CSTA Chapter Toolkit

I have had a few CSTA folks ask, so here are some tools we've been using for the CSTA - Central VA Chapter.

The hardest part of running a chapter is communication - who is a member? How do we let folks know about meetings? I have found this collection of tools really helps.

• Dominoes Pizza App - because pizza makes things better. It also lets you save a standard order to speed things up. We have some gluten free folks, so we use Dominoes. Insert Foodstuff of choice.
• Doodle Poll- lets you easily poll several people to find a common meeting time. We use this when the leadrship team needs to meet.
• Evite - We use these for chapter meetings. It really helps since it lets folks RSVP so you have an idea of how many folks to expect.
• Facebook - I put all the links here and meeting info. A lot of folks start with Facebook searches.
• Google Contacts- I keep our membership list here and have a canned response saved every time we get a new member.
• Mail Chimp - We use this to create a membership form. In hindsight I could have used a Google form too. Here is what the page looks like.
• Wordpress - This is our chapter's main landing page. I have it set so I can post using emails, and this email is included in our distribution list, so any updates or Evites I send to the chapter are automatically posted on the blog. Warning - don't put personal phone numbers in these emails, not that I have done this or anything...

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Summer of Computer Science

The class of 2013 has graduated, which means summer vacation has finally started. I got hit with the flu this past week which has made the last week extra hectic.

Finally

Posts may be a bit sporadic this summer. I won't step foot in Virginia until mid July, and then only for three days:

• June 17 - 21  GA Tech --> APCS Principles Big Ideas
• A week in Atlanta talking computer science and making things with play-doh,I know you are jealous
• June 24 - July 12 Working on this: http://mooc.amplify.com/ 
• It's a MOOC for AP Computer Science - more on this later - pretty amazing
• July 13 - 16  CSTA National Conference
• Are you going?  You should be, just sayin
• July 16 - 20  APCS Principles Pilot Meeting/AP Annual Conference
• Can't wait to meet all the new APCS Principles Piloters - over 40 of us now!
• July - August - Back to this: http://mooc.amplify.com/ 
• And throughout I am helping with: VASS APCS Online Summer Training - spots are still available if you are interested. The amazing Stacey Armstrong is the lead on the training so your don't want to miss out.

Hope to see you at one of these - if you are there make sure to say hello. 

I  follow computer science stuff on Twitter - so drop me a line and let me know how your summer is going. We have so many things happening as a community right now, it is really exciting to see all the hard work so many people have put in through the years building a k-12 computer science presence really start to take off. Here's hoping big changes are coming - because every kid in the United States should have the opportunity to take a computer science class.

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CSTA - Central VA April Meeting

We had a great meeting last night. Thank you so much to Lynne Norris at Deep run for hosting.

Some news:

David Walter from Virginia State was with us. VSU will have a Google 4 HS teacher program this summer. Details soon.

Several folks are going to the JMU event this summer. This is a great way to get some college credit if you are working towards certification

We also talked about

Teacher licensure - the state is still planning on updating the CS endorsement - we need to be a part of that conversation. We especially need input from colleges. It was pointed out that the courses required should go by the ACM list of college computer science courses.

Where should CS fit? Several states are letting Computer Science classes replace a math or science for a graduation credit. Should Virginia follow?

Updates to the new APCS Principles course - first test in 2016-2017. We need to work on getting the state DOE to add a course number for it.

Changes to APCS, specifically no more Gridworld after the 2014 exam Competitions and camps for kids - looking at ways to get more kids involved

Possibly building some kits of materials owned by the chapter folks can check out to use - like a library. Especially for some of the more expensive items like the Mindstorms.

Eileen  showcased the new Lego Mindstorms. Top secret stuff that I can't put in writing, but they will be out hopefully later this year. You will want one.

We also looked at the Finches with both BYOB Snap and Java. Email me if you would like some sample programs in Java to try with the Finches.

And if you haven't already please fill out the membership info. We need this to report to national CSTA: http://vacsta.wordpress.com/membership-information/

Thanks!

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Join the Central Virginia CSTA

Hi folks! We're trying to streamline the membership list for the Central Virginia CSTA Chapter. Our first goal building a teaching community to support computer science education in Virginia. That means getting as many people to the table as possible.

Please take a second to fill out the form to become an official member.

