As AI rapidly makes its way into the various facets of our lives, the discourse around its power – and potential problems – is at an all time high. One hot spot where these conversations are occurring is in discussions around K-12 education. How are (and should) educators be integrating AI into their classroom instruction and pedagogy? This topic was on the agenda with policymakers in Washington, D.C. during Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) last month. Representatives from the White House, National Science Foundation (NSF), National Economic Council, and other federal agencies convened to discuss AI in K-12 education, inclusive AI instruction, and the role of AI in CS education and workforce development. Read the full story on our website!
In an era defined by rapid technological advancements, computational thinking and digital literacy are skills that will have a significant impact on population well-being, success, and quality of life. With this in mind, educators are — and should be — preparing their students as early as elementary school for navigating a tech-savvy world in a manner that empowers them to be creators — and not just users — of technology. Texas is making strides in realizing this for students across the state. Read more about our efforts in Texas, the new Texas TEKs, and our teacher event with Google.
CSEdWeek is coming, and CSTA has all the resources you need! Computer Science Education Week is an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field. CSEDWeek 2023 is December 4-10. Throughout the week, the Expanding Pathways In Computing team will highlight teachers’ experiences with WeTeach_CS. Also, the Texas Advanced Computing Center will highlight students who have attended Code@TACC, our signature summer residential program for high school students. Stay tuned for these exciting stories! Also throughout the week, prepare to be inspired by this year's CS Heroes who are making an impact everywhere, inspire others to learn computer science, and connect with the CS community!
Presentation proposals for the 2024 WeTeach_CS Summit are now being accepted! The WeTeach_CS Summit is a two-day event which educates, empowers, and inspires K-12 computer science (CS) and cybersecurity teachers, advocates, administrators, professional development providers, university instructors, and policy-makers to advance the goal of CS for All in Texas and beyond. This year’s Summit is June 11-12, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas. Submit your presentation today! Submissions will be accepted through January 10, 2024.
Teachers, are you looking for fun, new ways to teach coding to your students? Learn how to program with Scratch! Join our very own Dr. Sheryl Roehl, EPIC’s Partnership Coordinator, and the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association for a one-day workshop dedicated to learning coding skills you can take back to your classroom! Register today! This training is December 2 from 9 a.m.-noon in Plano.
Are you ready? Computer Science Education Week is in less than a month — and it’s the perfect time to plan your Hour of Code event! Code.org hopes you’re excited and have registered your classroom or school event. This year, Hour of Code is going to new heights with “Hour of Code: Creativity with AI.” As usual, our fantastic teacher review board has meticulously tested and evaluated over 100 new Hour of Code activities submitted this year — many teaching AI concepts. Check out a few favorites and start planning your Computer Science Education Week! Don’t forget, you can do an Hour of Code anywhere: at home, in class, or with your whole school! U.S. schools can register a whole-school Hour of Code event and receive an awesome new swag kit. Let’s get ready for the coolest Hour of Code ever!
The Expanding Computing Education Pathways (ECEP) Alliance is looking for a Deputy Director. This position will support the Alliance's mission to broaden student participation in computing and computing-intensive pathways by developing and facilitating ECEP services and resources for state and national CS education leaders. Under the Expanding Pathways in Computing (EPIC) umbrella, the ECEP Alliance is a national project serving 29 states and the territory of Puerto Rico which is dedicated to broadening participation in K-12 computer science education and computing through state level systems change. Apply today!
“Bias or By Us?” takes an in-depth look at issues of bias in machine learning and offers possible solutions. Addressing bias in AI requires diverse, representative data, bias-detection techniques, and comprehensive testing. It’s not just a technical challenge but also an ethical imperative to ensure equitable, fair, and respectful AI systems that align with human values and rights. These lessons cover crucial topics like the training and testing of AI models, emphasizing the significance of using diverse training data to ensure fairness and accuracy. Students are shown that hands-on experience is paramount in truly grasping AI concepts. Learn more about the WeTeach_CS Culturally Relevant Computer Science Sample Lessons, a series of exemplary lessons that can be used to provide a strong foundation for future CS curricula.
