Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Chris Tapestry
Chris Tapestry
• CSTA
• Current challenges
• Transformative Projects
• Transformative Advocacy
The Computer Science
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Teachers Association
CSTA Today
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Academic Discipline in
K-12
Knowledge for Today and Beyond
• Design skills
Designing and working to specifications
• Computational thinking
Drawing on fundamental concepts in computer science to analyze and solve
problems.
Thinking at multiple levels of abstraction
Current Challenges
Very Scary Numbers
• Kids believe that taking the CS AP course will drag their GPA’s
down
http://csta.acm.org/includes/Other/CS_Standards.html
Transformative Teaching
Working With Students
• Ask your students how to make your courses better (these
are your consumers... learn how to sell to them)
• Actively recruit (letters inviting students to take your classes,
open house for students and parents)
• Encourage students to explore a variety of course options
• Use a project-based learning approach and encourage students
to design projects that interest them
• Use goal-oriented teaching strategies
• Take kids on cool field trips and use the teachable moment
(laser tag, simulators, local manufacturing industries that use
robotics)
• Bring back former students to talk about their experience at
university or in the work world (near-peer mentors)
• Bring in industry speakers
Working With Other Teachers
• Team teaching
• Grade teams to focus on grade-specific learning
strategies
• Break down departmental fiefdoms and promote working
together
• Visit lower grades in other subject areas (math, science,
tech) and talk to students about your program
• Educate math and science teachers about your program
and ask them to identify students who would benefit and
then follow-up personally with those students
• Get involved in a professional organization that is
advocating for your discipline
Working With Administrators
• Show how your courses align with national standards
• Send them copies of recent reports
• Send them briefings on your recent conferences or meetings
• Create an opportunity map that links your courses to postsecondary
and workplace opportunities
• Develop a list of postsecondary programs that require computing
skills
• Invite administrators to come and see your class in action
• If you have a parent in the industry, set up a meeting with you, the
parent, and your administrator
• Lobby your administrator to make sure that your departments are
organized in such a way that computing is perceived as an
academic subject and that course codes are appropriate
Working With Guidance Counselors
• Do an annual presentation highlighting fun student
projects
• Provide a list of requisite skills for each of your
courses
• Create an opportunity map that links your courses to
postsecondary and workplace opportunities
• Develop a list of postsecondary programs that
require computing skills
• Give them copies of your textbooks
• Invite them to come and see your class in action
• Ask their advice
Working With Colleges and Universities
• Develop a relationship with local faculty to learn more about their
requirements
• Take your students on field trips
• Invite faculty to come and speak to your class
• Create an opportunity map that links your courses to
postsecondary and workplace opportunities
• Arrange to take your students to local career days
• Invite your principal to meet your local faculty contacts
• Lobby local universities and colleges to either require a high
school computing course for entry into their program or to give
special consideration to students who have taken them
• Ask for their help
• Ask them to support a local CSTA chapter
Getting Funded
• Demonstrate the need for up-to-date equipment
• Discuss needs during staff evaluation
• Learn about grant sources and get yourself a good
book on grant writing
• Offer to partner with local colleges and universities on
NSF grants (iTEST, BPC, DRK-12)
• Approach corporations about scholarships or support
• Ask, ask, ask
• Beg, beg, beg
THANK YOU!
Chris Stephenson
Executive Director, CSTA
Phone/Fax: 1-541-687-1840
cstephenson@csta.acm.org