Stories

CSTA Virtual Summer Conference

CSTA's Annual Conference is a chance for computer science teachers to come together to find strength in their local community through networking events, engage with PD they actually want to attend, and to identify ways to impact students and teachers outside your classroom.

Our three-day virtual conference has over 150 sessions of education to broaden your knowledge of computer science education, inspirational keynotes and sessions to reinvigorate your passion for teaching, and countless moments of fun and connection along the way. If you are looking for new and exciting ways to engage with your students in your classroom, you don't want to miss out on this great experience.

Click here to learn more and RSVP

Cyber.org Summer Conference

CYBER.ORG EdCon 23 (formerly CEDF) is a national conference designed to inspire and empower cybersecurity K-12 educators, novice and expert alike. Attendees will have the opportunity to:
• Discover curriculum from CYBER.ORG with ready-to-implement lessons.
• Explore at-no-cost resources from industry experts.
• Gain firsthand knowledge from K-12 educators who teach foundational and technical cybersecurity.

Any K-12 school in Arizona that sends 3 educators to EdCon 23 will be entered in a drawing for a technology prize package worth $2500. To be eligible: each attendee from the school must attend 13 of the 15 sessions of the conference.

More information at Cyber.org/EdCon and in the attached flyer.

Four Corners Conference

In partnership with Google, Natives in Tech, AISES, CSTA, Indigitize CS, CS Alliance, and AZ, NM, UT, and CO State Departments of Education, we are looking forward to see you at our first “Four Corners CS Convening - Connecting CS with Culture and Language”. We will focus on computer science education for Native American students K-12. We invite educators and administrators that work directly with Native American students and will share ideas and support for expanding computer science education.

Please see the save the date flyer attached and complete the interest form to receive more information when registration opens.

Registration, food, and lodging costs will be covered.

Upcoming CSTA-AZ Meetups

CSTA-Arizona is hosting several upcoming meetups and events to build community and provide professional development with Arizona CS Educators

Tucson In-Person CSTA-AZ Meetup - January 19th 5pm-7pm in Tucson, AZ. Click here for more details and to RSVP.
Maricopa In-Person ScratchEd Meetup - January 21st 9am in Phoenix, AZ. Click here for more details and to RSVP.
Maricopa In-Person CSTA-AZ Meetup - January 23rd 5pm-6:30pm in Phoenix, AZ. Click here for more details and to RSVP.
Arizona Virtual Community Call - February 7th 5pm-6pm virtually via Zoom. Click here for more details and to RSVP.

Hope to see you there!

ADE January CS Newsletter

The Arizona Department of Education sends a monthly newsletter of CS Education Events - click here to read their January newsletter.

The newsletter is distributed by Alecia Henderson, Computer Science & EdTech Specialist. Click here to sign up for future newsletters.

Girls Who Code Summer Programs

Girls Who Code is committed to delivering free computer science resources to you and your students through Girls Who Code Clubs. You will gain access to:

CSTA standards aligned coding lessons in Scratch, p5.js, Swift, and Python with new tutorials in cybersecurity
Comprehensive planning resources
Virtual events with tech leaders in the industry
GWC swag for each Club member!

Girls Who Code also offers several summer opportunities for all students. Click "Read More" to view more about these opportunities!

Celebrate CSEdWeek - Byte Sized Workshops!

Celebrate CSEdWeek with the Arizona Department of Education with several professional development opportunities! Click here to view a flyer with information!

How to Host an Hour of Code - Join the movement and introduce your students to computer science with the Hour of Code! In this webinar, participants will learn how to organize an Hour of Code event for their classroom, school, or district by exploring available resources and experiencing lessons for themselves! No Coding Experience Necessary!

Tuesday November 29th
4:30pm-5:30pm
Register Here

Byte-Sized PD - Celebrate Computer Science Education Week with a series of 30 minute “Byte-Sized PD”!

Monday December 5th - Dan Schneider - Chapter President of CSTA-AZ
Tuesday December 6th - Mr. Leon Tynes - High School Computer Science Teacher
Wednesday December 7th - Ms. Allison Davis - Kindergarten Teacher
Thursday December 8th - Learning from ADE’s CS Team about the Computer Science Endorsement

Register for individual sessions here!

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

ADE CS Newsletter

The Arizona Department of Education sends a monthly newsletter of CS Education Events - click here to read their November newsletter.

The newsletter is distributed by Alecia Henderson, Computer Science & EdTech Specialist. Click here to sign up for future newsletters.

CS Fundamentals Workshop

The Arizona Department of Education is collaborating with the Arizona Science Center to provide Code.org CS Fundamentals Workshops! The next workshop is Friday November 18th from 9am-4:30pm. Click here to register (requires creating a Code.org account)

Four Corners Conference

The Arizona Dept of Education is collaborating with New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado to host a Four Corners Conference for CS Professional Development. Save the date - July 10th and 11th in Farmington, NM. Click here to receive updates on this event, including if/when travel scholarships become available.

Support Research and Learn Formative Assessment

Are you interested in increasing your CS knowledge and knowledge of formative assessments for CS? SRI International, a nonprofit research organization, is partnering with middle school CS teachers across the country on a National Science Foundation-funded project.

Palo Verde Wishes for Teachers Grant is OPEN!

Created in 2016, the Palo Verde Fiesta Bowl Charities Wishes for Teachers program grants classroom wishes to teachers across the state of Arizona. The Fiesta Bowl organization saw that many teachers spent their own money to enhance their classroom experience and developed a program to aid teachers in that effort. As a way to support, celebrate and honor Arizona educators, teachers are invited to fill out an online application detailing their school and classroom wish. Wishes are selected by a random drawing to receive a grant.

K-5 Computer Science Workshops

CS workshops offered at Arizona Science Center - cost $20/person

CS Workshops at YOUR site - Free with a minimum of 10 educators

Upcoming PD Opportunities through the
Arizona Department of Education

We are excited to offer computer science and educational technology professional development opportunities this fall to support the implementation of these standards! There will be multiple dates offered for each of the below webinars. (More dates to come!)

NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Awards

NCWIT is a non-profit community that convenes, equips, and unites change leader organizations to increase the meaningful participation of all women — at the intersections of race, ethnicity, class, age, sexual orientation, and disability status — in the influential field of computing, particularly in terms of innovation and development. Check out the website for details and deadlines.

Scratch Meetup in Maricopa

Join local K–12 educators at a ScratchEd Meetup to play, learn, and connect around teaching with Scratch.

Upcoming PD - K-5 Computer Science Fundamentals with Code.org

Do you want to bring computer science to your classroom, but don’t have any experience? CS Fundamentals is right for you! Designed to be fun and engaging, Code.org’s progression of Computer Science Fundamentals courses blend online and "unplugged" non-computer activities to teach students computational thinking, problem solving, programming concepts and digital citizenship. Workshops held at Arizona Science Center AND at your school or district.

We will come to your school or district to train educators FREE of charge with a minimum of 10 participants. Contact Beth Nickel at nickelb@azscience.org with questions or to schedule.

Click below to learn more about upcoming workshops and register!

[Sponsored] Back to School Deal for SAM Labs

SAM Labs is a one-of-a-kind K-8 STEAM education and coding resource. SAM Labs edtech solutions include innovative coding software, easy-to-use Bluetooth-connected hardware, a suite of standards-aligned lessons, and unlimited guidance and support. From kindergarten, through elementary school and into middle school, SAM Labs is a great choice for teachers and students.

For more information, contact katie.sandfort@samlabs.com / SAM Labs

Upcoming PD Opportunities through Arizona Dept of Education

We are excited to offer computer science and educational technology professional development opportunities this fall to support implementation of these standards! There will be multiple dates offered for each of the below webinars. (More dates to come!)

Computer Science PDs: Register Here
Educational Technology PD - Register Here

Click below for more details about these PD opportunities

CoderDojo Tucson Virtual Meetings

CoderDojo Tucson is a local dojo of the CoderDojo Foundation. Open to anyone 8-18, CoderDojo invites young people to explore their interests using technology, with support from mentors. Our meetings are held virtually every Wednesday from 4-6pm MST.

This year we plan to explore everything from using micro:bits for the UN Sustainable Development Goals to programming games for the Raspberry Pi Pico using Circuit Python or C.

