Hopscotch 4-All Seed Grant

Description: Hopscotch 4-All (H4-All) is an interdisciplinary educational technology project designed to transform Advanced Placement (AP) Research education through the development of an equitable, open-access, AI-powered recommender system that supports personalized learning in research design and inquiry. Led by the Interactive Research Methods Lab (IRML) at Kennesaw State University in collaboration with faculty from the Bagwell College of Education, the College of Computing and Software Engineering, and the university library system, the project seeks to improve college readiness and research literacy among high school students, particularly those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

Building on the award-winning Hopscotch suite of educational tools, H4-All leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) to provide adaptive guidance and scaffolded support for students conducting AP Research projects. The system is being co-designed with community and educational partners, including members of the College Board AP Research Development Committee, local school district advanced learning supervisors, and AP Research teachers from Cobb, Cherokee, and Bartow County school districts.

The project includes a mixed-methods pilot study to evaluate the usability, effectiveness, and accessibility of the H4-All prototype with AP Research students, teachers, and undergraduate first-year scholars. Data collection will include surveys, interviews, observations, usability evaluations, and analysis of student research products and historical AP outcomes. By supporting students in developing research, analytical, and critical thinking skills, Hopscotch 4-All aims to reduce disparities in AP participation, enhance STEM and college readiness pathways, and contribute to more inclusive and equitable AI-enhanced educational practices. The project also positions the interdisciplinary team for future large-scale external funding opportunities focused on AI, learning sciences, and educational innovation.

Participating IRML Team Members: Drs. Iván Jorrín, Anete Vásquez, Mei-Lin Chang; Olga Koz, Juliann Noble-Healy. 

Collaborators from the College of Computing and Software Engineering: Drs. Nasrin Dehbozorgi & Xinyue Zhang, and; Mourya Teja Kunuku (PhD. Student - GRA)

Timeline: 12/16/2024 – 12/15/2026

Sponsor:  KSU - Grand Challenges Interdisciplinary Seed Grant by the Office of Research.

Budget: $200,000