Quantum Forge
Research on Quantum Forge
Quantum Forge (Q-Forge) is an upper-division laboratory course that engages teams of students students in an authentic project in the quantum industry. Within this course, we have studied student views, attitudes, and beliefs about the quantum industry as well as student experiences with teamwork. This is a qualitative study that uses data sources such as metacognitive reflection questions and interviews. We also used a type of participatory action research called Photovoice that allowed students to engage with the project as co-researchers.
Student Perspectives on the Q-Forge Course
Students found participation in the Q-Forge course to be an overall rewarding and worthwhile experience that prepared them well for a future career in the quantum industry.
Q-Forge required students to participate in an open-ended, authentic industry project in collaboration with other students as well as their industry sponsor. Throughout these interactions, students highlighted the importance of clear expectations and an appropriate level of support from their industry sponsor. They also felt that they learned skills such as project management that allowed them to engage in a project that was longer-term than any other projects they had participated in during other lab courses. Students felt that the experience of working on an authentic project that mattered to stakeholders outside of the course was valuable.
Student Perspectives on the Quantum Industry
Students learned about the quantum industry throughout their time in Q-Forge. They gained this knowledge through interacting with their industry sponsors and visiting local quantum companies during class time.
Partially due to the variety of companies they were exposed to within Q-Forge, students came away from the course with a better understanding of the breadth of the quantum industry beyond quantum computing. They also, however, felt that many jobs within the industry are inaccessible to students without a graduate level degree.
This research is funded by Quantum Systems through Entangled Science and Engineering (Q-SENSE), an NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute hosted by the University of Colorado in Boulder. (Grant number: OMA-2016244)