For more information: coderdojotucson.com
To sign up: zen.coderdojo.com/dojos/us/tucson-az/tucson

Questions? Contact Dan Stormont (tucson.us@coderdojo.com)

PD Opportunity - Imagine Robotify

Imagine Learning will be presenting COMPLEMENTARY professional development "Getting Started with Imagine Robotify" for teachers who teach 3rd through 8th Grade students.

Arizona CSPDWeek Wrap-Up

Thank you to everyone who attended Arizona CSPDWeek from June 20th-24th at Xavier College Prep! We had over 100 educators who attended 7 strands of professional development! Click here to watch a video highlighting the event, and click below to read more about this incredible event!

Central Region Meetup Survey

We're looking to restart in-person meetups in the Phoenix area! If you are a teacher in the Phoenix area, please let us know your preferences for when you would like to meet and which topics to discuss!

Click here to access the survey

Infosys Pathfinders Online Institute

The Infosys Foundation USA offers free online professional development through their Pathfinders Online Institute. These professional development hours can be counted towards the Arizona Computer Science Endorsement. They include PD from Tynker, CSAwesome, Wix Web Development; they include courses like Introduction to Computational Thinking and Storytelling through Coding.

Click Here to access the online courses

New CSTA+ Online Courses

We are excited to share a new CSTA+ member benefit: free and exclusive access to our online PD course pilot program!

NCWIT Educators of the year

Congratulations to the NCWIT Educator Award winners, Stephen Heiser, Keith Tomaszewicz, and Bhawna Verma!

The Computer Science Teachers Association and Infosys Foundation USA are proud to announce the 2022 CS Teaching Excellence Awards winners.

The Computer Science Teachers Association and Infosys Foundation USA are proud to announce the 2022 CS Teaching Excellence Awards winners. The CS Teaching Excellence Awards are designed to recognize outstanding teaching by K–12 computer science teachers. Winners excel in inspiring students to explore the computer science field, engaging students in learning rigorous standards-aligned computer science content, and broadening the participation of underrepresented students in computing. These awards were made possible by a grant from Infosys Foundation USA.

Arizona CSPDWeek: Physical Computing and Game-Based Learning

Explore how physical computing with Micro:bit and MakeCode Arcade can develop student creativity and unlock powerful engagement with computer science. Participants will learn how to program these devices, as well as different curricula that can be used to incorporate these devices into semester or year-long dedicated computer science courses.

This workshop is designed for teachers with dedicated time for computer science, either as a special elective class or dedicated semester or year-long class. Each participant will obtain a kit with all devices and materials necessary to participate in the workshop.

Click Here to Register

Arizona CSPDWeek: CS in Elementary Classrooms

This 5-day workshop includes two days of training on Code.org's CS Fundamentals curriculum, then two days of training on Scratch Jr and Scratch, and then a final workshop focusing on how unplugged activities can build computational thinking. Not all computer science needs to be done on a device!

These workshops are inclusive for folks without any prior computer science or coding experience, and for folks who will be implementing this within other subject areas - all experience levels and implementations welcome!

Click Here to Register

Arizona CSPDWeek: Integrated Computing through Robotics

This workshop combines physical Edison robots with literature and STEM applications via the Wild Robot book series. Edison robots are little robots with lots of potential - from pre-programmed barcodes to drag and drop graphical programming, Scratch, and even the ability to use Python (a text-based programming language). The Wild Robot book series follows Roz as they find their way in the world. Participants will learn how to translate Roz’s adventures in the book into classroom-ready lessons and activities for students that cut across the curriculum and different subjects. No prior coding or robotics experience is expected!

This workshop is designed for core-content or instructional specialists who are primarily integrating computer science into other subject areas or do not have a dedicated computer science class. Each participant will receive a kit with all robotics and materials necessary to participate in the workshop.

Click Here to Register

Arizona CSPDWeek: Bootstrap Data Science

What factors make some people live longer than others? Are more expensive restaurants really better than cheap ones? Who’s the greatest singer, athlete or actor of all time? Answering these questions involves analyzing large datasets, from sports stats to record sales to census information.

In Bootstrap:Data Science, students form their own questions about the world around them, analyze data using multiple methods, and write a research paper about their findings. This flexible and adaptable curriculum can be integrated into core subject areas by non-computer science teachers, taught as a stand-alone module in a larger computer science course, or developed into a semester-long or year-long curriculum.

Click Here to Register

Arizona CSPDWeek: Code.org CS Discoveries

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.

CS Discoveries can be flexibly taught as a single semester, two semesters over multiple years, or as a full-year course. Options are even available for less than one semester. Our curriculum is available at no cost for anyone, anywhere to teach.

Click Here to Register

Arizona CSPDWeek: Code.org CS Principles

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.

This year-long course can be taught as an introductory course and as an AP course - no prerequisites required for students or for teachers new to computer science! In addition, our curriculum is available at no cost for anyone, anywhere to teach. And, professional learning opportunities are available!

Click Here to Register

Arizona CSPDWeek: Code.org AP CSA

Code.org’s CSA curriculum covers this content and prepares students for the AP® CSA exam. We developed this curriculum with equity in mind, which we believe will make this course more accessible for students who have traditionally been underrepresented in computer science, particularly those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups and young women.

In addition, the course introduces software engineering concepts and practices to give students a more concrete understanding of how their learning is applied in the real world.

Click Here to Register

Computer Science Policy Community Call

Join us on Tuesday April 5th from 4:30-5:30 for our monthly CSTA-Arizona Community call. This month, we're focusing on state policies and next steps for Computer Science in Arizona.

We'll be joined by Amy Roberts, Director of State and Government Affairs at Code.org. We'll discuss Arizona's trends from the State of CS Report from 2021 and potential pathways for expanding computer science in Arizona.

Click here to RSVP for this event!

CSTA-AZ Tucson Meetup!

Join the CSTA-Arizona and U of A Computer Science department for an afternoon on the Transplant outdoor patio. We'll discuss summer PD opportunities and ways to expand your computer science knowledge!

Click Here to Register

Phidgets Virtual Workshop

Join us on Tuesday May 3rd to learn more about Phidgets Education!

Phidgets are programmable sensors that make physical computing easy. With Phidgets, students can simply plug in a sensor, write code in their favorite language and go!

During this hands-on presentation, you will learn how to get up and running with Phidgets. All K-12 educators will receive a free introductory kit and a bonus light sensor from Phidgets Education. Click below to learn more.

Tucson Meetups!

Join the CSTA-Arizona and U of A Computer Science department for an afternoon on the Transplant outdoor patio. Bring your favorite book or magazine that's influenced your teaching or is full of student project ideas! Pizza and appetizers on us! Click here to RSVP.

These meetups occur monthly every second Thursday of the month!

EdSci Data Science Fellowship

The UArizona Educators in Data Science (EDSci) Fellowship (1) supports Arizona middle and high school educators across all disciplines in their effort to bring real-world data science learning experiences into their classroom, and (2) promotes efforts to create a more diverse data science field through inclusive recruitment, retention, and teaching and learning strategies. This fellowship is open to educators of all disciplines, and includes professional development and a stiped for participating. Click here for more information.

AZCyber Summer Bootcamp for Students

The AZ Cyber Initiative’s Cyber Bootcamps are designed to identify and prepare the next generation of cybersecurity leaders in Arizona. Each session provides one-week introductory course for rising 10th-12th grade high school students interested in pursuing a career in a cybersecurity-related field. Several bootcamps are being run around Arizona throughout the month of June.

Click Here to view a flyer with more information

Click Here to complete an interest form.

Free Python+Robotics PD

Learn hands-on how to write Python code to control your very own CodeBot robot. AND you'll go in-depth with amazing resources that help you bring this real-world programming language to your classroom. You get to take home your very own CodeBot with license and curriculum. Click below to learn more, or click here to register.

Who: Public Middle and High School Compsci, STEM & Engineering teachers, technology coaches & coordinators, Robotics leaders & coaches

When: Monday, March 14, 2022 Time : 9:00 am - 5:00 pm MST

Where: Infosys Ltd Phoenix Tech and Innovation Center 777 S Novus Pl. Suite 400 & 500, Tempe AZ 85281

Cost: FREE – PARKING and LUNCH included

Looking for Community Call Presenters!

Attention Arizona Teachers! We're looking for educators who are interested in presenting at our monthly CSTA-Arizona Community Calls. We'd like to highlight resources, lessons, or teaching strategies that have been effective for teaching computer science to K-12 students in Arizona. Teachers can present for up to 40 minutes, including time to explore resources or participate in an activity or a Q&A. CSTA-Arizona will also provide $50-100 stipends to any teachers who present at a community call depending on the type of session offered.

