High School Computer Science: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How!

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AMTNYS 72nd Annual Conference

Rochester, NY

October 28,2022

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Robin Flatland, Siena College

Jim Matthews, Siena College

Pauline White, Siena College

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Work supported by NSF Grant #1923378

Link to this presentation: https://tinyurl.com/SienaAMTNYS22

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Your Session (1 hour), Titled "High School Computer Science: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How!" has been selected for FRIDAY, October 28 at 3:00-4:00 in HIGHLAND B .

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Please let us know if you need to make any changes to the abstract description you previously submitted and verified. This is your last chance to make any changes.

What are the new NYS Learning Standards for Computer Science? When will they be required for graduation? How can the standards be met? Who will teach the students with so few certified CS teachers? Why will math teachers be needed to teach CS? Where can teachers and schools get support? We will share and discuss the reasons mathematics educators will need to be leaders in meeting the 9-12 CS Learning Standards for all students.

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Pauline - will do slides NYS Standards and DCS (Done)

Jim - will do slides for Who Will Teach and Why Math teachers and Binary Number Trick, Jim will contact Jess, and bring binary cards and copies of papers

Robin - Teacher/School Support, Current Partners, and Joining our Group, Robin bring laptop with slides on it

Have Slides Done by Wednesday Oct 26

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Why is it important to teach CS in high school?

Accessed 09/26/2022, Source

There are Lots of Jobs Available

Accessed 10/22/22, Image Source

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Accessed 10/22/2022, Image Source, Data Source

Why: CS in High School

• What percent of students take a HS math course?
• 100%

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• What percent of students take a HS science course?
• 100%

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• What percent of students take a HS CS course?
• 4.7%

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Only half of all US high schools offer computer science

Accessed 10/22/2022, Source

Only

51%

of US high schools offer computer science

64% of NY high school students attend a school that offers a foundational CS course.

Only 3.4% of NY high school students are enrolled in a foundational CS course

Accessed 9/26/22, Source

What are the NYS Learning Standards for Computer Science?

Five Key Concepts K-12

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Accessed 10/22/22, Source

Concepts, Sub-concepts, and Standards

• Grouped by grade-bands: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-12
• Standards - All Grades
• 9-12 Standards
• K-12 Excel Version, including examples of meeting the task
• CSForNY CS & Digital Fluency Standards Resources
• Standards Unpacking Documents

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When Will Students Be Required to Meet These Standards?

NYSED Implementation Timeline & Implementation Roadmap

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A Few Words About Teacher Certification

• CS Teacher Certification
• Siena College - first approved to certify K-12 CS Teachers (October 2019)
• Siena College applying to NYSED for Certificate Program for In-Service Teachers
• Applications for the Statement of Continued Eligibility
• File with SED on or before 09/01/24
• Professional or Permanent Certified Teachers only
• Must have taught at least one course coded as CS (BEDS PMF or SIRS) between 9/1/17 and 9/1/24
• Must complete Child Abuse Identification and Reporting, Dignity for All Students Act, and School Violence Intervention and Prevention training if not previously completed
• Must complete fingerprint clearance if not previously completed
• Applies for 10 years from date of issuance only in the district where you worked when you applied
• TEACH system is not accepting application as of 10/22/22
• NYSED Teacher Certification Exam Framework Draft

How can the standards be met?

Discovering Computer Science

Siena College PLC

Motivation

• Students need an introductory CS course before taking a college level CS course.
• The first course in CS should be for all students.
• Teachers who are enthusiastic and well supported will thrive, and so will their students.
• CS curriculums are never “done.” You need a vibrant CS PLC!

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Discovering CS Course

• High school credit course for all students grades 9-12
• No experience required
• Elective credit, 3rd year math or science credit
• Creativity, self expression, collaboration
• Course materials, optional activities, teacher’s guide
• Currently offered in 22 school districts

• Hands-on lab and project based
• Block-based, web, and Python programming
• Unplugged CS fundamentals and special topics
• Career exploration; individual, community, and societal impacts
• Diversity and Laws & Regulations Special Projects
• Course long, reflective web-based portfolio
• Striving to meet all NY CS 9-12 Learning Standards by 9/1/2024

Discovering CS: Block Programming Sample Work

Kaleidoscope Lab

Playing with Polygons Lab

Cultural Expression Reflective Work

Sound and Animation Lab

Discovering CS: Python Programming Sample Work

Discovering CS: Web Programming Sample Work

Idea Book Unit Project

Custom Calculator

Wallpaper Designs

All About Me Unit Project

Discovering CS Core Values

• We foster a growth mindset in every student.
• We incorporate equity based, culturally responsive teaching strategies.
• We utilized inquiry-based learning practices.
• We value open communication and collaboration across the curriculum.
• We develop communication and collaboration skills.
• We practice working in diverse teams.
• We utilize pair-programming.
• We will adjust the classroom space to meet the needs of underrepresented students rather than require the students to do the changing.
• We make CS in the News, the Diversity Project, and the Laws, Regulations, and Privacy Project the core of this course.
• We have a public space - physical and/or digital - to showcase student work in our schools.

