Cyber Makerspace - April 2021

PI: Ákos Lédeczi

HARD PROBLEM(S) ADDRESSED

Education and Outreach: While educational robotics and makerspaces are useful to modern STEM education, they introduce both physical and economic barriers to entry. By creating a “cyber makerspace,” a simulated, networked environment, we can facilitate instruction on cyber-physical systems and their security and related topics while reducing cost and complexity. The approach will facilitate reaching audiences from traditionally underrepresented groups. It also supports remote learning, an especially important feature due to the current pandemic.

PUBLICATIONS

[1]    Ledeczi, S. Grover, V. Catete, B. Broll, “Beyond CS Principles: Bringing the Frontiers of Computing to K12,” Technology Demonstration,  52nd ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE 21), March 2021

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

The virtual robotics environment created is connected to a block-based programming language, NetsBlox, to allow students to engage with the curriculum regardless of programming experience. The networked simulation and collaborative programming environment combine to become especially effective for distance learning. We are planning three summer camps for June, 2021 to engage young leraners with the novel technology.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS

We launched an outreach program focusing on local high school students. Vanderbilt Digital Nights (VDN) is a series of online workshops using NetsBlox to introduce advanced computing concepts to young learners. VDN is a monthly event. We conducted three VDN workshops this quarter. We have reached about 50 high school students mainly from the middle Tennessee area, but since all workshops were virtual, some of the participants came from out of state from a variety of places. Approximately 40% of participants have been female so far.

EDUCATIONAL ADVANCES

As the main focus of the project is education, all of our accomplishments listed in this report contribute to educational advances.