Project Profile

The CryptoClub: Extending Learning with Student-Generated Tutorials

Description

In existing CryptoClub after school programs, middle school students use mathematics to make and break secret codes. The CryptoClub website has tools for encrypting, messages to crack, treasure hunts and other activities. In this project, the learning in fifteen Crypto Clubs is extended by having the students generate tutorials that explain how they solve mathematics and cryptographic problems. The flexibility of the after school setting provides the opportunity to experiment with content and technology. Student-friendly ways to create the tutorials are developed and best practices for incorporating tutorial making in CryptoClub programs are investigated. A collection of vetted online tutorials about mathematics and cryptography created by students and teachers is to be available to all on the CryptoClub website. At least 15 teachers are to be trained to assist their students in developing tutorials. These teachers can then use this learning technique as they teach other mathematics topics.

The research investigates the features of the tutorials that students and teachers consider to be appealing and easy to learn from. The kinds of mathematics problems that make helpful tutorials and promote communications skills are studied. By focusing on specific topics and using students within the same clubs as control, the project leadership can conduct a controlled study of learning that occurs on those topics and thus investigate whether the students learn mathematics from the experience of developing video tutorials. The project also considers the technology and software that facilitate the development of the tutorials and the system for online sharing, rating and sorting of video tutorials that promote the development, submission and use of the tutorials.  Students will develop technical literacy and skills in mathematics, computer technology and communications and become aware of cryptography as a possible STEM career as well.

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PROJECT DETAILS

Award Number
1311977; 1824443
Project Duration
2013 - 2019
Category
Research Study
Organization(s)
University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
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Project Work State
AK
AL
AR
AZ
CA
CO
CT
DE
FL
GA
HI
IA
ID
IL
IN
KS
KY
LA
MA
MD
ME
MI
MN
MO
MS
MT
NC
ND
NE
NH
NJ
NM
NV
NY
OH
OK
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
TX
UT
VA
VT
WA
WI
WV
WY
District of Columbia
Target Gradespan(s)
Middle school (6-8)
Project Setting(s)
Formal Education
Informal Education
Geographic Location(s)
Rural
Suburban
Urban
Project Status
Expired
Additional Disciplines
Mathematics - general
Additional Target Participants
Educators
Students