Advanced Learning Technologies: Opportunities and Challenges

Dragana BrzakovicNational Science FoundationOffice of the Director/Office of Integrative Activitiesdbrzakov@nsf.govOIA URL: http://nsf.gov/od/oia

The Big Picture

Good news-opportunitiesEducation, innovation and technology are high

priorities for current administration

Not so good news—challengeBudgetary issues

Technology in EducationBroad Understanding

Computers/wired classroomDistance educationVirtual schoolsCollaboration over networkBENEFITS: access, flexibility, personalized

education, lifelong educationCHALLENGE: requires rethinking education

Change does not come easy

‘’Students today depend to paper too much. They don’t know how to write on a slate without getting chalk dust all over themselves. They can’t clean a slate properly. What will they do when they run out of paper?’’ Principal’s publication, 1815.

‘’Ballpoint pen will be the ruin of education in our country. Students use these devices and then throw them away. The American values of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Businesses and banks will never allow such expensive luxuries.’’ Federal Teachers, 1950.

Technology in US Education: Current State

Good NewsAccess to the internet in US schools in nearly

universalMost of the states have implemented standards for

students’ understanding of computer technology and teacher’s use of technology of instruction

An increasing number of students have access to distance education opportunities

ChallengeResearch on whether technology improves

students achievement shows mixed results

Administration ViewUse Technology to Drive Innovation ``The Federal Government should create a mission-

driven, advanced research projects agency for education (ARPA-ED) housed either in the Department of Education, in the National Science Foundation, or as a joint entity…... ARPA-ED should propel and support (i) the development of innovative technologies and technology platforms for learning, teaching, and assessment across all subjects and ages, and ... ‘’

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in report: PREPARE AND INSPIRE: K-12 EDUCATION IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH (STEM) FOR AMERICA’S FUTURE—Sept. 2010

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Primary Funding Sources for Education Innovation in the Federal Government

Department of EducationNational Science Foundation

Department of Education

Created in current form in 1979Establishes policy and administers and

coordinates most federal assistance to education

Annual Budget: $60-70B

Department of Education: Examples of Programs Relevant to Technology

Enhancing Education Through Technology—technology infrastructure, training, curricula development, development of instructional methods; budget $100M

Ready to Teach –development and distribution of video educational material, online professional development for teachers; budget $10.7M

National Science FoundationCreated in 1950Original Goal: To promote the progress of

science; to advance the national health, prosperity an welfare; to secure the national defense

Annual Budget: about $7B

Origins of NSF“The Government should

accept new responsibilities for promoting the flow of scientific knowledge and the development of scientific talent in our youth.” Science, The Endless Frontier,

1945

1947: Congress Approves, Truman Vetoes

1950: Compromise Bill Approved & Signed by Truman

NSF Act of 1950To promote the progress of science…”NSB (24) and 1 Director, appointed by the

PresidentEncourage & develop a national policy for the

promotion of basic research and education in the math, physical, medical, biological, engineering and other sciences

Initiate & support basic scientific research in the sciences

Evaluate the science research programs undertaken by agencies of the Federal government

Provide information for S&E policy formation

Mathematical& PhysicalSciences

(MPS)

Geosciences(GEO)

Engineering(ENG)

Computer &Information Science &

Engineering(CISE)

BiologicalSciences

(BIO)

Office of theInspector General

(OIG)

DirectorDeputy Director

National Science Board(NSB)

Office of Cyberinfrastructure

Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Programs

Office of the General Counsel

Office of Integrative Activities

Office of International Science & Engineering

Office of Legislative &Public Affairs

Office of Polar Programs

Social, Behavioral

& EconomicSciences

(SBE)

Education & Human

Resources(EHR)

Budget, Finance & Award

Management(BFA)

Information& Resource Management

(IRM)

NSF Organizational Chart

From NSF Strategic Plan 2011-2016 Innovation for Society Performance Strategic Goal includes: Support the Development of Innovative Learning Systems.

``Innovative learning systems can bring authentic scientific data immediately to learners, which enable learners to experience science through modeling, simulation, sensor networks, digital telescopes and remote instruments. Technology has the potential to transform science learning as effectively as it has transformed science itself. Learning can occur anytime, anywhere, and for anyone.’’

