Join us for a professional development session, Core Programming Concepts. The presentation will focus on three major concepts that appear throughout computer science coding lessons.
Understanding these concepts will give both teachers and students a strong foundation in programming while working through any computer science course.
As a bonus, explore examples of Ellipsis Education lesson plans and walk away with an exclusive free lesson you can implement in your classroom.
We will send you an email with a link to the webinar on demand.
Sr. Curriculum Development Specialist
Sandy graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics Teacher Education. She taught for two and a half years and was Director of Education for Sylvan Learning for four years. While working at Sylvan, Sandy also worked part time for Maker Youth Foundation where she wrote STEM curriculum and taught STEM enrichment classes.
Curriculum Development Specialist
Jordan Byrd-Eveland graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and Political Science. After college, Jordan made her way to Indianapolis via Indianapolis Teaching Fellows, gaining training and experience in ENL and elementary education. Jordan taught ENL, 3rd grade, and middle school Spanish for four years. Now as a curriculum development specialist for Ellipsis Education, she loves the challenge of creating coding lessons that resonate with all teachers and students, regardless of background and prior STEM experiences.
How can you get started teaching computer science in your classroom? Perhaps you are new to teaching programming and don’t know how to begin to focus your efforts. Perhaps you do have some experience and knowledge of the basics, but struggle with a curriculum progression that makes sense for your students. The pressure is on to deliver computer science knowledge to students that may know more than you! Luckily, there are a few baseline requirements that can help you create a computer science implementation plan.
The first part of your computer science implementation plan is your teachers. Finding passionate educators that will engage and learn alongside students is essential. Good news: your teachers do not have to have experience with computer science. Programming languages that come and go; there will always be something new on the horizon. One of the benefits of studying computer science is that having a strong foundation in certain concepts will be relevant for all languages and most applications going forward. Success in computer science is much more than just coding. It’s being a problem-solver, thinking critically, and having the ability to collaborate effectively with peers. Seeking growth in those essential skills is just as applicable for teachers as it is for students. There are many organizations (like ISTE and CSTA) that offer free educational events and communities for teachers interested in computer science. Furthermore, Ellipsis Education offers free professional development events that dive into different computer science subject areas.
Next, choose a curriculum that aligns with your school’s unique instructional strategy for computer science. There are multiple things to consider here.
Standards alignment: You want to align with a specific standards body, which includes determining which lessons cover the standards, when they will be taught, and generating the alignment documentation.
Pacing: You want to establish fidelity of instruction across class periods, classrooms, and grade levels. You want a consistent curriculum for your teachers and students that is tailored to your scheduling needs.
Assessment methods: Students learn and demonstrate knowledge differently, so you want multiple ways to gain insight into your classroom, including summative and formative assessments.
Lesson plans: You want to make sure that lessons within the curriculum are scaffolded and paced to deliver student outcomes, and empower teachers to create an engaging student experience.
Finally, reflect on the values of teaching computer science. Our students are the most important consideration in any new program. You want to engage them, surprise them, and teach them the skills they need for their future. It is powerful to give students the opportunity to see a project come to life before their eyes. Enjoy watching your future computer science experts discover their potential!