Trainings & Workshops

Ongoing

Instructional Strategies for Computer Science - Microcredentials by UTeach Computer Science
  • Cost: FREE
  • Peer Instruction - An active learning strategy to support students’ mastery of content knowledge and ability to explain and justify their ideas. Through peer instruction, the educator provides students with the opportunity to teach and learn from each other.
  • Pair Programming - Having two students work side by side at one computer on the same program
  • Live Coding - Educator models and demonstrates computer programming and the habits of mind of programmers.
  • Active & Equitable Recruitment Strategies - Implement active recruitment strategies with an emphasis on attracting students from groups that have been traditionally underserved.
  • "Unplugged" Computational Thinking - An activity in which students build computational thinking skills without the use of computers or other devices.

Computer Programming & Debugging - Microcredentials by UTeach Computer Science
  • Cost: FREE
  • Code Tracing - Develop code-reading skills by introducing line-by-line “tracing” as a strategy for following the execution of a computer program.
  • Rubber Duck Debugging - Develop metacognitive habits for debugging by externalizing their thinking.

CS10K Community Calendar of Events

CSTA Cyber Teacher Certificate professional development program

Google Computational Thinking for Educators
  • Cost:  FREE
  • Massively open online course (MOOC) to help educators learn about computational thinking (CT), how it differs from computer science, and how it can be integrated into a variety of subject areas.
  • Also visit Exploring Computational Thinking (ECT), a curated collection of lesson plans, videos, and other resources on computational thinking (CT)

Flatiron School Computer Science Teaching Fellowship
  • Giving away 500 scholarships for teachers to learn how to code during the 2015-2016 school year
  • Scholarship recipients receive 100+ free hours of professional learning on Flatiron School's interactive platform

Teach CS
  • Teach CS provides some funding for teachers to attend professional development to learn how to teach computer science in their classrooms.
Summer 2017 Workshops

AP and Pre-AP Professional Development Workshops and Institutes
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Annual Conference
  • Dates:  July 8-11, 2017
  • Location:  Renaissance Baltimore Harborplace Hotel, Baltimore, Maryland
  • CSTA 2017 is a professional development opportunity for computer science and information technology educators working in, or within the K-12 arena who need practical, classroom-focused information to help them prepare their students for the future. Conference content is peer reviewed and peer or industry led, making it relevant to today's classroom needs. We expanded our conference to span three days, with two days of workshops, more industry-specific sessions, more exhibitors, along with multiple networking opportunities.
Summer 2016 Workshops

AP and Pre-AP Professional Development Workshops and Institutes
Bootstrap Training
  • Dates:  May 14, 16, and 17, 2016, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
  • Location:  The University of Texas Dallas campus, 902 Drive A, Richardson, Texas 75080
  • Cost:  $60.00
  • Teach Your Students to Program, Mathematically! Bootstrap teaches students to program their own video games in an algebraic programming language, exposing them to key concepts aligned to the TEKS Math Standards. Middle- and high-school teachers across the country have implemented the curriculum as part of a regular math class, or as a math or CS elective. Bootstrap reaches thousands of students each year, and has been recognized by the National Science Foundation, Code.org, Google, and Microsoft.

WeTeach_CS Summit 2016
  • Dates:  June 7-9, 2016, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Location:  The University of Texas at Austin Pickle Research Campus, Commons Learning Center, 10100 Burnet Road, Building 137, Austin, Texas 78758
  • Cost:  $60.00 per day / $180.00 for 3-day workshop
  • A variety of sessions and resources for K-12 Computer Science teachers.  Includes a student expo, vendor exhibits, special guest speakers, general sessions, and breakout sessions.

Tapestry Workshop
  • Dates:  June 28-30, 2016
  • Location:  University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
  • The goals of the workshop are to share strategies, research-based practices, and field-tested good ideas for teaching computer science in a way that reaches all students regardless of sex or ethnicity. Workshop participants will: Explore activities for gaining the interest of all students, Interact with national experts on teaching and diversity practices, Meet university faculty desiring to serve as ambassadors to their schools, Form a network of like-minded people for ongoing discussion and development.
  • First-time Tapestry Workshop attendees receive a $1000 honorarium if they complete all three days of the workshop.
  • Agenda for 2016 Tapestry Workshop

First Bytes Collaborative Workshop for Computer Science Teachers
  • Dates:  July 6-8, 2016
  • Location:  The University of Texas at Austin, Gates Dell Complex, GDC 5.302, Austin, Texas 78712
  • Cost: $120
  • Eligible Attendees: Texas High School Computer Science teachers
  • The goals of the workshop include: 1) Improve Computer Science education in Texas, 2) Learn about new technologies in Computer Science, 3) Exchange effective teaching methods and best practices among colleagues, 4) Build relationships between Computer Science high school teachers and UT-Austin faculty.  The First Bytes Teacher’s Workshop is an opportunity to meet with peers from across the state to explore the challenges and opportunities for Computer Science education in Texas high schools and to invent ways to improve collaboration that will impact student learning and achievement.

