CSTA-Arizona December Newsletter (Dec 03, 2023)

CSEdWeek Kickoff: Impacts of Computing
Virtual
Dec 04, 2023 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

CSTA-Arizona Tucson Meet-Up - December 2023
U of A CS Department - Gould Simpson Building Room 701
Dec 07, 2023 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Code.org CS Fundamentals Deep Dive Workshop - December
Arizona Science Center
Dec 08, 2023 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Maricopa Meetup - January 2024
Fate Brewery Company - Phoenix
Jan 31, 2024 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

View entire list

CS Education Week is This Week!

Here's how you can find out more and participate:

Visit the CSEdWeek Website for posters, lessons, and activities. Learn more about CS Heroes and choose from a variety of classroom activities to introduce students to these heroes of CS.
Run an Hour of Code! Search the Hour of Code Activities Page for different activities or events you can run with your students. Examples include Dance Party: AI Edition, Generation AI with Minecraft, and others!
Attend a Byte-Sized PD with the AZ Department of Education! Each day this week has a half-hour session on different topics!
For educators: attend a webinar from the Kapor Center during CSEdWeek on the societal impacts of computing. Speakers include Dr. Safiya Noble (author of "Algorithms of Oppression"), Dr Timnit Gebru (director of the Distributed AI Research Institute), and Dr Kamau Bobb (Senior Director of the Constellations Center for Equity in Computing) - and more!

Arizona State of Computer Science (In the News!)

With the release of the State of Computer Science National Report from Code.org, CSTA, and ECEP, data is available on how Computer Science is being implemented in Arizona. According to the report, Arizona is 46th in the nation for the percentage of high schools offering Computer Science in their state and for the schools that do offer, these classes are very male dominated (78% male). However, the report also highlights opportunities for improvement, such as creating a State Plan for Computer Science. Click here to read the Arizona specific fact-sheet.

Based on the report, several CSTA-Arizona members were interviewed for an article from the Arizona Republic titled "'Dismal': Arizona near bottom in computer science education. What can be done?". The article highlights the problems and opportunities for Computer Science in Arizona through the lens of several classroom educators - shoutout to CSTA-Arizona board members Leon Tynes and Bhawna Verma for their perspectives in the article.

CSEdWeek Byte of PD

Celebrate Computer Science Education Week with ADE!

Attend a series of 30 minute "Byte-Sized PD" to celebrate CS Education Week! Each webinar is from 4:30pm-5:00pm.

Monday December 4th: CS Resources and PD with Arizona Science Center. Register Here
Tuesday December 5th: The Importance of Teaching About AI. Register Here
Wednesday December 6th: Safe and Responsible AI with PV Schools. Register Here
Thursday December 7th: K-6 Computer Science with Tara Menghini. Register Here
Friday December 8th: Code.org CS Fundamentals Deep Dive at Arizona Science Center
- This session is in person from 8:30-4:00 for $20. Register Here.

Questions? Contact Alecia Henderson, CS & EdTech Specialist - Alecia.Henderson@azed.gov