Student Learning in the Supercomputing Challenge: Results of Kickoff and Expo Surveys ( ) Alexis Kaminsky, Ph.D. July 26, 2006

Expo Demographics of Respondents Gender n=94 Female33.70% Male66.30% 0.02% Ethnicity/race African American0.00% Anglo/white53.26% Asian- American/Pacific Islander8.70% Biracial5.43% Hispanic13.04% Native American13.04% Other6.52% No Answer0.02% TOTAL Kickoff Demographics of Respondents Gender% of respondents Female37.68% Male57.00% No Answer5.31% Ethnicity Anglo/white51.69% Hispanic19.32% Native American8.21% Asian-American/Pacific Islander5.80% Other5.80% Biracial4.83% African-American0.97% No Answer3.38% Previous SL use Yes37.20% No52.66% I don't know6.76% No Answer3.38% Kickoff and Expo Respondent Demographics

GroupKickoffExpo Male white 34.36%35.56% Female white 18.97%18.89% Male nonwhite 26.67%31.11% Female nonwhite 20.00%14.44% Excluded 6.15%4.44% SCC Respondents by Gender x Race

Table xxx: Supercomputing Challenge Kickoff Means Compared to Expo Means (All Participants & Matched Participants) 1=strongly disagree; 5=strongly agree Kickoff All (n=207) Expo All (n=94) Kickoff Matched (n=24) Expo Matched ITEM mean (sd) mean (sd)change mean (sd) mean (sd)change I know how to make charts and graphs with data in a spreadsheet 3.8 (1.1) 4.28 (0.61) 0.48a 4.17 (0.75) 4.04 (0.56)-0.13 I know [how] to use computer models to test hypotheses 3.21 (1.13) 3.62 (0.93) 0.41a 3.25 (1.5) 3.83 (0.75) 0.58b I am good at using technology to better understand ideas that I learned in class 3.85 (0.69) 4.13 (0.51).28b 4.04 (0.56) 4 (0.52)-0.04 I know how to interpret data from computer models 3.67 (0.95) 3.99 (0.66) 0.32b 3.79 (1.22) 4 (0.7)0.21 I know how to write my own computer programs 2.94 (1.46) 3.37 (1.29) 0.43b 3.17 (1.8) 3.54 (0.95) 0.38c I am good at collecting information using technology(e.g., Internet, search engines) 4.26 (0.5) 4.5 (0.38) 0.24b 4.46 (0.43) 4.46 (0.43)0 Using computers helps me pay attention 3.78 (1) 3.54 (0.97) -0.24c ) 3.71 (1) -0.46c I am good at making spreadsheets for entering and sorting data 3.67 (0.98) 3.91 (0.77) 0.25c 3.92 (0.95) 3.71 (0.91)-0.21 I am good at using technology to organize information (spread sheets, word processing) 4.02 (0.76) ) (0.81) 4.08 (0.6)-0.04 I avoid using technology because I am not very good at it 1.63 (0.62) 1.53 (0.6) (0.59) 1.54 (0.87)-0.08 I pay more attention to my work when I use computers 3.78 (1.03) 3.62 ( (0.96) 3.54 (1.04) -0.46c It is hard for me to focus on learning when we use technology in the classroom 1.9 (0.69) 1.97 (0.84) (0.87) 1.92 (0.95)0.13 I am good at using technology to communicate what I've learned with other people 4 (0.66) 4.12 (0.54) (0.7) 4 (0.78)0 I know how to use technology to figure out complex problems 3.53 (1.01) 3.65 (0.86) (1.39) 3.67 (0.93)0.13 I learn best when I can use computers 3.83 (0.94) 3.7 (1.01) (0.87) 3.79 (0.78)-0.21