For more information or if you have any questions, please reach out to cstarizona@gmail.com. If you already have a session in mind, click here to fill out a form and submit your session!

Free Code.org CS Fundamentals Workshop in Show Low, AZ

The Arizona Science Center and Code.org are hosting a free CS Fundamentals workshop for K-5 teachers in Show Low, Arizona at the Sequoia Village School on Friday February 18th. Any elementary teachers in the region interested in computer science are welcome to attend! You can view more information and register by clicking here.

ADE Computer Science Newsletter

The Arizona Dept of Education Standards Division now has a monthly Computer Science newsletter! Click here to view February's newsletter.

You can sign up to receive future newsletters by clicking here to fill out a form.

For Girls, By Girls

For Girls, By Girls aims to lift girls' and young women's voices to show them that CS and tech are accessible no matter who they are, where they come from, or what their passions are. We invite ALL girls to chat with Nyla and Tera to discuss the intersectionality of computer science with design, fashion, music, art, and how to use CS for Good.

Learn more at https://bootuppd.org/forgirlsbygirls/ or follow the hosts on instagram

National Governors Association Initiative to Expand Computer Science

This week, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson announced his Governors’ Compact as part of the initiative for computer science in his role as chairman of the National Governors Association.

The initiative, an effort for all governors to make computer science a key part of their state education policy and system, supports the five goals for the Chairman’s Initiative:

To increase the number of high schools offering computer science classes
To increase the number of Governors who are members of Governors for CS
To increase the amount of state funding for computer science education
To increase the number of states requiring at least one computer science credit for high school graduation
To increase the diversity of students participating in computer science education

One member of this initiative is Arizona governor Doug Ducey - here’s a clip of Governor Ducey talking about Computer Science from 2021

Want to help? Take action today and ask your governor to commit to the initiative here.

Girls Who Code Free Summer Programs

Girls Who Code invites current high school students who identify as girls or non-binary to apply to join us this summer for our free programs:

Our 2-week, introductory Summer Immersion Program (SIP) hosts current 9th-11th graders in live, virtual classrooms led by industry-leading companies like EA, Pfizer, and ViacomCBS. Students learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript while getting an inside look into the tech industry. Plus, all SIP students can apply for grants up to $500.
Our Self-Paced Program offers independent study and real-world projects for current 9th-12th graders to earn beginner-level badges in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for web development or an intermediate-level badge in Python for cybersecurity.

With one quick application, we’ll recommend the best opportunity for students’ needs. They can apply to one or all of our programs with the same form!

Plus, participants can access exclusive alumni benefits and career support for life, including our pre-internship programs, Hiring Summit, virtual mentoring, and GWC Talks webinars for career tips and strategies.

Programs are available June 17 - August 12. Learn more on our website or in a webinar, and tell students to apply here as soon as possible ! Students get priority consideration when they apply by February 16, 2022 . Regular-decision applications are due by March 18, 2022 .

Arizona Science and Engineering Fairs

Arizona Science Center oversees the state-level Science and Engineering Fair. AzSEF brings together first-place winners from school, homeschool, district, county, and regional science fairs across Arizona to compete for thousands of dollars in prizes and scholarships. AzSEF is scheduled for March 28 - April 2, 2022. The fair is being held virtually again this year as we continue to maneuver through the pandemic. We are currently seeking judges for all divisions, but are in particular need of judges at the senior division level. Click here to view a flyer about judging opportunities

Student Hackathon!

Do your students like using code to develop solutions to problems in their community or even around the world? Then encourage them to sign up for the Ready. Set. Code! Hackathon this weekend! Registration is available at https://bit.ly/hackathonreadysetcode

Tucson Meetup with U of A CS Department

Join CSTA-Arizona and the University of Arizona CS Department for an afternoon of pizza on us! Join us on the outdoor patio at Transplant Pizza from 4:30pm-6:30pm. Meet other CS Educators in Tucson and learn about CS opportunities in Tucson! Click here to RSVP!

Community Calls are Returning!

We're excited to announce that Monthly Community Calls are returning for the 2022 school year! Please join us for monthly updates on opportunities and events for CS in Arizona. Our first call of the new year will be Tuesday January 4th at 4:30pm and calls will continue on the first Tuesday of each month. Click Here to RSVP and receive an event invite.

Agenda:

Arizona CSPD Week 2022! Presenter: Dan Schneider - CSTA-Arizona
AZHACS Project. Presenter: SciTech Institute
Project Co-STEM and Let’s Talk Code. Presenter: Ashish Amresh, ASU
Bring CS To Your School: Code.org. Presenter: Beth Nickel - AZ Science Center
Bring CS To Your School: Microsoft TEALS. Presenter: Regional Carillo - Microsoft TEALS

Click Here to RSVP and receive an event invite

Bring CS To Your School: Microsoft TEALS

TEALS (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools) is a FREE Microsoft Philanthropies program that builds sustainable computer science programs in high schools, with a focus on serving students excluded from learning CS because of race, gender, or geography.

TEALS provides

• Rigorous curricula and resources approved by CS educators and industry professionals
• Resources and training to develop diverse and inclusive CS classrooms
• Sustained access to volunteers with deep knowledge of CS and industry experience
• A supportive community that allows teachers to build their subject matter knowledge
• Personalized support from a dedicated Regional Manager
• Remote or in-person volunteer support

The TEALS program is also aligned with the 2-year CTE Software and App Design sequence in Arizona

Click here to learn more

Updated Events For 2022

We've updated our events page to include opportunities from CSTA-Arizona and our partners, such as:

Click Here to see all 2022 CSTA-Arizona events. If you have an event you'd like listed on this page, please contact cstarizona@gmail.com so we can discuss.

CSforEL Professional Development Program

The CSforEL Project is a new 4-year research project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, designed to attract, retain, and engage English learners (EL) in AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) throughout Arizona, New Mexico, San Diego County, and Orange County.

CSforEL Benefits for Participating Districts

Participating districts and schools will receive:

Increased enrollment of English learners in AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP)
Increased number of qualifying scores by English learners in AP CSP
40+ hours of professional development over the summer and throughout the school year per cohort
10+ hours of professional development over the summer for at least one principal and counselor per participating school

Click here for more information about this program

PD Opportunity: Let's Talk Code

Let's Talk Code is a cohort-based professional development project for teachers on or around the Navajo Nation. Participants will:

Learn how to integrate programming and coding into current course content, such as math, science or art
Explore cultural/community topics to anchor student learning in computer science and engineering
Receive up to 30 hrs. of Professional Development Credit
Earn up to $1,000 Stipend ($500 for completion of Course Sessions / $500 for completion of Classroom Application)

There are still spots available in this year's cohort for teachers on or around the Navajo Nation! For more information, visit the Let's Talk Code website to contact the organizers.

New CSTA-Arizona Virtual Community

CSTA-Arizona is launching our Virtual Community, a message board and forum for members to connect, share resources, and have discussions relevant to their classrooms.

We're excited to launch this much-needed resources, especially since local meetups have been a struggle in recent years. We encourage you to use this new virtual community in similar ways as our in-person meetups: to find folks teaching in similar contexts, to share resources and ideas with other teachers, and most importantly: to connect with other computer science educators and avoid the feeling of being "the only" computer science educator in your community.

You will need to sign in or create an account to view all of the messages in the community and create a posts. We recommend starting in the Introduce Yourself thread, then exploring other topics such as the State of CS Report Discussion Thread. Since this community is still very new, there aren't a lot of threads available yet - we encourage you to start your own and connect with other educators!

STEM Lunchtime Conversations: State of CS

Join the SciTech Institute's STEM Lunchtime Conversations on Thursday December 2nd for an overview and discussion of the State of Computer Science report, focusing on the data for Arizona schools and districts. This discussion will include an overview of the data led by members of CSTA-Arizona, then a chance to explore the data in breakout rooms and discuss trends, wonderings, and next-steps with members of the community. This is an opportunity to explore the computer science data in Arizona hands-on, and network with fellow community members to discuss trends and actions for improvement.

Click Here to register for this event.

State of Computer Science Report

2021 STATE OF COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION: ACCELERATING ACTION THROUGH ADVOCACY

This annual report on K-12 computer science in the United States provides an update on national and state-level computer science education policy, including policy trends, maps, state summaries, and implementation data. It also includes state-specific information about access and representation in Computer Science courses in each state.

