CI-TEAM: Pathways to CyberInfrastructure

利用计算科学的工具、技术和技术来提供上下文丰富的计算和协作体验，Pathways to CyberInfrastructure是Shodor与北卡罗来纳中央大学、达勒姆公立学校和Sigma Xi科学研究协会的合作项目。为学生和他们的老师开辟了学习和使用网络基础设施的新途径。工作坊、学徒制和实习复制和调整了Shodor行之有效的方法，结合了动手探索和互动模拟，以吸引长期以来未被充分代表的群体进入科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）的学习和职业。从事当前CI技术研究和应用的科学家通过提供网格媒介的CybAdventures来展示他们的工作，从而激发人们对科学和技术的兴趣。然后，学生将获得使用CI技术的经验，例如模拟、复杂数据集的科学可视化、集群和网格计算、分布式数据库以及AccessGrid等协作工具。通过国家计算科学研究所（NCSI）培训的在职和职前教师指导模式识别和表征活动。来自Sigma Xi的科学家和学生及教师参与者展示了真正专业知识的能力，为那些刚刚开始走上这些道路的人提供指导。此外，西格玛十一世教育委员会监督该项目的评估，并提供了一个额外的机制，通过社会各分会传播结果。这种方法将CI的影响扩展到其他几代学习者。学生活动的课程利用了Shodor的计算科学教育参考台（CSERD），这是国家科学数字图书馆（NSDL）的一个路径项目。更广泛的影响：在计算科学、数学和工程方面的探索使用网络基础设施的工具来探索网络基础设施的奇迹。城市社区中心转变为非正式的科学教育场所，吸引长期未被充分代表的群体的个人考虑科学、数学、工程和技术方面的学习和职业。“通往网络基础设施之路”将在职和职前教师的专业发展结合起来，利用非正式教育环境掌握信息基础设施技能，然后实施这些技能，以改善所有学生的正式和非正式学习机会。采用快速原型、部署和迭代改进的理念，第一年在一个城市社区的社区中心和学校对学生和教师的材料和活动进行了测试，第二年在另外五个城市进行了测试。最佳实践被纳入了中央理工大学的职前教育课程，在“参与网络基础设施”（EPIC）项目的新虚拟学院中分享，并通过NCSI工作坊传播。改进的计算科学教育材料保存在NSDL/CSERD中。

Harnessing the tools, techniques, and technologies of computational science to provide context-rich computing and collaboration experiences, Pathways to CyberInfrastructure is a partnership of Shodor with North Carolina Central University, the Durham Public Schools, and Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society. New pathways to learning and working with cyberinfrastructure are opened for students and their teachers. Workshops, apprenticeships, and internships replicate and adapt Shodor's proven approach combining hands-on exploration and interactive simulations to attract longstanding underrepresented groups into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) studies and careers. Scientists engaged in current research and application of CI technologies help spark excitement about science and technology by providing grid-mediated CybAdventures showcasing their work. Students then gain experience in using CI technologies such as simulations, scientific visualizations of complex datasets, cluster and grid computing, distributed databases, and collaborative tools such as AccessGrid. In-service and pre-service teachers trained through the National Computational Science Institute (NCSI) guide activities in pattern recognition and characterization. Scientists from Sigma Xi and student and teacher participants who demonstrate the capacity for real expertise serve as mentors for others who are just beginning on these pathways. In addition, the Sigma Xi Committee on Education oversees the evaluation of the project, providing an additional mechanism for disseminating the results through the chapters of the society. This approach extends the impact of CI to additional generations of learners. Curricula for student activities exploit Shodor's Computational Science Education Reference Desk (CSERD), a Pathway project of the National Science Digital Library (NSDL).Broader Impact: Explorations in computational science, math and engineering use the tools of cyberinfrastructure to explore the wonders of cyberinfrastructure. Urban community centers transform into informal science education settings attracting individuals from longstanding underrepresented groups to consider studies and careers in science, math, engineering, and technology. Pathways to Cyberinfrastructure combines professional development for in-service and pre-service teachers using informal educational settings to master CI skills that can then be implemented to improve both formal and informal learning opportunities for all students. Adapting a philosophy of rapid prototype, deployment, and iterative improvement, materials and activities for students and their teachers are tested in community centers and schools in one urban community the first year, and up to five additional cities in the second. Best practices are incorporated into pre-service education classes at NCCU, shared in the new virtual institutes of the Engaging People In CyberInfrastructure (EPIC) project, and disseminated through NCSI workshops. Improved computational science education materials are maintained in NSDL/CSERD.