Introducing Computing and Technology Through Problem-Solving and Discrete Math

Robert Sinkovits, University of California, San Diego

0000-0001-7377-9762

ACCESS Allocation Request TRA200017

Abstract: Mathematics is usually taught using a traditional pencil-and-paper approach and frequently lacks real-world contextual referents, leading to a sense of alienation among secondary students and missed opportunities to advance students’ mathematical and computational thinking. In contrast, many real-world problems require mathematical solutions that are often of such a scale that they can only be solved using computational techniques, but require powerful ways of thinking that span the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematical Practices (MP) and Computer Science Principles (CSP). To address these issues, we are hosting a two-week summer institute for 20 high school discrete math teachers and a one-week summer academy for 22-40 high school students entering their senior year in Fall 2020. The teachers and students will be introduced to python programming, technology and discrete math topics by running notebooks on a JupyterHub instance hosted on JetStream. After the summer institute and academy finish, the teachers will continue to develop their own projects that will be implemented in their classrooms. The program is being jointly led by Robert Sinkovits (PI of allocations request and co-PI of the DoD funded project supporting this work) at the San Diego Supercomputer Center and Osvaldo Soto (PI of the DoD award) at the UC San Diego Math Project. Sinkovits will have primary responsibility for the computational training and exercises; Soto will have primary responsibility for the math content. Summer institute for teachers: http://education.sdsc.edu/studenttech/?page_id=3838 Summer academy for students: http://education.sdsc.edu/studenttech/?page_id=3907 Programming exercises: https://github.com/sinkovit/Discrete-Math-Project

Allocations:

2020 IU/TACC (Jetstream) 52,560.0 SUs
The estimated value of these awarded resources is $1,051.20. The allocation of these resources represents a considerable investment by the NSF in advanced computing infrastructure for the U.S. The dollar value of the allocation is estimated from the NSF awards supporting the allocated resources.
There are no other allocations for this project.

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