Developing a Computer Science Program
Hey Coach,
It’s my first year teaching Computer Science and I don’t know where to start. Do you have any suggestions on how I can develop my computer science program?
Sincerely,
Computer Science Colleague
Dear Computer Science Colleague,
It’s great that you would like to develop a comprehensive computer science program for your students. Let’s start by exploring some computer science resources that will allow you to curate an ensemble of computer science materials that you can reference throughout this process.
To start, let us look at the Georgia Department of Education’s Computer Science webpage. There you will find multiple resources that will help you understand what state expectations are for computer science education. In particular, take a look at the GSE Computer Science Standards; this will give you the foundational knowledge you need to understand the learning targets for your grade level. Next, look at the Computer Science (CS) Education Keys to Implementation. It will give you the Georgia Department of Education’s framework to abide by and walk you through various steps and options you will need for starting your computer science program. This document in particular is exceptional because it gives you multiple resources from local, state, and national entities that are invested in promoting the advancement of computer science education! Another great thing about the Georgia Department of Education’s Computer Science webpage is that it will provide you with updates on new developments throughout the state. It will also update you on professional development opportunities for computer science teachers.
Another helpful resource is the K-12 Computer Science Framework. It contains the conceptual guidelines for computer science education. Multiple entities have worked together to create this framework to help build capacity and support computer science education for all teachers and students. It will open you up to the varying resources and organizations across the country that can provide you with a diverse insight on what computer science education can look like in different settings.
When you are really ready to deep dive into computer science education, take a look at the Computer Science Teachers Association Standards and the International Society for Technology in Education (ITSE) Standards for Students. It will give you more in-depth knowledge about developing a thorough computer science program with a curriculum that is student-driven and has more concise student outcomes. But for now, the Georgia DOE’s computer science website will give you more than enough information to help you get started.
When it comes to activities you can do with students to get the ball rolling; a great way to spark students’ interest in computer science is through computer programming. Give your students basic tasks that involve executable computer programming. One way to accomplish this is through coding. Coding involves using programming language to communicate with computers. When this is initiated, the communication instructs the technology you are using to complete a specific task. Coding is one of the basic fundamentals of computer science. There are multiple resources you can use to implement coding into your computer science curriculum. One helpful resource to use is Code.org. It is a great introductory learning tool that will get you acclimated to the world of coding. It has beginner to intermediate coding activities for students; and also many professional learning opportunities related to computer science for teachers.
Another great coding website is Scratch. This website allows your students to code their own games, stories, and animations. It is more advanced than Code.org; but you can definitely generate some cross-curricular connections using this website. There is also a Scratch curriculum guide you can follow at Creative Computing. So you see, Computer Science Colleague, you don’t have to “start from scratch” when developing your classroom activities.
I hope these suggestions were of help to you. If you would like to explore more ideas or strategies, please reach out to us at our KSU iTeach website! We would also love to hear how things are going with setting up your computer science program. Let us know by tagging us on Twitter @ksuiteach and using the hashtag #HeyiTeachCoach!
All the best,
Coach
