CSinPA: August 2022
CELEBRATIONS AND SHOUT-OUTS
Nate Shilcosky wins 2022 Infy Makers Award
Forest Hills School District teacher Nate Shilcosky is one of ten 2022 Infy Makers Award recipients. The award from Infosys Foundation USA recognizes teachers for their efforts to engage students in CS through maker education. 2022 winners received a $10,000 grant for their district and the opportunity to participate in the Making CS Inclusive professional learning experience.
Congratulations, Nate!
Pennsylvania teams participating in Smithsonian Science Center program
Two Pennsylvania teams are participating in the Smithsonian Science Education Center’s Zero Barriers in STEM Education program. In the program, 21 teams from around the country are developing and implementing logic models that focus on a problem or challenge related to accessible and inclusive STEM programs.
PaTTAN math and CS consultants, Allegheny Intermediate Unit #3 (AIU3) TaC, and Chartiers Valley SD (CVSD) educators and administrators are collaborating on a plan to grow Chartiers Valley SD students’ interest in CS - particularly students with disabilities - by increasing the number of grade 3-to-5 educators participating in CS learning.
Pennsylvania is also represented in the program by a team from LIFE Male STEAM Academy. We look forward to sharing more about their efforts in an upcoming newsletter.
We want to celebrate CS efforts in your community!
Tweet #CSinPA or email us and you might be featured in this newsletter.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
7-12 Praxis Prep Pathway & Reimbursement Program
The 100% virtual 7-12 Praxis Prep pathway is open to PA 7-12 educators who are currently teaching or will soon be teaching a CS course and are planning to take the 7-12 CS Praxis exam required for certification. September 30 is the deadline to register for the Fall cohort. Additional cohorts will open throughout the 2022-23 school year.
7-12 CS teachers: use this Google Form to tell us your plans for the exam and certification, and if relevant, request reimbursement. The form allows for multiple submissions allowing you to update your status with the exam.
- Reimbursement is available for educators who pay out of pocket to register for the exam and/or apply for the add-on certificate.
CS Innovations - 2022-2023 Cohort
Open exclusively to IU TaC
The CS Innovations professional learning series allows TaC to explore foundational CS concepts and practices through model activities using hands-on resources that remove barriers for students with disabilities.
We are proposing the following tentative dates for our 2022-2023 cohort:
- Special Session: October 12, 2022 - ½ day AM
- This special session is an optional half-day workshop for TaC who would like deeper support in foundational CS concepts and skills. We will explore basic coding/programming concepts through various unplugged and plugged experiences.
- Session 1: October 12, 2022 - ½ day PM
- The Special Session and Session 1 are scheduled for AM and PM on the same date, to minimize travel for those wishing to attend both.
- Session 2: November 9, 2022 - ½ day PM
- Session 3: December 14, 2022 - full-day session
- Session 4: February 15, 2023 - ½ day PM
These dates are not firm. If you are aware of any conflicts or would like to suggest alternative dates when TaC will already be traveling to Harrisburg, please contact Jeremy Gabborin at jgabborin@pattan.net. Registration information will be shared in the September CSinPA newsletter.
Leading the Charge - Act 45/PIL Program for CS Administrators
If you are a school or district administrator who wants to learn more about how you can support CS teachers, or teachers integrating CS into their classes, join us for Cohort 2 of our PIL program Leading the Charge: CS for School Administrators.
2022-23 Cohort Dates:
- October 6, 2022
- November 10, 2022
- December 15, 2022
- January 19, 2023
- February 16, 2023
- March 23, 2023
- April 20, 2023
- June 8, 2023
All sessions are virtual and begin at 12:00 pm.
CSinPA Virtual Book Club
MORE OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
Graduate Certificate in CS Education - Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown College is offering a limited number of full scholarships for this program, endorsed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) in preparing teachers to pass the 7-12 CS Praxis exam required to earn the PDE 7-12 CS add-on certificate.
2022-23 Equity Fellowship - Computer Science Teachers Association
CS teachers and educational leaders committed to improving equitable access and achievement in CS education are invited to apply for CSTA's 2022-23 Equity Fellows program. Applications are due August 11.
2022 CSforALL Commitments - CSforALL
LEAs and organizations are invited to make a 2022 CSforALL commitment as a way to publicly announce new or additive (expands or builds on) work towards achieving equitable CS education for all students. Commitments are due September 9, 2022.
Congressional App Challenge - U.S. House of Representatives
Middle and high school students are invited to participate in the Congressional App Challenge through their local congressional district. Students are encouraged to register before September 30th. The competition deadline is November 1.
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