CSinPA Newsletter
January 2024
Shout-outs and Celebrations
PaTTANpod: Technology, Creativity, & Empathy
The latest PaTTANpod episode features 2023 CSforAllPA Summit keynote, Nicole Jackson.
Nicole discusses her nontraditional professional journey in CS and STEM, the relationship between technology and creativity, applications of cognitive science in technology leadership, and the role of empathy in efforts to close equity gaps in education.
Watch on Youtube or access audio podcast formats on Blubrry.
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
CSTA-PA Unconference
Join us for the third annual CSTA-PA unconference on Saturday, February 17th, from 9:00 - 11:00 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.
7-12 Praxis Prep Pathway & Reimbursement Program
Registration is open for the Spring Cohort for the 7-12 Praxis Prep Pathway for the 23-24 school year. 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.
To register, visit the newsletter here.
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
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.
CS standards & STEELS standards crosswalks
We have created crosswalks between the STEELS and CSTA K-12 CS standards to support educators. In these workbooks, you will find how CSTA standards can support the STEELS standards and how the STEELS standards can support the CSTA standards. Currently, the crosswalks address the Technology & Engineering (3.5) and Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (3.4) of the STEELS standards. We are working on incorporating the Science (3.1-3.3) STEELS standards into the documents.
To view the resources we've created, please visit 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!
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