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INTEGRATING COMPUTATIONAL THINKING INTO K-12 TEACHER PREPARATION

A COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE AND THE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

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Overview

  • Introductions
  • Identifying the problem
    • (why we need Professors of Computer Science and Education to come together)
  • Background
    • Problem
    • Grants
    • Programs developed
    • Computational Thinking Micro credential
  • Questions for panelists & audience

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The Panel

  • Dr. Kristine McGee
    • Associate Professor, College of Education/Department of Educational Professions, Coordinator of the MAT-Elementary Program.
  • Ms. Katelyn Barnes
    • 8th Grade Special Education Southern Middle School, Oakland, MD
  • Ms. Haylee Morton
    • 2nd Grade Teacher at Broad Ford Elementary School, Oakland, MD
  • Dr. Michael Flinn (Moderator)
    • Professor and Chair, Department of Computer Science and Information Technologies
      • MCCE Grant Recipient and Maryland Accelerates Participant

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Audience Participation

We need your help.

Please ask questions during the session via this share document and in person.

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https://bit.ly/FSU-MA

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The Problem

  • In the 2018-19 school year, only 15 percent of Maryland graduates took at least one computing related course, and there were significant gaps in the course taking patterns by gender and race.

Maryland Center for Computing Education (2021). Computer Science Dashboard. Accessed on May 21, 2021 at https://mldscenter.maryland.gov/ComputerscienceDashboard.html

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The BIGGER Problem

  • Computing is the number one source of new wages, but the pipeline of teachers with computational thinking skills entering the K-12 space is not big enough

Google and Gallup (2015). Searching for Computer Science: Access and Barriers in U.S. K-12 Education.

Accessed on May 21, 2021 at https://csedu.gallup.com/home.aspx

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Introduction of MCCE

  • Need for more CS Teachers
  • Partnership started in Spring 2019

Dianne O’Grady-Cunniff, director

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Standards: 5 Concepts & 16 Subconcepts

A framework developed by Many – 14 states, many companies, along with ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education)

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The approach through MCCE Award�(Round One)

  • Develop Pre-service graduate program

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The approach through MCCE Award�(Round Two)

  • Train the College of Education faculty in Computational Thinking (in the middle of a pandemic!)

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Maryland Accelerates

  • Create a Computational Thinking Micro Credential for the MAT – Elementary and the MAT – Secondary preservice teachers

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Beginning to understand the complexities

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A poll for the audience?

  • Do you see a benefit in helping educate individuals in the K-12 space about Computer Science and Computational Thinking? 
  • Go to www.menti.com and enter code 8467 0964 

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Panel Questions Your Participation

We need your help.

Please ask questions during the session via this share document and in person.

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https://bit.ly/FSU-MA

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The student’s journey in CT

  • Haylee and Katelyn

Can you please take a moment and share your journey earning the Computational Thinking Micro Credential, and can you share a lesson plan you created?

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The professor’s journey -

  • Dr. Kris McGee

Can you please take a moment and share your journey in respect to learning to teach Computational Thinking? 

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Question for the Panel

Reflect on when you first started learning about Computational Thinking and integration into your lesson plans.

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What were the challenges you faced and how did you overcome them?

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Question for the Audience

Most of us have been around Computer Science and Computation Thinking most of our lives.

How do we help pre-service, in-service, and education professors overcome their perceived barriers to learning Computational Thinking?

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Question for the Panel

Reflecting on the future of your students and

how you are going to best prepare them…

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What impact do you see your current and future Computational Thinking activities having on your students upon graduation?

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Question for the Audience

Reflecting on our experience and student

base that we teach…

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How do we help recruit more students to teach Computer Science and Computational Thinking in the K-12 space?

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Question for the Panel

Reflecting on DEI and economical differences across states and districts…

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How does Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion factor into learning and teaching Computational Thinking and Computer Science?

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Question for the Audience

Reflecting on your family and friend’s kids

in Middle and High School…

What is happening in the Middle School/High School space that is stopping women and minorities from going into Computer Science and other Computational focused fields?

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Question for the Panel

It is our hope to eventually transform every teacher into leveraging Computational Thinking and Computer Science standards into their units, lessons, and activities (where necessary).

What obstacles are you facing in your school your district or yourself?

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Question for the Audience

Reflecting on your peers and

your outreach efforts…

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How do we convince entrenched teachers that teaching Computer Science and Computational Thinking is important?

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A poll for the audience

  • How can we help educate individuals in the K-12 space about Computer Science and Computational Thinking?
  • Go to www.menti.com and enter code 8467 0964 

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Final questions, discussions, and remarks?

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Thank you for participating. Please place any final comments or suggestion in this document.

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