We nurture a sense of belonging and confidence

in the CS classroom for

all students

that translates to the CS field.

Want to know more about Discovering CS?

• Currently offered in 22 districts by 27 teachers!
• Contact Pauline White pwhite@siena.edu
• Review the 2022 CSForNY State Summit presentation Lessons in Developing a HS Course for All Students and the Impact on Advanced Placement Opportunities (9/30/22)

Who Will Teach the Students?

A Fermi problem: How many CS teachers are needed in NYS?

• How many k-12 students in NYS?
• ~2,600,000
• How many students per grade?
• 200,000
• If each S takes 1 course in HS, how many S per year?
• 200,000
• How many courses needed per year if 20 Ss per class?
• 10,000
• How many CS teachers needed if each teaches 5 classes?
• 2000

A Fermi problem: How many CS teachers are needed in NYS?

• How many CS teachers needed?
• ~2,000
• How many CS certified teachers are in NYS?
• ~0
• How many NYS universities have CS certification programs?
• ~7
• How many NYS universities have Math certification programs?
• ~90
• Nationally in a recent 2 year period, how many math? CS?
• ~11,000 math certified ~120 CS certified
• SO. WHO WILL LEAD?

Why Will Math Teachers Be Needed?

• What are the five reasons for teaching computer science?

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• Hint: They are the same five reasons we teach mathematics!

Reason 1: �It’s useful

Reason 2: �It helps develop critical thinking and problem solving abilities

Reason 3: �It helps us understand our world and universe

Reason 4: �It’s vital for responsible citizenship in a democracy

Reason 5:�It’s beautiful

So. Who Will Lead?

• What subject is mostly closely aligned with CS?
• Math
• CS relies on numerous applications of what subject?
• Math
• Which teachers should uphold standards for CS courses that satisfy mathematics graduation requirements?
• Math
• Teachers from what subject area will most enjoy teaching CS?
• Math
• SO. WHO WILL LEAD?

Pick a card, any card!

Where Can Teachers/Schools Get Support?

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Siena’s Comprehensive Support for High School CS

• Developed over 10 years and supported by three NSF grants
• Leverages strong college/high school partnerships
• Extensive PD & full curriculum support for 4 courses:
• Discovering CS (high school level)
• Intro to CS with Multimedia and Python (dual-enrollment)
• Intro to Java Programming (dual-enrollment)
• Web Design (dual-enrollment)
• Tuition scholarships for in-service teachers taking CS courses for certification
• Vibrant professional learning community

Teacher Support

• Siena provides
• Extended PD experience, including equity teaching strategies and practices
• Full curriculum materials
• “Hot line” support for questions
• Tuition waivers for in-service teachers taking CS courses, which can count towards an additional teaching certification in CS

CSIS110 - Intro To CS with Python & Multimedia

• Has been offered since Fall 2009 at Siena
• Currently being offered at 19 high schools
• Curriculum map
• Covers both concepts and programming
• Similar in spirit to the AP CS Principles course
• $200 for 3 credits, fee waived for students qualifying for free/reduced lunch

� (Siena Dual-Enrollment Course)

CSIS110 - Intro To CS with Python & Multimedia

• Conceptual Topics
• Algorithms
• History, Societal Impact
• Data representation
• Boolean logic & circuits
• Hardware
• Assembly & machine languages
• Operating systems
• Artificial intelligence

• Python Programming
• JES multimedia library
• Images
• Sounds
• Animations

� (Siena Dual-Enrollment Course)

Sample Student Work

Vibrant Professional Learning Community

• Teachers engage regularly through
• Shared CS curriculums
• PD meetings
• Taking CS courses at Siena
• CS Teacher Association NY Capital District Chapter
• Annual high school programming contest

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29 Current High School Partners

New High School Partners

• Welcomes all high schools
• Teacher qualities
• Enthusiastic
• Enjoys problem solving
• Loves to learn
• Willing to take risks and learn along with students
• CS knowledge???
• Talk with us today or anytime if you are interested
• Robin Flatland (flatland@siena.edu)
• Jim Matthews (matthews@siena.edu)
• Pauline White (pwhite@siena.edu)

Questions

Contact Information

Dr. Robin Flatland

flatland@siena.edu

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Mr. Jim Matthews

matthews@siena.edu

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Mrs. Pauline White

pwhite@siena.edu

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