2013 Google CS4HS Workshop

Computer Science for High School Teacher Training Workshop
CS4HS (Computer Science for High School) is a global initiative sponsored by Google to promote Computer Science and Computational Thinking in high school and middle school curriculum. With a grant from Google's Education Group, universities develop 2-3 day workshops for local high school and middle school CS teachers. These workshops incorporate informational talks by industry leaders, and discussions on new and emerging CS curricula at the high school and middle school level.

'''2013 CS4HS workshop is primarily for Aurora Public Schools STEM Pathways teachers. '''

Some seats may be available for non-APS teachers.

2013 CS4HS Scalable Game Design APS: Scheduled for July 10 - 12 at Aurora Public Schools in Conjunction with their Summer Teaching &amp; Learning Conference

 * Date: July 10 - 12
 * Time: 8:30 - 5:30
 * Aurora Public Schools Administration Building ESC4, 1085 Peoria St. Aurora, CO 80011
 * Sponsored by Google, Inc., AgentSheets, Inc., and the University of Colorado at Boulder
 * How to Use Game Design to Teach Computational Thinking and Motivate Students in Middle School and High School
 * Primarily for Aurora Public School District High School Computer Science, Instructional Technology, and Digital/Design Technology Teachers and their Feeder Middle School Computer Science Teachers
 * Small Number of Seats Available for Non-CS and Tech Teachers and Teachers from non-Aurora Public School districts

'''Those interested in attending this year's CS4HS workshop can email: [mailto:yasko.endo@colorado.edu| Yasko Endo Project Manager]. '''

Once available space is confirmed, you will receive a an online registration link.

University of Colorado at Boulder continues drive innovation as a leader in computer science education and programming. This year's free workshop is being held at Aurora Public Schools (APS), funded by a $15,000 grant to Professor Alex Repenning.

The workshop titled CS4HS Scalable Game Design APS will train middle and high school teachers how to design and program computer games, then gain confidence to teach the same skills to their students. With nearly 40,000 students in 59 schools, APS is not only Colorado's sixth largest school district, but also one of the most diverse. "APS has developed a P-20 (preschool to graduate school) education model based on the idea of pathways to address the Colorado paradox: the state has one of the nation's most highly educated adult workforces, yet it ranks near the bottom in the percentage of college-bound high school graduates," said Repenning. The pathways concept motivates and prepares students for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as health sciences, business, and arts &amp; communication.

The research team hails from the computer science department and the School of Education, and develop and test K-12 curriculum tools including the use of video game programming as a learning tool. These tools address the need to develop higher level critical thinking in students and provide more computer science graduates in the workforce.

By working with Aurora Public Schools this year, the CU team will learn how to best scale up our efforts to achieve a broader student impact from a top-down paradigm. Developing a replicable way for school districts to engage students on a larger scale, district-wide, will create a turn-key curricular program that other districts around the nation can adopt. This sytemic adaptation of Scalable Game Design project will no doubt accelerate the rate at which schools and districts become compliant with the new Next Generation Science Standards, and ultimately lead to a more competent, skills, and competitive workfoce.

Interested teachers from non-APS may also apply to the workshop.

This year's workshop activities will include hands-on creation of games, best-practices for teaching game design, and discussions on new and emerging STEM standards and compliance, and extending computer science skills into STEM classes through simulations.

Workshop Goals
To enable you to bring computing concepts and activities into your high school and middle school classes. We'll approach this both by providing hands on experience with the widely-used AgentSheets and the new AgentCubes (3D) visual programming systems. You will learn how to teach your students Computational Thinking by engaging them with 2D design activities. We will share curriculum resources developed as part of several projects funded by the National Science Foundation. Neither you nor your students will require a background in programming, art or 3D modeling to benefit from the workshop. The workshop content is most relevant to computer education and STEM teachers but all teachers interested in enriching your curriculum with computational topics relevant to 21st century learning are encouraged to apply. The main goal of this workshop is to provide you with information about opportunities involving the use of computing ideas and skills in a wide range of disciplines and occupations that you can share with your high school students. Specific goals include:


 * Understand what computational thinking is, why it is needed in all STEM courses, and how to integrate it into your courses
 * Learn to design and create video games
 * Learn why designing and creating video games are relevant to your students and your classes
 * Learn about pedagogical models exploring engagement and motivation of game design activities in schools

Financial Terms
Participants will receive a stipend of $200 to be issued upon completion of the workshop and below requirements, due by December 13th, 2013 (submit to Yasko Endo, yasko.endo@colorado.edu):


 * One (or more) written reports or creative feedback showing meaningful use of the workshop contents within the classroom - collecting stories from students, videos or photos of class in action (be sure to have student Media Permission forms completed), blog postings on Scalable Game Design Edmodo wall, testimonials sent to Yasko. Go innovative and wild - have you/your students write a song, poetry, create a collage.
 * Implementing the research protocol of the Scalable Game Design project in your classroom (details to be provided upon acceptance)

Participants receive:


 * Free registration for 3 days of training


 * Copies of the AgentSheets software for personal and school use for the school year


 * Daily coffee, snacks, lunch during the workshop


 * Workshop commemorative item

Who can apply
High School and Middle School STEM teachers from Aurora Public Schools have priority registration this year.

Spaces are available for STEM teachers from other districts.

The workshop is aimed at the both the high school and middle school level, with particular focus on how game design learned in middle school can help students excel at the high school level.

'''Those interested in attending this year's CS4HS workshop can email: [mailto:yasko.endo@colorado.edu| Yasko Endo Project Manager].

Once available space is confirmed, you will receive a an online application link.'''

Slides
Clayton's presentations on:


 * [[Media:Representations.ppt|Representations]]
 * [[Media:Ants.ppt|Ants]]
 * [[Media:Ecsite.ppt|eCSite GK-12 project]]

Sample of the 2012 CS4HS Schedule
Each year's teacher training varies by the highest priorities identified by the research team and Google.

The 2012 training focused on incorporating computational thinking and game design into a wide-variety of subject areas. Thanks to Google, Inc.'s support, over 20 teachers received training in the use of game design in their classrooms, with over 70% using the curriculum and providing feedback to the team.

Press Coverage
The 2010 CS4HS workshop was featured in the local Daily Camera newspaper.