QSEC research groups, led by Dr. Nancy Holincheck and Dr. Weiwen Jiang, has been recently awarded for research funds by NSF on quantum teaching and learning in elementary classrooms and college, correspondingly.
QSEC faculty member and Assiciate Education Director Dr. Nancy Holincheck, Assistant Professor of Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning, received funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the project: “EAGER: Quantum is Elementary: Quantum Teaching and Learning in Elementary Classrooms” in collaboration with Dr. Jessica Rosenberg and Dr. Benjamin Dreyfus, both Associate Professors of Physics and Astronomy.
The researchers will study how elementary teachers and students learn quantum science, quantum thinking, and careers. They will identify the knowledge base required for elementary teachers and students to learn quantum science and explore how elementary students and teachers conceptualize and make sense of quantum science concepts. The project will also examine how elementary teachers adapt, develop, and implement quantum curricular materials for use in their classrooms. This two-year project will engage 10 elementary teachers and more than 400 elementary students in quantum learning experiences, which will serve as a first effort to understand how elementary teachers develop their knowledge and conceptualization of quantum ideas and pedagogy for the elementary classroom. By opening the door to research on quantum education at the elementary level, this project will create opportunities for diverse learners to engage with quantum concepts and applications and get excited about this upcoming area of future opportunities.
The goals of this project are to:
- Engage elementary teachers in quantum learning experiences.
- Develop elementary quantum curricular materials.
- Develop understanding of how quantum concepts and applications can be taught at the elementary level.
On the other end of education, QSEC faculty member Dr. Weiwen Jiang, Assitant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has also been awarded with NSF funding for the project: “CyberTraining: Pilot: Quantum Research Workforce Development on End-to-End Quantum Systems Integration” in collaboration with Dr. Jessica Rosenberg and Dr. Mingzhen Tian, both Associate Professors of Physics and Astronomy.
Jiang has collaborated with Leidos and IBM on quantum research projects, both of which have needs in the field of quantum workforce development, alongside with other pioneers of this industry.The faculty members in this research will develop a new course at Mason, organizing workshops at the IEEE International International Conference on Quantum Computing in September (where Jiang is the quantum system track co-chair), and conducting tutorials at international conferences. In addition, in the coming months, the team will be conducting seminars at a variety of minority-serving institutions in the Greater DC region.
In another recent NSF award, Jiang also lead the effort to develop an integrated framework for enabling temporal-reliable quantum learning on NISQ-era devices.
For more information, please visit QSEC Grants or contact us directly (qsec@gmu.edu).