Adapt, Implement and Research at Nebraska: A Statewide Implementation Study of a Researcher-Practitioner Partnership for K-8 Computer Science Education

该项目将内布拉斯加州大学林肯分校和林肯公立学校之间成功的研究人员-实践者伙伴关系(RPP)扩展到内布拉斯加州的其他学区。主要目标是研究具有不同优势和挑战的学区如何采用面向K-8学生的计算机科学(CS)课程，以扩大对计算机的参与。该项目还将发展针对不同学习者的K-8 CS教育的教学能力。具体目标是通过以下方式支持新的合作伙伴地区：1)调整和实施现有的CS课程、学习进度模型和评估指标，以满足其需求；2)为其教育工作者定制当前的专业发展模式；(3)为持续的后勤和内容支持创建教师虚拟网络支持模型；以及4)调整、开发和验证测量CS知识和自我效能的工具。该项目将作为以设计为基础的研究为基础的以研究为重点的网络改进社区(NIC)的一部分进行。在项目的迭代过程中，研究人员将研究1)K-8课程/资源如何在不同的合作伙伴地区实施，以及2)课程和资源在支持教师和学生的CS知识、态度和实践方面有多大用处。这些研究将特别注意不同亚群(即男女代表不足的少数群体)之间的相似和不同之处。该项目将导致对农村学校、代表性严重不足的学校和美洲原住民学校的案例研究，以指导其他州和地区寻求将计算机科学注入K-8教育。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project extends a successful researcher-practitioner partnership (RPP) between the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Lincoln Public Schools to other school districts in Nebraska. The primary goal is to study how a computer science (CS) curriculum for K-8 students is adopted by school districts with different strengths and challenges to broaden participation in computing. The project will also develop instructional capacity for K-8 CS education with diverse learners. The specific aims are to support new, partner districts by 1) adapting and implementing the existing CS curriculum, learning progression models, and assessment metrics for their needs; 2) customize the current professional development model to their educators; (3) create a teacher virtual network support model for ongoing logistical and content support; and 4) adapt, develop, and validate instruments to measure CS knowledge and self-efficacy.The project will be conducted as part of a research-focused networked improvement community (NIC) grounded in design-based research. During the project's iterations, the researchers will study 1) how the K-8 curriculum/resources implemented in diverse partner districts, and 2) how useful are the curricula and resources in supporting teacher and students CS knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The studies will pay particular attention to the similarities and differences that occur between various subgroups (i.e., underrepresented minorities, male/female). The project will result in case studies of rural, highly underrepresented, and Native American schools that guide other states and districts seeking to infuse computer science into K-8 education.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.