An obvious step in addressing the “digital divide” is to provide more learning opportunities for students in data and computer science earlier in their education journey.  Having the human and material resources to accomplish that is another matter.

K-12 teachers are rarely coming to their posts with a computer science emphasis, in part because of the salary disparities between education and information technology jobs in the private sector.  There just aren’t enough existing teachers with the background to provide the wide availability of opportunity that is desired.

Code.org believes that “Every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science,” and they are doing something about it.  As their website explains:

Code.org® is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by young women and students from other underrepresented groups. Our vision is that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn computer science as part of their core K-12 education. The leading provider of K-12 computer science curriculum in the largest school districts in the United States, Code.org also created the annual Hour of Code campaign, which has engaged more than 15% of all students in the world. Code.org is supported by generous donors including Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon, the Infosys Foundation, Google and many more.

Thanks to a $15 million pilot program, our Regional Math and Science Center (RMSC) is playing a role in making wider access a reality.  As facilitators for a large cohort summer program that helps teachers learn what they need to know to bring introductory CS to their students, the RMSC has helped to prove a level of interest in Michigan that led Code.org to deliver their curriculum in our state, saving educators the travel expenses of going out of state. This new pilot will allow for access to a college-level computer science curriculum.

Kris Pachla, Director of the RMSC notes that while Code.org is not the only useable curriculum (for instance, Microsoft runs the Technology Education and Literacy in Schools program in South East Michigan), their ability to recruit 100 teachers for a summer program was an unheard of level of interest.  Now over 600 have been through the program.

He credits the early work in this area to West Shore Educational Service District and is happy to pick up from where a key and now-retired colleague left off.

“We had just hired Larry Wyn, a GV graduate of Math & Physics ed.  He was going to be a statewide leader of our MiSTEM playbook work, but pivoted to split his effort to do that and lead the CS efforts at the state level.  He’s the MISTEM Computer Science Manager.  Larry is the contact person and sole authorized organizer for MI Code.org.”

“Now up to 600 teachers have gone through this.  Based on estimates, we think 20,000 students have gone through some computer science learning experiences due to this work.    It is CS fundamentals for K-5 students—fun things such as what Code.org calls the Hour of Code.  Middle school students in grades 6-8 have what is known as CS discoveries and see how data works,” Kris explains.

College Board offers high school students AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A.  These offerings give keen students something to aim for.  The pilot will make Michigan one of the first states to offer the AP Computer Science A curriculum, and make it easier for students to be able to access college-level courses in K-12 classrooms.

Kris has his sights set on pre-service teachers at GVSU, too. “We are exploring how to get pre-service teachers access to this learning before they graduate--especially since we don’t have a CS endorsement.  Maybe some of the Math & Science ed students will have interest.  Could it be coursework co-taught with a TT faculty member?  Credit and certification?   Maybe through a Special Topics course?”

Kris has been thinking about what will be attractive to potential pre-service teachers.  He hopes students will an interest in doing the Code.org certification on top of another teaching emphasis.  As Kris notes, “This will be a ‘value add’ when they go on the job market.”

Michigan has CS standards now.  Kris explains that there is no test or accountability  associated, so districts that want to engage with the standards are struggling to have the time to offer it, especially in K-5.  They tend to relegate it to after school. 

“But digital literacy overlaps with standards in other disciplines so we are trying to do some concrete mapping so that a content teacher could simultaneously teach their science content and also work in CS,” Kris suggests.

Kris also likes that Code.org has an interdisciplinary lens.  The MiSTEM network has a CS emphasis across the state for all students in Michigan.  “This is a well-supported push with backing from the Lt. Governor.”

The pilot is starting this summer.  Teachers, primarily in the grade 10-12 level will be coming to train up in this curriculum.  Offered virtually to 30+ people, the pilot will utilizing tech to teach about tech.  Starting at the end of July, the workshop is one-week (5 days), low or no cost.  The MiSTEM Advisory Council helps RMSC to offer scholarships.  $1400 is the recommended cost, but districts didn’t have to pay in most instances, unless they are from out-of-state.

Kris notes, “We are offsetting a significant proportion of the costs.”

The summer workshop format is a multi-day exploration of the Code.org curriculum.  The new curriculum has an inclusive focus that holds up the contributions to IT and CS from underserved populations.  Teachers can expect to learn about Black, LatinX, and Native American contributions to these fields.

This pilot will work with the tools that teachers have access to and the length of course they have room to give.  It will walk them through a number of modules and give them a chance to experience those.   Reflective tools will help them modify the curriculum to their students’ interests. 

Kris points out that, “This is not a cookie-cutter one-size fits all.  Teachers should do as is best for their situations.  The rest of the country will have access to this curriculum in 2022; Michigan gets it first due to our previous efforts and the state executive branch commitments.  That all students will have access is the goal.” 

The pilot marshals nearly 30 facilitators from across the state, current and former CS teachers or CS specialists for districts.  Kris notes that very few schools or districts have a dedicated CS teacher or consultant for classrooms.  Some science or tech specialists will provide support to the pilot.   Code.org will train the trainers.  These trainers will then lead the professional development in Michigan. 

All the application material can be accessed at https://www.mi-coding.com.