WeTeach_Cyber has partnered with Cyber.org to offer webinars and workshops at no cost to Texas teachers. This initiative aims to support and enhance the professional development opportunities available to school educators, specifically focusing on cybersecurity. Virtual WeTeach_Cybersecurity Webinars will provide an introduction and overview of Cyber.org’s curriculum. Participants will be introduced to the platform, receive a walkthrough of the cyber modules, and participate in sample activities from the course. In-person workshops provide a hands-on introduction and overview of the curriculum and/or the cyber range. Learn more about these free, exciting resources!
Educators, get ready for an insightful session packed with strategies, tips, and real-world advice on navigating the tech industry like a pro. Hear from Business Development Manager Kat Rector as she walks down the cybersecurity career path identifying entry level cybersecurity roles, how to find them and the different paths to obtaining a cybersecurity role. Register today! This webinar is October 16 from 6-7:30 p.m. Central Time. This webinar is a must-attend event for high school cybersecurity and networking educators!
The NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) High School Award honors 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, or non-binary students for their computing-related achievements and interests, and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and future plans. Learn more about the awards and apply today! Applications will be accepted until November 6. Since 2007, more than 25,000 students have received an AiC Award. First-time applicants are invited to find out more about the awards during a live Q&A Zoom video call, set for October 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Deaf Awareness Month aims to increase public awareness of Deaf issues, people and culture, emphasizing the positive aspects of deafness, encouraging social inclusion and raising awareness of the organizations locally, nationally and globally that support those who are deaf. About 13% of the U.S population is deaf or hearing impaired. Read more about Deaf Awareness Month and learn tips for communicating with people who are deaf or hard of hearing from the University of Washington.
Computer science (CS) education in the U.S. is plagued with professional isolation. This is true for classroom teachers who may be the lone CS educator in their school or district, and it is also true of administrators who have no other district leaders with which to collaborate in building CS programs. While efforts are being made to bring CS teachers together, little is currently being done to connect administrators. To tackle these issues, the Texas CS Leadership Network (TXCSLN) will host monthly virtual meetings centered around topics, such as building CS pathways, policies that impact diverse CS enrollment, and strategies for retaining CS teachers. Sign up today! The network’s first meeting is scheduled for September 25 from 3-4 p.m. The meeting will be held virtually.
It is time for teachers to register their classes for CyberStart America! This great platform includes over 200 challenges in computational thinking, data discovery, cybersecurity, binary, coding, cryptography, and much more! The National Cyber Scholarship Foundation is listening to teacher feedback and taking action on suggestions/requests. For example, teachers that are new to the game say they need time to become familiar with the challenges, create groups, and get their students registered prior to game launch. The official game launch is set for October 16. Educators can register here. Don’t forget to make your student groups before signing students up! Students can register here.
TACC’s Expanding Pathways in Computing team is guided by a simple mission: make computer science (CS) education available to every Texas student in K-12 classrooms. Teachers need all the support and resources they can get, and at the 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit, this idea of CS for All took center stage, as more than 250 CS teachers, advocates, administrators, professional development providers, university instructors, and policy makers gathered in Houston for the seventh annual Summit. “The WeTeach_CS Summit serves teachers from school districts as small as Terlingua and Presidio — on the U.S.-Mexico border — to larger ones like Houston and Dallas ISD,” said EPIC Director Carol Fletcher. Read the full story on TACC’s website!
AI 101 for Teachers is a free, foundational online learning series for any teacher and educator interested in the groundbreaking world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its transformative potential in education. Engaging sessions with renowned experts will demystify AI, explore responsible implementation, address bias, and showcase how AI-powered learning can revolutionize student outcomes. The How AI Works short video series stars Mira Murati, creator of ChatGPT! Please watch these short videos and share them with a learner of any age. Best of all, every video has lesson plans to go with them — just in time for the 2023-2024 school year!
Are you looking for a CS course for your students but don’t have a CS teacher in your school? The WeTeach_CS team is proud to offer Computer Science I, available for the 2023-2024 school year on the Texas Virtual Schools Network! Register your students today! This curriculum is 100% virtual and a wonderful option for campuses without a dedicated CS teacher. This course completely aligns with the TEA TEKS for Computer Science I and will count as high school credit for your students.
