Advanced Learning Technologies: Opportunities and Challenges Dragana Brzakovic National Science Foundation Office of the Director/Office of Integrative Activities dbrzakov@nsf.gov OIA URL: http://nsf.gov/od/oia

The Big Picture Good news-opportunities Not so good news—challenge Education, innovation and technology are high priorities for current administration Not so good news—challenge Budgetary issues

Technology in Education Broad Understanding Computers/wired classroom Distance education Virtual schools Collaboration over network BENEFITS: access, flexibility, personalized education, lifelong education CHALLENGE: 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 News Access to the internet in US schools in nearly universal Most 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 Challenge Research on whether technology improves students achievement shows mixed results

Administration View Use 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 `

Primary Funding Sources for Education Innovation in the Federal Government Department of Education National Science Foundation

Department of Education Created in current form in 1979 Establishes 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 Foundation Created in 1950 Original 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 1950 To promote the progress of science…” NSB (24) and 1 Director, appointed by the President Encourage & 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

National Science Board NSF Organizational Chart Office of Cyberinfrastructure Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Programs National Science Board (NSB) Director Deputy Director Office of the General Counsel Office of Integrative Activities Office of International Science & Engineering Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Office of Legislative & Public Affairs Office of Polar Programs Biological Sciences (BIO) Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Engineering (ENG) Geosciences (GEO) Mathematical & Physical Sciences (MPS) Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences (SBE) Education & Human Resources (EHR) Budget, Finance & Award Management (BFA) Information & Resource Management (IRM)

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 systems Promote 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 grants Human Resource Development Research 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 Development Advanced Technological Education (ATE)—workforce Development Integrative 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 Research EHR-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) programs CISE-Robust Intelligence program (RI)- investigation of roles of robotics in promoting learning Center 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 learn Project 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 $550k Design and Implementation Projects, duration 1-5 years, up to $1,350k Integration and Deployment Projects, duration up to 5 years, up to $2,500k

Science of Learning Centers Goal: 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 Program STC 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.

STC: Center for Biophotonics Microlens technology Unstained blood smear Smartphone Microscopy Microlens technology 20x microscope Crystals – polarized light Taste buds Plant stems Daphnia eggs

Smartphone Spectroscopy Unstained blood smear

Science and Technology Center Example UCLA’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