TABLE xxx Supercomputing Challenge Kickoff Means Compared to Expo Means by Gender x Race: CHALLENGE Matched 2x2White FemalesNonwhite FemalesWhite MalesNonwhite Males Scale: 1=strongly disagree; 5=strongly agree Kickoff 1 (n=37) Expo 2 (n=17) Kickoff (n=39) Expo (n=13) Kickoff (n=68) Expo (n=32) Kickoff (n=52) Expo (n=28) ITEM mean (sd) mean (sd) chan ge mean (sd) mean (sd) chang e mean (sd) mean (sd) chan ge mean (sd) mean (sd) cha nge I am good at collecting information using technology(e.g., Internet, search engines) 4.19 (.49) 4.32 (.56) (.74) 4.59 (.38).59a 4.38 (.42) 4.78 (.18).40a 4.29 (.41) 4.25 (.42) -.04 Using computers helps me pay attention 3.95 (1.0) 3.37 (.58) -.58b 3.77 (1.02) 3.69 (1.03) (.86) 3.59 (-.19) (1.1) 3.52 (1.41) -.20 I avoid using technology because I am not very good at it 4.22 (.67) 3.95 (.61) (.72) 4.35 (.37).43c 4.04 (.94) 4.34 (.49).30c 3.96 (.67) 4.14 (.57).18 I am good at using technology to organize information (spread sheets, word processing) 1.59 (.41) 1.74 (.98) (.97) 1.47 (.39) -.5b 1.28 (.26) 1.22 (.24) (.58) 1.82 (.97).07 I am good at using technology to better understand ideas that I learned in class 4.0 (.61) 4.05 (.61) (.65) 4.29 (.35).63a 3.88 (.88) 4.2 (.58).32c 3.88 (.55) 4.18 (.52).30 c I pay more attention to my work when I use computers 3.84 (1.2) 3.68 (1.01) (.93) 3.53 (1.26) (.95) 3.72 (.72) (1.0) 3.68 (1.41) -.09 I know how to make charts and graphs with data in a spreadsheet 3.84 (1.03) 4.26 (.43).43c 3.61 (1.38) 4.47 (.76).87a 3.97 (1.16) 4.44 (.64).47b 3.77 (.81) 4.32 (.37).51 a I know [how] to use computer models to test hypotheses 3.11 (1.32) 3.58 (.81).47c 2.79 (1.2) 3.65 (1.12).86a 3.41 (1.11) ).46c 3.33 (1.01) 3.68 (.74).35 c It is hard for me to focus on learning when we use technology in the classroom 1.70 (.55) 1.83 (.5) (.76) 1.88 (.86) (.65) 1.84 (.74) (.82) 2.25 (1.16).19 I am good at making spreadsheets for entering and sorting data 3.7 (1.16) 3.95 (.39) (1.04) 4.29 (.72).76a 3.74 (1.18) 4.09 (.86).36c 3.69 (.61) 4.0 (.59).31 c I am good at using technology to communicate what I've learned with other people 4.25 (.59) 4.0 (.56) (.56) 4.47 (.39).73a 4.09 (.69) 4.25 (.58) (.62) 4.00 (.38).06 I know how to interpret data from computer models 3.39 (1.22) 3.63 (.58) (.84) 4.18 (.9).78a 3.94 (.78) 4.19 (.61) (.98) 4.14 (.5). 46 b I know how to use technology to figure out complex problems 3.41 (1.19) 3.06 (.64) (.96) 3.76 (.69).64b 3.84 (.97) 3.74 (1.0) (.84) 3.93 (.59).41 c I know how to write my own computer programs 2.46 (1.37) 3.37 (1.47).91b 2.72 (1.68) 3.18 (1.9) (1.26) 3.56 (1.29) (1.55) 3.64 (1.38).62 b I learn best when I can use computers 3.95 (.89) 3.68 (1,12) (.68) 3.59 (1.26) (.85) 3.72 (.92) (.9) 3.89 (1.43) Kickoff n=207, 12 excluded in 2 x2 as incomplete; 2. Expo n=94, 4 excluded in 2x2 as incomplete a. p<.001; b. p<.01; c. p<.05

Overall White female nonwhite female white male nonwhite male (n=92)(n=17)(n=14)(n=32)(n=29) New People, Ideas, Learning32.61%41.18%35.71%28.13%27.59% Project process27.17%35.29%28.57%18.75%31.03% Technology29.35%23.53%21.43%34.38%31.03% Teamwork10.87%11.76%14.29%3.13%13.79% the Whole Shebang9.78%0.00%14.29%18.75%3.45% Tangibles (food, free stuff)3.26%0.00% 6.25%3.45% Skipping School to Do Something I Like2.17%5.88%0.00% 3.45% What’s Best about SCC?

Overall white female nonwhite female white male nonwhite male (n=92)(n=17)(n=14)(n=32)(n=29) Project process30.43%23.53%28.57%25.00%41.38% Technology20.65%23.53%21.43%21.88%24.14% Teamwork14.13%23.53%14.29%6.25%17.24% Balancing Time Commitments10.87%5.88%7.14%15.63%6.90% the Whole Shebang8.70%11.76%7.14%0.00%10.34% New People, Ideas, Learning4.35%0.00%7.14%9.38%0.00% Expo Specific3.26%5.88%0.00%6.25%0.00% What’s Hardest about SCC?

Table xxx: Supercomputing Challenge Kickoff Means Compared to Expo Means –Puzzling Set of Items 1=strongly disagree; 5=strongly agree Kickoff All (n=207) Expo All (n=94) Kickoff Matched (n=24) Expo Matched ITEM mean (sd) mean (sd)change mean (sd) mean (sd)change Using computers helps me pay attention 3.78 (1) 3.54 (0.97) -0.24c ) 3.71 (1) -0.46c I avoid using technology because I am not very good at it 1.63 (0.62) 1.53 (0.6) (0.59) 1.54 (0.87)-0.08 I pay more attention to my work when I use computers 3.78 (1.03) 3.62 ( (0.96) 3.54 (1.04) -0.46c It is hard for me to focus on learning when we use technology in the classroom 1.9 (0.69) 1.97 (0.84) (0.87) 1.92 (0.95)0.13 I learn best when I can use computers 3.83 (0.94) 3.7 (1.01) (0.87) 3.79 (0.78)-0.21 Some Puzzling Findings