EAGER: Building an Ecosystem for Broadening Participation for Computing: 4-H and the Land-Grant University System

内布拉斯加大学林肯分校（UNL）与国家4-H委员会合作，提出了一个项目，通过利用创业模式和工具，让赠地大学（lgu）的计算机科学（CS）教师和部门参与4-H项目，促进有效实践，扩大课外时间项目中计算机（BPC）的参与。该项目与美国国家科学基金会计算机与信息科学与工程理事会（CISE）的努力相一致，该理事会致力于让其首席研究员（pi）及其学术部门参与有意义的BPC活动。它将推进关于发展可持续生态系统的知识，以便在农村青年、经济弱势背景的青年、女孩、少数民族（特别是非洲裔美国人、西班牙裔美国人和美洲印第安人）和残疾青年中传播和促进计算素养。这个生态系统包括全国青年组织（如4-H）、公司（如b谷歌、微软）、地方政府部门的计算机系和K-12学校。这一项目将涉及由国家经济和社会政策研究所资助的pi和四个地方政府单位的4-H单位，以实现三个目标：实施和评估BPC的协作战略规划和资源开发流程，该流程涉及LGU CS部门和四个合作州的4-H项目。4-H项目将与当地CS部门合作，根据各自的优势，共同制定和实施BPC计划。吸取的经验教训将作为其他CS部门的行动模式加以调整和分享。2. 通过开发支持计算机科学的公平性和包容性以及发展计算思维的额外资源，扩展现有的计算机科学专业发展工具包。3. 扩大对LGU CS部门和全国4-H计划开发的战略模型和工具的访问。现有的4-H数字渠道（包括BPCnet.org和其他）与科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）专业人士的沟通将被用来接触更广泛的受众。研究问题将包括：CS部门和州4-H项目在制定州内BPC合作行动计划时面临的挑战和机遇是什么？CS部门和州4-H项目在制定和执行该计划时需要哪些资源支持？专业发展的混合学习模式对4-H专业人员、教育工作者、大学生和促进CS体验的志愿者的信心和能力有什么影响？该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), in collaboration with the National 4-H Council, proposes a project to advance effective practices for broadening participation in computing (BPC) in out-of-school-time programs by engaging computer science (CS) faculty and departments at land-grant universities (LGUs) in 4-H programs using entrepreneurial models and tools. The project is aligned with the National Science Foundation's Computer and Information Science and Engineering Directorate's (CISE) effort to engage its Principal Investigators (PIs) and their academic departments in meaningful BPC activities. It will advance knowledge on developing a sustainable ecosystem for dissemination and promotion of computational literacy among rural youth, youth from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, girls, minorities (particularly African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and American Indians), and youth with disabilities. The ecosystem comprises national youth organizations (e.g., 4-H), corporations (e.g., Google, Microsoft), CS departments at LGUs, and K-12 schools. This project will involve CISE-funded PIs and the 4-H units at four LGUs to achieve three objectives: 1. Implement and assess a collaborative strategic planning and resource development process for BPC that engages LGU CS departments and 4-H programs in four partner states. 4-H programs will collaborate with their local CS departments to collaboratively develop and implement a plan for BPC that builds on their specific strengths. Lessons learned will be adapted and shared as models for action for other CS departments. 2. Expand an existing Computer Science Professional Development Toolkit by developing additional resources for supporting equity and inclusion in CS and developing computational thinking. 3. Expand access to the developed strategic models and tools for LGU CS departments and 4-H programs across the country. Existing communication with 4-H digital channels that reach Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professionals, including BPCnet.org and others, will be used to reach a wider audience.Research questions will include: What are the challenges and opportunities for CS departments and state 4-H programs as they create a collaborative plan of action for BPC in their state? What resources are needed to support CS departments and state 4-H programs as they create and execute this plan? and What is the impact of a blended learning model of professional development on the confidence and competence of 4-H professionals, educators, university students and volunteers who facilitate CS experiences?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.