November 27, 2007

Can Bloggers Rescue America's Dropout Factories?

CSTA member Milt Haynes is looking for teachers and students in the Chicagoland area who are interested in using web 2.0 social networking technology (e.g. blogs, wikis, podcasts) as a teaching tool to get high-risk students more engaged.

A recent Chicago Tribune article by: Tara Malone called Bleak future seen for dropoutshighlights the growing number of inner-city students who are not completing high school and the social costs of failing to prepare students to be successful and engaged in today's society.
(http://intercomm.cps.k12.il.us/Daily_News_Clips/Oct/1022_Trib_dropouts.pdf)

Milt also sees schools in the United Kingdom who are successfully engaging potential drop-out students with blogging technology and Milt believes that it is entirely possible to have the same kind of successes in our schools. Nodehill Middle School, for example, may be the most bloggy school in the UK. (http://joedale.typepad.com/integrating_ict_into_the_/2007/10/the-nodehill-bl.html)

Milt is looking for some Chicagoland teachers and students interesting in making their own mark in the bloggosphere.

You can contact Milt at:
Milt Haynes
milt@blacksgonegeek.org
www.blacksgonegeek.org
http://blacksgonegeek.blogspot.com/

Chris Stephenson
CSTA Executive Director

Posted by cstephenson at 12:10 PM | Comments (0)

October 02, 2007

If We had a Million Dollars or Even Two

"What would CSTA do if it had unlimited financial resources? What projects would it undertake that would truly improve K-12 computer science education and address our current enrollment crisis?"

CSTA is now beginning its third year of operations and once again we are doing extensive strategic and financial planning. Yesterday I presented an early draft of our sustainability plan to the CSTA Advisory Council and the Council members asked me these questions.

First, it is important to note that I am quite conservative when it comes to fiscal planning. I don't like to spend money I am not sure we have. Also, I think that after having spent more than 20 years in K-12 education, I am so used to being told we have to do more with less, I have forgotten how to dream really big.

So I am turning this question over to you, the real experts, our member and colleagues in K-12 and asking for your ideas and dreams.

If CSTA had unlimited funds, what could we do that would truly impact K-12 computer science education for the better?

Chris Stephenson
Executive Director

Posted by cstephenson at 05:10 PM | Comments (2)

July 28, 2006

Tells Us What You Need

Our research has consistently told us that what teachers want and need are resources, resources, and more resources but it is not always clear what kind of resources are most helpful.

First, what you need depends upon what you teach. The kinds of resources you need if you are teaching an introductory computer science course are very different from those needed by someone who is teaching AP CS.

Second, teachers use different teaching strategies and the students in their classes are very diverse. This makes it challenging to ensure that the activities and outcomes are engaging and achievable for all students.

So how do we decide what kind of resources would be most helpful to teachers?
Well, I guess we ask.

Here is the situation.

This Spring we completed a terrific project with IBM involving the creation of three new modules for teaching and learning: a module on web design for introductory courses, a module on learning object oriented programming by designing a pong game for more advanced students, and a module on project-based learning for teachers. This project was a great success for CSTA and IBM and we would love to work together to create more of these resources, but we need your guidance.

We are not talking about textbooks, or whole courses here. Rather, we would like to develop units that address a select number of key learning outcomes and can be easily fit into your exiting courses. You can expect that each resource would include a teacher's guide, sample worksheets or assignments, a Powerpoint presentation on key concepts, and an assessment tool.

So here is your chance. Tell us what kinds of units would be most helpful to you and what key learning outcomes it should address.

We really want to know.

Chris Stephenson
Executive Director

Posted by cstephenson at 04:25 PM | Comments (5)

January 11, 2006

More Certifcation Insanity

No article in the CSTA Voice has generated more reponse than our article by David Devine on his attempts to become certified as a computer science teacher in Florida. Here is a great letter from another member, Tony Gianquinto, supporting David's exasperating experiences and adding some new twists.

Chris

My name is Tony Gianquinto and I teach computers/computer science at a private school in Miami, Florida.

I am sending you this letter in response to the article written by Mr. David M. Devine titled Certifiably Insane that was published in the December 2005 CSTA Voice issue. I too am having an extremely difficult time getting my professional certification in Computer Science from the Florida Department of Education.

I have been teaching for five years and it is incredible what the Bureau of Educator Certification has put me through. I have a Bachelors Degree in Biology from the University of Miami and a Masters Degree in Computer Science from Barry University. Getting my Masters was easier than getting certified from the Florida Department of Education!

Back in June of 2001, the Bureau of Educator Certification sent me a Statement of Status of Eligibility along with a three year temporary certificate. I received the temporary certificate in February of 2002, which now makes it a 2 years and 4 month certificate. They informed me that I met the subject area requirements for Computer Science/(Grades K-12). For them to issue a Professional Educator's Certificate I have to complete the following:

* Achievement of a passing score on the General Knowledge test. It is very similar to the CLAST and consists of four subtests: English Reading, English Language Arts, English Essay, and Math. I took the test and passed

* Demonstration of professional education competence submitted by my employer verifying that I am competent to teach.

* Achievement of a passing score on the professional education subtest of the Florida Teacher Certification Examination. I completed this test and passed.

* Achievement of a passing score on the Computer Science (K-12) subject area examination. Also completed and passed.

* Completion of a Florida approved alternative professional preparation program OR 20 semester hours in education courses to include 6 semester hours covering the sociological and psychological foundations of education. I completed and passed two courses in the above from Miami Dade College.

* 6 semester hours in general methods, curriculum, school administration or school supervision.

* 4 semester hours of teaching computer science in the elementary and secondary school.

* Completing the Practical Teaching Experience requirement by completing 6 semester hours in a college student teaching (internship) program in an elementary or secondary school or two years of full-time teaching experience in an elementary or secondary school.

Two years of my teaching experience was used to satisfy 6 semester hours of college credit in lieu of special methods of teaching computer science in the high school and 3 semester hours of general methods. The remaining three years of teaching experience cannot be used because I have utilized the maximum amount of teaching experience allowed by Florida State Board of Education Rules in this area.

So what's left? My most recent Statement of Status of Eligibility states that I need to complete 3 additional semester hours in general methods, curriculum, school administration or school supervision and 2 semester hours in teaching Computer Science in the elementary school. I believe the 2 credit course is the same course that Mr. Devine states from his article as the Special Methods for Teaching Computer Science K-6 and a class that doesn't exist.

I contacted the Bureau of Educator Certification to find out what to do about the 2 credit class and the response was they don't know and to check with the University of Phoenix online programs. I also asked them why they simply did not just have a 6-12 Computer Science certificate and they said that they do not make the rules. I don't think there is a school in the United States that teaches Computer Science to a child in Kindergarten!

I don't even want to get into how much money I have spent on classes, applications, tests and finger prints.

As you can see, a Masters Degree is easier to obtain!

Tony Gianquinto
CSTA Member

Posted by cstephenson at 09:41 AM | Comments (7)

January 03, 2006

Help Us Identify Contests for Computer Science Students

Some of our members have suggested that a central listing of contests would be very helpful since many teachers use contest participation to motivate and engage students.

We would be happy to collect and disseminate this information but we need your help in identifying contests that already exist at the state, regional, national, and international level for high school computer science students. This would include contests in all related areas (programming, robotics, etc.).

If you know of any contests that would fit in these categories, please post the information in this strand - including any contact information you might have.

Your assistance in this matter will be especially appreciated.

Thank you,

Charmaine Bentley
Membership Chair

Posted by cstephenson at 10:05 AM | Comments (8)