Cultivating Elementary Students' Interest in Cryptography and Cybersecurity Education and Careers

最近的技术进步普及了密码学，制作和破解密码的艺术。该项目将利用社会对网络安全和密码学的兴趣，并探讨密码学中加密和解密实践的基础技能如何与儿童必须发展成为成功的读者和作家的技能并行。鉴于密码学和网络安全的重要性，该项目将引入一种新的技术增强的STEM教育模式，让7-10岁的儿童，特别是女孩，参与密码学和网络安全建设以及STEM身份发展，因为他们制作和破解密码。该主题的神秘性、其在当今社会的相关性以及互动式学习体验将吸引儿童，该项目将在课后进行的环境将为他们提供一个安全的空间，让他们按照自己的节奏学习。重要的科学和教育成果将包括更好地理解识字、自我效能、计算思维、21世纪世纪技能，本项目的重点是对设计和实施触摸屏的有效条件进行系统的调查，屏幕增强的视觉空间学习课程，利用密码学的独特背景培养STEM兴趣和职业意识。一个由K-12课后教师领导，教育技术专家，特殊教育工作者，计算机科学家和STEM教育研究人员组成的跨学科团队将为小学高年级学生（3-5年级）设计一个为期6周，24小时的密码学应用程序和活动计划，主要服务于女孩和非洲裔美国学生。为了鼓励采用和促进传播，密码破译器课程将以互动、触摸友好的网站形式在线提供。混合方法的研究设计将采用一系列的方法，包括现象学，比较案例研究，前测后测分析和混合效应建模。该项目将使用定性数据来探讨学生和教师对密码破译者活动和技术的看法和经验。定量数据将用于推断该策略对学生自我效能感，兴趣和STEM身份的发展，他们对密码学和网络安全的理解的演变以及他们形态意识的发展的可量化影响。持续的专业发展（PD）和支持将在与教师领导的双周会议上面对面提供，并使用Codebreakers在线社交网络。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并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，被认为值得支持。

Recent technological advances have popularized cryptography, the art of making and breaking codes. This project will capitalize on the societal interest in cybersecurity and cryptography and explore how the skills that underlie the encrypting and decrypting practices in cryptography parallel the skills that children must develop to become successful readers and writers. Given the importance of cryptography and cybersecurity, the project will introduce a new technology-enhanced STEM education model for engaging children of 7-10 years old, particularly girls, in cryptography and cybersecurity building and STEM identity development as they make and break secret codes. The mystery of the subject, its relevance in today's society, and interactive learning experiences will engage children, and the after-school environment where the project will be performed will provide a safe space for them to learn at their own pace. The important scientific and educational outcomes will include improved understanding of how literacy, self-efficacy, computational thinking, 21st century skills, and interest in cryptography and cybersecurity can be fostered at the elementary school level.The focus of this project is to conduct a systematic investigation of the effective conditions for designing and implementing touch-screen enhanced visuospatial learning curricula that foster STEM interest and career awareness using the unique context of cryptography. An interdisciplinary team of K-12 after-school teacher leaders, education technologists, special educators, computer scientists, and STEM education researchers will design a 6-week, 24-hour program of cryptography focused apps and activities for upper elementary students (grades 3-5) in after-school programs that serve primarily girls and African American students. To encourage adoption and facilitate dissemination, the Codebreakers curriculum will be available online in the form of an interactive, touch-friendly website. A mixed-method research design will employ a range of methods including phenomenology, comparative case studies, pretest-posttest analyses, and mixed-effects modeling. The project will use qualitative data to explore students' and teachers' perceptions and experiences with the Codebreakers activities and technology. Quantitative data will be used to make inferences regarding the quantifiable impacts of the strategy on the development of students' self-efficacy, interest and identity in STEM, evolution of their understanding of cryptography and cybersecurity, and the development of their morphological awareness. Ongoing professional development (PD) and support will be provided face-to-face during bi-weekly meetings with teacher leaders and using the Codebreakers online social network.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.