program coordinator at IU Northwest, said the vision is for all K-12 stakeholders in Indiana (including the seven counties of Northwest Indiana: Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton, Pulaski, and Starke) to develop foundational computer science skills, including content knowledge and best-practice teaching skills for K-12 computing standards.
“We are ready to deliver all the necessary coursework and support for the best possible professional development for future computer science teachers in our school systems,” Kopparty said.
Computer science background knowledge beyond the K-8 standards will be available for high school computer science teachers, STEM, and curriculum specialists (as well as interested K-8 teachers).
free resources already maintained for Indiana K-12 Computer Science stakeholders, including bell work preparation for iLearn, unpacked CS standards, a growing repository of CS classroom activities by grade banded standard, an annual Computer Science Teacher conference, and more.
The need for improving computer science pathways
The state established funding for computer science teacher development in support of the 2018 legislative passage of Senate Bill 172, which requires that beginning July 1, 2021, all school districts teach the K-8 computer science standards developed by the Department of Education, as well as offer at least one approved elective computer science high school course each year.
