CryptoClub Afterschool and Online: Broad Implementation

作为加强非正式环境中学习的总体战略的一部分，推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）项目资助了用于各种环境的研究和创新资源。这个广泛实施的项目将扩大CryptoClub项目，这是一个课后和在线项目，旨在吸引中学生学习数学和密码学。该项目以以往成功的工作和评估为基础，准备通过与国家女童合作组织合作实施的培训师培训模式扩大规模。该项目将培训160名新的加密俱乐部领导者，然后他们将在20个中心站点培训800名新领导者，覆盖9600名学生。此外，专业发展模块和网络研讨会将继续刷新领导技能。其他项目的组成部分包括在线多人密码游戏，每周通过社交媒体挑战，以及为学生提供数字密码徽章。这项研究使用了一种有声思考的方法，让学生们尝试用数学思维来解决密码学问题。项目期间将进行三项有声思维研究。研究小组将对访谈记录进行编码，以证明每项活动要解决的数学思维，以及捕捉意想不到的思维类型。任务也将根据所获得的知识类型进行评分。一份书面报告将包括对大声思考和采访回应的统计分析，并根据CryptoClub的总体目标进行解释。这些发现将有助于未来的研究工作和实践。EDC的评估采用准实验设计，评估培训师、领导者、学生和互联网用户的项目成果。EDC还将调查加密俱乐部模型在扩大规模时的保真度。这些研究具有很强的潜力，可以为许多其他正处于考虑扩大规模阶段的项目提供信息。

As a part of its overall strategy to enhance learning in informal environments, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program funds research and innovative resources for use in a variety of settings. This Broad Implementation project would scale up the CryptoClub Project, an afterschool and online program designed to engage middle school youth in mathematics and cryptography. The project builds on previous successful work and evaluation that is ready for scale up using a train-the-trainer model implemented through a partnership with the National Girls Collaborative. The project will train 160 new CryptoClub leaders who will then train 800 new leaders at 20 hub sites reaching 9600 students. In addition, professional development modules and webinars will continue to refresh leader skills. Other project components include an online multiplayer cryptography game, weekly challenges through social media, and digital cryptology badges for students. The research uses a think-aloud method with students as they actually attempt to solve the cryptology problems using mathematical thinking. Three think-aloud studies will be performed during the Project. The research team will code transcripts of the interviews for evidence of the mathematical thinking intended to be addressed by each activity, as well as capturing unexpected kinds of thinking. Tasks will also be rated according to the type of knowledge elicited. A written report will include statistical analyses of the think-aloud and interview responses, interpreted in light of the overall CryptoClub goals. The findings will contribute to both future research efforts and practice. The evaluation by EDC uses a quasi-experimental design, which assesses project outcomes for trainers, leaders, students, and Internet users. EDC will also investigate the fidelity to the CryptoClub model as it is scaled up. These studies have strong potential for informing numerous other projects that are at a stage where scale up is under consideration.