Near Term Actions: Expand initiatives across NSF to develop research-based

innovative learning systemsPromote partnerships among computer scientists, other

STEM disciplinary scientists, learning scientists, and education practitioners to catalyze new technologies for learning

 

Relevant Directorates/Offices to Advanced Learning Technologies Directorate for Computer and Information

Science and Engineering (CISE)Office of Cyber Infrastructure (OCI) Directorate for Education and Human

Resource (EHR) Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences

(SBE)Cross-cutting programs

Foundations of NSF Approach

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2008/nsf08204/index.jsp

NSF Homepage

Funding of Learning Technologies at NSF

Infrastructure grantsHuman Resource DevelopmentResearch grants for developing new

technologies

Examples: Support for Infrastructure

OCI-Cyberinfrastructure resources, tools ad services

Major Research Instrumentation-development proposals

Examples: Support for Human Resource DevelopmentAdvanced Technological Education (ATE)—

workforce DevelopmentIntegrative Technology Experiences for

students and Teachers (ITEST) — new models of classroom, research to understand STEM development, scale-up projects

Teacher Learning for Future (TLF) – new program under development

Computing Education for the 21st Century (CE-21)-computer science education

Examples: Support for ResearchEHR-Transforming STEM Learning (TSL)—Study

efficacy of existing types of education, develop new STEM learning environments

EHR-Discovery Research K-12 (DRK-12) –development of materials that use advanced technologies

CISE—Human Centered Computing (HCC) programsCISE-Robust Intelligence program (RI)- investigation

of roles of robotics in promoting learningCenter programs

Cyberlearning: Transforming Education New program, cross-directorate (CISE, OCI, EHR,

SBE)Goal: integrate advances in technology with

advances in what is known about how people learnProject characteristics: interdisciplinary, with the

research team including members with the full range of expertise needed for success. grounded in existing learning and education research; seek to answer questions about learning with technology; measure learning gains, take into account appropriate elements of the learning ecology in designing its innovation, evaluating its innovation, and answering research questions and use appropriate methodologies to evaluate innovations and measure learning gains.

Cyberlearning: Transforming Education (cont.)

Three level of awards: Exploration Projects, duration 1-3 years, up

to $550kDesign and Implementation Projects,

duration 1-5 years, up to $1,350kIntegration and Deployment Projects,

duration up to 5 years, up to $2,500k

Science of Learning CentersGoal: to advance the frontiers of all the

sciences of learning through integrated research; to connect the research to specific scientific, technological, educational, and workforce challenges; to enable research communities to capitalize on new opportunities and discoveries; and to respond to new challenges.

http://nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5567&org=SBE

Science and Technology Centers (STC): Integrative Partnerships ProgramSTC features

supports innovative, potentially transformative, complex research and education projects that require large-scale, long-term awards;

supports the NSF vision of advancing discovery, innovation and education beyond the frontiers of current knowledge, and empowering future generations in science and engineering;

foster excellence in education by integrating education and research, and by creating bonds between learning and inquiry so that discovery and creativity fully support the learning process.

Smartphone MicroscopyUnstained blood smear

Microlens technology

Microlens technology Microlens technology Microlens technology

Microlens technologyMicrolens technologyMicrolens technology

20x microscope

20x microscope

20x microscope

20x microscope

20x microscope

20x microscope

Crystals – polarized light

Crystals – polarized light

Taste buds

Plant stems

Plant stems

Daphnia eggs

Science and Technology Center ExampleUCLA’s Center for Embedded Networked

Sensing (CENS) is a major research enterprise focused on developing wireless sensing systems and applying this revolutionary technology to critical scientific and societal pursuits.

Recent Focus: participatory sensing for health and education

CENS Success Stories

Personal Environmental Reporthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-ItfpA3XiY

Project MOBILIZE: Mobilizing for Innovative Computer Science Teaching and Learning is a targeted National Science Foundation Math Science Partnership funded for 2010-2015. http://www.mobilizingcs.org/

Project MOBILIZE