Click Here to view the report and associated resources

Click Here to view the Arizona specific handout

You can also view an Interactive Dashboard which lets you examine the data in a city-by-city or district-by-district level, viewing trends specific to your local community.

Join The Discussion in our newly launched CSTA-Arizona Virtual Community! You will need to log in or create an account to view the discussion and participate.

CSEd Week Is Coming!

Computer Science Education Week is an annual call to action to inspire k-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field. Visit https://www.csedweek.org/ to learn more about how you can participate in CSEd Week events and spread computer science in your school!

Stay tuned for more announcements from CSTA-Arizona regarding CSEd Week events for Arizona teachers!

Arizona CS and CTE Standards Alignment

CSTA-Arizona and the Arizona Science Center have partnered with Arizona high school educators to create a crosswalk between three sets of common standards that high school computer science teachers engage with:

The Arizona Computer Science Standards developed by the Arizona Department of Education in 2018
The Arizona CTE Software and App Design Standards developed by the Arizona Department of Education and updated in 2017
The AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) Framework developed by the College Board and updated in 2020

Our goal is to illustrate how these standards overlap and are aligned. By aligning aligning a course to one set of standards, you may also fulfill the requirements of another set of standards or have a few holes that need to be covered with supplemental instruction. This alignment is presented as two documents:

CS and Educational Technology Specialist

The Arizona Department of Education has a job opening for a Computer Science and Educational Technology Specialist with the Academic Standards team. Are you a K-12 Teacher with classroom experience in Computer Science and Educational Technology and enjoy providing professional development? This may be the job for you! This position will close on 11/8/21, so hurry to the appropriate link below for further information on this exciting opportunity! Grow your career with ADE today!

Click Here to read more about the position.

Indigenous Communities & K-12 CS Education Virtual Summit

Come discuss K-12 Computer Science Education in Native American Communities with colleagues, administrators, teachers, policymakers, and advocates. Join one or more of four sessions featuring a keynote talk about broadband access in rural Native communities, a panel of CS educators working in indigenous communities, a CS pathway implementation workshop for administrators and other education leaders, and a discussion and networking opportunity.

This virtual event is held under three banners: Natives in Tech Annual Conference, Code.org, and CSEdCon (The Global Computer Science Education Conference). Zoom link to be shared with registered attendees. Register here.

National Summit for K-5 Computer Science Education

Attention All Arizona K-5 principals, superintendents, district curriculum leads, and STEM/computer science (CS) advocates! Please join us on September 22 at 12:00pm PT for a one-hour online event called CSK5, the First National Summit for K-5 Computer Science Education. The theme is Every School Can. The first, 30 minutes will be guidance and specific resources from five top national organizations in CS education. Then, our 30-minute Arizona Breakout Session will feature specific state programs and assets for your school(s), including the Arizona Science Teachers Association-AZ Chapter, The Arizona Science Center, and sharing from Gilbert Public Schools. Sign Up Now, then please spread the word to colleagues and staff! See our Arizona Breakout Page and the CSK5 Flyer for more details, and we’ll see you at CSK5 and our Breakout Session Sept 22.

Girls Who Code Open House

Girls Who Code is a national non-profit dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology. By becoming a club member, you'll learn the Core4 computer science concepts that form the basis for all computer programming languages, all while building a supportive sisterhood of peers and mentors dedicated to fostering the success of women in tech. The GWC curriculum and club experience is most accessible to girls in grades 6-12.

Are you interested in learning more about the University of Arizona Girls Who Code Club? Join us at 11am on September 18 for an open house and information session for girls and parents/guardians to learn more about the club and ask questions. The open house will be both in person in the UA Main Library and virtual via Zoom. Fill out the form HERE to register to attend and receive more information. Email Vanessa at VanessaCampbell@email.arizona.edu with questions.

NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Award

The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing (AiC) honors 9^th-12^th grade women, genderqueer, or non-binary students for their computing-related achievements and interests, and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education. Since 2007, more than 17,000 students have received an Award for AiC. Click here to learn more about the award and how students can apply.

Cultivating Communities of Learners Summit

The Cultivating Communities of Learners Summit will be an opportunity for K-12 CS educators to create a culture of interconnected learners.

By attending this summit, you’ll gain a new understanding of:

Value in group success that amplifies varied perspectives, abilities, approaches, and solutions
Expanded collaboration not only in the classroom, but throughout the CSTA community
Effective & inclusive CS teaching

Click Here to Register

ADE CS and EdTech Specialist Position

The Human Resources Office is eager to announce that ADE has a job opening for a Computer Science and Educational Technology Specialist with the Academic Standards team. Are you a content expert in Computer Science and Educational Technology and enjoy providing professional development? This may be the job for you! This position will close on 06/24/21, so hurry to the appropriate link below for further information on this exciting opportunity! Grow your career with ADE today!

Click below to learn more about how to apply

Counselors for Computing Webinars

Advising for Future-Ready Careers is a monthly webinar series, hosted by NCWIT Counselors for Computing (C4C), providing information and resources to help counselors join the front line of the computing conversation. This webinar series is free and open to the public, ages 16 and up – geared toward School Counselors, Educators, graduate students, and those in school advising roles.

The next webinar is on Ethics in Computing - click below to learn more about this webinar

SciTech Sizzling Summer Coding Workshops

Join us this summer for a special series of sessions on coding.

ALL ages are welcome! Teachers, students and family members are invited to participate. Each individual attendee will receive a FREE Skill Struck account to use for 3 months.

Teachers - attend to win a class set of accounts for 2021-22.

BJC Middle and High School PD Opportunities - Summer 2021

There are fantastic PD opportunities with the Beauty and Joy of Computing (BJC) this summer. They have online workshops for our high school curriculum AND our brand new middle school curriculum.

Learn more below or online, and apply at bjc.berkeley.edu/summer-pd

Educators in Data Science Fellowship Opportunity

Applications are now being accepted

The University of Arizona's Data Sciences Academy presents the new Educators in Data Science (EDSci) Fellowship, an opportunity for middle and high school Arizona educators to support their effort to bring real-world data science learning experiences into their classroom. Using data science as a tool, students can explore answers to their questions by gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data.

Code.org- Fundamentals Workshop

Code.org is offering FREE professional development courses remotely and in-person for Elementary Teachers interested in implementing coding fundamentals in their K-5 classroom. No coding experience needed, the curriculum is ready to be used the day after the workshop.

RegionalPartner:

Arizona Science Center

Organizer Name:

Linda Angeloff

Organizer Email:

angeloff@pd.code.org

Free Virtual Coding Workshop for Educators

Tuesday, April 6 from 4:30 PM-5:30 PM MT will be an introduction to Javascript workshop, and educators of all skill levels are welcome to participate. You can register here and download a shareable flyer here.

All participants can receive a certificate after attending.

Please let me know if you have any questions or would like any additional information to help share with other educators.

Your Voice is Needed

AZ HACS is looking for local collaborators to create RPPs – a blend of community members, educators, and researchers working together to identify issues, gather reliable data, and make informed decisions.

Have you applied? Applications are being accepted in Arizona now!

Code.org professional development summer opportunities are available now! Apply for scholarships to attend summer sessions.

Did you know that students who study computer science perform better in other subjects, excel at problem-solving, and are more likely to attend college? That's why now is the best time to attend Code.org’s Professional Learning Program, which will prepare you to bring CS to your students by this fall. No previous experience with CS is required. If you have a colleague you think would make a great CS teacher, let them know too!

CSTA Engage SIGCSE Showcase - March 2021

Mar 18, 2021 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM UTC-06:00

Please join us for our SIGCSE Showcase CSTA Engage Meetup on Thursday, March 18, 2021, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. CT to connect with and learn alongside other K-12 CS teachers. We’ll host a jam-packed hour and a half, worth every minute of your midweek evening. Activities will include a time specifically for networking, a featured PD activity, and unconference/birds-of-a-feather sessions.

2021 CSTA Annual Conference

Join Us for CSTA 2021

There is a whole community of computer science educators just like you out there. If you are looking for inspiration, connection, and a chance to be rejuvenated, join us at CSTA 2021, set for July 14-16, 2021.
CSTA's Annual Conference is a chance for computer science teachers to come together for learning, networking, and fun. We are a community of educators who are changing the lives of students every day in our classrooms. We are eager to share our knowledge and to learn from one another.

