Growing Computer Science Literacy via Informal Learning Communities among Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Men and Women

作为加强非正式环境中学习的整体战略的一部分，推进非正式STEM学习（AISL）计划资助创新研究，方法和资源，用于各种环境。这个试点和可行性研究项目将设计和研究计算机科学教育计划在三个纽约州监狱和尖端的计算机科学学习空间在纽约市和本宁顿，VT为最近释放的男子和妇女。这两个投资场所的设计和运营目标是将监狱内和释放后的非正式STEM教育联系起来。该项目旨在帮助被监禁和以前被监禁的男女获得计算机科学方面的实践经验和技术熟练度。该项目还将帮助人们建立有效的途径，将监狱中的培训和非正式学习社区与监狱后的专业和教育成功联系起来。该研究将研究非正式STEM学习如何1）为监禁和监禁后人口提供进入计算机科学和技术专业的更有效途径，以及2）帮助振兴与高监禁率和高成年人受惩教监督率作斗争的社区。研究结果将通过现有的网络、学术和新闻出版物以及会议在STEM学习社区和监狱教育工作者之间共享。作为一个试点项目，该项目旨在制定一个全面、严格、和可转移的模式，可用作其他监狱教育计划以及在美国各地的农村和城市社区的资源，寻求解决后，该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的知识产权评估的支持。优点和更广泛的影响审查标准。

As part of its overall strategy to enhance learning in informal environments, the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program funds innovative research, approaches, and resources for use in a variety of settings. This Pilots and Feasibility Studies project will design and study computer science education programs in three New York State prisons and cutting-edge computer science learning spaces in New York City and Bennington, VT for recently released men and women. These two sites of investment will be designed and operated with the goals of bridging informal STEM education inside the prison and post-release. The project aims to help incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men and women gain hands-on experience and technical fluency in computer science. The project will also help people build effective pathways that link training and informal learning communities in prison to professional and educational success after prison.The research will examine how informal STEM learning can 1) provide incarcerated and post-incarceration populations more effective pathways into computer science and technology professions, and 2) help revitalize neighborhoods struggling with high rates of incarceration and high rates of adults under correctional supervision. Results will be shared among the STEM learning community and prison educators through existing networks, scholarly and journalistic publications, and conferences. As a pilot program, this project aims to develop a comprehensive, rigorous, and transferable model that may be used as a resource in other prison education programs as well as in rural and urban communities across the United States seeking to address economic and educational inequalities of post-incarceration life.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.