Computer Science (CS) is the study of computers including software, hardware, and how humans interact with them. Computer Science Education Week (December 5-11, 2022) is an annual call to action to inspire K-12 students to learn computer science, advocate for equity, and celebrate the contributions of students, teachers, and partners to the field. (https://www.csedweek.org/)
Here are 5 ways YOU can get involved with CSEdWeek!
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Reserve one day to do a coding exercise with your students!
Engage your students in one of the many “Hour of Code” activities. While one hour is not enough to teach CS, it provides exposure and might light a spark to motivate your students to explore computer science in the future!
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Show videos of Computer Scientists in your class
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Show this panel discussion about how computer science can be integrated with any of your students’ passions and interests. Your students will walk away inspired to apply what they're learning in your CS classroom to solve our world's problems.
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Show one or all of the videos produced by Code.org to spark a discussion.
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Work with your students to create and submit entries for the #BPSCoders contest
Your students can enter the annual #BPSCoders contest during CS Ed Week for a chance to win great prizes! Visit our website for contest info and other resources for celebrating CS Ed Week! There are challenges for all skill levels and ages, from preK to 12.
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Discuss what Computer Science is and where it is used (HINT: EVERYWHERE!)
Careers in computer science and technology can be fun and rewarding, but what does a person working in these fields really do? With a vast variety of jobs and companies, there's not just one answer to this question. Watch the videos to meet some of the people who are tackling big problems in creative ways, then use one of the interactive tools on the same page to learn more about fields and careers that interest your students.
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Motivate your students by conducting an unplugged CS activity in your classroom
Code.org has compiled a list of unplugged lessons for you to use in your classroom. Lessons in which students are not working on a computer are called “unplugged.” Unplugged activities can build collaborative classroom environments and encourage teamwork and communication while introducing students to key computational thinking concepts.
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More Announcements:
$10,000 CS Leaders Prize from Code.org!
Code.org is awarding 1 MS & HS from every state $10k to add Computer Science to their schools.
Eligibility:
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Add a NEW CS Discoveries, CS Principles, or CSA course to your school schedule for SY2023.
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Organize a school-wide Hour of Code event in Dec 2022.
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Complete an online application.
BPSTechnology will assist with the application, planning & facilitating the Hour of Code event, and provide support for planning for SY2023.
Submissions are due by November 21st, 2022.
See 1 pager for more details.
BPS Lending Library is OPEN!
BPS educators can now borrow classroom materials for STEM, Computer Science, Arts, Ethnic Studies, and more. Visit bostonpublicschools.myturn.com/ and log in with Google to get started!