CSEd Week: Careers in STEM Panel

December 17th - Careers in STEM Panel (Grades 9+): Computer Science can be a difficult field to navigate, especially when Black and African-American, Latinx, and Indigenous peoples are underrepresented in Computer Science and STEM fields. Hear about how the Microsoft Philanthropies TEALS Program supports high school teachers in providing high-quality, inclusive computer science classes and hear from a panel of TEALS Program volunteers about their experiences in Computer Science and STEM Careers, including advice for how to navigate career opportunities and an opportunity for questions and answers from the attendees.

Click Here to Register

CSEd Week: Cybersecurity Workshops with GCU Cyber Center of Excellence

Join the GCU Cyber Center of Excellent for three workshops exploring Cybersecurity!

December 4th - Password Cracking (Grades 9+): In this activity, students will learn how to crack password hashes using real-world scenarios via Linux, hashes, hash-identifier, and web resources. Click here to register.

December 11th - Network Forensics (Grades 9+): In this activity, students will take a role as a forensics investigator to catch the criminal “Ann Decover”. Students will build a case against the criminal and her accomplice and catch them before they head out of town by using Linux and a tool called Wireshark. Click here to register.

December 18th - Analyzing Email Headers (Grades 9+): Your emails may be vulnerable to spam, phishing, and other malicious attacks. To know where those attacks come from, you need to learn about email headers. We will take a look at different email header analysis tools and explore why this area is so important. Click here to register.

CSEd Week: Careers in STEM Panel

Join the SciTech Institute on December 1st for a Careers in STEM Panel featuring the following panelists. Click Here to Register

Eve Danoff \| American Express \| Engineering Director
	As an Engineering Director, Cloud Platform and Product Engineering, Eve leads the development of core Cloud capabilities to enable Application teams to build modern applications. The architecture includes PaaS/IaaS/CICD/Containers (Docker) components in a Hybrid Cloud model and technologies that enable to host modern applications

Haylee Mills | Charles Schwab | Sr. Staff - Security Engineer

As a Security Engineer, Haylee develops and matures SIEM content from existing data sources to increase visibility, integrate feedback from and maintain communication with SOC to improve fidelity. She also designs and executes a modern risk-based alerting platform for behavioral detections, with streamlined dashboards and alerts as individual lenses for different teams investigating risk behaviors.

Kate Perkins \| Intel Corporation \| IOT Engineering Operations Manager
	As an IOT Engineering Operations Manager, Kate is following her passion of enabling innovative technology at Intel Corporation. She has worked in IT and IOT in a variety of roles, both on the business and technical side of things, often acting as a liaison between the two. She spends the work day on strategic, big picture thinking and quenching her thirst for knowledge.

Bhawna Verma \| Paradise Valley High School \| Computer Science Teacher
	Bhawna Verma, Computer Science Instructor at Paradise Valley High School and former computer scientist herself who went from working in industry to teaching Network Security, and Software & App Design. Bhawna also runs four CS clubs to encourage students to explore the opportunities in STEM.

CSEd Week: CodeBytes with Code.org

Planning for the Hour of Code with your classroom that’s gone virtual? Try a CodeByte! Designed to fit smoothly into a distance learning plan, CodeBytes are easy-to-digest, 20 minute interactive lessons that will stream during Computer Science Education Week, December 7-11.

Every episode features a new lesson that blends computer science with real-world topics. One day, students will use Dance Party to get creative and express themselves. Another day, they’ll explore environmental sustainability with Artificial Intelligence.

Click Here to Learn More and Register!

CSEd Week: Join a Code Night for All Ages!

Join the Paradise Valley High School CS Honor Society for a Code Night for All Ages on Thursday December 10th! This event is organized & run entirely by the students of the PVHS CS Honor Society! Click Here to Register!

Breakout Sessions Include:

Block Coding using SCRATCH (any age form 5- 85)
CyberStart for those interested in Cyber Security (High School)
Python Escape Room for intermediate programmers (Middle School/ High School)
App Lab: make your own app (Middle School)

CSEd Week: Join Popfizz for Games & Data in Python

Join Popfizz for two types of workshops introducing Python to make games or create stunning visualizations from data. Workshops are held everyday during the week of December 7th!

Data Visualization with Python \| Grades 9-12 \| Beginners Welcome
	In this 1-hour session, we’ll explore how to gather, visualize, and extract information from data by using Python’s libraries. Ultimately we’ll create a final visualization product that will help tell a compelling story. Along the way, we’ll also explore the basic concepts of statistics. Workshops are held everyday during the week of December 7th! Click Here to Register!

Retro PyGame \| Grades 9-12 \| Beginning Python Experienced Required
	Join us to create your own retro game using Python and share it with your friends and family! This 1-hour project introduces students to some of the advanced programming concepts such as events, functions, and classes. Workshops are held everyday during the week of December 7th! Click Here to Register!

CSEd Week: Join SkillStruck to learn HTML & Python

Join Skill Struck for two workshops to introduce coding concepts with video & multimedia!

November 30th - Introduction to HTML (Beginner | Grades 6+): Skill Struck provides a trainer and platform in which audience members can learn the principles of Web Development. Using the programming language HTML, participants will leave the event with a functional website they have designed. Click Here to Register.

December 7th - Introduction to Python (Beginner | Grades 9+): Skill Struck provides a trainer and platform in which audience members can learn the principles of Software Development. Using the programming language Python, participants will leave the event with a functional program that solves a relevant task. Click Here to Register

CSEd Week: Join VidCode for an Hour of Code!

Join VidCode for two workshops to introduce coding concepts with video & multimedia!

December 8th - Code the News (Beginner | Grades 6+): Learn how to use javascript to interact with images, videos, and text to make your own news bulletin! By the time you're done, you will have created your very own news story made entirely in code! Click Here to Register

December 16th - Climate Clock (Beginner | Grades 5+): "The Climate Clock counts down to a specific day in the future. After this day human-induced climate change will have caused a temperature increase of 1.5℃, which is irreversible, and has bad consequences for everyone. We know this because of the data on the current rate of emissions, and the level of human-induced warming we’re already seeing." Join VidCode in creating your own interactive Climate Clock using javascript code. When you leave, you will be able to share your clock with friends or on your own website. Click Here to Register

State of CS Report is Out!!!

The State of CS report was just released from Code.org and CSTA, and it includes a breakdown of access & participation information for all 50 states, including AZ!

This report is a comprehensive snapshot of the state of CS in education. It includes information from 100% of U.S. public high schools. Unfortunately, this report shows that less than half of all high schools in the U.S. teach CS, with access being lowest for students from rural areas, economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and marginalized racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in computer science. While diversity within classrooms has increased, it’s clear that work is still far from done. Read more about these findings on the Code.org blog.
Below are some snapshots from the finding for AZ. You can also read the full report here.

Girls Who Code- Celebrate Sisterhood

Day of the Girl! We've teamed up with Apple to celebrate our favorite holiday -- and the fun starts today.

We're inviting people everywhere to share their #SisterhoodStory: a shoutout to the ones who have your back and make you stronger. Want to shine a light on someone special? Here's how:

Computer Science State Policy Forum

The annual Computer Science State Policy Forum brings together legislators, education officials, state advocates, industry, national organizations, and representatives from state executive offices committed to K-12 computer science education. This year the forum goes virtual, and consists of two sessions. More information here.

Join us October 14 from 10:00 to 11:30 am PT for a panel discussion of how "Computer Science is More Important Than Ever" featuring three state education chiefs. We'll also launch the 2020 State of Computer Science Education. Click here to register for the Policy Forum Plenary.

Join us later on October 14 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm PT for the State of Your State. Learn about and discuss the state of computer science in your state. Click here to register for the State of AZ Policy Session.

Apply for both sessions by October 11, 2020.

#CSK8 Podcast

The #CSK8 Podcast explores research, experiences, and perspectives on computer science education with a focus on grades K-8. The hope is to support and promote the #CSK8 and #CSforALL community members by interviewing guests and unpacking scholarship in relation to computer science education. Listen on your favorite platform below or listen to the short trailer to find out more about this podcast.

National Cyber Security Awareness Month

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. The overarching theme for 2020 is “Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart.” The theme empowers individuals and organizations to own their role in protecting their part of cyberspace, with a particular emphasis on the key message for 2020: “If you connect it, protect it.” Visit staysafeonline.org for tips and resources.

