A. Project Summary - Words, Sums, and Differences A. Klinger and P. Munro

The research objectives are: first demonstrating that discussion can open people to mathematics and computer learning who would otherwise not be so oriented; and second, to using multiple cultural sources as starting points with minimal use of dominant languages. To win the war on terrorism we must open paths toward full participation in the modern information-based world economy to disadvantaged minorities. This approach does that through a focused, general, and interdisciplinary effort to improve the access ethnic and linguistic minority individuals have to information technology and its underlying concepts. Through cross discipline means we address a range of related practical problems regarding computer-related education. We introduce concepts, underlying language, mathematical reasoning, and two other key things, hardware (fundamentals, history, and changing technology) and software (working with algorithms, procedures, or programs). The work concerns fundamentals regarding stimulating insular groups to attain scientific awareness through their own linguistic and cultural interaction using outside discussion initiators.

Today the problem of access to new vocabulary and absorbing ideas the words describe is especially severe for those who want to begin working with information technology. There is an urgent need for an informal means to start people to use these modern tools. Yet for those outside academia the word "computers" is highly polarized. It conveys three things: authority (e.g., precision), complexity (difficult to use), and fallibility ("our computer is down"). University graduate students will be associated with one specific disadvantaged community to open windows onto mathematical ideas for them as part of research on expression and dialog. The research will focus on selecting and presenting ideas to stimulate awareness of mathematical concepts at the heart of computing. Initial short expositions will initiate conversations concerning abstract notions: ways of approaching mathematics, through games, measurement, shape partitioning, and many other topics.

The research will investigate the general issue of encouraging and supporting mathematical thought by individuals in disadvantaged or minority cultures, stressing means that support speakers progressing conceptually while using their own language. Responses of these individuals exposed to mathematical/computing concepts, in the form of the questions they pose following brief presentations of basic computer-related mathematical notions by university students and extensive discussions in the Zapotec language, will be analyzed to facilitate development of further presentations. We will extend that analysis to improve access to science, engineering, mathematics and technology for all individuals by ascertaining the relative importance of image-oriented, symbolic, and culture/language aspects of education.

Finally, this research will deliver new products: a Zapotec technical dictionary; and, a general catalog of key mathematics-education visual-topics. The people who complete a full set of meetings will be better able to work technically. We will produce a cadre of individuals from the university and community colleges trained in the language and visual methods. We will create a chain of people able to support computer-oriented linguistic and mathematical educational processes. We will develop general principles for work with minority linguistic and cultural groups, to lead them toward acceptance of technology and activity with computer-based tools.