Culturally responsive lessons are essential in engaging students and ensuring the content resonates. The EPIC team recognizes that students learn best when they can relate to and see themselves in the material being taught. Together with educators from the Computing Educator Diversity Initiative (CEDI), we created Culturally Relevant Computer Science Sample Lessons, a series of exemplary lessons that can be used to provide a strong foundation for future CS curricula. This project was funded in part by Google.
Programs of Study Refresh Public Comment Perkins V is federal legislation requiring states that receive federal Career and Technical Education (CTE) funds to align CTE programs of study to high-wage, in-demand, and high-skill occupations. Texas’ State Plan indicates that the Texas Education Agency (TEA) will review programs of study every four years to ensure they meet the needs of the Texas workforce. TEA is soliciting additional public comment on the recommendations through August 14. View the recommendations from the CTE advisory committee for TEA’s 14 career clusters.
Join the Monthly Meetings of the CS Leadership Network! The Texas CS Leadership Network (TXCSLN) hosts monthly virtual meetings centered around topics like building CS pathways, policies that impact diverse CS enrollment, and strategies for retaining CS teachers. Meeting topics will reflect the needs and interests of participants based on an initial survey and ongoing feedback from network members. This project will also provide scholarships for up to 40 members to attend an annual in-person meeting in conjunction with the WeTeach_CS Summit.
From EPIC’s Allen Antoine: 3 Low-Tech Ways to Teach Computer Science Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Johannesburg, South Africa, to present at a STEAM-focused teacher professional development conference focused on innovation. During one of my sessions, I discussed how to encourage students to be self-starters when tackling programming projects and unlock their potential to collaborate and be better problem solvers. Read my three low-tech ways to teach computer science! While high-tech resources are necessary and useful for practical applications and advanced topics, integrating low-tech approaches can improve critical-thinking skills and foster a solid foundation for students to explore computing pathways.
Expand Your CS Teaching Knowledge with WeTeach_CS Curriculum! Are you teaching CS next year, but not sure how to get a class up and running? Struggling to find a CS1 curriculum that works? Come and get a sneak preview of a curriculum package that will get you through your first year, giving you everything you need in a nice, neat package. With How WeTeach_CS for HS, you will be ready on Day One, with lesson plans, student lessons, videos, study guides, practice activities, projects, labs, lab solutions, and assessments. We’ll also examine the CS1 TEKS and become familiar with the expectations for the course, and then explore the four modules that make up the course.
Join the Texas CS Leadership Network Kick-Off Dinner! Calling all K-12 administrators and leaders who oversee computer science or cybersecurity for their school/district! You are invited to a kickoff dinner for the Texas Computer Science Leadership Network (TxCSLN) on July 11 from 6-8 p.m. in Dallas. The TxCSLN is a community of practice designed to address the professional isolation experienced by K-12 CS education administrators around Texas. Through monthly virtual meetings and an annual in-person gathering, TxCSLN will provide opportunities to discuss topics such as industry-based certifications, CS/cyber course sequences, instructional materials, teacher certification and more.
Summer PD Available from WeTeach_Cyber! New to 2023, CYBER.ORG will be hosting a bootcamp for their new Intro to Cybersecurity course that is aimed at both middle schools and high schools who are trying to implement a cybersecurity course that is not as technical as CYBER.ORG’s technical cybersecurity course. Participants will meet each morning to learn new cybersecurity content and run through a class from the student’s perspective. Attendees will work through labs with the CYBER.ORG staff as well as work through labs and activities on their own.
2023 WeTeach_CS Summit Starts Friday! At long last, the 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit is here! Whether you are a veteran CS educator or just getting a computer science program off the ground, this year’s Summit has something for everyone! This year’s Summit is June 16-17 in Houston. See the full Summit agenda for more information!
Why Do Schools Need CS Education? The 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit takes an objective look at a question that's been popping up in education circles: "Do schools really need CS education?" With the jobs of tomorrow looking for the next generation of workers, STEM and CS education are more important than ever! Access to CS courses in high schools across Texas has increased, but the need for more exposure prior to high school is even more important. Rural and urban schools and schools that serve a high percentage of students from low-income families are less likely to offer a foundational CS course and when it is offered Black, Latino, and Native American students are less likely to take the AP CSP exam.
