As a new school year beckons, computer science teachers stand on the threshold of a remarkable journey — one filled with boundless opportunities to inspire young minds and shape the future of technology. As you step into your classrooms, remember that you are not merely imparting knowledge but igniting the flames of curiosity and innovation within your students. Be the guiding force that encourages them to embrace challenges, reframe failures as stepping stones to success, and realize their own potential to create transformative solutions. In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, you have the power to nurture the next generation of problem solvers, coders, and visionaries. Embrace this new chapter with passion and dedication, and watch as your students unfold the wonders of the digital world, one line of code at a time. Let the adventure begin!
If you’d like more up-to-the-minute computer science (CS) news and events, follow @MarkLantsberger on Twitter, where I share all things computer science in San Diego County for TK-12 educators. You can also find more information on the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) Computer Science webpage. More direct inquiries can be made to Mark Lantsberger or Maria Hynes. If you have comments or suggestions for future issues, please fill out this Google form.
Know someone who might enjoy what you’re reading? Please share this link so others can sign up for future issues of Bit Blast!.
SDCOE Computer Science Coordinator
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This year's Summer of CS has been wildly successful. Having nearly 40 offerings and more than 500 active participants across California gives reason to celebrate! Some of the offerings were in-person while others gathered virtually. The sessions ran from one day all the way up to six weeks! With options running throughout K to 12, there was certainly professional development for everyone. Many of these offerings have extra supports built in during the upcoming academic year, which are certain to bring added value to participants. Watch this space or @MarkLantsberger on Twitter to keep apprised of new offerings as we exit summer and move into the Seasons of CS. Of course, autumn is next!
Region 7 (San Diego, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino) hosted several sessions this summer; some in-person, some virtual as well. If you looked at offerings this spring, and a session you wanted to attend in-person wasn’t offered locally, please email Mark Lantsberger and let us know. We’ll try to make that happen for you next summer.
BitBlast! would be remiss if we didn’t recognize the gargantuan lift this effort took by so many people. These efforts are the result of the EWIG-CS ‘21 grant (thanks to our legislature!) and our statewide holders of the grant are Sacramento County Office of Education (Jared Amalong and his team), UCLA (Drs. Julie Flapan and Roxana Hadad alongside their team), and the CDE Foundation (Glennon Stratton with his entire team). Region 7 kudos especially to Dr. Sonal Patel (San Bernardino), Dr. Heidi Baynes (Riverside), and Omar Shepherd (Orange). BitBlast! raises three cheers to all these outstanding individuals who really worked hard to bring this opportunity to educators across the state.
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Computer Science Professional Network for Elementary TOSAs to Reconvene in October — You Should Join |
SDCOE has launched a professional network specifically designed for elementary TOSAs to further engage with CS. STEM, STEAM, math, and science TOSAs are certainly invited, but a warm welcome awaits for VAPA, ELA, and general TOSAs as well as any others who support elementary educators in implementing CS and/or instructional coaching. The network's goal is to expand understanding and implementation capacity around the California computer science standards, learn from each other about successful (and challenging) practices, and explore/play with interesting technologies and ideas. Most importantly, have a space to share with people who are experiencing similar things as you. Let us know your interests and best fit for day and time. If you are a district administrator or a classroom teacher, please consider forwarding this invitation to anyone in your organization who may be interested.
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CSforEL Opportunities Through CSTA |
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It is clear that our English learners face extra hurdles when learning challenging academic content like computer science. In an effort to meet our students where they are, we need extra special tools to help us engage students properly and thoroughly. CSTA has an opportunity for you! CSforEL is a program that includes training, resources, support, and a stipend. Reach out soon as available slots are being filled quickly. See this graphic for contact information.
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Get Your District Engaged with CS Through SCRIPT |
Is your district considering beginning or expanding the computer science instruction being offered? That’s a big question for administrators. What do we want for our students in offering CS? What structures do we already have in place? What specialized needs does this type of instruction require? Do we have the capacity to do this? SDCOE can help you find your answers to these questions!
The Strategic CSforALL Resource and Implementation Planning Tool, a.k.a. the SCRIPT, is a framework to guide teams of district administrators, school leaders, and educators through a series of collaborative visioning, self-assessment, and goal-setting exercises to create or expand on an existing computer science education implementation plan for their students.
SDCOE can facilitate a multi-day visioning workshop using the SCRIPT when you are ready and it includes support for a full year. Email your inquiries to Mark Lantsberger to start thinking about how to assemble your team.
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This section spotlights CS educators, administrators, and organizations making a difference for their students. If you have a CS hero in your system, tell us about it in this Google form for possible inclusion in a future edition of Bit Blast!.
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Hello World (the magazine)
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Raspberry Pi is a computing product used in many educational environments. The Raspberry Pi Foundation is dedicated to excellence in computing education. If you’ve never heard of Hello World, you should check it out. Developed and written by teachers for teachers, the latest issue, No. 21, is super special for elementary teachers. There are many ideas and inspirations within the pages. The digital subscription is free! Check out the Hello World website for more information and to sign up.
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The educational community at GitHub has updated their offerings to GitHub Global Classroom. Managing and organizing your class is easier with GitHub Classroom. Track and manage assignments in your dashboard, grade work automatically, and help students when they get stuck — all while using GitHub, the industry-standard tool developers use. There are also lots of upgrades to add extra capabilities to your GitHub account and organizations. And it’s free for educators!
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This section contains information about CS community groups and their gatherings. Share an upcoming event or happening with Bit Blast! by filling out this Google form.
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Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Annual Conference A Smashing Success |
CSTA's Annual Conference took place virtually on July 11 to 13 and was brimming with more than 150 sessions of education to broaden knowledge of computer science education, inspirational keynotes and sessions to reinvigorate passions for teaching, and countless moments of fun and connection along the way. Our local San Diego chapter held a fun, in-person meet-up on the evening of the 13th. If you are feeling like you are alone teaching CS in San Diego — you need not be. Become a CSTA member today! |
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CS100 All In Award Application Deadline is Soon |
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CSisElementary is a national non-profit helping lead the way in K-5 CS educational access. The CS100 Awards provide a new honorarium of national recognition for top computer science elementary schools in the United States. The CS100 Award is for K-5 schools who are instructing all grade levels in CS. The CS100 All In Award is for K-5 schools who are instructing all grade levels to state adopted CS standards. Make sure your school is nationally recognized for the hard work your whole staff has put in! More details and the applications can be found here. The applications are due by Aug. 19.
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The Ascent of Information: How Data Rules the World |
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There are many things that make computers and computing compelling, especially for those of us involved in CS education. But for all the bells and whistles, the rapid improvements in efficiency, reliability, and interface, ultimately what makes these tools incredible is how they smoothly work with data. Before the digital age people would refer to this as simply information and humanity has grappled for millennia with how we interpret information... and who gets to be aware of it. As our perception of information has evolved into our understanding of data, we may need to dive into our relationship with data and how we move forward together. The Ascent of Information by Caleb Scharf illuminates the historical scope of our human understanding of data and its impacts on human development. It may be a bit long for late summer reading, but I think this one is worth carrying into autumn!
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BitBlast! looks forward to a wonderful new school year and we hope these shared year-opening activities are uplifting and useful in getting it all started. BitBlast! returns in October as we move into the Autumn of CS and begin to get ready for CSEd Week in December. Be well and we hope to see or hear from you soon!
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If you have any questions or comments about the Bit Blast! newsletter, please contact Mark Lantsberger.
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Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at SDCOE and in our districts across the county. |
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