Preparing Secondary Teachers to Teach Quantum Information Science

国家量子倡议法案(NQIA)于2018年12月签署，以确保美国在技术和量子信息科学方面保持竞争力。量子信息科学是科技(如手机)、国防、导航(如GPS)、能源系统、银行安全等的基础。对于未来的劳动力来说，理解量子力学的基本原理并接触这些知识应该从K-12年级开始，这一点至关重要。目前，大多数美国教育工作者在教授量子信息科学方面缺乏内容背景和信心。此外，并不是所有的K-12学生都学物理(有些学校甚至不开设)，更少的人会在大学主修物理。认识到量子力学相关性的教育工作者没有足够的资源、课程或内容背景来有效地向学生介绍或教授量子信息科学。该项目将量子信息科学带入前沿，着眼于未来，通过支持大学预科教育，特别是中等STEM(科学、技术、工程和数学)教育人员，使他们能够为学生进入劳动力或大学做好准备，并拥有量子背景。该项目的主要目标是为教师提供内容和支持，让他们了解量子信息科学和技术将如何影响他们的学生。目标包括：1)为中级教育工作者和学生提供了解量子信息科学原理和应用的机会；2)支持理解量子概念的适合发展的课堂资源；3)提高对量子智能和与量子信息科学相关的多样化职业机会的认识；以及4)增强学生和教育工作者对理解量子概念的信心。这个项目将提供会议和研讨会，扩大对量子物理的接触，以帮助改变量子信息科学只有物理专业的学生才能理解的看法。这些机会将使教育工作者能够回到他们的学校，准备立即利用经过适当审查的资源和可用的最新和相关的背景知识，让学生参与量子信息科学。这些会议将以加拿大和欧洲开发的量子信息科学材料为基础。会议和研讨会将帮助教育工作者创造有利于帮助学生更深入地欣赏量子信息科学及其基础科学的学习环境，从而增加量子智能毕业生的潜力。该项目得到了美国国家科学基金会的发现研究预科K-12(DRK-12)项目的支持，该项目位于教育与人力资源局。DRK-12旨在通过研究和开发创新的资源、模式和工具，显著提高K-12学前班学生和教师的科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)的学习和教学。DRK-12计划中的项目建立在STEM教育的基础研究和先前的研究和开发努力的基础上，这些研究和开发工作为拟议的项目提供了理论和经验证明。这个项目是由数学和物理科学局的材料研究部和物理部共同资助的。这个奖项反映了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。

The National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA) was signed in December 2018 to ensure the United States remains competitive in technology and quantum information science. Quantum information science is fundamental to technology (e.g., cell phones), national defense, navigation (e.g., GPS), energy systems, banking security, and more. It is critical for the future workforce to understand basic principles of quantum mechanics and exposure to that knowledge should begin in grades K-12. Currently, most U.S. educators lack content background and confidence in teaching quantum information science. Furthermore, not all K-12 students take physics (some schools don't even offer it) and even fewer will major in physics in college. Educators who recognize the relevance of quantum mechanics don't have adequate resources, curriculum, or content background to effectively introduce or teach quantum information science to students. This project brings quantum information science to the forefront with a focus on the future by supporting the pre-university pipeline, specifically secondary STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) educators, so they can prepare students to enter the workforce or universities, with a background in quantum.The primary objective of this project is to provide content and support for teachers to develop a sense of how quantum information science and technology will affect their students. The objectives include providing: 1) opportunities for secondary educators and students to understand principles and applications of quantum information science; 2) developmentally appropriate classroom resources which support understanding quantum concepts; 3) an increased awareness of quantum-smart and diverse career opportunities related to quantum information science; and 4) an increased confidence (students and educators) with regard to understanding quantum concepts. This project will provide conferences and workshops that will broaden exposure to quantum physics to help change the perception that quantum information science is something only physics majors can understand. These opportunities will allow educators to return to their schools prepared to immediately engage students in quantum information science using appropriately vetted resources and the most current and relevant background knowledge available. The conferences will build upon quantum information science materials developed in Canada and Europe. The conferences and workshops will help equip educators to create learning environments conducive to helping students gain a deeper appreciation for quantum information science and its fundamental science, thereby increasing the potential for quantum-smart graduates.This project is supported by NSF's Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) program, in the Directorate for Education & Human Resources. DRK-12 seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by preK-12 students and teachers through research and development of innovative resources, models and tools. Projects in the DRK-12 program build on fundamental research in STEM education and prior research and development efforts that provide theoretical and empirical justification for proposed projects. This project is co-funded by the Division of Materials Research and the Division of Physics in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences.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.