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Teachers love our professional learning

You don’t have to be a software developer to teach computer science! Our intensive and highly supportive summer professional learning programs are designed to prepare any educator to provide high-quality computer science instruction. Our programs will also support you throughout the academic year as you teach, engage, and empower your students to explore computer science. Over the past four years, we have provided professional learning for over 1,000 educators in Alaska.

• Apply for our inspiring, high-quality professional development workshops with experienced facilitators. Applications open!
• The professional learning begins with a 5-day workshop next summer. The summer workshop will prepare you to teach computer science in SY23/24.
• We will have a number of scholarships available for secondary teachers in Alaska; most educators will be able to attend at no cost.
• Our professional learning program also includes additional support sessions throughout the following school year to ensure your success.

What are my professional learning options?

Our professional learning programs are designed to prepare educators to provide high quality computer science instruction.

The Computer Science Discoveries (CSD) program (6th-10th grade)

Computer Science Discoveries is an introductory computer science course for 6 – 10th-grade students. Mapped to CTSA standards, the course takes a wide lens on computer science by covering topics such as problem-solving, programming, physical computing, user-centered design, and data, while inspiring students as they build their own websites, apps, animations, games, and physical computing systems. 

• Five-day summer workshop.
• Two choices for the summer workshop: In person, in Anchorage, June 26-June 30; or a virtual workshop online July 10-14.
• Four-day virtual academic year workshops to support you as you teach the class the following year.
• CS Discoveries Overview
• CS Discoveries Course
• CS Discoveries Curriculum Guide 

The Computer Science Principles (CSD) program (9th-12th grade)

Computer Science Principles introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world. More than a traditional introduction to programming, it is a rigorous, engaging, and approachable course that explores many of the foundational ideas of computing so all students understand how these concepts are transforming the world we live in.

• Five-day summer workshop
• Four-day virtual academic year workshops
• CS Principles Overview
• CS Principles Course
• CS Principles Curriculum Guide 

The Computer Science A program (10th-12th grade)

Code.org’s Computer Science A (CSA) curriculum is a full-year, rigorous curriculum that introduces students to software engineering, and object-oriented programming and design using the Java programming language in this new curriculum for AP® Computer Science A (AP® CSA). This course features:

• Culturally responsive pedagogy
• Real-world problem investigation
• Explainer videos with diverse presenters
• Java Lab – a web-based Java programming environment
• Open-ended projects for more personalized learning
• Student friendly code review tool

This curriculum covers a broad range of topics, including the design of solutions to problems, the use of data structures to organize large sets of data, the development and implementation of algorithms to process data and discover new information, the analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing systems.

• Five-day, in-person summer workshop
• Virtual academic year workshops
• CSA Overview
• CSA Course

How much will the workshops cost?

Scholarships are available to support professional learning for 6-12th grade teachers! Do you teach in a high-needs school or a school with a diverse student population? Is funding for computer science limited in your district? Our Code.org CSD, CSP AP, and CSA AP professional learning programs are offered at reduced or no cost to most teachers accepted into the program. Scholarship requirements include that you will be teaching the course during the upcoming school year.

If you don’t meet the scholarship requirements, we can offer this professional learning opportunity at the reduced cost of $900 for the 9 days of training, free curriculum, and support.

What does the application process entail?

Applying is easy and only takes about 10 minutes! Once your application is complete, you can expect to hear from Alaska Staff Development Network with your acceptance decision within 2-3 weeks. If you are accepted into the Professional Learning program, you are encouraged to register within two weeks to secure your spot.

Is Code.org free?

The curriculum, online student learning platform, and access to support from the teacher and Code.org community are available to all schools year-round, free of charge.

If an intensive workshop is not the right fit, check out the new Computer Science Connections (K-12) curriculum.

• Our newest curriculum makes the connections between learning computer science and other subjects like math, language arts, science, and social studies.
• Through CS Connections, K-12 classrooms explore their usual subjects in exciting new ways!
• They’re perfect for teachers who’d like to incorporate computer science into their lesson plans for other subjects, as well as CS educators who want to reinforce what students are learning in other subjects.
• No professional learning workshops are scheduled yet, but the free curricula is available to you.

YOU CAN TEACH COMPUTER SCIENCE!

You don’t have to be a software developer to teach computer science. More than one million teachers have brought computer science to their students using Code.org. We make it easy, no matter your background.

Join us this year for virtual CS Fundamentals (K-5) professional learning workshops at no cost to you. One optional credit is available in connection with this professional learning. Credit registration takes place after the first workshop meeting.

The Computer Science Fundamentals (CSF) course is designed for K-5 elementary educators new to teaching computer science who want to explore how to begin teaching the CS Fundamentals curriculum. Teachers say our elementary courses are “totally awesome sauce” and fun for all students, even pre-readers.

Join our experienced Alaskan facilitators online to get an introduction to computer science, overviews of the online curriculum and teacher dashboard, as well as strategies for teaching “unplugged” classroom activities that can be taught in person or online!  

