Board 432: Work in Progress: Immersive, Hands-On, and Interactive Quantum Information Science and Technology: Empowering Undergraduate Students in Quantum Computing

Syed Hassan Tanvir; Gloria J Kim; Jing Guo; Philip Feng; Wanli Xing

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Conference: 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Portland, Oregon
Publication Date: June 23, 2024
Start Date: June 23, 2024
End Date: July 12, 2024
Conference Session: NSF Grantees Poster Session
Tagged Topic: NSF Grantees Poster Session
Permanent URL: https://strategy.asee.org/47023

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Paper Authors

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Syed Hassan Tanvir University of Florida

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Syed Hassan Tanvir is a doctoral candidate in Engineering Education at the University of Florida. He holds a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a Master's in Software Engineering. His research is focused on investigating the factors that influence engineering undergraduate enrollment, retention, graduation, and dropout. For his Ph.D., he plans to incorporate stealth assessment techniques to foster various competencies in undergraduate engineering programs.

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Gloria J Kim University of Florida

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Dr. Gloria Kim is an Assistant Professor of Engineering Education at the University of Florida (UF). She is also an affiliate faculty in UF's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. She received her B.S. in chemistry from Seoul National University, M.S. in biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. As an instructional associate professor, she was awarded several grants from the National Science Foundation (IUSE Level 1, IRES Track 1, I-Corps, and I-Corps for Learning) as principal investigator. She transitioned to tenure track in Fall 2022 to pursue her research interests in convergence in engineering education, global engineering education, and social issues in STEM research and practice. Recently, she has taken on new NSF projects to broaden participation in quantum engineering (IUSE Level 3), research abroad (IRES Track 1), and use-inspired research (Convergence Accelerator Track I). Having grown up in Australia, Canada, Korea, and Germany, she speaks three languages. Leveraging her international connections, she has served in leadership positions in the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA, Vice President), Korean Society for Engineering Education (KSEE, International Relations Board Member), and the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies (IFEES, Executive Committee Member).

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Wanli Xing is the Informatics for Education Associate Professor of Educational Technology at University of Florida. His research interests are artificial intelligence, learning analytics, STEM education and online learning.

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Abstract

This work-in-progress (WIP) paper shares findings at Year 1 of “Collaborative Research: Innovating Quantum-Inspired Learning for Undergraduates in Research and Engineering (INQUIRE),” a 5-year Improving Undergraduate STEM Education project funded by the National Science Foundation. The project brings together quantum engineering and engineering education researchers at two public land-grant research universities in State X and State Y. The team aims to develop and establish a new paradigm for quantum-inspired learning for undergraduate students, which can then serve as a platform and may be adopted and customized across disciplines and institutions. The work detailed in this paper pertains to activities and developments at the University of X. Specifically, this WIP addresses two research questions in the context of the quantum information science and technology (QIST) software course, Introduction to Quantum Computing: (1) What are the barriers undergraduate students face on their pathways to building a knowledge base in QIST? (2) How does INQUIRE address the knowledge base need and lower the barriers to QIST entry?  We have developed new teaching modules that include a diverse range of instructional techniques. These techniques involve using multimedia-based learning (MBL), simulation-based learning (SBL), and hands-on programming for experiential learning. Most lectures are designed with a focus on MBL. We have incorporated various SBL tools into the course, including Quantum Spice to simulate and design Superconductor-based quantum computing hardware, Spin Quantum Gate Lab to simulate semiconductor-based quantum computing hardware, and Qiskit to program quantum software and algorithms. These tools enable students to directly apply quantum concepts in their assignments, providing more immersive and hands-on experience. To measure the student learning experiences and the effectiveness of the new teaching modules introduced, a mixed method approach has been designed. At the beginning of Fall 2023 semester, we distributed a baseline survey to the enrolled students in the quantum computing course. The result of the baseline survey showed that the students were highly motivated and genuinely curious about the conceptual working of the QIST. Currently, we are in the process of evaluating the effectiveness of the newly designed teaching modules. This assessment is being carried out through the implementation of a comprehensive mid-semester survey. At the end of the semester, we will administer a survey to complement the course evaluation. This will inform the follow-up semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students, the instructional team, and subject matter experts. To validate and triangulate the qualitative and quantitative data gathered through surveys, interviews, and course evaluations, we will align them with the students' actual performance in the course. Then, a comparison will be made against preliminary results from previous iterations of the course. The immediate next steps for the QIST software track will be curriculum mapping. Concurrently, we will implement newly developed modules for the QIST hardware courses at University X and Y in the Spring semester and apply a similar mixed-method approach.

