计算思维的整合。现有的项目是“探索全球挑战”（Exploring Global Challenges），它将在课程和活动中融入计算思维。这种综合教育方法被认为是一种鼓舞人心的、激励人心的、严格的环境，可以增强少数民族女孩的科学和计算能力。该项目将提供一个机会，研究城市教育在校外项目中的潜力，以成为改变学生职业意向和为STEM和计算密集型职业做准备的杠杆点。这是南伊利诺伊大学爱德华兹维尔分校、iBIO研究所教育中心和东圣路易斯基督教活动中心共同努力的结果。该项目建立在现有的基于研究的STEM项目、全球挑战和iBIO研究所教育中心的恒星女孩课程的基础上。该项目将与来自伊利诺伊州东圣路易斯的三年级和四年级的缺医少食的女孩合作，从40名学生中选出一组，通过一个为期两年的项目取得进展。由经验丰富的教育工作者和学生组成的团队的支持将探索全球科学和社会挑战，这些挑战要求学生在应用STEM和计算技能的同时，为现实世界的全球问题找到解决方案。参加的女孩将参加为期10周的课程，每周3小时，以及学术会议，在两年的课程中进行4次会议。该项目通过提高我们对综合STEM和计算机科学课程的理解，填补了文献中的空白，作为一种手段，培养没有在学校接受计算机科学教育的城市少数民族女孩对科学、计算机科学和计算机科学的更多知识和兴趣。整合女孩声音的迭代设计周期将揭示可能应用于其他ct集成计划的新兴设计原则。通过混合方法研究，该项目将评估参与者对新设计的CT整合课程的看法，以及STEM和CT知识技能的获取。

As computing has become integral to the practice of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), the STEM+Computing program seeks to address emerging challenges in computational STEM areas through applied research on the integration of computational thinking (CT) and computing activities within STEM teaching and learning in early childhood education through high school. This specific project is a program for minority girls and is an Exploratory Integration STEM+C endeavor to implement and test the integration of computational thinking in an extant research-based science program for low income minority girls. The extant program is Exploring Global Challenges, which will be adapted for the integration of computational thinking in its curriculum and activities. This integrative education approach is considered an inspiring, motivating, and rigorous context for bolstering minority girls' science and computational abilities. The project will afford an opportunity to conduct research about the potential for urban education in an out-of-school programs to be a leverage points for altering students' career intentions and preparation for STEM and computationally intensive careers. This is a collaborative effort among Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, the iBIO Institute EDUCATE Center, and the East St. Louis Christian Activity Center. This project builds upon an extant research-based STEM program, Global Challenges and the iBIO Institute EDUCATE Center's Stellar Girls curriculum. Working with underserved third and fourth grade girls from East St. Louis, IL, the project will select one, 40-student cohort, to progress through a two-year program. Support from a team of experienced educators and students will explore global science and societal challenges that require students to find solutions for real-world, global issues while applying STEM and computational skills. Participating girls will engage in this curriculum for 10-weeks, three hours per week, and academic sessions, for four sessions over the course of two years. The project fills a gap in the literature by advancing our understanding of integrated STEM and CT curriculum as a means to foster greater knowledge and interest in science, CT, and computer sciences among urban minority girls who do not receive computer science education in their schools. Iterative design cycles integrating the voices of the girls will reveal emerging design principles that may be applied in other CT-integration initiatives. Through mixed methods research, the project will evaluate participant perceptions of the newly designed CT-integrated curriculum, as well as STEM and CT knowledge skills acquisition.