PD Opportunity - Code.org CS Fundamentals Virtual Workshops

The Arizona Science Center is offering several Code.org CS Fundamentals virtual workshops in October and November. The Intro workshop is designed for elementary educators new to teaching computer science who want to explore how to begin teaching the CS Fundamentals curriculum. Join your peers and experienced facilitators to get a hands-on introduction to computer science, pedagogy, overviews of the online curriculum and teacher dashboard, as well as strategies for teaching “unplugged” classroom activities. The workshop is split into smaller chunks over the 3 days in lieu of a full day on zoom. Click below for more information & registration info.

PD Opportunity: CSTA National Events

The National CSTA Organization is hosting the following events:

Oct. 8: CSTA Engage - Please join us for our October CSTA Engage Meetup on October 8, 2020, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. CDT to connect with and learn alongside other K-12 CS teachers. We’ll host a jam-packed hour and a half, worth every minute of your midweek evening. Activities will include a time specifically for networking, a featured PD activity, and two unconference/birds-of-a-feather sessions.
Oct. 22: CSTA+ Benefit: GameSalad Webinar - Join us for a webinar on GameSalad! We will go through an extensive demo of the product, and answer and questions. This classroom resource is for grades 5 through 12 and beyond, students learn the fundamentals of computer science while building their own video games with GameSalad. CSTA+ members receive a 25% discount
Oct. 27: New Member Orientation - Join us to get your CSTA journey started! Learn about your membership, what programs we have, how to get involved, and what CSTA+ membership is.

CSTA Equity Fellows

The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) is excited to announce the 15 participants of the 2020–21 Equity Fellowship. This year-long program will provide leadership development opportunities to fellows and identify opportunities for the group to develop ongoing, peer-to-peer professional learning experience focused on addressing issues of equity in the computer science classrooms for CSTA members. Click here to read more about each fellow.

In particular, we would like to congratulate CSTA-Arizona board member Leon Tynes for being selected as part of this prestigious group. Leon teaches at the Academy of Math and Sciences - Desert Sky charter school and is one of our CSTA-AZ Phoenix-area Directors. Click below to read more about Leon and his work in Arizona.

NCWIT: Virtual Classroom Décor for Computer Science and Tech Educators

National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) has assembled a set of interactive elements to help teachers make all students feel welcome and to maintain and enhance their interest in computing. By adding the elements to their own virtual classrooms, teachers can maintain a positive classroom climate, show students “possible selves” in computing, maintain student interest, and show them career and other opportunities. Learn more about virtual convening by viewing the previously recorded (Aug 2020) "Classroom Climate: Why it’s important and some ways to create/maintain, even virtually."

September Community Call

CSTA-Arizona hosted our September Community Call on Tuesday September 29th. The agenda featured:

SciTech Institute & CS Education Month
Presenter: Kelly Greene - SciTech COO
Vidcode Platform
Presenter: Alexandra Diracles - CEO & Co-founder
Code.org State Policy Forum
Presenter: Alexis Harrigan - Director of State Government Affairs, Code.org
Community Updates

Click here for the slides from this virtual event

PD Opportunity: AzTEA Annual Conference

Join the Arizona Technology in Education Association (AzTEA) for our 2020 Virtual Fall Conference: Explore, Inspire, & Rejuvenate & grow your EdTech tool box. This virtual conference is focused on strategies and tools that work in all education modalities. Sessions will be led by teachers, coaches, and administrators who are using these tools with their students or in their work. Just a sample of the presentation topics: Google Apps, Microsoft tools, Coding, Drones, AR, Esports, and more. The conference is October 31st - Click here for more information

Curriculum - Popfizz Microbit Curriculum

Popfizz just launched our Microbit Curriculum last week and we're hosting it for free until next semester. The Introduction to Physical Computing with micro:bit PD course covers the basics of physical computing using micro:bit, MakeCode and Python programming language. Feel free to add the course to your dashboard on Popfizz.io and check it out. Click Here to access the curriculum.

Grant: Rural Tech Project

The Rural Tech Project is a $600,000 challenge to advance rural technology education and prepare students for the careers of today and tomorrow. The U.S. Department of Education invites high schools and local educational agencies to propose technology education programs that use competency-based distance learning.

Quick facts:

Who should enter: The challenge is open to any publicly funded school or local educational agency serving students in grades 9-12 in rural communities. “Rural” is broadly defined as a non-urban, non-suburban area. An area may be considered rural based on its population density and/or distance from suburban or urban hubs. See the eligibility criteria for further guidance.
$600,000 in cash prizes: Up to five finalists will be selected to receive an equal share of the $500,000 Phase 1 cash prize pool. At the conclusion of program implementation, one grand-prize winner will receive an additional $100,000.
Two years of ongoing support: From January 2021 through August 2023, finalists will have on-the-ground assistance, expert mentorship, and access to virtual resources as they plan, run, refine, and report on their programs.
Deadline: Program proposals are due Oct. 8.

Click Here for More Information About the Project

Join Us On Facebook!

CSTA-Arizona is excited to launch our very own Facebook Community Page! We are launching this group to address a few needs for the CSTA-Arizona community We hope this group will allow our community to:

Share events / resources / opportunities directly with other members and in a timely manner
Create discussions and dialogues between members & the community, creating stronger regional connections
Make it easier to see newsletters and events, especially for organizations or community members who aren't on our mailing list
Make it easier to celebrate successes and amplify voices from teachers in our community

We hope you'll join the group and use it as a resource to connect with a community of CS Educators, especially in our new virtual reality. Click Here to Join the Page!

August Community Call

CSTA-Arizona hosted our August Community Call on 8/11.

Click to read more or watch the recording, if you were unable to attend.

PD Opportunity: Machine Learning with PopFizz

This course addresses the content and pedagogical challenges of teaching computer science with an emphasis on culturally responsive teaching practices.

Designed to help educators prepare to teach computer science, attendees will explore algorithmic biases, and learn about artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML). The course also has a hands-on coding component where the attendees will use HTML, CSS, Javascript, and Google’s Teachable Machine to train an AI and share it with the world.

Anyone can sign up for the course at no cost. Enrollment closes on August 26th!

More information & enrollment information is available below

Webinar: Computing While Black

CS for All Teachers has launched a series of webinars over the summer titled Computing While Black.

The CS community and others joined a roundtable discussion about best practices for inclusion and equity in computer science education. We delved into how the Black Lives Matter movement has impacted students that will be entering and continuing in CS educational spaces (and schools) and identified necessary supports to facilitate high-quality instruction for diverse populations. We also identified how teachers can change CS pedagogy to meet the needs of Black students as well as how they can work collaboratively to dismantle the patriarchal white-centered mindsets that plague the tech industry and society writ large. Though this language may have made some uncomfortable (i.e., “patriarchal” and “white-centered”), we encouraged people to join this webinar for an open, honest dialogue about how we can best teach all in our classes, but especially our Black students.

Resources & recordings are available from previous webinars, and more webinars from this series may be made available in the future. Click below for more information.

Webinar: NCWIT Conversations for Change

Over the summer, the National Center for Women in Technology (NCWIT) hosted an online leadership series titled Conversations for Change, aiming to further efforts in creating inclusive cultures for underrepresented groups in computing. Speakers include Dr. Jane Goodall, Dr Ruha Benjamin, Dr Colleen Lewis, and others. More information about the conference is available at www.ncwit.org/conversations.

All of the videos from this series are posted online for later viewing. Click here to watch all of the videos from this series.

CSforEL District Opportunity

Computer science is the fastest growing subject in the US, yet English learners are dramatically underrepresented in these courses. CSforEL is a new 4-year research project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, to attract, retain and engage English learners (EL) in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) in Arizona, New Mexico and San Diego. We are currently looking for district and school level participation in the CSforEL project in terms of relationship and partnership building, data gathering efforts, and conversation with our Evaluation Team Leads to help determine treatment and control schools and to identify schools and teachers to participate in our first PD cohort during the 2021-2022 school year. If you are interested in more information about the CSforEL project, please contact Erika C. Burt at erika.burt@csteachers.org. More information about this opportunity is below

Partner Events - Summer Opportunities

Arizona is fortunate to have a strong community of teacher-led organizations that support teacher professional development. These organizations include:

Click below for more information about summer PD opportunities facilitated by these teacher-led organizations.

