DIScovery SciEnce through Computational Thinking (DISSECT)

1. DIScoverySciEnce through Computational Thinking (DISSECT) Enrico Pontelli

2. What is NSF? • DISSECT – grant from the National Science Foundation • An independent federal agency • created by Congress in 1950 • "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense…” • NSF grants funding to institutions to promote innovation, education and progress

3. What is GK-12? • NSF Graduate STEM Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) • Supports fellowships and training for graduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) • Interactions with teachers and students in K-12 schools • Improve communication and teaching skills • Enrich STEM content and instruction for their K-12 partners

4. What is GK-12? • Create a coherent program • Enable Fellows to expand their research and skills • Target a specific K-12 intervention • Fellowships for Graduate Students • 1 or 2 years • $30,000 per year + some support for tuitions and fees • Stipends for Teachers

5. What is DISSECT? • NMSU’s GK-12 Effort • 3 to 5 years program • 4 to 9 fellows per year • 9 teachers per year • DISSECT = DIScoverSciEnce through Computational Thinking

6. The “Spirit” of DISSECT • Core motivation • Computer Science is a pervasivescience“All Science is Computer Science” • Yet • Science is not taught with this perspective • Computer scientists are not trained with this perspective

7. The “Spirit” of DISSECT • Overarching goals • Create a new generation of computer scientists • Nurture a broad view of CS research as instrument for progress in diverse scientific disciplines • Prepare CS researchers to be effective in such a broader area

8. The “Spirit” of DISSECT • Create new strategies to teach a more modern science • Develop computational skills • Explore science through computational views

9. Our Concrete Goals • Fellows goals • Expand their research reach • Computational research: explore integration with other disciplines (within and outside of computing) • Non-computational research: expand enhanced use of computational methods • Enhance communication skills • Training in pedagogical methods • Training and practice in delivery scientific content to a diverse and broad audience

10. Our Concrete Goals • Instructor goals • Training in computational thinking and computational methods • Assistance and support in introducing computational components in science courses • Development of long-term methods to expand students’ preparation in computational thinking

11. Your Role: DISSECT Fellow • You are the scientists • Share your research expertise among yourselves • Learn new techniques and technologies, explore collaborations among yourselves • Explore how to apply your collaborative research knowledge to bring computational thinking in K-12 science classes • Create educational modules and materials • Assist in training instructors and students • Learn new things, work as a team, have fun! • More about expectations later on…

12. Your Role: DISSECT Teacher • You are the educational experts • Share your expertise in K-12 systems, educational methods and practices • Share your expertise in Science education and standards • Learn computational thinking and methods • Collaborate in developing new modules and materials for Science education based on computational methods

13. Why are we here today? • Preliminary training workshop • Learn about DISSECT • Meet the team members • Start planning the semester activities • The first of a series of meetings