WeTeach_CS provided training to over 1,350 Texas educators representing 697 schools and districts to teach computer science concepts. They engaged stakeholders to understand barriers and developed strategies like hybrid online/in-person courses and a certification incentive program. Over 200 educators have become certified to teach computer science courses. WeTeach_CS is expanding their course offerings and leveraging existing networks to spread effective computer science teaching practices.

1. WeTeach_CS: Strategies for Scale
NSF CISE PI Meeting
March 2017
Denver, CO
Carol Fletcher, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, Center for STEM Education
The University of Texas at Austin
@drfletcher88

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1. Define the Landscape
Shocking Facts about Texas CS!

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Only 3% of Texas HS
students took a
computer science
course in 2015-16
CS Fact

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2. Engage Business/CS Professionals
• TX CS Task Force
• Landscape Report
• 15 people representing CS teachers,
edtech business, higher ed, TCEA,
CTAT, Code.org, College Board, ISD
leaders and policymakers
• Built consensus around key barriers
and recommendations
Building the Texas
Computer Science Pipeline
Strategic Recommendations
for Success
Carol L. Fletcher, Ph.D., The University of Texas at Austin
Weteachcs.org

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3. Define outcomes

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in computer science, computational thinking,
coding, and programming.
In 2015-16, provided 24,010 contact
hours of training to 1,352 Texas
educators
representing 697
schools
339 public, private, and
charter school districts
&
4. Plan for Scale

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5. Ask administrators/teachers what they need

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In 2014-15,
only 14 Texas
teachers completed
a traditional or alternative pre-service
CS certification program.
State Board of Educator Certification, 2015
#1 Admin need was certified teachers

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Face-to-Face
Certification Prep Course
• 2 days
• Focused on the teacher competencies measured on CS
Teacher Certification Exam (TExES)
• TExES is the same as Praxis
• Offered 16 times across the state through summer 2017
6. Design hybrid models of PD

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WeTeach_CS: Foundations of CS for Teachers
Week 1: Software Design and
Programming basics
Week 2: Programming Fundamentals
Week 3: Loops and Recursion
Week 4: Data Structures
Week 5: More OOP, Algorithms and
Big O (Oh my!)
Week 6: Programming Fundamentals
• Six-week program
• Foundational CS concepts
• Lots of practice
• Prepares teachers for CS certification
• Some prior experience in coding or
programming required for educators
interested in becoming certified to
teach Grades 8-12 CS.
Course was developed with funding from:
ONLINE
COURSE

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Apply TODAY!
Funded by
Certification Incentive
Program (CIP)
Through the support of 100Kin10
and TEA, the CIP provides
the opportunity for Texas
educators to apply for a
$1,000 STIPEND awarded by the
TRC for successfully attaining
their certification goal.

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218 Texas educators have been
CS certified since fall 2015
7. Early and measurable success

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8. Create multiple entry points for teachers

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• Enrollment Opens: 3/27/2017
• Course Starts: 5/8/2017
• Pacing: Self Paced
• Cost: Free - $99 for Verified Certificate
WeTeach_CS:
Foundations of CS for Teachers
To register please visit: www.WeTeachCS.org

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Connecting Texas educators with state
and national leaders / resources to
teach CS and computational thinking.
Professional
development for
K-12 educators,
focused on building
the CS Education
Community
9. Build Community

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Strategies for Effective and Inclusive CS Teaching
• New online course launching in Fall 2017 sponsored by
• Focused on Broadening Participation in CS
• Practical strategies for growing an equitable CS program in
your school
– Recruitment and retention for diversity
– Securing administrator buy-in
– Selecting an IDE
– Evaluating curriculum like ECS and CSP
– Unconscious bias

18. 10. Leverage existing STEM PD networks

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11. Spread
the work by
spreading
the wealth

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Policy Objectives
• Incentivize school districts to invest in
CS by moving HS CS from Tech Apps to
CTE to provide weighted funding.
• Continue to support teacher training
and incentives for CS certification.