Middle & High School Computer Science
Bring standards-aligned skills to your school
To succeed as a part of tomorrow’s workforce, every student will need a grounding in computational thinking. With support from Code.org, OSLN has brought three programs to Ohio.Â
- Computer Science Discoveries (6-10th grade)
- Prepares teachers to implement a curriculum designed with flexibility in mind. The curriculum allows for each unit to be taught alone, combined into collections that focus on specific areas (like Artificial Intelligence), or as a full year course. Students engage creatively with computer science concepts and skills to build websites, apps, games, and physical computing devices.
- Level: Beginner
- Computer Science Principles (9-12th grade)
- Prepares teachers to implement a rigorous, engaging, and approachable curriculum that explores the foundational concepts of computer science. Students to explore how computing and technology can transform the world we live in. Can be offered as an introductory AP course. Designed for students with no previous background in computer science.
- Level: Beginner
- AP® endorsed
- Computer Science A (9-12th grade)
- Prepares teachers to introduce students to software engineering and object-oriented design while learning the Java programming language. The course incorporates culturally responsive pedagogy, real-world problem investigation, and open-ended projects for more personalized learning.
- Designed for those with computer science experience and can use functions, conditionals, loops, and arrays (for example, experience teaching Computer Science Principles). Can be offered as an introductory AP course.
- Level: Intermediate
- AP® endorsed
Teach computer science this fall, no prior experience required
Thanks to funding from the Teach CS Grants, these programs are offered at no cost to educators who complete the program’s requirements.
Apply today and this cohort will get you ready to teach computer science this fall under this waiver*Â from the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce.Â
Educators will explore the curriculum and tools for teaching and learning computer science standards, engage in teaching strategies targeting development of computational thinking, and connect with a community of computer science teachers.
* Note: The current waiver expires in 2025 but is expected to be renewed through 2027 as a part of the State of Ohio’s overall strategy to increase the number of qualified and licensed computer science in the state.Â
Middle and High School Program Details and Expectations
Computer Science Discoveries
- Problem solving and computing
- Web development
- Interactive animations and games
- The design process
- Data and society
- Creating apps with devices
- Optional: AI and machine learning
Technology package: For the 2025-2026 cohort, middle school participants will also be provided with a technology package to enable classroom implementation.
Computer Science Principles
- Digital information
- The Internet
- Intro to app design
- Variables, conditionals, and functions
- Data
- Lists, loops, and traversals
- Parameters, return, and libraries
- Cybersecurity and global impacts
- Create a performance task
- Algorithms
Computer Science A
- Object-oriented programming
- Class structure and design
- Arrays and algorithms
- Conditions and logic
- Two-dimensional arrays
- Method decomposition and recursion
- AP exam review and practice
Teachers who apply, and are accepted, commit to:
- Completing the five-day, summer workshop (Both cohorts are open to applicants statewide.)
- Northwest Ohio cohort summer workshop: June 9-13, 2025 at the Putnam County ESC
- Central Ohio cohort summer workshop: June 23-27, 2025 in Reynoldsburg in partnership with the ESC of Central Ohio
- Teaching Computer Science during the 2025-2026 school year
- Supporting the recruitment and enrollment of a diverse group of students in the course, representative of the school’s overall student population
For Computer Science Discoveries and Computer Science Principles
- Attending four Saturday workshops throughout the school year (typically from 9a – 3p)
- Sept./Oct. 2025
One-day face-to-face Saturday workshop - Nov. 2025 to Feb. 2026
Two one-day virtual Saturday workshops - March 2026
One-day face-to-face Saturday workshop
- Sept./Oct. 2025
For Computer Science A
- Attending eight, monthly virtual workshops throughout the school year. Each virtual workshop is two hours long. The workshops begin in September and are typically scheduled once a month.
Program offered at no cost
For the 2025-2026 school year, the Ohio STEM Learning Network’s computer science programs are offered at no cost to educators and schools.
Costs are waived for all educators who:
- Complete the program’s requirements
- Plan to teach the course content to students in the 2025-2026 school year
- For middle school and high school: Teachers are interested in pursuing a license to teach computer science.
- Note: The Ohio STEM Learning Network will offer support for teachers interested in pursuing the Supplemental Licensure Pathway.
The facilitation, materials, and supports are valued at $2,000 per participant, across all four programs.
Summer workshop details
K-12 educators from four distinct professional learning cohorts will gather at two sites for a week of immersive learning and networking in computer science and computational thinking.
For the 2025-2026 school year, summer workshops will be held in both Central and Northwest Ohio.
- Northwest Ohio cohort summer workshop
- June 9-13, 2025 at the Putnam County ESC
- Central Ohio cohort summer workshop
- June 23-27, 2025 in Reynoldsburg in partnership with the ESC of Central Ohio
Both cohorts are open to applicants statewide.