CSPdWeek
Infusing Cooperative Learning into Computer Science Principles Courses to Promote Engagement and Diversity
  • Dates:  July 18-22, 2016
  • Location:  Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado
  • Workshop Application:  http://tinyurl.com/csp-cl-2016
  • CSPDWeek General Informaiton Page:  www.cspdweek.org 
  • The curriculum framework for CS Principles (CSP) was designed to appeal to a broader and more diverse group of students and to be more engaging than the current AP Computer Science A course. However, curriculum by itself is not enough to ensure student engagement - the most interesting and innovative curriculum can still be taught in a disengaged manner, leading to lost opportunities for broadening interest in computing across a diverse student population. The learning science literature on Cooperative Learning (CL) has been shown to increase class participation and student learning, while also promoting diversity in a manner that supports the differentiated instruction needed to engage students who have mixed abilities.  The workshop will provide participants with a general understanding of cooperative learning theory and research foundations that support improved engagement and diversity in mixed-ability classrooms. Participants will learn how the cooperative learning structures can be applied to specific contexts within CS Principles through example lesson plans and team discussion sessions. Each participant will receive a copy of the College Board training materials for the APSI, as well as a textbook that summarizes cooperative learning structures.

TCEA Computer Science Academy
  • Dates:  July 21-22, 2016
  • Location:  TCEA Conference Center, 3100 Alvin Devane Blvd., Austin, Texas
  • The purpose of the Academy is to provide both new and veteran Computer Science teachers professional learning opportunities that will result in more students being able to take Computer Science courses in high school. Experienced Computer Science teachers will work with the attendees to ensure the highest quality of learning. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptops for a hands-on workshop experience. The Academy will feature a strand for new Computer Science teachers on the first day, where they will discover available textbooks, syllabi, units of study to cover, classroom management, logistics and grading, what programming language to start with, and how to stay ahead of the students. Lunch is provided both days. 
Spring 2016 Workshops

STEMpreneur Teacher Workshop (Application Deadline Friday, December 18, 2015)
  • Dates:  Saturday, January 23, 2016 1:00-5:00 pm + 2 Saturdays working with students (1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20)
  • Optional:  3 Day Start Up Weekend - February 26, 2016
  • Location:  UT Austin Campus
  • STEMpreneurship Teacher Workshop will expose high school educators to the STEMed Labs student experiences with hands-on training on Pi Bytes and the 3 Day Start Up.

Computer Science Principles Mini-Conference
  • Dates:  February 24-25, 2016
  • Cost:  $60 per day ($120 for both days), includes breakfast, lunch, and materials
  • Location:  UT-Austin Pickle Research Campus, Commons Learning Center, 10100 Burnet Road, Building 137, Balcones Room 1.108, Austin, Texas 78758
  • Eligible Attendees:  Texas high school teachers currently teaching or interested in teaching AP Computer Science Principles
  • The Computer Science Principles Mini-Conference offers a variety of resources for teachers of AP Computer Science Principles (AP CSP) including sessions on Mobile CSP and Thriving in Our Digital World.  CS Principles will be an official College Board AP Course with an AP test as of the 2016-17 school year. AP CSP introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world. With a unique focus on creative problem solving and real-world applications, AP Computer Science Principles prepares students for college and career.

Keep Calm and Java On: Spring 2016
  • Java Fundamentals Dates:  March 21 - May 11, 2016
  • Java Programming Dates:  May 16 - May 25, 2016
  • Cost:  Free to Texas teachers currently teaching or interested in teaching computer science
  • Location:  Online
  • Eligible Attendees:  Texas high school teachers currently teaching or interested in teaching AP Computer Science Principles
  • The Texas Regional Collaboratives (TRC) in the Center from STEM Education at UT Austin, in partnership with Oracle Academy, and TCEA, is offering a free series of courses for Texas teachers interested in teaching computer science. This series of professional development experiences will prepare participants to teach courses such as Computer Science I, Computer Science II, or AP Computer Science. Since the AP Computer Science course is based on the Java programming language, this will be the focus of the technical training component. The KCJO online coursework in Spring 2016 will focus on Java Fundamentals.  Completers will be eligible to participate in the follow-up online Java Programming Course in late Spring 2016.