CSTA+ Benefit - Pluralsight Online Courses

As a CSTA+ member, you have access to Pluralsight, which has dozens of free video-based PD courses for CSTA members! All CSTA+ members can redeem a one-year limited library Pluralsight Skills benefit through the CSTA+ resource portal. You’ll receive access to over 30 software development courses that teach computer science concepts and programming skills. These hand-selected courses will help you develop the skills needed to pass national computer science certification exams and bring the concepts to life in the classroom.

Click below for a three-minute video on how to access the benefits from your CSTA+ login page.

If you're not a CSTA+ member, more information about this program and it's benefits are available here.

CSFirst Summer PD

CS First is Google's free, introductory computer science program for grades 4-8 (ages 9-14). This video-based curriculum teaches students foundational CS, problem-solving and collaboration skills through themes related to students’ interests. CS First can be used within classrooms, or as part of after-school programs in schools, libraries, or community spaces. Learn how to use this free computer science grades 4-8 curriculum that makes coding easy to teach and fun to learn on Scratch. No experience necessary for students or teachers.

Read below to learn more about this program and sign up for one of several summer workshops.

CSforEL Teacher Leaders

Computer science is the fastest growing subject in the US, yet English learners are dramatically under-represented in these courses. CSforEL is a new 4-year research project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, to attract, retain and engage English learners (EL) in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP). We seek CSforEL teacher leaders who will help us identify and test strategies and develop lessons and materials that effectively support ELs in CSP during our project’s pilot year (2020-21). We will rely on their expertise to develop the professional development in future project years.

Click below to learn more about this program

Inclusive STEM & CS Summit

The Inclusive STEM & CS Summit aims to provide quality professional development for educators focused on pedagogy and instruction in STEM and computer science.

100% of the proceeds of The Inclusive STEM & CS Summit will be donated to organizations that support STEAM/CS programs, such as Black Girls Who Code, Indigenous STEAM/AISES, LatinoSTEM, APIA Scholars.

The event takes place on June 19th & 20th. Schedule & Registration Information Below

New CS education courses this summer!

The course for Block-based Educational Programming Language for Educators is developed to learn the Scratch programming, and the Text-based course is for learning about Python.

Code.org At-Home Resources

We are facing an incredibly challenging time with the global outbreak of COVID-19, grappling with growing concerns over health, our communities, and the economy. Safety measures have brought widespread school closures across the country.

We want to support teachers, students, and families in any way we can. Below is a set of resources to help your student learn computer science at home.

Click Here to Access Resources

NCWIT At-Home Resources

14 Computing-related Activities to Do From Home

As COVID-19 has led schools across the country to transition to at-home learning, educators, parents, and caregivers are on the lookout for accessible activities to keep kids’ minds active and engaged. Luckily, there are many ways to translate computing education from the classroom to the home setting. Below is a sampling of ways that adults — regardless of skill level — can help K-12 students continue to explore pathways to tech careers and grow computational skills. These ideas aren’t just for kids, though. Parents and educators who want to learn something new can also get in on the action! Click below to see the 14 activities you can do at home!

CSTA At-Home Resources

With the outbreak of COVID-19, at CSTA we know that many of our members will be supporting their students remotely. Teaching CS is already difficult, and moving to a virtual environment can be challenging, so we have compiled a list of resources to help teachers support their students during this trying time. We encourage you to keep visiting this page for the most up-to-date resources:

Click Here to Access the Resources

Girls Who Code At-Home Resources

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Girls Who Code is proud to launch Girls Who Code at Home, a weekly series of resources to keep up your learning at home, and ideas on how to stay busy and—most importantly—brave.

Download Girls Who Code at Home Activities

Continue reading to see more at-home resources from Girls Who Code

CS Standards Implementation Resources

Arizona released K-12 Computer Science Standards in October 2018 and two options for Computer Science endorsement for K-12 teachers. To support the implementation of these standards, we are excited to present a Computer Science Implementation Guidance document and a one-page document that clearly outlines the requirements for PreK-8 and 9-12 computer science educators. Click Read More to view these documents & learn more about these resources.

CSTA PD Week-Save the Date

CSTA AZ is coming this summer to ASU Fulton School of Engineering. We have confirmed many providers and working on adding more. Registration will open in March. Click Read more for details.

Partner Event: C&I and IT Leadership Symposium 2020

The symposium is a one-day event that will bring together educational leaders from across the state of Arizona to explore the challenges and share the successes that exist between Teaching, Learning, & IT.

Friday, March 6, 2020 from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM MST

Dysart Unified School District
15802 North Parkview Place,
Surprise Az, AZ 85374

Partner Event: eSports 2020 Part II

This event is for educators who are interested in learning and sharing ways to begin or enhance an esports program and with students. Join us for meaningful educator-led PD and hands-on learning/ playing fun! $15 per person

CSPD Funding available

Public Schools that offer instruction in grades 9 through 12 AND Public Schools that do not currently provide high school computer science instruction. The grant application shall prioritize awards to eligible public schools that have at least sixty percent of students enrolled who are eligible for free and reduced-priced lunches under the National School Lunch and Child Nutrition Acts and are Rural schools.

CS for ELL Students

Computer science is the fastest growing subject in the US, yet English learners are dramatically under-represented in these courses. CSforEL is a new, 4 year research project, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, to attract, retain and engage English learners (EL) in AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) in Arizona, New Mexico and San Diego. We are currently seeking districts to participate in our first cohort for the 2020-21 school year. Click below for more information.

CS Awesome Summer Virtual Sessions

CS Awesome is a new free curriculum from the Mobile CSP team for the AP CS A Java course that follows the 2019 College Board AP CSA units and learning objectives. We are applying to become an official provider for AP CSA in 2020. The curriculum is available for free on based on Barb Ericson's Java Review course on Runestone Academy.

The goal of the CS Awesome curriculum is to provide an interactive curriculum for students that uses frequent, small practice problems that allow students to incrementally build their Java programming skills. The curriculum is provided online through an e-book and includes many opportunities for creativity and collaboration with other students. The course was designed to engage all students and support students transitioning from a Computer Science Principles (CSP) course to CSA.

Click below for more information about summer opportunities. If you are a teacher transitioning from teaching AP CSP to AP CSA and/or will you be teaching AP CS A for the first time in 2019 or 2020, then we have scholarships available for you to attend our PD for FREE, in exchange for participating in our research project.

Amazon Future Engineer + BootUp Elementary CS Initiative

BootUp Teams with Amazon Future Engineer to Bring Computer Science to More Than 1,000 Elementary Schools

Accepting Applications from Schools Districts to be Part of the Amazon Future Engineer + BootUp Elementary Computer Science Initiative

The Amazon Future Engineer sponsorship funds BootUp’s ongoing, onsite professional development to elementary teachers. BootUp prepares teachers to facilitate open-ended coding projects in the free platforms Scratch and ScratchJr. Teachers learn how to engage students to create and share interactive stories, animations, games, art, music, and more through problem-solving and other fundamental computer science practices. BootUp programs require no prior coding experience and include a free, interest-driven curricula with more than 70 classroom projects.

APPLY TODAY at www.afebootup.smapply.org.

March CSTA Maricopa Meet Up

CSTA AZ will be having monthly meet ups the first Saturday of each month at the Microsoft Store in Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall. The focus for March is Scratch basics, MicroBits and best practices. Networking and food are always free!!

Professional Development Survey

As districts begin planning and budgeting around professional development for the 2020-21 school year, it is important to have your feedback included in the process. The Office of the Maricopa County School Superintendent has worked collaboratively with teacher support organizations to develop a short anonymous survey for educators. Your feedback from this survey will be shared with districts and professional development providers across Arizona so that PD can be developed and offered based on your ideas and needs. We want to hear your voice and opinions about professional development opportunities.

CSTA-AZ January Community Call

The CSTA-AZ January Community call took place on January 28th. Topics include:

A shared reflection of current progress on CSTA chapter rubric
A shared celebration of new CSTA AZ board
Regional & Partner Updates

Click Here for the agenda from this call or click below.

Click Here for a recording of this call.

Our next community call will be February 25th.

CSTA 2020 Scholarships Now Open!

Registration for the 2020 CSTA Annual Conference is open, and scholarships are being offered to support teachers who can not otherwise attend the CSTA conference due to funding limitations. These scholarships are available thanks to the generous support of our partners.

