LATEST NEWS & INFO Category: Computer science

Legislative update In May, we shared the testimony of Kelly Gaier Evans to the Ohio Senate in favor of changes to Ohio’s licensure for computer science teachers. These changes were approved by the Ohio Senate and signed into law by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine on July 18. They provide a short-term computer science licensure solution as Ohio works on alignment of programs to the new standards.The amendment: Permits schools to allow licensed 7-12 teachers to teach Computer Science if that […]

Keeping up with modern technology is daunting. Keeping up with the latest teaching methods in technology education is equally challenging. But knowing what employers want in their future employees can give educators some direction. That is one aim of the upcoming Connections to Education Conference. The conference, set for July 29-31 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton, is presented by the Ohio Association for Career and Technical Education and the Ohio STEM Learning Network. (Early discounted registration is available through […]

Last week, Battelle testified on behalf of an amendment under consideration by the Ohio Senate to the Finance Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education. In short, Ohio’s approach to licensing computer science teachers is out of step with today’s needs for widespread, high quality computer science education. We believe there’s a simple solution:  allow a licensed middle school or high school teacher who has completed an endorsed professional development program for AP Computer Science Education to teach AP Computer Science Education. That […]

Wednesday, April 24 is the last day to submit an application for the Code.org Professional Learning Program in Ohio for the priority application window. Details about the program are posted here and you can apply on Code.org’s website. Through April, we brought you two quick conversations with Ohio teachers implementing computer science with the support of these trainings. For those of you who couldn’t join us in person, we’re pleased to offer transcripts of those conversations below, along with a […]

Two teachers. Twenty minutes. All the information you need to bring computer science classes to your school this fall in two sessions. This afternoon at 4 p.m., we’ll talk to Elizabeth Davis from Wadsworth Middle School and LaShawna Grimes from Emmanuel Christian Academy about bringing computer science to a middle school. Next week, meet Maria Daull from Wadsworth High School and Anne Trachsel from eSTEM Early College Academy (Reynoldsburg). Teacher chat: Bringing Computer Science to High School Thursday, April 11, […]

Two teachers. Twenty minutes. All the information you need to bring computer science classes to your school this fall. Register through Webex. Next Thursday, we’re hosting a short conversation with Elizabeth Davis from Wadsworth Middle School and LaShawna Grimes from Emmanuel Christian Academy. LaShawna and Elizabeth both now teach computer science after completing the Professional Learning Program from Code.org. (Applications are open now) Teacher chat: Bringing Computer Science to Middle School Thursday, April 4, 2019 | Webex 4:00 pm  | […]

Since 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives has staged an annual district by district computer science, or “app,” competition for students. The aim of the Congressional App Challenge is to foster an appreciation for computer science and STEM in schools. One Ohio congressman, Rep. Tim Ryan, co-chaired the competition in 2017, and one school has won twice in his district in northeastern Ohio. Teams from the National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM High School in Akron created the two winning […]

“It was actually quite unusual to see such a high percentage of why (students) don’t go into technology: intimidation…this is a way to break that.” – Patrick Cummins, Bexley High School Code.org, in partnership with Battelle and the Ohio STEM Learning Network, is changing the face of computer science. Whether you are new to teaching computer science (CS) or have experience teaching other CS courses, the Code.org Professional Learning Program offers year-round support to begin teaching these courses. Patrick Cummins has […]

Update: The priority application deadline has been extended to April 24. A new cohort of Ohio teachers will be selected for Code.org’s Computer Science professional development. Applications are open now. Code.org’s Professional Learning Program is an intensive, year-long learning experience for middle and high school educators interested in teaching Code.org’s Computer Science Discoveries (middle school) or Computer Science Principles (high school) courses. Participants will explore Computer Science curriculum and tools, experiment with specific teaching strategies, and join a local community of […]

by Heather Sherman, Director of the Ohio STEM Learning Network  Earlier this month, the White House released a new federal strategic plan for STEM education, Charting a Course for Success: America’s Strategy for STEM Education (download).  Last Tuesday, we shared featured STEMx director Wes Hall’s initial thoughts on the plan. I’ve spent the last week diving more deeply into the plan understand the implications for Ohio educators and schools. The plan aims to do two things. First, coordinate the work of […]