Click here to Join CSTA Central VA

• Who can join?
  YOU! Anyone passionate about computer science education in Virginia is welcome. Our members include K-12 teachers, parents, college faculty and folks from the business community that all believe in the power of computer science education.
• Why Join?
  Because there is power in numbers. There are a lot of issues facing computer science education, from training in curriculum and instruction to advocacy for equity and access. The CSTA is on the front line.
• I am already a member!
  Please fill out the form anyway - we are trying to centralize to one list.
• How can I help?
  There are a lot of ways to become involved. Local chapter meetings are the best place to start. By meeting other people working to improve computer science education you become a part of a great community working to improve the education of our kids.

And if you prefer a QR code:

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Google at Grace Hopper

I was at Grace Hopper two weeks back as a part of teh CSTA leadership Advocacy meeting. As always lots of great information.

I spotted this video posted in LinkedIn earlier today - it is a great view of the types of jobs available in tech, and how girls fit in to the picture.

Google Loves Grace Hopper

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Five Things YOU Can Do To Help Computer Science Education

This week Time magazine ran an article: Can We Fix Computer Science Education in America? You should go read it. No problem, I'll wait.

The tech industry is one of the few bright spots in a dim economy. So why aren't we teaching kids the skills they need to participate in it?

Indeed.

The good news is there are a lot of folks out there working on this.

 

  There are of course there are programs like Exploring Computer Science and the new CS Principles pilot that offer curriculum and training for teachers trying to build computer science in our schools.

But the real question is what are YOU doing? This issue impacts all of us. It is not OK to just sit there hoping someone else is plugging away at this. Seriously, Cameron Wilson's great, but he's pretty busy already.Five things you should do NOW to help computer science education:

1. Get every kid you know under the age of 10 hooked on Scratch or Alice or even QBasic. Let them play, and ask questions, and show off what they make.

1. Ask if computer science is in your local schools - then ask why not. Oh, and don't just ask about your school...ask about that other one, down the block. The urban/rural/under-served school. Those kids need this too.

1. Stop blaming guidance counselors and administrators and every other bogey man out there. No one likes whiners, and those folks are busy worrying about dropout rates and intruder drills and grumpy parents. Give them something to value in computer science. Positive energy breeds long term success. Make the Computer Science program something they can brag about.

1. Go to a CSTA meeting. No local chapter? Start one - it's super easy. 

1. Select one:

• If you are in Virginia - comment on the new technology SOLs. Not sure what to say? How's this: Computer Science is the discipline underlying all innovation, especially in the STEM fields. Our students need to move beyond just working on learning computer applications to learning the computer science topics that will build their success in school and future careers. Computer Science should be included in the Computer Technology SOL's.

• Don't live in Virginia? First, yes our standardized tests are called SOL's. No, that is not a joke. Second - find your state standards. Is computer science in there? Just figuring out where you state stands is a great first step.

So my question for you - what are YOU doing?

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My Brain Might be Full

As always CS & IT was amazing this year. I got back from California Wednesday night. Our presentation about CS Pricniples went well. At least I assume it did. Lots of good questions and no one threw anything.

Every presentation I sat in on was great. I'll summarize those later when I am a bit mor caught up and my kids stop asking who the strange lady walking around the house is. All the presentations are here.

Of course one of the best parts about the confernece is seeing everyone. I still find it a bit funny to talk to folks that wrote the books I turn to all the time in class. I have not yet asked anyone to sign anything, I don't want to come off as too stalker-ish.

We are still hard at work planning our own Virginia conference this September 28th. Lots of fun things planned for everyone. I hope to bring a small slice of the energy from CS & IT back home to Virginia.

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Know a K-12 computer science educator?

Do you know a computer science educator? If so, please share with them this low cost, high quality, professional development opportunity. The Computer Science & Information Technology (CS&IT) Conference is the only international conference specifically developed for K-12 computer science educators. This year the conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Irvine on July 9th and 10th, 2012, in Irvine, CA. To see the agenda, register for the conference, or reserve your reduced housing rate at the Hyatt, visit CS & IT 2012 .

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Data for Dates

My latest post is over on the CSTA site - Enjoy!

http://blog.acm.org/csta/

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CS Ed Week

CS Ed Week

Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) – December 4-10, 2011 – is a call to action to share information and offer activities that will advocate for computing and elevate computer science education for students at all levels. Everyone can participate!

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