Teach CS
  • Dates:  March 14-15, 2016, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
  • Cost:  $120
  • Location:  UT Austin Main Campus, George I Sanchez Building, Room 411, 1912 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712
  • Eligible Attendees:  Texas teachers interested in becoming certified to teach Grades 8-12 Computer Science are eligible to attend. Attendees should have at least some prior experience in coding or programming to maximize their participation in this workshop.
  • Teach CS will provide an overview of the educator competencies required of all teachers to become certified in Grades 8-12 Computer Science. This certification is necessary to teach courses such as Computer Science I, II or III, Fundamentals of Computer Science, or AP Computer Science A. Course instructors will address several competencies in depth and link attendees to additional resources that will help to prepare them to challenge the CS certification test. Attendees should bring their own laptop to the workshop.

Teach CS 8-12 Certificate Incentive Program
  • This program provides an opportunity for Texas educators to apply for a one-time stipend through The University of Texas at Austin, Center for STEM Education.
Summer 2015 Workshops

Computer Science Principles for High School (CSP4HS) MOOC
  • Dates: June 1-June 24, 2015
  • Cost:  FREE to selected Texas Teachers
  • Apply online by Friday, May 22, 2015
  • Texas Regional Collaboratives (TRC) is proud to offer the Computer Science Principles for High School (CSP4HS) MOOC to Texas teachers. CSP4HS provides free online instruction to educators who are interested in learning more about Computer Science Principles (CS Principles), which is a new Advanced Placement course being developed by the College Board. 

    The CSP4HS target audience is high school teachers interested in learning more about CS Principles. Specifically, the course assumes that participants are high school teachers who have little to no previous training in Computer Science. However, current K-12 Computer Science teachers and college faculty may also find parts of the course to be helpful toward understanding the topics covered in the CS Principles curriculum framework, as well as pedagogical suggestions for teaching the course for the first time.
  • More information:  Email Amy Werst or see attached flyer 

Computer Science Principles Professional Development
  • Dates:  Tentative: June 15-19 and July 13-17, 2015 with online work in between
  • Cost:  FREE
  • Location:  University of North Texas, Discovery Park
  • To encourage as many high schools as possible to adopt a CS Principles course, University of North Texas’ Computer Science and Engineering department is, in summer 2015, offering a professional development workshop for a Computer Science Principles course called the Beauty and Joy of Computing (BJC).   The BJC course was developed at University of California, Berkeley by Professors Dan Garcia and Brian Harvey.   A version of BJC has been taught at UNT each semester since Spring 2014.
  • Questions:  Contact Phil Sweany [email protected]

Computational Art and Creative Coding: Teaching CS1 with Processing
  • Dates: June 21-24, 2015 (arrive by 6:00 pm on 6/21, 6/24 is half day - will finish at noon)
  • Location:  Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas
  • Cost:  Participant lodging and meals are included.  No fees.  A limited number of travel grants are available on a first-come basis.
  • Space is limited.  Please reserve your space early.  To sign up, send email to [email protected] with your name, affiliation, contact inof, and reasons for participation.
  • This workshop introduces a new approach to teaching CS1 emphasizing computational art and visual media. We showcase contemporary, diverse examples of computing in a modern context that blend flexibly into existing traditional Java-based CS1 curriculum.

    Participants will be introduced to Processing, a Java-based programming language and environment, designed for the construction of 2D and 3D visual forms that provides introductory computer science classes with easy entry into sophisticated programming concepts. All core CS1 topics/principals in a standard Java-based curriculum are included, but applications are shown in areas not typically accessible to beginners, including physics-based simulations, fractals and L-systems, image processing, emergent systems and data visualization.

    Instructors of all experience levels are welcome, and opportunities for curricular participation/discussion will be available. Participants will have significant time to explore Processing and create compelling visual effects. Course materials and handouts detailing the software, curriculum, and teaching resources will be distributed with opportunity for participant critique. The presentations by our team of college faculty and high school teachers will focus on pedagogy rather than coding in Processing, emphasizing how to teach computing foundations via computational art.