College of Computing and Software Engineering

Congratulations to Dr. Alan Shaw, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Information Systems, Dr. Brian R. Lawler, Associate Professor of mathematics education, and Dr. Roneisha Worthy, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. They received a three-year, $2.5 million dollar grant. The grant is part of the NSF's Racial Equity in STEM Education initiative (EDU Racial Equity) and the grant is entitled, "The Accessible Calculus Project: Advancing Equity by Democratizing Access to Advanced Mathematics". The work is a collaboration between Kennesaw State University, the Algebra Project, Inc., and the National Society of Black Engineers.

The project aims to raise the level of quantitative literacy for all High School students in two different schools, one in Georgia and one in New Jersey, by adding calculus concepts along with computational literacy modules to the Algebra II curriculum. Thesis done through an innovative "Polynomial Calculus" approach pioneered by the Algebra Project, which involves teaching integrals and derivatives using familiar algebraic concepts that are already part of the Algebra I and Algebra II curriculum.

This project will be addressing the fact that many students never see calculus concepts in High School because they don't get to the AP Calculus course level. By exposing more students to some of the big ideas in calculus during their high school experience, the hope is more students will have access to STEM careers that require it.