Growing Up Thinking Computationally (GUTC)

About

GUTC students build computer models and conduct computational science research projects in classes and afterschool programs at middle schools across New Mexico. GUTC provides participating students with the opportunity to envision themselves as future scientists.

During its first year, GUTC engaged 332 middle school students in a computational science focused afterschool program and 12 middle school teachers in computational science professional development workshops. The students, ages 11-14, actively participated in scientific discovery using computer modeling and simulation and explored science topics relevant to their local communities: Climate Change and Water Resources. Middle school teachers developed a foundation in complex adaptive systems and computational modeling and simulation through workshops that prepared them to lead weekly two-hour club meetings.

Overall, 74% of student participants were from historically underrepresented groups in STEM and Computing including women, African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, persons from two or more ethnic/racial groups including one of the above, and persons with disabilities.

In the 2014-2015 school year, there are 25 GUTC afterschool programs and seven GUTC classes at 28 middle schools, serving a total of 388 students in Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, Albuquerque, Edgewood, Las Vegas, Espanola, Tucumcari, Pojoaque, Las Cruces, Gadsden, Santa Teresa and Deming. A new EPSCoR-supported Sustainability Unit was launched in Fall 2014.