Effectiveness of Research-based Mini-tutorials on Quantum Computing Protocols and Algorithms

As the revolutionary new field of Quantum Computing (QC) continues to gain attention, it is crucial to introduce research-based materials and pedagogical approaches to effectively teach quantum computing concepts and skills to students across multiple disciplines. We present an empirical investigation into the use of a set of mini-tutorials developed to enhance the learning of core QC concepts and skills. We videotaped the in-class group discussions during the mini-tutorials, pre- and post-tested the students before and after the mini-tutorials and interviewed students a semester after they took the course. We report on the effectiveness of the mini-tutorials, the students’ in-class use of the mini-tutorials and their gains/losses in content and skills after using the mini-tutorials. We also discuss the implications of our research on the pedagogy and materials used for teaching more complex protocols and algorithms in an Introductory Quantum Computing course for upper-level undergraduate students.