CSinPA Newsletter
February 2024
Shout-outs and Celebrations
CSTA-PA Unconference
Join us for the third annual CSTA-PA unconference on Saturday, February 17th, from 9:00 - 11:30 am.
The Pennsylvania chapters of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) invite you to a morning of discussion on key topics in CS education including recruiting students to CS, teaching CS with evidence-based practices, and engaging community partners in CS education.
Act 48 credit is available.
Register online via the PaTTAN website.
PAsmart Focus Groups
PDE and PaTTAN are collaborating with the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to solicit feedback from individuals who have participated in PAsmart advancing and targeted grant programs. Virtual focus groups (45-60 minutes) will be facilitated by AIR research professionals. Participants will receive a $40 electronic gift card for their time.
Eligible participants include:
Educators and school/district administrators who have been involved in advancing and/or targeted grant activities or professional learning
7-12 grade students who have participated in CS courses or extracurricular activities*
Professional learning providers or grant administrators involved in advancing grants
Volunteer to participate in a focus group.
*7-12 grade students must have a parent/guardian submit the interest form.
Professional Learning
7-12 Praxis Prep Pathway & Reimbursement Program
Registration is still open for the Spring Cohort for the 7-12 Praxis Prep Pathway for the 23-24 school year. Registration closes on February 29, and the spring cohort will begin on March 1, 2024 and run through August 31,2024. This pathway engages 7-12 educators in activities to develop Computer Science (CS) content area knowledge and skills via the online We_Teach CS program. As a result of the Pathway, LEAs will have an educator ready to take and pass the 7-12 CS certification exam and to offer a standards-aligned middle or high school CS course.
Follow the link in the attached newsletter for more information and to register. https://www.smore.com/36t7e
7-12 CS Praxis peer tutoring program
The peer tutoring program for teachers preparing for the PA 7-12 CS certification exam is back for 2023-24! We continue to offer the program to participants in any current or previous PaTTAN 7-12 CS professional learning program (7-12 PAsmart 1.0/2.0, CSinPA 7-12 CS Praxis Prep pathway). For more information on the CSinPA 7-12 Praxis Prep pathway for the 2023-24 school year please click here
K-8 Micro-credential Program
A new course in our AI Series will be available this month in our K-8 micro-credential program.
Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom: Integrating AI to Support Student Learning
Registration will open 2/12.
This course has a prerequisite: Artificial Intelligence in the Classroom: Introduction
Course hour/ Act 48 credits: 4 hours
This course will continue to explore the utilization of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in educational settings, specifically focusing on integrating AI tools into lesson activities to support students' learning.
After completing the previous course that delved into how AI can assist teachers in common daily tasks, participants in this course will take a step further by examining students’ interactions with AI tools. Educators will identify appropriate tools, resources, and strategies for integrating AI to enhance learning experience for students.
Throughout the course, participants will design and share an AI-infused lesson activity. Additionally, the course will facilitate discussions on the role of AI in supporting Universal Design for Learning (UDL) strategies, contributing to the creation of inclusive educational environments.
Opportunities and Resources
Scaling Inclusive Pedagogy Pilot Pathway
The CSinPA Team is looking for ten 7-12 CS Educators who are interested in being a part of a pilot group for a new pathway with potential of earning a $750.00 stipend.
This Pathway is open to Pennsylvania 7-12 educators who are teaching or will soon be teaching Computer Science courses. For additional details about the pilot pathway and to access the interest form, please refer to this SMORE.
CSinPA Virtual Community: Post-Secondary Perspectives
Exciting news from the CSinPA team! We're bringing back our Post-Secondary Perspectives program for the CSinPA Community of Practice and are on the lookout for enthusiastic post-secondary students.
Participants will facilitate informal discussion in the CSinPA virtual community over a one-week period, and will be paid a stipend of $100. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. If you're interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application here.
Don't miss your chance to be a part of our dynamic team and make a meaningful impact on the CSinPA virtual community!
Access previous editions of the CSinPA newsletter.
To ensure you never miss the latest CSinPA news, join the CSinPA virtual community.