Win Free Admission to the 2024 WeTeach_CS Summit! Are you planning to join us at this year’s WeTeach_CS Summit in Houston? If so, your social media posts could prove to be lucrative! At the 2023 Summit, tag your social media posts with the hashtag #cs4yall for a chance to win free registration, lodging, and parking at the 2024 Summit in Fort Worth (a value of more than $900)! The 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit is a two-day event which educates, empowers, and inspires K-12 CS and Cybersecurity teachers, advocates, administrators, professional development providers, university instructors, and policymakers to advance the goal of CS for All in Texas and beyond.
WeTeach_CS Summit Registration Ends Soon! The deadline for the WeTeach_CS Summit is approaching soon! Mark your calendars and join us in Houston for this year’s Summit, a two-day event which educates, empowers, and inspires K-12 CS and Cybersecurity teachers, advocates, administrators, professional development providers, university instructors, and policymakers to advance the goal of CS for All in Texas and beyond. Registration for the 2023 Summit ends May 31, so register today!
Basic, Advanced CS Education Options at WeTeach_CS Summit Entering the world of computer science can seem like a daunting task. You may find yourself asking, “What are my first steps? Will anyone even take me seriously?” Join the 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit for sessions exploring both the basics and the advanced levels of CS education. Set for June 16-17 at the Hyatt Regency Houston, this year’s Summit presents From No Tech to Low Tech: Elementary Programming, a session teaching you how to confidently engage your elementary students in meaningful activities and conversations about programming and coding. Introducing programming and new technology can be intimidating. Begin with a technology-free, interactive activity to understand the importance of clear instructions in programming. Then learn to program an Ozobot that follows hand drawn, color coded lines. Finally, learn the basics of drag and drop coding to program your robot and build your own game.
Leadership in CS Sessions Available at the WeTeach_CS Summit This year’s WeTeach_CS Summit presents Data Heroes Wear a CAPE: A Framework to Examine Equity in CS Education, a session where three members of the EPIC team will discuss the CAPE Framework, a useful tool for assessing equity in CS education. We will describe the CAPE Framework and illustrate how it can be used as a guide for educators and administrators to understand equity in their own school, district, or region. Next, we will introduce the Texas CS Education Data Dashboard and demonstrate how participants can use it to answer their own questions about CS education. We will also discuss how participants can conduct and report their own data analyses by looking at some real-word examples of how the CAPE Framework was used to promote equity and grow CS education programs.
Mark Your Calendars for the Upcoming K-5 PD Extravaganza! Teachers, sign up today for the WeTeach_CS K-5 PD Extravaganza! Set for July 17-19, this highly interactive workshop is designed for K-5 teachers and aligns to the new Tech Apps TEKS required to be implemented by the 2024-2025 school year. Use hands-on lessons and learn how to integrate computational thinking, computer science, and cybersecurity into core curricula.
WeTeach_CS is excited to offer scholarships for K-5 educators to attend our PD Extravaganza! Space is limited, so apply today! Registration closes July 10.
Explore Artificial Intelligence at the 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit! Today, the amount of data that is generated, by both humans and machines, far outpaces humans' ability to absorb, interpret, and make complex decisions based on that data. Artificial intelligence forms the basis for all computer learning and is the future of all complex decision making.
What should our students know about AI? And what opportunities should we provide in our classrooms to assist with their learning about AI? After Day of AI on May 18, make your plans to join the 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit for sessions exploring the future of Artificial Intelligence in K-12 education.
Apply Today for a WeTeach_CS Summit Scholarship! We are excited to announce that scholarship applications for the 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit are being accepted! To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must teach in Texas and be either rural teachers, a K-5 teacher, or affiliated with a Microsoft TEALS teacher.
Early Bird Registration for WeTeach_CS Summit Extended! Due to overwhelming demand, early bird registration for the 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit has been extended! Register today for the Summit and save $100 when you sign up between now and April 6! From veteran computer science educators to those just starting out, the Summit has something for everyone!
2023 WeTeach_CS Summit Detailed Agenda Announced! Planning to attend the 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit from June 16-17 in Houston? Good news: The full Summit agenda has been released! Whether you are a veteran CS educator or just getting a computer science program off the ground, this year’s Summit has something for everyone!
Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card for Taking a Survey! Do you teach at the elementary level in grades 3-6 in the U.S.? If so, your input is wanted! The EPIC STEM Evaluation Services team is conducting a survey to determine whether, why, and how CS content is being taught by upper elementary educators. Sign up to take the survey today, and share the link with other grade 3-6 teachers in your network.
WeTeach_CS Launches Rural Certification Collaborative! Students living in rural areas are less likely to attend schools that offer CS courses largely because educational institutions in these remote areas lack the resources to staff teaching positions for these courses. Thanks to the generous support of Jobs for the Future and the U.S. Department of Education, the WeTeach_CS Rural Certification Collaborative will recruit educators from rural communities to become certified high school CS teachers and increase capacity for students to access a full pathway of CS courses.
It's Not Too Late to Save $100 on Your WTCS Summit Registration! Early bird registration for the 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit is going strong, and it's not too late for you to join us in Houston! Register today and save $100 when you register between now and April 1. The WeTeach_CS Summit is a two-day event which educates, empowers, and inspires K-12 CS and cybersecurity teachers, advocates, administrators, professional development providers, university instructors, and policymakers to advance the goal of CS for All in Texas and beyond.
WeTeach_CS Curricula Scholarship Applications for 2023-2024 School Year Now Open! WeTeach_CS is pleased to declare the teacher scholarship application process for the 2023-2024 school year officially open! With newly added learning materials, WeTeach_CS For HS and WeTeach AP®CSA will help students prepare for two industry-based certification tests: the PCEP™ – Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer certification (Exam PCEP-30-0x) and the Oracle Certified Foundations Associate: Java Foundations Exam Number: 1Z0-811.
Students Showcase Computer Science Skills at Texas Capitol This Valentine’s Day, the love for coding was in the air at the Texas Capitol. Thirty-five students from six Texas school districts gathered for Code @ the Capitol, an event where students presented CS projects to members of the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.
Google Supports Creation of K-5 Integrated Lessons The new Technology Applications TEKS will be implemented in the 2024-2025 school year. Thanks to generous support from Google, WeTeach_CS is currently in the process of creating 10 integrated sample lessons for each grade level that details how to integrate these Tech Apps TEKS into Science, Math, Reading Language Arts, and Social Studies. There will be two sample lessons for each of the following Tech Apps Strands.
Save $100 on Your WTCS Summit Registration! Early bird registration for the 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit begins February 6! Save $100 when you register between now and April 1. Register today! The WeTeach_CS Summit is a two-day event which educates, empowers, and inspires K-12 CS and cybersecurity teachers, advocates, administrators, professional development providers, university instructors, and policymakers to advance the goal of CS for All in Texas and beyond.
Mark Your Calendars for the K-5 PD Extravaganza! Teachers, sign up today for the WeTeach_CS K-5 PD Extravaganza! This highly interactive workshop is designed for K-5 teachers and aligns to the new Tech Apps TEKS required to be implemented by the 2024-2025 school year. Use hands-on lessons and learn how to integrate computational thinking, computer science, and cybersecurity into core curricula.
Sign up for a Code.org Professional Learning Program! Are you an elementary school teacher looking to introduce CS to your classroom? Code.org has something for you! CS Fundamentals curriculum is designed for K-5 students. Through a network of regional partners and generous grants from our donors, these workshops are offered at fully to partially discounted rates. Interested in attending a professional development workshop? CS Fundamentals is fully aligned to the new K-8 Technology Applications TEKS. Contact Dr. Sheryl Roehl for details or to schedule a workshop for their campus, district, or region.
Mark Your Calendars for CS Jumpstart! The CS Jumpstart workshop begins with introductory programming to provide teachers with foundational knowledge in coding using text-based Python as well as incorporating physical computing to reinforce CS concepts. Participants will write code to program and build working solutions that actuate a red-green-blue LED, a single red LED, a brightness sensor and a built-in speaker. This workshop is June 8-9 at the Texas Advanced Computing Center in Austin. Registration closes May 18.
2023 WeTeach_CS Summit Proposals Set To Close January 9! Presentation proposals for the 2023 WeTeach_CS Summit in Houston on June 16-17 are being accepted through January 9! If you are interested in presenting a one-hour session at the Summit, please apply by filling out this form. Accepted sessions will be notified no later than January 27, with a $100 discount for up to two presenters to the Summit.
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