Quantum information science (QIS) undergirds a set of critical technologies that will affect information security, smart phones, computers, and other widely used technology. There is a broad need to develop a "quantum smart" workforce in addition to traditional STEM fields, and this development needs to occur in precollege education. The US National Science Foundation has funded the Quantum for All project to provide professional development opportunities for STEM educators to learn about QIS and how to implement it in the classroom. The teacher professional development is tied to summer camp experience for students during which the teachers can test their delivery of the material with students in the summer camp. In this paper we will discuss the outcomes for students in the summer camp for the various content areas presented and relate that back to results of research on teachers and their performance in the professional development experience.
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THE QUANTUM FOR ALL PROJECT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODEL AND THE EFFECT ON CLASSROOM IMPLEMENTATION
The adoption of innovations in science education into classroom instruction always presents a challenge, particularly if the innovation involves content that is unfamiliar to the teacher. Teachers need adequate instructional materials and supplies as well as professional development on their use in the classroom. Quantum information science (QIS) is a rapidly developing field that has significant implications across many areas, not just science. The US National Science Foundation funded a project to meet the challenge of providing teachers the resources and support they need to take QIS into high school classrooms. We will discuss the professional development model developed by our project and report on the effect on classroom implementation by teachers who have participated in the program. The major innovation in our model for professional development is that the teacher professional development is tied to summer camp experience for students during which the teachers can test their delivery of the material with students in the summer camp. We will report on the growth of teacher and student knowledge around QIS topics based of data collected during the teacher workshop and the subsequent summer camp. We will also present evidence that the summer camp was an important factor for the teachers when considering if and how to use the QIS materials in their regular classrooms
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- Award ID(s):
- 2048691
- PAR ID:
- 10661675
- Publisher / Repository:
- IATED
- Date Published:
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 6983 to 6987
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Quantum Information Science, Teacher Professional Development.
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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