What to expect: The application is short, requiring 15–30 minutes to complete. It requests basic information about you and your teaching background, characteristics of the students you teach, and two short essay questions (less than 250 words each):

Why do you want to attend the conference?
How will attending the conference impact your teaching practice?

For more information visit the webpage here.

Start a Girls Go Cyberstart Club!

Do you know a school in your community that could benefit from a free, fun cyber program?

High school girls are discovering their talent for cybersecurity and computer science with the Girls Go CyberStart competition. Made up of a series of digital challenges, Girl Go CyberStart empowers girls to work together to become the next leaders in cybersecurity and help protect the web. Boys can also discover their interest and learn with CyberStart Game. Clubs that have five girls who solve 5 challenges will qualify for Stage 2 Game and will earn additional non-competition Game licenses for boys or other girls in their school so everyone in the classroom can learn ethical hacking, programming and forensics for free!

Registration is open until February 14^th so students and teachers, register now and start playing today! There are cash prizes for girls and schools, don’t miss out! https://www.girlsgocyberstart.org

Code.org Summer Workshops

Whether you are new to teaching computer science (CS) or have previous experience, the Code.org Professional Learning Program prepares you to teach with confidence and offers year-round support. No CS experience is needed!

Take part in the program to explore the curriculum and learning tools, practice new teaching strategies, discuss classroom management, and build a community of teachers. Over 90% of attendees would recommend our program to another teacher. Scholarships and discounts are available in many regions.

Start a Girls Who Code Club

We are proud to partner with Girls Who Code to provide free, flexible and inclusive CS opportunities all across our community, and would love for your school to host a Club!

Girls Who Code Clubs provide completely FREE plug-and-play curriculum and resources for educators to encourage girls’ participation in STEM as they prepare for college and career. In each Club, 3rd-5th and 6th-12th grade girls build important life skills as they join a sisterhood of supportive peers and role models and learn how to use computer science to positively impact their community. Students also learn about inspiring female role models in tech to help increase female representation in our STEM programming.

New CS Educator Courses at ASU

In response to the new Arizona CS education endorsement, Arizona State University is offering an online 7 week, 3 credit course “Introduction to Computer Science for Educators.” The course is now open for enrollment for spring semester 2020, Session B (the class starts March 16). As an introductory course, it is great for educators who are new to CS education, and for teachers seeking course credit toward the CS endorsement. Click Here for a Link to the Course Flyer

Endorsement information

Computer Science Education Week | December 9th-15th

Every day of this week, we are hosting fieldtrips that will feature diverse and inclusive topics from leaders in the industry as well as workshops.

CSTA-Arizona Board Elections

Our CSTA-AZ board member election is underway! Click here to read more about the elections

SheTech Explorer Day

SheTech Explorer Day (www.shetechexplorer.com) is a hands-on tech conference for high school girls 9th through 12th grade on March 4th 2020. This day-long event will include hands-on workshops in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Schools can register teams of up to 9 students at the SheTech website: http://shetechexplorer.com/arizona/

November Community Updates

Updates from the Computer Science community in Arizona from our November 19th Community Call (click here for agenda):

Microsoft Philanthropies TEALS School Applications Now Open
New #CSK8 Podcast Now Available
AZ STEM Collaborative Unconference
CSforAll Teachers CSEd Week Webinar
Google CSFirst Hour of Code Webinar

Click 'Read More' to see information about each of these programs

CSTA 2020 Conference

There is a whole community of computer science educators just like you out there. If you are looking for inspiration, for connection, and for a chance to be rejuvenated, join us at CSTA 2020, set for July 13 - 14, 2020. While we all won’t be meeting together in Arlington this year, we’re excited to still put on the same conference you’ve come to love — created by teachers, for teachers.

CSTA's Annual Conference is a chance for computer science teachers to come together for learning, networking, and fun. We are a community of educators who are changing the lives of students every day in our classrooms. We are eager to share our knowledge and to learn from one another.

Our two-day virtual conference has over 100 sessions of education to broaden your knowledge of computer science education, inspirational keynotes and sessions to reinvigorate your passion for teaching, and countless moments of fun and connection along the way. If you are looking for new and exciting ways to engage with your students in your classroom, look no further than CSTA 2020. You don't want to miss out on this great experience.

Read More for more information about the conference and how to register!

CSTA-AZ Fall Summit

CSTA-Arizona held it's 2019 Fall Summit in Prescott, Arizona on November 2nd. Educators from all over Arizona convened to attend sessions on Scratch, LocoRobo, p5js, Artificial Intelligence, and to plan for more local & community meetups in the four Arizona Regions.

American Computer Science League

The American Computer Science League (ACSL) has sponsored computer science
contests since 1978. The contests are divided into divisions (Senior,
Intermediate, Junior, Classroom and Elementary) to appeal to a wide range of
student experience. The Senior, Intermediate and Junior Divisions include
computer science topics and coding. The Classroom and Elementary Divisions
do not require coding. ACSL is offering its 2018-19 contest question/solution set to CSTA teachers
who register for the first time.

October Community Updates

Updates from the Computer Science community in Arizona from our September 24th Community Call:

AzTEA Fall Conference
Elementary Professional Development
Dept of Education Webinars
Code.org CS Fundamentals Workshops
Native American Code Writers Program
iKidsCode Day of Learning
ASTA Fall Conference

Click 'Read More' to see information about each of these programs

CSEdCon & State of Computer Science

Code.org, CSforAll, and CSTA convened over 400 regional and international partners, policymakers, and district representatives for the first ever Global CS Education Conference (CSEdCon). Representatives from CSTA-Arizona, the Arizona Department of Education, and several districts across Arizona including Yuma and Prescott attended this event. The 2019 State of Computer Science Report was also released at this event - here's the progress Arizona has made in Computer Science Education

Resources for Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15th through October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month. Here are several resources to share with students connecting students with Hispanic heritage to Computer Science & other STEM fields.

Hispanic Heritage Youth Awards honors Latino high school seniors who excel in the classroom and community and for their excellence in five categories: Business & Entrepreneurship, Community Service, Education, Healthcare & Science, Media & Entertainment, and Technology & Engineering. Recipients are selected in each category and receive a grant to fund their college education or to fund a community service effort that tackles a social issue. Application deadline is December 6th, 2020.
CSforSF Cultural Heritage Resources - Posters, Lessons, Videos, & other resources showing Latinx influencers in Computer Science
Latina Girls Code: Provides technology exposure and resources for Latinas ages 7-17.
Latinas in STEM: Spreads awareness about STEM and encourages middle and high school Latinas, especially within underserved communities, to consider pursuing a STEM career.
SHPE Jr. Chapters: The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) program provides high school students with opportunities to participate in hands-on STEM activities, receive mentorship, and experience STEM firsthand at a participating local university or museum.
TECHNOLOchicas: Designed to raise awareness among young Latinas and their families about opportunities and careers in technology.

Aspirations in Computing Educator Award

NCWIT wants to recognize YOU for the incredible support and encouragement you give to your all of your students. When you endorse a high school applicant this year, you are then eligible to apply for the Educator Award!

Award for Aspirations in Computing for HS Students

NCWIT is pleased to announce that the Award for Aspirations in Computing is now accepting high school students’ applications! Help us spread the word to your students and grow this amazing community for women in tech!

CSTA AZ Board Nominations

If you are interested in serving on the CSTA-Arizona Board, please consider nominating yourself (or another person) for our upcoming CSTA-Arizona Board Elections.

NCWIT Awards Ceremony

Arizona State University's Fulton School of Engineering hosted the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Awards Ceremony for young women in computing. Click through to see more information about the event and photos

AZ Educators - CSTA and ISTE Want Your Feedback on New CS Standards

CSTA and ISTE have launched an initiative to revise CS standards. As CS teachers, your input is valuable to this process. Keep reading to learn how you can provide feedback.

CSTA-AZ Fall Meetup 2018

CSTA-AZ held its first Fall Professional Development Summit for Arizona Computer Science teachers. Sessions were held on topics such as VEX Robotics, equitable recruiting & retention strategies, active learning in Computer Science, and the CyberPatriot competition.

Arizona Adopts Computer Science Standards!

On October 22, 2018, Arizona's State Board of Education voted to adopt new K-12 Computer Science Standards. The process to develop new Computer Science Standards began in January 2017. Since that time, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) has collected public feedback on existing standards and convened working groups of educators, content experts, community members, and parents to create new standards. Click here to download Arizona's Computer Science Standards.