Participate in hands-on activities and learn about quantum information systems and computing. There will be time to discuss secondary knowledge/skills that contribute to undergraduate success.
Quantum education has been increasingly emphasized at both the post-secondary and secondary education stages, in line with the advent of the quantum computing paradigm. Traditional quantum computing education, however, necessitates an extensive background in physics, mathematics, and information science, which can be challenging for beginners. This study presents the experience of implementing a college curriculum at National Chi Nan University in Taiwan, designed to enable learners at all levels to grasp the concept of a quantum algorithm using accessible math yet rigorous enough for verification. The study succinctly conveys the concept of the quantum Grover algorithm, provides necessary background knowledge, and elucidates the ideas using three distinct visualization methods. Furthermore, this study offers a novel presentation for aligning the results of geometrical representation with the corresponding quantum circuit layout. The hands-on project demonstration motivates learners to explore solutions using their visualization tool, enhancing their engagement and sense of achievement. Developing these tools deepens learners' understanding and promotes active peer education, thereby improving their participation and retention of quantum knowledge. The visualization tools developed through this process serve as a valuable contribution to quantum education, offering an effective quantum tool and a user-friendly interface for learning, teaching, researching, and providing fresh insights and perspectives. By making quantum computing concepts more understandable through accessible math and visualization, we aim to lower the entry-level barrier to learning quantum computing, encouraging more talents to engage in quantum computing for their research studies.
[This paper is part of the Focused Collection in Investigating and Improving Quantum Education through Research.] Evidence from physics education research suggests that the introduction of a formalistic description of quantum phenomena can be beneficial to student learning, particularly in terms of helping students move away from naive realist views of quanta or space-time descriptions of quantum phenomena. However, the mathematical requirements for mastering quantum formalism are typically far beyond the scope of secondary school education. Therefore, in previous research, we have proposed a reduced Dirac notation tailored to the capabilities of secondary school students, which is included in a novel teaching-learning sequence. However, the cognitive processes of students when confronted with an introduction to quantum physics via a reduced Dirac notation have not been thoroughly investigated: In particular, it seems important to investigate whether this approach is actually beneficial to students’ learning and to explore the learning difficulties students are likely to encounter in such a setting. This paper contributes to this research gap by reporting the findings of an acceptance survey: N = 14 learners participated in one-on-one interviews following a protocol consisting of four cyclical phases (information phase, acceptance evaluation, paraphrasing phase, and application phase). The findings of our study indicate that the instructional elements within our new teaching-learning sequence were generally well accepted by students but also revealed learning difficulties that students may encounter. Thus, on the one hand, the findings of this study pave the way for future research on students’ learning of quantum physics using Dirac notation. On the other hand, the in-depth findings reported here may guide teachers in designing learning environments that introduce Dirac notation at the upper secondary school and introductory university levels. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
Quantum information is a new subject produced by the cross integration of quantum physics and information technology, mainly including quantum communication, quantum computing and quantum metrology. In recent years, quantum information technologies such as quantum cryptography and quantum computing have developed rapidly. Under this background, some universities have set up a professional elective course of quantum information for undergraduates majoring in cyberspace security. This course mainly introduces students to quantum information related to cyberspace security, such as quantum key distribution, quantum cryptographic algorithm, quantum computing algorithm and quantum computer. This paper combs and summarizes the teaching experience of quantum information course group from the perspectives of teaching and learning. On the one hand, it discusses how teachers organize teaching effectively. According to the characteristics of undergraduates majoring in cyberspace security, teacher need to set clear teaching objectives, carefully choose teaching contents, compile appropriate teaching materials, select appropriate teaching methods and make exquisite teaching slides. At the same time, when implementing classroom teaching, teacher need to pay attention to teach the course from the perspective of cyberspace security and integrate the latest research results of quantum information into classroom teaching in real time. On the other hand, it discusses how teachers help students learn quantum information course well. Teachers should focus on visualizing the abstract theory, helping students build their own quantum information knowledge system and improve their learning enthusiasm. The teaching experience has certain reference significance for the teaching and curriculum construction of quantum information.