CS 10K Project:Transforming HS Computing Education (Status Report)

Owen Astrachan, DukeJan Cuny, NSFDan Garcia, BerkeleyLarry Snyder, UW

February 6, 2011

We have a problem in computing•Low student interest (may be improving)•Dismal engagement of minorities, women

and persons with disabilities•Negligible presence in K-12

High school is the key

The state of HS CS• Since 2005, introductory secondary school

computer science courses have decreased in number by 17%, AP CS courses by 33% [CSTA]

• 2/3 of states have few computer science standards for HS [Running on Empty]

• Widespread confusion about technology education, literacy and fluency, and IT & CS as academic subjects

• Math or Science? Few states count CS in graduation requirements

Why does it matter? Without the HS piece, anything

we do for middle school will be lost.

Without the HS piece, anything we do at the college level will be insufficient.

CS 10K

Develop an effective new high school computing curriculum and get it taught in 10,000 schools by 10,000 well-prepared teachers by 2015.

Why focus on AP?

• Often the only CS course that carries college prep credit• Attractive to students & schools• 2,000 CB-audited teachers• Single point of national leverage• Fidelity of replication

(Proposed) AP CS Principles

•Engaging, accessible, inspiring, rigorous

•Focused on the fundamental concepts of computing (CT)

•A target for K through 9 course development and an impetus for college curriculum reform

•Available nationwide

Outline

•Owen: AP CS Principles Design•Larry: UW Pilot•Dan: Berkeley Pilot•Larry: Attestation Campaign•Jan: What’s Left

What’s left?

New High School Curriculum

AP-Centered Model • Introductory course for

everyone• Proposed AP CS Principles• AP CS Programming

Other models• CTE courses• 4th year math courses• Dual credit ECS Team at

LAUSD

CS 10K

Develop an effective new high school computing curriculum and get it taught in 10,000 schools by 10,000 well-prepared teachers by 2015.

Getting it

taught,

and taught

well

CS 10K Project: After curriculum

•Course materials, Assessments

•Teacher Preparation and Support

•Entrée into schools

Teacher Preparation

• Significant in-service training▫Content? Pedagogy? Delivery? Train-the-trainers?

• Pre-service courses and programs▫Traditional & alternative certification

• Ongoing PD and support▫Short workshops, Face-to-face & Online▫Mentoring and Master Teachers▫Online communities of practice

How does

it scale?

Entrée into Schools: Advocacy

•STEM? •Graduation requirements•Where does it fit in student schedules?•Standards?

Case study: Statistics?

What’s Happening?•Lots of volunteers to pilot CS Principles•LAUSD BPC & MSP awards•Lots of teacher requests for PD•Funded several projects to scale teacher PD•BPC Alliances: GA & MA, NCWIT•Fledgling state efforts: CA•Lots of interest in CE21 from universities &

school district partners•SIGCSE letter of support•Rumblings: Dept of Ed, NICE, DoD

It may be coming together, but we still need•Change state and local credentialing and

crediting for CS•Change at the university level•Create a Public/Private partnership•Raise $100-$200M

Ideas? Comments? Suggestions?