Quantum Computing Revolutionizes Drug Discovery Education in Middle Schools

Dr. Amy Voss Farris and her team at Pennsylvania State University are pioneering the integration of quantum computing into K-12 education, specifically in the realm of drug discovery. The team is developing Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-aligned quantum drug discovery lessons for middle school students. The aim is to introduce quantum computing through project-based learning units, demonstrating how advances in engineering intersect with science and societal needs. This approach not only provides students with a practical understanding of quantum computing but also prepares them for the interdisciplinary nature of the modern workforce.

What is the Role of Quantum Computing in Drug Discovery Education?

Quantum computing is a rapidly evolving field that intersects with various disciplines, including engineering, technology, science, and societal needs. One of the areas where quantum computing is making significant strides is in the realm of drug discovery. This article discusses the design of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)-aligned quantum drug discovery lessons for middle school students, a project spearheaded by Dr. Amy Voss Farris and her team at Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Farris is an Assistant Professor of Science Education at Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on the intersections of scientific modeling and computing in elementary and middle school classrooms. She aims to understand how learners and teachers’ experiences in scientific computing can support their development of ideas and practices across STEM disciplines. Her teaching encompasses engineering education, preservice teacher preparation, and computational literacies in the Learning Sciences.

How is Quantum Computing Integrated into K-12 Education?

The integration of quantum computing into K-12 education is a relatively new concept. A growing body of literature argues that establishing a diverse quantum technologies workforce will require early opportunities for students to understand quantum concepts such as qubits, reversibility, superposition, and entanglement. Technology education must prepare students to understand quantum computing as an alternative and viable paradigm of computing.

Efforts to introduce quantum concepts to novices in K-12 settings have predominantly relied on games or metaphors for quantum concepts. However, applications grounded in real-world applications of quantum computing are very limited. The majority of K-12 science and engineering teachers are held accountable for instruction that aligns with the Next Generation Science standards (NGSS), which require that teachers implement learning experiences that demonstrate for students that advances in engineering are interdependent with science and societal needs.

What is the Role of NGSS in Quantum Computing Education?

The NGSS specify the integration of three dimensions of science learning: disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting ideas that span across scientific disciplines. Instruction should support students to work on design solutions to interdisciplinary problems that engage them in authentic science and engineering practices, such as using computational thinking and mathematics, while also learning appropriate disciplinary ideas.

As of 2021, all states in the U.S. northeast have either adopted the NGSS or developed standards that are based on the Framework for K-12 education that underlies the NGSS. Across the U.S., 45 of 50 states have standards that are based on aspects of these commitments. Driven by these existing learning aims, Dr. Farris and her team set out to develop a project-based classroom approximation of their interdisciplinary research in which they are developing quantum computing methods and tools for therapeutic drug discovery.

How is Quantum Computing Applied in Drug Discovery?

The application of quantum computing in drug discovery is a novel approach that offers significant potential. The team at Pennsylvania State University, which includes faculty from medicine, quantum computing, and machine learning, is developing quantum computing methods and tools for therapeutic drug discovery. This interdisciplinary research forms the basis of the project-based learning units that Dr. Farris and her team are developing for middle school students.

The aim is to introduce quantum computing to young students through project-based learning units in which the driving question and ways of making sense of that question are driven by real-world engineering applications of quantum computing. This approach not only provides students with a practical understanding of quantum computing but also demonstrates how advances in engineering are interdependent with science and societal needs, such as health, which drive the development of technologies.

What is the Future of Quantum Computing in Education?

The integration of quantum computing into K-12 education is still in its early stages, but the work of Dr. Farris and her team at Pennsylvania State University demonstrates the potential of this approach. By developing NGSS-aligned quantum drug discovery lessons for middle school students, they are not only introducing young students to a cutting-edge field of study but also preparing them for the future workforce.

As quantum computing continues to evolve and intersect with various disciplines, it is likely that its integration into K-12 education will become more prevalent. The development of project-based learning units that are grounded in real-world applications of quantum computing, such as drug discovery, provides a practical and engaging way for students to learn about this complex field. This approach not only aligns with the NGSS but also prepares students for the interdisciplinary nature of the modern workforce.