CRII: CNS: RUI: Developing Computational Skills in Non-Computing Professionals using an Informal Learning Approach

麦卡莱斯特学院将利用图书馆作为邀请和包容性的空间，为双城地区的劳动力专业人士提供非正式学习机会。了解劳动力中的非计算成年人提供了许多机会来设计和开发不同于K-12计划的非正式学习计划。PI和她的团队将利用该地区的多样性，其独特的地理位置，以及Macalester College的文科设置，为不同的劳动力专业人士举办研讨会，通过编程活动学习计算技能。参与者将参加每周一次的研讨会，最终形成一个工件，目的是扩大他们对计算的兴趣，超越最初的探索。该项目将有助于通过终身学习的角度，从管道的不同部分增加计算劳动力的目标。在项目期间，该项目还将通过分享来自研讨会的开源材料，建立社区，并指导来自不同背景的新兴学者来做出贡献。遵循基于设计的研究方法，该项目将开发一个非正式的学习研讨会系列，为双子城的各种劳动力专业人员提供计算技能。研究目标包括：（a）确定双城地区非计算机专业人员的需求，并利用麦卡莱斯特学院图书馆创造非正式的学习空间;（B）设计，开发和实施两个非正式学习研讨会经验的实例;（c）使用我们最初的心理结构以及技能获得的行为指标评估影响;（d）进行大规模的调查研究，以改善仪器的心理测量特性。通过在车间空间的实证调查，该项目将有助于计算教育研究，为老年人的非正式学习计划的设计创建模型，并探讨这个研究较少的人口的需求。实证调查将在图书馆进行，在那里，研讨会将在学年期间与不同的劳动力专业人士举行。将收集课堂观察、调查、访谈和项目工件，以调查研讨会参与者如何参与研讨会并获得技能。更重要的是，纵向的方法将重新审视他们的计算之旅，以更好地了解他们的计算追求后，研讨会。这个项目将导致三个主要的研究成果：（a）一个概念模型，试图在更广泛的计算管道的背景下解开这一研究不足的人群;（B）一个心理结构的完善和验证，旨在通过实施讲习班来衡量一个人对更复杂的计算追求的适应或取向;以及（c）为希望实施这些具体计划的从业者提供设计建议。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。

Macalester College will leverage libraries as inviting and inclusive spaces to deliver informal learning opportunities for workforce professionals in the Twin Cities area. Understanding non-computing adults in the workforce presents many opportunities to design and develop informal learning programs that differ from K-12 programs.. The PI and her team will harness the diversity of the region, its unique geographic location, as well as Macalester College’s liberal arts setting, to host workshops for diverse workforce professionals to learn Computing skills through programming activities. Participants will engage in weekly workshop sessions that culminate in an artifact with the goal of expanding their interests in Computing beyond this initial exploration. This project will contribute to the goal of increasing the Computing workforce from a different part of the pipeline through a lifelong learning perspective. During the project, the project will also contribute by sharing open-source materials from the workshops, building community, and mentor emerging scholars from diverse backgrounds.Following a design-based research approach, this project will develop an informal learning workshop series that centers Computing skills for diverse workforce professionals in the Twin Cities. The research objectives include: (a) identifying the needs of non-computing professionals in the Twin Cities area and utilize the Macalester College Library to create informal learning spaces; (b) design, develop, and implement two instances of an informal learning workshop experience; (c) evaluating the impacts using our initial psychological construct as well as behavioral indicators of skill gains; (d) deploying a large scale survey study to refine the psychometric properties of instrument. Through empirical investigations in the workshop spaces, this project will contribute to computing education research by creating models for design of informal learning programs for older adults and explore the needs of this less studied population. Empirical investigations will take place in libraries where the workshops will be hosted during the academic year with a diverse group of workforce professionals. Classroom observations, surveys, interviews, and project artifacts will be collected to investigate how workshop participants engaged in the workshop and came about skill gains. More importantly, a longitudinal approach will revisit their Computing journeys to better understand their computational pursuits after the workshops. This project will lead to three major research outcomes: (a) a conceptual model that seeks to unpack this understudied population in the context of the broader Computing pipeline; (b) the refinement and validation of a psychological construct that aims to measure one’s acclimation or orientation toward more computationally-sophisticated pursuits through the implementation of the workshops; and (c) design recommendations for practitioners looking to implement these specific programs.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.