Fostering elementary students' computing career aspirations through a physiological computing curriculum

通过生理计算课程培养小学生的计算职业抱负

• 批准号: 2342738
• 负责人: Feiya Luo
• 金额: $ 112.57万
• 依托单位: University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2024
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2024-05-15 至 2027-04-30
• 项目状态: 未结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2342738&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Fostering; elementary; students; computing; career

Every day, advanced applications of physiological computing such as wearable technologies (e.g., smartwatches) and brain-computer interfaces are reshaping our lives and pushing new scientific frontiers. Advancements in the human-technology frontier demand the readiness of next-generation scientists who can further develop and test such technologies. Yet, regions of our nation are experiencing a significant shortage of qualified job candidates. This ITEST design and development project tackles the challenge of workforce development in the state of Alabama, by creating a physiological computing curriculum for upper elementary school children enrolled in afterschool settings. Participating children will measure their own physiological data (such as muscle energy) and design computer programs that react to their data in real time. Through the curriculum and extracurricular activities, the project also exposes participating children and their families to emerging computing careers. By focusing on how participation impacts children’s career aspirations and confidence for learning STEM, the project has the potential to inform current understanding of the barriers, challenges, and successes young learners experience during physiological computing and how their conceptual understanding of foundational computer science concepts evolves. Anticipating that future generations of engineers and scientists will need skills related to creating computer applications and programs associated with human movements and emotions via electrical activity, this three-year project will develop and iteratively implement a standards-aligned, physiological computing curriculum with a disciplinary literacy approach that encourages career exploration and critical thinking. The project uses design-based implementation research to examine its hypothesis that participation in the physiological computing environment and related career enrichment activities will enhance elementary students’ conceptual understanding of computer science, self-efficacy for learning STEM, and STEM career aspirations. The project aims to enroll over 100 elementary students and prepare 20 (in-service and pre-service) teachers through professional development to enhance teachers’ technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge to lead the lessons. Data sources include teacher focus groups, student surveys and interviews, students’ conceptual drawings and design blueprints, and eye gaze and scan paths during on-screen problem-solving tasks. This project is funded by the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program, which supports projects that build understandings of practices, program elements, contexts and processes contributing to increasing students' knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communication technology (ICT) careers.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.

每天，生理计算的高级应用，如可穿戴技术（例如，智能手表）和脑机接口正在重塑我们的生活，并推动新的科学前沿。人类技术前沿的进步需要下一代科学家做好准备，他们可以进一步开发和测试这些技术。然而，我们国家的一些地区正经历着合格求职者的严重短缺。这个ITEST设计和开发项目解决了劳动力发展的挑战，在亚拉巴马州，通过创建一个生理计算课程的小学高年级儿童参加课外设置。参与的孩子将测量他们自己的生理数据（例如肌肉能量）并设计计算机程序来对他们的数据做出真实的反应。通过课程和课外活动，该项目还使参与的儿童及其家庭接触到新兴的计算机职业。通过关注参与如何影响儿童的职业抱负和学习STEM的信心，该项目有可能告知目前对生理计算期间年轻学习者所经历的障碍，挑战和成功的理解，以及他们对基础计算机科学概念的概念理解如何演变。预计未来几代的工程师和科学家将需要通过电活动创建与人类运动和情感相关的计算机应用程序和程序的技能，这个为期三年的项目将开发和迭代实施一个标准一致的生理计算课程，采用学科素养方法，鼓励职业探索和批判性思维。该项目使用基于设计的实施研究来检验其假设，即参与生理计算环境和相关的职业充实活动将增强小学生对计算机科学的概念理解，学习STEM的自我效能和STEM职业抱负。该项目旨在招收100多名小学生，通过专业发展培养20名（在职和职前）教师，以提高教师的技术、教学和内容知识，从而领导课程。数据来源包括教师焦点小组，学生调查和访谈，学生的概念图和设计蓝图，以及在屏幕上解决问题的任务中的眼睛注视和扫描路径。该项目由学生和教师创新技术体验（ITEST）计划资助，该计划支持建立对实践，计划元素，背景和过程的理解的项目，有助于增加学生对科学，技术，工程，信息和通信技术（ICT）该奖项反映了NSF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。