Welcome to the first issue of BitBlast! for 2024 and Happy New Year! We hope that our readers have returned from a winter break that was joyous, rejuvenating, and inspiring. Our team also has the same hopes in the 2024 year for all of you.
In this issue you’ll find several professional learning offerings as San Diego and all of Region 7 continue our journey through the Winter of CS 2023-24; have a look at the Deep Learning section.
With a new year comes new changes! Our team is working over the next few months to revamp our interface on the San Diego County Office of Education's (SDCOE) Computer Science (CS) webpage to include more timely updates. This in turn will bring some changes to the BitBlast! look and feel as a publication. We hope to better coordinate our information between issues and make our webpage more reflective of the quickly evolving information week by week. Of course, we’ll be looking for your feedback as we progress. Thanks for your patience with our dust!
If you’d like more up-to-the-minute computer science news and events, follow @MarkLantsberger on X (formerly Twitter) where I share all things CS in San Diego for TK-12 educators. You can also find more information on the SDCOE CS webpage. More direct inquiries can be made to mark.lantsberger@sdcoe.net or maria.hynes@sdcoe.net. 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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Code.org’s Report Card for California 2023 |
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The California Computer Science Report Card from code.org has been released. The report shows a small rebound in course offerings, which could reflect a shift in trend from previous years. While that’s good news, it’s quite evident the progress in our state is slow, complex, and uneven. Interestingly, these problems are being recognized by the state as is evidenced in the next segment of our newsletter. The report is short and you can view a pdf file of it.
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Legislature passes AB 1251 and Governor Newsom signs bill |
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The state Legislature passed AB 1251 and it was approved by the governor on Oct. 13, 2023. This law sets the stage for a work group to be established by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC). The job of this work group is to make recommendations on strategies to meet workforce demands associated with expansion of access to computer science instruction, and to report the findings and recommendations of the work group to the Legislature. The hope is this work group can solve some of the credentialing issues facing current (and perspective) CS teachers. You can find the text and history of the bill here.
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CS Equity Network Open to All in Region 7 |
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The CS Equity Network is a virtual gathering of CS educators that was originally started by the San Bernardino County superintendent of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over time the network grew into Riverside County and now any CS educator from across Region 7 may join. The next meeting is on Jan. 23 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Register for the series.
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Next Meeting of the Computer Science Professional Network for Elementary TOSAs is Jan. 25 |
SDCOE has launched a professional network specifically designed for elementary TOSAs to further engage with CS. It's not just for STEM, STEAM, math, and science TOSAs. Also welcome: VAPA, ELA, and general TOSAs, as well as any others who support elementary educators in implementing CS and/or instructional coaching.
The network 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. Meetings are virtual.
The next gathering will be Jan. 25 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Register today! If you are a district administrator or a classroom teacher, please consider forwarding this invitation to anyone in your organization who may be interested. This offering has been expanded to include any elementary TOSAs within Region 7 (San Diego, Imperial, Orange, Riverside, or San Bernardino).
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Save the Date for Education Leaders in CS |
Hey East County friends, Jump into CS Leadership is coming to Imperial County as the second installment of the Winter of CS 2023. This 90-minute offering is designed for administrators of all levels as well as teacher leaders who are curious about how they can bring CS into their school systems in an equitable manner. Hosted at the Imperial County Office of Education on Feb. 6. Register here. |
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Region-wide Celebration of Counselors for Computing |
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Counselors are a clear ally for computer science and our community is ready to strengthen those relationships and understanding. Join us for Counselors for Computing, a half-day workshop for counselors geared to raise awareness of CS, how it fits into programs, and the real advantages it can bring to students regarding their futures. Hosted at most regional county offices of education on Mar. 27, bring your district team and learn what opportunities CS has to offer. Registration is available now. Offered in partnership with NCWIT and UCSD CREATE. |
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Get Your District Engaged with CS through SCRIPT! |
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Is your district considering expanding or beginning the CS 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 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 upon a computer science education implementation plan for their students.
SDCOE can facilitate a multi-day visioning and planning workshop using the SCRIPT when you’re ready and 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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Introducing a New Mobile App Development Environment — OctoStudio! |
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OctoStudio is a new programming environment developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten group and the MIT Media Lab; the trustworthy folks who brought you Scratch and AppInventor. With OctoStudio, young people can create interactive animations and games using a mobile phone or tablet anytime, anywhere. Take photos and record sounds, bring them to life with coding blocks, and send them to family and friends. OctoStudio is completely free and can be explored here.
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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 — Equity in Action Summit |
Experience Equity in Action during our immersive half-day virtual event in computer science education, centered around the theme of ACCESS-ibility. Guided by CSTA Equity fellows, we'll actively uncover strategies to dismantle barriers in CS education and probe the essential question: Who really has access? Join us on March 2 from noon to 1:30 p.m. to collaboratively shape the future of computer science education — making it not only accessible but equitable and representative for all. Membership not required.
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Spring CUE is coming to Palm Springs! |
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The Spring CUE (Computer Using Educators) Conference will be held in Palm Springs from March 21-23. At the conference, educators will unite to ignite inspiration, foster connections, and explore cutting-edge teaching techniques and educational technology for their classrooms. Keep an eye out for the Region 7 Computer Science Consortium team when you’re there!
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CSTA Conference is coming to Las Vegas this summer! |
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Save the date for the CSTA Conference this summer in Las Vegas from July 16-19. CSTA 2024’s educational program is crafted by teachers for teachers and focuses on supporting you both in your classroom and your personal/professional development, whether you’re new to teaching computer science or you’re entering your 20th year. This year, we’re featuring over 200 educational sessions to help you get the best educational experience possible. With exclusive content designed to be hands-on for the best in-person experience, you don’t want to miss this year’s program.
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Last Chance for High School Seniors to Apply for the Cutler-Bell Prize |
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CSTA has opened applications for the 2023-24 Cutler-Bell Application, which looks to recognize up to four high school seniors residing in the US for their projects in CS. Winners will receive a $10,000 prize to go to their college/university of choice. Applications are due by Jan. 19. Share the application with your students.
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I Had To Revisit This With You! |
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I can’t help myself. I simply had to return to this book review from last August. Admittedly, I’d only read the opening sections (sorry), but even then found it worth bringing to your attention. Over the holidays I enjoyed a little time to reconnect (and nearly finish) The Ascent of Information by Caleb Scharf. It’s a truly intriguing work that takes a little while to read in a thoughtful manner; so worth it!
For those of you who love to ask big questions like “What’s it all about?” this book is truly for you. If you’ve ever wondered about connections between information, data, microbiology, evolutionary biology, biochemistry, genetics, AI, thermodynamics, mathematics, algorithms, sociology, psychology, human systems...life itself, this book gives no answers. However, it does place the reader smack in the middle of the current river of human thought around these things and collects them into a new perspective, which I think you’ll find...interesting. Well-crafted and quite approachable, I’ve found this book to be a wonderful journey, with scientific eyes, through the eons of biological (and human) co-development; intertwined between the genome and the “dataome.” At the very least, order it now so it’s ready for summer reading!
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New year, new opportunities! Winter is a great time to invest in ourselves as well as our students. BitBlast! hopes you avail yourself of the opportunities presented here.
Keep your eye open for format changes to our website and this space in the coming months. We’re excited for the chance to refresh a few things. As always, please reach out if you’re in need of CS support or have any other questions in mind. We’re here to serve and assist. Until next time, be well!!
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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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