GigCity CS4All: Creating an Inclusive 21st Century Gig-Enabled Teaching and Learning Community

田纳西州查塔努加是十大快速增长的先进产业都会区之一，自2010年以来增加了3000多个高薪工作岗位，其中许多在技术部门。不幸的是，查塔努加没有一条地区课程路径，让学生准备好利用这些职业机会并在其中茁壮成长。通过该项目，田纳西查塔努加大学(UTC)将与汉密尔顿县学校(HCS)和查塔努加州立社区学院合作开发PreK-14计算机科学(CS)课程路径，该课程整合了正在进行的HCS倡议和全国各学区已实施的最佳实践。该项目团队将在八所学校实施该计划的小规模试点。他们将在试点结果的基础上完善该计划，并将创建一个可扩展的实施计划，扩大代表不足的群体、妇女和贫困农村学生对CS知识的参与。该项目将帮助HCS提高学生的学业成绩，让学生接触到高级课程，提高ACT分数，并提高地区毕业率。田纳西大学查塔努加大学将与汉密尔顿县学校(HCS)和查塔努加州立社区学院(Chattanooga State Community College)合作，正式建立GigCity CS4所有研究人员-从业者伙伴关系(RPP)。RPP将与利益攸关方一起开发和实施PreK-14计算机科学(CS)课程路径，该课程路径整合了正在进行的HCS倡议和在全国其他地区实施的最佳实践。该项目将分三个阶段进行。在第一阶段，项目负责人和利益攸关方将正式确定RPP，并根据正在进行的HCS规划以及实施当前CS路径的其他地区的最佳做法，起草GigCity PreK-14 CS/CT路径。在第二阶段，RPP将在代表不同学生群体的八所学校实施和评估CS路径的小规模试点。在第三阶段，课程发展计划会根据试验计划的结果，以及与教师组成的焦点小组，集中改善CS Path课程和专业发展模式。RPP还将制定一项全面的实施计划，在全区范围内推广示范，以及一份支持其他地区的复制指南。HCS教育的学生群体比州平均水平更多样化，该学区包括查塔努加的城市学校以及19所边远农村学校。领导团队将确保这种不同的声音在这个合作项目中得到体现，他们将创建一个融合计划，扩大代表不足的群体、妇女和弱势农村学生对CS/CT知识和技能的参与，这些知识和技能将可转移到广泛的学位课程和职业生涯中。这一项目有可能帮助学校提高学生的学业成绩和地区毕业率。这项研究还将为HCS学校正在进行的CS倡议的有效性以及成功整合CS的已知障碍提供新的知识。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Chattanooga, TN is among the top 10 fast-growing metro areas for advanced industries, having addedmore than 3,000 high-paying jobs since 2010, many of which are in the technology sector. Unfortunately, Chattanooga does not have a district course pathway to prepare students to take advantage of and thrive in these career opportunities. Through this project, University of Tennessee Chattanooga (UTC) will partner with Hamilton County Schools (HCS) and Chattanooga State Community College to develop a PreK-14 computer science (CS) course pathway that integrates ongoing HCS initiatives and best practices already in place in districts across the nation. The project team will implement a small pilot of the program in eight schools. They will refine the program based on the pilot outcomes, and they will create a scalable implementation plan that broadens the participation of underrepresented groups, women, and disadvantaged rural students in CS knowledge. This project will help HCS improve student academic achievement, expose students to advanced coursework, increase ACT scores, and improve district graduation rates. More broadly, this project will be instrumental in developing a much-needed workforce trained in the CS skills necessary to develop the next generation of technology-driven products and services across a range of sectors.University of Tennessee Chattanooga will partner with Hamilton County Schools (HCS) and Chattanooga State Community College to formalize a GigCity CS4All Researcher-Practitioner Partnership (RPP). Together with stakeholders, the RPP will develop and implement a PreK-14 computer science (CS) course pathway that integrates ongoing HCS initiatives and best practices implemented in other districts across the nation. The project will take place in three phases. In Phase 1, project leaders and stakeholders will formalize the RPP and draft a GigCity PreK-14 CS/CT Pathway based on ongoing HCS programming, as well as best practices from other districts implementing current CS pathways. In Phase 2, the RPP will implement and evaluate a small pilot of the CS pathway in eight schools representing diverse student populations. In Phase 3, the RPP will focus on refining the CS Pathway curriculum and professional development model based on results of the pilot and focus groups with teachers. The RPP will also create a comprehensive implementation plan to scale the model districtwide, as well as a replication guide to support other districts. HCS educates a student body that is more diverse than the state average, and the district includes urban schools in Chattanooga as well as 19 outlying rural schools. The leadership team will ensure that this diversity of voices are represented in this collaborative project, and they will create an integration plan that broadens the participation of underrepresented groups, women, and disadvantaged rural students in CS/CT knowledge and skills which will be transferrable to a wide spectrum of degree programs and careers. This project has the potential to help HCS improve student academic achievement and district graduation rates. The research will also contribute new knowledge towards the effectiveness of ongoing CS initiatives within HCS schools, as well as known barriers to successful CS integration.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.