CSforAZ News
Issue 5: March 2018
CS News
Webinar - CS in K-5 Making
- Webinar - CS in K-5 Making on April 12, 2018 at 7:30 pm EST
- Add-to-Calendar: iCalendar, Outlook, Google, Yahoo
What: Webinar - CS in K-5 Making
When: April 12, 2018 - 7:30 pm EST
Add to calendar iCalendar, Outlook, Google, Yahoo
Computer science may be the single best avenue for embedding authentic problem solving in elementary school. As students develop core skills that form the foundation for their future growth, teachers are challenged to integrate contextually relevant, authentic problems for students. This is particularly difficult in early grades as teachers have to properly scaffold "real" problems down to an age-appropriate level. The maker movement has effectively empowered teachers to embrace constructivist philosophies championed by educational greats such as John Dewey and Seymour Papert. With the emergence of low-cost rapid prototyping tools and robotics, these principles can now be enhanced through computer science. From unplugged computational thinking activities, to full-scale robotics, the line between computer science and maker education is quickly blurring, making way for a new era in hands-on learning experiences. In this webinar, come learn ten specific strategies to integrate computer science with maker education.
Use the following link to access the webinar:
Early Bird Pricing for CSTA Conference Registration
CSTA will be bringing its world class professional development and educator community together July 7-10, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. Learn more here.
Early Bird Registration Feb 1 - Mar 31 $175
Regular RegistrationApr 1 - Jun 30$225
Onsite RegistrationJul 1 - Jul 10$275
CSTA - Oracle Academy Scholarships
CSTA and Oracle Academy are delighted to announce that applications for Oracle Academy Scholars - CSTA Conference Scholarships are now open! For the third consecutive year, Oracle Academy will be helping to send outstanding first-time conference attendees to the annual CSTA conference.
The CSTA conference is the leading conference for K-12 teachers who teach computing to learn, network, and develop a community of practice. In 2018, the CSTA conference will be held Omaha, Nebraska, from July 10-12. If you're a first-time attendee, don't miss this opportunity - applications close on May 1, 2018.
To be eligible for the scholarship, teachers must fit the following criteria:
Applicant is a first time K-12 teacher attendee of the CSTA Annual conference
Applicant may be, but does not have to be, a teacher at an Oracle Academy member institution
Must apply for the scholarship no later than May 1, 2018
Winners will receive a scholarship funded by Oracle Academy to attend the 2018 CSTA Annual Conference, up to $1,000 per awardee, to include:
Conference registration;
Up to 3 nights of lodging at the conference venue (or comparable location if the conference venue is sold out);
Travel expense support (toward transportation and meals);
Special recognition as an Oracle Academy Scholar at the conference.
In 2018, 33 Oracle Academy Scholar - CSTA Conference Scholarships will be awarded. After May 1, recipients will be selected by the listed objective criteria, using a pre-determined process. The 33 winners will be notified by May 15, 2018, and will then be given detailed instructions to finalize travel plans. Further rules/obligations outlined on application.
Apply here.
Infosys Pathfinders Summer Institute
Infosys Foundation USA will host the Pathfinders Summer Institute 2018, an intensive week of in-person professional development in Computer Science and Making, at Indiana University Bloomington from July 15-20, 2018.
Over 800 US K-12 public school teachers will convene at #InfyPathfinders for high-quality hands-on training. All tuition, airfare, room and board for teacher participants will be paid. To make it possible for teachers to attend Pathfinders at no cost, funds from Infosys Foundation USA will need to be matched by schools, districts, PTAs or the donor community at DonorsChoose.org. Click here for detailed information on how the process works. Click here to view current demand for your preferred course.
All K-12 public school teachers are invited to apply. Special consideration will be given to high-needs schools, teachers from under-represented communities, those new to teaching CS and Making, and districts demonstrating significant commitment to these subjects.
The last day for submitting applications for any Pathfinders course is Monday, April 2, 2018.
ISTE Computer Science Educator Standards Refresh
ISTE is asking for feedback to help them as they develop the refreshed ISTE Standards for Computer Science Educators. This survey will take less than 15 min.
The goal is for ISTE...to develop the next generation of computing education standards that serve the field by establishing a vision for the knowledge, skills, and dispositions that educators need to effectively teach computer science and computational thinking to all students and function as a guide to professional learning for all educators, particularly those who are new to computer science.
Please complete the survey here.
Spotlight on Resources: NCWIT
NCWIT supports the CS community with more than 160 research-based resources. Their collection of K-12 resources can be found here and includes tips, research, posters, magazines, toolkits and more to support computing in the K-12 setting.
A few highlights:
NCWIT C4C: Counselors for Computing
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