Fostering Computer Science and AI Learning through Youth-Led Conversational App Development Experiences

计算技能对于21世纪的劳动力发展至关重要，人工智能（AI）越来越成为计算丰富的职业的中心。为了保持在全球技术的前沿，美国需要具备这些技能的多元化劳动力。有大量有才华的学习者，他们目前在发展教育兴趣和职业身份的关键年龄段没有获得计算机科学和人工智能学习机会。K-12期间的经历对这些身份和由此产生的职业道路选择有重大影响。该项目将吸引佛罗里达阿拉楚阿县历史上被边缘化的中学生参加暑期课程，教授他们计算机科学和人工智能概念。通过以开发对话AI为中心的真实探究过程，让用户参与对话的口语技术，学生将调查并创建创新的计算应用程序。年轻的学习者将有机会发展各种个人相关项目的设计和实施技能，包括语音助手，问答系统和游戏。这些项目可以提供有意义的参与，有可能改变中学生看待计算和人工智能职业的方式。该项目由学生和教师创新技术体验（ITEST）计划资助，该计划支持建立对实践，计划元素，背景和过程的理解的项目，有助于增加学生对科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）以及信息和通信技术（ICT）职业的知识和兴趣。在这个项目中，210名来自不同的、服务不足的学校的学生将参加为期两周的暑期体验，学习计算机科学和对话式人工智能开发。课程设计以兴趣发展的四阶段过程模型为理论框架，从最初的情境兴趣到最终发展良好的个人兴趣。来自佛罗里达大学的计算机科学和教育技术研究人员将调查以下首要研究问题：围绕口语对话应用程序的夏季开发体验可以通过哪些方式促进中学生在计算和与STEM职业相关的兴趣和身份形成的社会情感结果方面的认知成果？该项目将使用混合方法的研究设计来测试假设，即学生将实现显着的知识增益测量前/后测试计算机科学概念，学生将显示在使用以用户为中心的设计实践的进展，证明了源代码分析和映射的原型和用户测试过程中，他们承担。该项目还将测试假设，即学生将显示对STEM职业的认同感和兴趣形成显着增加。研究小组将分析合作和参与的模式，以解释为什么学习经验支持这些成果。该项目将回答关于如何让中学生学习人工智能以及可以实现什么类型的学习成果的重要研究问题。这项研究有可能在计算机科学和K-12人群会话应用的背景下揭示人工智能教育的新兴领域。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Computing skills are essential for 21st-century workforce development, and artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly at the center of computationally rich careers. To remain at the forefront of global technology, the US needs a diverse workforce prepared with these skills. There is a tremendous pool of talented learners who are currently not given access to computer science and AI learning opportunities during the critical ages when they develop educational interests and career identities. Experiences during K-12 have a significant impact on those identities and resulting career path choices. This project will engage historically marginalized middle school students in Alachua County, Florida in a summer program that teaches them computer science and AI concepts. Through an authentic inquiry process centered on developing conversational AI, spoken technologies that engage users in conversation, students will investigate and create innovative computational applications. Young learners will have the opportunity to develop skills in the design and implementation of a variety of personally relevant projects including speech assistants, question-answering systems, and games. These projects can offer meaningful engagement that has the potential to transform the way middle school students view computing and AI careers. This project is funded by the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program, which supports projects that build understandings of practices, program elements, contexts and processes contributing to increasing students' knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communication technology (ICT) careers. In this project, 210 students from diverse, underserved schools with limited access to AI and computer science will engage in two-week summer experiences to learn computer science and conversational AI development. The curriculum design is guided by the theoretical framework of a four-phase process model of interest development from initial situational interest to the eventual well-developed individual interest. Researchers in computer science and educational technology from the University of Florida will investigate the following overarching research question: In what ways can a summer development experience around spoken conversational apps foster middle school students' cognitive outcomes around computing and social-emotional outcomes of interest and identity formation related to STEM careers? The project will use a mixed-method research design to test the hypothesis that students will achieve significant knowledge gain as measured on a pre/post-test for computer science concepts, and that students will show a progression in the use of user-centered design practices as evidenced by source code analysis and mapping both the prototyping and user testing processes they undertake. The project will also test the hypothesis that students will display a significantly increased sense of identity and interest formation toward STEM careers. The research team will analyze patterns of collaboration and participation to explain why the learning experience supports these outcomes. The project will answer important research questions on how to engage middle school students in learning AI and what type of learning outcomes are achievable. This research has the potential to shed light on the emerging field of AI education within the context of computer science and conversational applications for the K-12 population.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.