Prof. Diana Franklin Discusses Quantum Computing Education on Entangled Things Podcast
If quantum computing and other quantum applications fulfill their promise as an important new wave of technology, how can we better prepare young students to work and innovate in the field? Diana Franklin, Associate Professor of Computer Science, joined the Entangled Things podcast to discuss her work on teaching K-12 students about quantum computing.
Franklin converses with hosts Patrick Hynds and Ciprian Jichici about the challenges of teaching quantum concepts to a younger audience, and the modules her group has developed to make them accessible and approachable to kids as young as 5. “The main goal is to build confidence, not intimidation,” she said.
“Quantum people think of quantum as something that only Einstein does, and then computer science also has this aura around it of: certain people can do it, and certain people can’t,” Franklin said. “And we’re trying to dispel that by having activities that are so intuitive and so simple, that people say, ‘oh, this is considered a precursor to quantum computing? Yeah, but I can do this. This wasn’t crazy. This is so easy. This makes sense. I could do this.'”
Listen to the full episode here.
