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，以便在正式和非正式环境中为pre -12学生整合STEM教学和学习中的计算。虽然计算机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，它仍然是一个独立的、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）实践方面的技能，并探索计算表示如何支持学生学习和实践科学的方式的重大转变。研究结果将包括对学生在计算思维实践的发展中所带来的能力的细粒度描述，特别是在开发算法、数据挖掘和可视化以及设计/构建基于代理的模型（具有多个软件模拟交互代理的模型）方面的能力。这些发现将丰富该领域对CT-STEM实践的性质和发展的理解。鉴于对CT-STEM实践的研究仍处于早期阶段，这是一个重要的贡献。在该项目中，研究人员将集成基于代理的建模软件（NetLogo Web）和基于块的软件（NetTango），并与数据分析、系统动力学建模和可视化工具建立无缝互操作。这些工具的一个好处是，它们使那些没有基于文本的编程经验的学生能够从事以前无法接触的计算实践。研究团队将与来自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，将计算思维的组成部分添加到现有的科学课程中。该项目将追求以下五个目标：(1)充分集成NetLogo和NetTango，通过数据分析、可视化和系统动力学建模工具创建无缝互操作，并通过基于web的平台提供集成软件；(2)构建涵盖更多高中科学课程的单元，并结合开发算法、数据挖掘、可视化和设计/构建计算模型的实践；(3)制定评估方法，对学生的实践进行评估；(4)通过网络平台收集学生反馈数据，在课堂上进行测试单元和评估；(5)调查学生参与计算思维实践的情况，描述他们为学习带来的能力，以及他们的实践如何随着时间的推移而发展。此外，研究人员的在线教学平台将可扩展，以促进其他高中的参与，潜在地吸引成千上万的学生。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

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.