Preparing Secondary Teachers to Teach Quantum Information Science

美国于2018年12月签署了《国家量子倡议法案》（NQIA），以确保美国在技术和量子信息科学方面保持竞争力。量子信息科学是技术的基础（例如，蜂窝电话），国防，导航（例如，全球定位系统），能源系统，银行安全，等等。 对于未来的劳动力来说，理解量子力学的基本原理是至关重要的，接触这些知识应该从K-12年级开始开始。目前，大多数美国教育工作者对量子信息科学的教学缺乏内容背景和信心。此外，并不是所有的K-12学生都学习物理（有些学校甚至不提供），更少的学生会在大学主修物理。认识到量子力学相关性的教育工作者没有足够的资源、课程或内容背景来有效地向学生介绍或教授量子信息科学。该项目通过支持大学预科课程，特别是中学STEM，将量子信息科学带到了最前沿，（科学，技术，工程和数学）教育工作者，这样他们就可以准备学生进入劳动力或大学，本项目的主要目标是为教师提供内容和支持，以培养量子信息如何在科学和技术会影响他们的学生。目标包括：1）中学教育工作者和学生理解量子信息科学原理和应用的机会; 2）支持理解量子概念的发展适当的课堂资源; 3）提高对量子智能和与量子信息科学相关的多样化职业机会的认识;以及4）提高（学生和教育工作者）对理解量子概念的信心。 该项目将提供会议和研讨会，这将扩大接触量子物理，以帮助改变量子信息科学是只有物理专业的人才能理解的看法。这些机会将使教育工作者能够回到他们的学校，准备立即利用适当审查的资源和最新和相关的背景知识让学生参与量子信息科学。这些会议将建立在加拿大和欧洲开发的量子信息科学材料的基础上。这些会议和研讨会将帮助教育工作者创造有利于帮助学生更深入地了解量子信息科学及其基础科学的学习环境，从而提高量子智能毕业生的潜力。该项目由美国国家科学基金会教育人力资源局的发现研究PreK-12（DRK-12）计划支持。DRK-12旨在通过研究和开发创新资源，模型和工具，显着提高preK-12学生和教师的科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）的学习和教学。DRK-12计划中的项目建立在STEM教育的基础研究和先前的研究和开发工作的基础上，这些研究和开发工作为拟议项目提供了理论和经验依据。 该项目由数学和物理科学理事会的材料研究部和物理部共同资助。该奖项反映了NSF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 National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA) was signed in December 2018 to ensure the United States remains competitive in technology and quantum information science. Quantum information science is fundamental to technology (e.g., cell phones), national defense, navigation (e.g., GPS), energy systems, banking security, and more. It is critical for the future workforce to understand basic principles of quantum mechanics and exposure to that knowledge should begin in grades K-12. Currently, most U.S. educators lack content background and confidence in teaching quantum information science. Furthermore, not all K-12 students take physics (some schools don't even offer it) and even fewer will major in physics in college. Educators who recognize the relevance of quantum mechanics don't have adequate resources, curriculum, or content background to effectively introduce or teach quantum information science to students. This project brings quantum information science to the forefront with a focus on the future by supporting the pre-university pipeline, specifically secondary STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) educators, so they can prepare students to enter the workforce or universities, with a background in quantum.The primary objective of this project is to provide content and support for teachers to develop a sense of how quantum information science and technology will affect their students. The objectives include providing: 1) opportunities for secondary educators and students to understand principles and applications of quantum information science; 2) developmentally appropriate classroom resources which support understanding quantum concepts; 3) an increased awareness of quantum-smart and diverse career opportunities related to quantum information science; and 4) an increased confidence (students and educators) with regard to understanding quantum concepts. This project will provide conferences and workshops that will broaden exposure to quantum physics to help change the perception that quantum information science is something only physics majors can understand. These opportunities will allow educators to return to their schools prepared to immediately engage students in quantum information science using appropriately vetted resources and the most current and relevant background knowledge available. The conferences will build upon quantum information science materials developed in Canada and Europe. The conferences and workshops will help equip educators to create learning environments conducive to helping students gain a deeper appreciation for quantum information science and its fundamental science, thereby increasing the potential for quantum-smart graduates.This project is supported by NSF's Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK-12) program, in the Directorate for Education & Human Resources. DRK-12 seeks to significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by preK-12 students and teachers through research and development of innovative resources, models and tools. Projects in the DRK-12 program build on fundamental research in STEM education and prior research and development efforts that provide theoretical and empirical justification for proposed projects. This project is co-funded by the Division of Materials Research and the Division of Physics in the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences.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.