The Cryptoclub: Cryptography and Mathematics Afterschool and Online

密码俱乐部：密码学和数学课外和在线是一个为期五年的项目，旨在向全国的中学生介绍密码学和数学。项目合作伙伴包括青年项目(YPP)、芝加哥科学和工业博物馆，以及屡获殊荣的教育软件设计和开发公司Eduweb。对年轻人的预期影响是提高对密码学的知识和兴趣，增加数学技能，并改善对数学的态度。次要受众是课外项目的领导者，他们将获得更多的密码学作为数学教学工具的意识，并将该项目用于他们的课外项目。项目交付内容包括在线活动、在线密码冒险游戏、交互式线下游戏、领导者手册和课后领导者培训研讨会。项目材料将与YPP工作人员合作开发，并于第三年在芝加哥的当地课后项目和YPP站点以及四个国家站点进行试点测试。实地测试和传播在第四年在芝加哥的当地地点和全国范围内进行，如课外项目、科学中心和社区项目。将提供6个为期3天的培训讲习班(3-5年级每年2个)，以培训课外领导人。预计该项目将惠及多达11 000名青年，包括城市环境中未得到充分服务的青年和275名专业工作人员。该项目产生的战略影响包括提高对密码学作为与数学有关的STEM专题的认识，以及更好地理解在非正式学习环境中整合和支持基于网络的和线下活动的有效战略。加密俱乐部项目有可能对年轻人及其对密码学的理解产生变革性的影响，并可能成为课外和辅导计划之间伙伴关系的全国典范。

The Cryptoclub: Cryptography and Mathematics Afterschool and Online is a five -year project designed to introduce middle school students across the country to cryptography and mathematics. Project partners include the Young Peoples Project (YPP), the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and Eduweb, an award-winning educational software design and development firm. The intended impacts on youth are to improve knowledge and interest in cryptography, increase skills in mathematics, and improve attitudes towards mathematics. The secondary audience is leaders in afterschool programs who will gain an increased awareness of cryptography as a tool for teaching mathematics and adopt the program for use in their afterschool programs. Project deliverables include online activities, online cryptography adventure games, interactive offline games, a leader's manual, and training workshops for afterschool leaders. The project materials will be developed in collaboration with YPP staff and pilot tested in Year 3 at local afterschool programs and YPP sites in Chicago in addition to four national sites. Field testing and dissemination occurs in Year 4 at both local sites in Chicago and national locations such as afterschool programs, science centers, and community programs. Six 3-day training workshops will be provided (2 per year in Years 3-5) to train afterschool leaders. It is anticipated that this project will reach up to 11,000 youth, including underserved youth in urban settings, and 275 professional staff. Strategic impact resulting from this project includes increased awareness of cryptography as a STEM topic with connections to mathematics as well a greater understanding of effective strategies for integrating and supporting web-based and offline activities within informal learning settings. The Cryptoclub project has the potential to have a transformative impact on youth and their understanding of cryptography and may serve as a national model for partnerships between afterschool and mentoring programs.