Adding Computational Thinking Components to the High-School Science Curriculum to Broaden Participation in Computational Science

该项目由STEM + C资助，支持跨学科和跨学科方法的研究和开发，以将计算整合到正式和非正式环境中的学前班学生的STEM教学和学习中。虽然计算已经极大地改变了科学研究和实践，但在几乎所有的大学预科教育背景下，它仍然是一个独立而独特的研究领域。这个STEM+C项目的目标是提高学生在计算思维-科学，技术，工程和数学（CT-STEM）实践中的技能，并探索计算表示如何支持学生学习和实践科学的方式发生重大转变。调查结果将包括细粒度的表征能力的学生带来他们的计算思维实践的发展，特别是开发算法，数据挖掘和可视化的能力，并设计/构建基于代理的模型（模型与多个软件模拟代理互动）。这些发现将丰富该领域对CT-STEM实践的性质和发展的理解。在这个项目中，研究人员将把基于代理的建模软件（NetLogo Web）与基于块的软件（NetTango）相集成，并与数据分析、系统动力学建模和可视化工具实现无缝互操作。像这样的工具的一个好处是，它们使没有基于文本的编程经验的学生能够从事以前无法访问的计算实践。研究团队将与芝加哥地区三所高中的教师合作，通过整合这些额外的工具和实践，将计算思维组件添加到现有的科学课程中。该项目将追求以下五个目标：（1）全面集成NetLogo和NetTango，与数据分析、可视化和系统动力学建模工具实现无缝互操作，并通过基于网络的平台提供集成软件;（2）建立涵盖更多高中科学课程的单元，并纳入开发算法，数据挖掘，可视化，和设计/建立计算模型;（3）制定评估，评估学生在这些做法上的表现;（4）通过网络平台收集学生的反应数据，在课堂上测试单元和评估;以及（5）调查学生参与计算思维实践的情况，并描述他们为学习带来的能力以及他们的实践如何发展随着时间此外，研究人员的在线交付平台将可扩展，以促进其他高中的参与，可能会吸引成千上万的学生。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

This project is funded by STEM + C which supports research and the development of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to the integration of computing within STEM teaching and learning for preK-12 students in both formal and informal settings. While computing has dramatically transformed science research and practice, it remains a separate and distinct area of study in almost all pre-college education contexts. The objective of this STEM+C project is to increase students' skill in Computational Thinking - Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CT-STEM) practices and explore how computational representations support significant shifts in the ways students learn and practice science. Findings will include fine-grained characterizations of the competencies students bring to their development of computational thinking practices, in particular competencies for developing algorithms, data mining and visualization, and designing/building agent-based models (models with multiple software simulated agents that interact). These findings will enrich the field's understanding of the nature and development of CT-STEM practices. This is an important contribution given that investigating CT-STEM practices is still in early stages.In this project, the researchers will integrate agent-based modeling software (NetLogo Web) with a block-based form of the software (NetTango) and create seamless interoperation with data analysis, systems dynamics modeling and visualization tools. One benefit of tools like these is that they enable students who do not have experiences with text-based programming to engage in previously inaccessible computational practices. The research team will partner with teachers from three Chicago-area high schools to add Computational Thinking components to existing science curricula by integrating these additional tools and practices. The project will pursue the following five objectives: (1) fully integrate NetLogo and NetTango, create seamless interoperation with data analysis, visualization and systems dynamics modeling tools, and offer the integrated software through the web-based platform; (2) build units that cover more of the high school science curriculum and incorporate practices for developing algorithms, data mining, visualization, and designing/building computational models; (3) develop assessments that evaluate students on these practices; (4) test units and assessments in classrooms by collecting student response data through the web-based platform; and (5) investigate students' engagement in computational thinking practices and characterize the competencies that they bring to their learning and how their practices develop over time. Further, the researchers' online delivery platform will be scalable to facilitate participation from other high schools, potentially engaging many thousands more students.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.