Keystone's Computer Science Teacher Newsletter
Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities
Iowa Classrooms+Workplaces Summit
April 10, 2024 – Iowa Events Center
The Iowa Classrooms + Workplaces Summit will focus on work-based, career-connected, experiential and community-applied learning through partnerships with leaders from business and industry, education, nonprofits, elected officials, students and others. The STEM Council’s own Emily Abbas with Bankers Trust will be the Master of Ceremonies. Registration is required for planning purposes.
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Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2024
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Location: Iowa Events Center, Des Moines, IA
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Time: 9:30-3:30pm
Summer 2024: Educator in the Workplace Experience
Educator in the Workplace is a paid 40-hour professional work experience that provides teachers direct experience in a business or industry work environment in Northeast Iowa. By exposing teachers to the authentic applications of what they teach, the Educators in the Workplace experience enables them to develop curriculum connections that connect authentic learning experiences that reflect the world of work in the classroom. Ultimately, students benefit through powerful learning activities that prepare them for success in the modern workplace.
The Educator in the Workplace experience will be for five consecutive days (40 hours) during the week of June 17-21 OR June 24-28, 2024. Once a participant has applied and been accepted for the course, the NICC Coach will contact the individual to coordinate the days/hours to be worked at a regional business/industry site of the participant’s selection. During the experience, the NICC Coach will make one on-site visit to meet with the participant and host.
Course Date: Week of June 17-21 OR June 24-28, 2024
Audience: K-12 educators within the Keystone AEA/NICC Region
Maximum # of participants: 10
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Acceptance is limited to the first 10 eligible educators who complete the application. Participants will be announced the week of April 15, 2024.
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Past participants are eligible to apply.
Course syllabus: 2024 NICC/Keystone AEA - Educators in the Workplace Syllabus
** Please review the course requirements before applying. Contact Erin Powers-Daley, powersdaleye@nicc.edu, or Bev Berns, bberns@aea1.k12.ia.us, for more information.
Join us for the next CS Networking on May 7
So much is happening in Computer Science! Join us to keep up-to-date with legislation, professional development opportunities, network with other Keystone AEA schools, and learn what others are doing to increase Computer Science opportunities within their schools.
May. 7; 3:00 - 4:00
Pathfinders Summer Institute 2024
FREE Hands-On professional development for Librarians and Public School Teachers!
Thanks to the generous funding of the Infosys Foundation USA, CodeJoy is back for another summer offering PD & hardware at NO COST to public school teachers and librarians, and community library staff in America!
Learn more and register below to receive FREE synchronous and asynchronous teacher workshops, and an unforgettable summer learning experience!
CS Professional Development opportunities in June 2024
The Department of Education will be hosting a CSPD week in June, a date to be determined. Keep posted for upcoming opportunities.
CSTA Annual Conference 2024
The CSTA 2024 Annual Conference is set for July 16–19, 2024, in Las Vegas!
Attendees will leave feeling refreshed and excited to start the 2024–2025 school year, armed with new lessons and tools to implement in the classroom. Hear from our inspirational keynote speakers — to be announced soon — and experience the hands-on classroom experiences you’ve been missing.
Registration for CSTA 2024 includes:
- Full access to all programming Tuesday, July 16 through Friday, July 19, 2024.
- An invitation to the Welcome Reception on Tuesday, July 16.
- An invitation to the offsite reception on Thursday, July 18. Details will be announced at a later date.
- Access to all session resources and slide decks.
- Access to general session recordings.
- Access to the Exhibit Hall.
Ready to register for CSTA 2024? Don't forget to click "Member Registration" and log in using your CSTA+ membership credentials to secure the member rate!
More Information & Register here
Teacher Opportunities:
Teacher Externships Available for Summer 2024
Iowa STEM Teacher Externships are full-time, six-week temporary summer positions in local businesses and agencies for licensed, secondary teachers of mathematics, science, and/or technology. CTE educators in STEM areas are also eligible. STEM Teachers earn a stipend of up to $5,000 (including two paid professional development days), and three graduate credits through the University of Northern Iowa’s Continuing Education program.
During the summer, STEM educators work side-by-side with knowledgeable and skilled industry employees who help bring the classroom curriculum to life. Iowa STEM Teacher Externships provide educators with the exposure to answer questions about real-world applications, prepare students for careers they may have in the future, and improve educational experiences.
Northeast Iowa partnerships:
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Upper Iowa Tool and Die & Innovations in Cresco, IA
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STEM Areas: Chemistry, Industrial Technology, Mathematics, Physics
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Operating CNC Machines: Milling and Lathe which are programmed at the machine pendant, Injection Molding, Measure of part on a CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machine with accuracy to 5 Microns
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Geater Machining and Manufacturing, Co in Independence, IA
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STEM Areas: Business, Engineering, Industrial Technology, Mathematics
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There is a large variety of projects externs can take part in at Geater in all four areas selected for the teaching discipline choices.
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John Deere Engine Works in Waterloo, IA
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STEM Areas: Engineering, Industrial Technology
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Work with the Factory automation (FA) and Manufacturing Engineering (ME) Teams in building curriculum/lesson plans to guide the future users of the Automation Learning Lab. The lab intends to provide new FA engineers and MEs or others interested in learning automation skills a “safe” place to do hands-on learning of skills such as PLC logic, and mistake-proofing without the risk of impacting shop floor operations – they have installed and continue to install hardware such as PLC, camera, smart tool, pick light, and possibly a robot in the future.
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John Deere Foundry in Waterloo, IA
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STEM Areas: Industrial Technology
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The project is focused on robot programming, simulations, mechanical design, or factory layout.
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If you are interested in any of these placements listed below please fill out the application or contact Iowa STEM Externship Coordinator, Ann Gritzner, at gritzner@iowastem.org.
Student Opportunities:
Amazon Opportunities:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the most transformative technology of our generation. If we are going to unlock the full potential of AI to tackle the world’s most challenging problems, we need to make AI education accessible to anyone with a desire to learn. Because of this, Amazon has announced 3 new initiatives:
- Eight new and free AI and generative AI courses
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) Generative AI Scholarship, providing more than 50,000 high school and university students globally with access to a new generative AI course on Udacity
- New collaboration with Code.org designed to help students learn about generative AI
Potential Legislation changes to add CS graduation requirement
On Feb. 14, 2024, Iowa's Senate File Bill 2332 was introduced which would change graduation requirements in Iowa schools. The newly introduced legislation states:
"high school graduation requirements for all students in school districts and accredited nonpublic schools that include at a minimum satisfactory completion of four years of English and language arts, three years of mathematics, three years of science, and three years of social studies, and, beginning with students in the 2028-2029 school year graduating class, one semester of computer science, or the trimester or quarter equivalent."
National Robotics Week
Apr. 6 - 14, 2024
What will you or your school be doing for National Robotics Week? Want to find some ideas on what to do? Check out the National Robotics Week website for resources to start planning. Lots of resources are also available on Keystone's Computer Science website.
CS Curriculum Options
Looking for curriculum options? These resource documents were recently released from the Iowa AEA Computer Science consultants. They provide a curated list of options for various grade levels.
K-2 Computer Science Curriculum Resource List
3-5 Computer Science Curriculum Resource List
Middle School Computer Science Curriculum Resource List
High School Computer Science Courses
Computer Science Clubs/Competitions
Connect with Other Computer Science Teachers
Facebook Group: Iowa Computer Science Teachers
#CSforIA