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Tanvir, S. H., & Kim, G. J., & Guo, J., & Feng, P., & Xing, W. (2024, June), Board 432: Work in Progress: Immersive, Hands-On, and Interactive Quantum Information Science and Technology: Empowering Undergraduate Students in Quantum Computing Paper presented at 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Portland, Oregon. https://strategy.asee.org/47023

TY - CPAPER
AB - This work-in-progress (WIP) paper shares findings at Year 1 of “Collaborative Research: Innovating Quantum-Inspired Learning for Undergraduates in Research and Engineering (INQUIRE),” a 5-year Improving Undergraduate STEM Education project funded by the National Science Foundation. The project brings together quantum engineering and engineering education researchers at two public land-grant research universities in State X and State Y. The team aims to develop and establish a new paradigm for quantum-inspired learning for undergraduate students, which can then serve as a platform and may be adopted and customized across disciplines and institutions. The work detailed in this paper pertains to activities and developments at the University of X. Specifically, this WIP addresses two research questions in the context of the quantum information science and technology (QIST) software course, Introduction to Quantum Computing: (1) What are the barriers undergraduate students face on their pathways to building a knowledge base in QIST? (2) How does INQUIRE address the knowledge base need and lower the barriers to QIST entry?
We have developed new teaching modules that include a diverse range of instructional techniques. These techniques involve using multimedia-based learning (MBL), simulation-based learning (SBL), and hands-on programming for experiential learning. Most lectures are designed with a focus on MBL. We have incorporated various SBL tools into the course, including Quantum Spice to simulate and design Superconductor-based quantum computing hardware, Spin Quantum Gate Lab to simulate semiconductor-based quantum computing hardware, and Qiskit to program quantum software and algorithms. These tools enable students to directly apply quantum concepts in their assignments, providing more immersive and hands-on experience.
To measure the student learning experiences and the effectiveness of the new teaching modules introduced, a mixed method approach has been designed. At the beginning of Fall 2023 semester, we distributed a baseline survey to the enrolled students in the quantum computing course. The result of the baseline survey showed that the students were highly motivated and genuinely curious about the conceptual working of the QIST. Currently, we are in the process of evaluating the effectiveness of the newly designed teaching modules. This assessment is being carried out through the implementation of a comprehensive mid-semester survey. At the end of the semester, we will administer a survey to complement the course evaluation. This will inform the follow-up semi-structured interviews with undergraduate students, the instructional team, and subject matter experts. To validate and triangulate the qualitative and quantitative data gathered through surveys, interviews, and course evaluations, we will align them with the students&#39; actual performance in the course. Then, a comparison will be made against preliminary results from previous iterations of the course.
The immediate next steps for the QIST software track will be curriculum mapping. Concurrently, we will implement newly developed modules for the QIST hardware courses at University X and Y in the Spring semester and apply a similar mixed-method approach.

AU - Syed Hassan Tanvir
AU - Gloria J Kim
AU - Jing Guo
AU - Philip Feng
AU - Wanli Xing
CY - Portland, Oregon
DA - 2024/06/23
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Board 432: Work in Progress: Immersive, Hands-On, and Interactive Quantum Information Science and Technology: Empowering Undergraduate Students in Quantum Computing
UR - https://strategy.asee.org/47023
ER -