In Alaska, Code.org is used in over a quarter of the elementary schools. Code.org, Alaska Staff Development Network, and Alaskan facilitators have provided professional learning for almost 1,000 K-5 teachers in Computer Science Fundamentals. 

CS Fundamentals K-5 

The Intro workshops are presented via in-person and virtual options throughout the school year. The virtual option provides equitable access to professional learning that did not exist previously in our very large state. In this workshop, participants receive a hands-on intro to computer science, pedagogy, overviews of the curriculum, and teacher dashboard, as well as strategies for supporting equitable CS education in their classrooms. 

Code offers six CS Fundamentals courses that are flexibly designed for teachers new to CS who want to offer accessible and equitable introductory CS courses to their students. 

The progression of courses A-F builds upon each other to ensure continuing students stay interested and learn new things. This allows you to use the same course at any grade level for all students, regardless of their experience. All courses make suitable entry points for students. Later courses feature “ramp-up” lessons which are intended to introduce or review essential concepts from previous courses at an accelerated pace. 

In addition to courses A-F, CS Fundamentals offers two self-paced express courses. Both are designed for situations where the teacher is not able to play an active role in engaging students. Express courses do not have unplugged lessons and instead focus on covering content from A-F counterparts in a way that can be delivered without a teacher. 

CS Fundamentals overview 

VIRTUAL and IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS – SPRING 2023 REGISTRATION OPEN!
NO COST TO YOU THIS SEMESTER, THANKS TO SUPPORT FROM OUR PARTNERS.

• Attending the ASTE ‘23  Conference?  ASDN is hosting a NO-COST K-5 Code.org learning opportunity.  On February 17, 2023, the day before the annual ASTE Conference, you can learn to teach computer science, encourage critical thinking and collaboration.  The workshop is designed for beginners and experienced teachers both. Includes a free workshop, curriculum, curriculum guide, swag and lunch. One optional 500-level credit available from UAA.   Register here

“This class was my very first exposure to computer science. I really appreciated how the class took something that seems like a big and scary study and presented it in very manageable steps…I am most excited that the curriculum is so clear. I feel like it will be very understandable by the students. The platform is very fun as well, so I have no doubt that there will be great student engagement.”
-Lindsay, Iditarod SD, July Virtual Workshop

VIRTUAL “DEEP DIVE” SESSION

Are you one of the hundreds of elementary teachers who took Computer Science Fundamentals and are looking for a Deep Dive into the curriculum now that you have been teaching the class?

We know that implementing new computer science courses with fidelity and equity takes time, collaboration, planning and support – which is where Deep Dive workshops come in!

The Deep Dive workshop is designed for elementary educators who have started teaching CS Fundamentals but want to more deeply understand Code.org’s approach to teaching CS and needed strategies to implement the curriculum fully. Developed with Code.org’s professional learning values in mind, this workshop provides teachers with a hands-on learning experience with other like-minded teachers. Teachers are given the space to work through individual challenges in carefully crafted sessions led by experienced facilitators.

Through SY22/23 virtual workshops, educators will explore course materials, teaching practices, and strategies for continuing to teach CS Fundamentals. One optional credit available, Virtual workshop, attend all three sessions. Session one: February 1, 8, and 15 or Session 2: March 2, 7 and 9. More information and registration in the table above.

“I thought I knew what Computer Science was – and it was not for me- until I started using “Dance Party” on Code.org with my students about 5 years ago.  The process of working through the coding skills was tough for some students and they were ready to quit, but when other students started sharing what they were creating, a change happened…

The idea of using computers to create was new.  Once that was out in the open, not being perfect the first time was not such a bad thing.  Creation needs persistence, problem-solving, and critical thinking… and the idea that students are creating something is more appealing than working through the lessons.“

   – Mandy, Anchorage, September Virtual Workshop

Contact Cheryl Bobo for additional information: cbobo@alaskaacsa.org.

CS FUNDAMENTALS UNPLUGGED

• We’ve compiled a list of all of our unplugged lessons for you to use in your classroom. Now you can teach the fundamentals of computer science, whether you have computers in your classroom or not!
• We refer to lessons in which students are not working on a computer as “unplugged.” Students will often work with pencil and paper or physical manipulatives. These are intentionally placed kinesthetic opportunities that help students digest complicated concepts in ways that relate to their own lives.
• Unplugged lessons are particularly useful for building and maintaining a collaborative classroom environment, and they are useful touchstone experiences you can refer to when introducing more abstract concepts. Each of these activities can either be used alone or with other computer science lessons on related concepts. View them here!

“I have a student that was not interested in school or anything about it. I printed out your code spelling. He is the most engaged I have seen him in days….Big smiles in Huslia”

Computer Science Connections (K-12)

• Our newest curriculum makes the connections between learning computer science and other subjects like math, language arts, science, and social studies.
• Through CS Connections, K-12 classrooms explore their usual subjects in exciting new ways!
• They’re perfect for teachers who’d like to incorporate computer science into their lesson plans for other subjects, as well as CS educators who want to reinforce what students are learning in other subjects.