March 2025 Newsletter
CSinPA
Spring into Computer Science!
CSinPA AI Toolkit v.2.0 Is Here!
We are proud to share our new, fully-updated AI Toolkit for educators.
The AI Toolkit is designed to support educators in effectively integrating artificial intelligence into their teaching practices. This toolkit offers a variety of resources to enhance your understanding and application of AI in the classroom.
Thank you to all of the members of our CSinPA Community, and our AI Think Tank, for all of your input, support and efforts!
Professional Learning
In-Person SCRIPT Workshops
Join us for an in-person SCRIPT workshop at PaTTAN Central. We will be offering both a “First-Time” and an Annual SCRIPT Workshop on March 26, 2025. We will be able to provide travel scholarships for participants. Please fill out this interest form to let us know you would like to receive more information.
Accessible Programming with Quorum Summer PD Opportunity
Join us for a 4-day in-person professional development workshop at the PaTTAN Central Office (June 9-12, 2025) focused on inclusive and accessible computer science programming using the Quorum language.
This workshop offers hands-on experience with Quorum, a language designed for accessibility and ease of learning, along with best practices and resources to help you integrate accessible programming into your classroom. Eligible participants will also receive travel assistance, ACT 48 hours, and a $250 stipend. Spaces are limited to 20 participants, so don’t wait! Click here to learn more and fill out the interest form: https://secure.smore.com/n/1stan.
Micro-Credential Program
Registration is now open and ongoing for the following courses in our Micro-credential Program.
AI in the Classroom: Introduction (2-hour)
AI in the Classroom: Integrating AI to Support Student Learning (4- hour)
Cybersecurity in the K-8 classroom: Introduction (2-hour)
Using Music to Engage Students in CS Learning (4-hour)
Empowering all students in CS Learning through a Behavioral approach (4-hour)
Introduction to CS Education (3-hour) – Now Available on the SAS Website!
Our foundational CSinPA course is now accessible on the PD Center of the Standards Aligned System (SAS) website. Click the link below and follow the instructions to enroll today!
Events
2025 CSTA UnConference - Saturday, April 5th
Join us for an interactive event featuring guided discussions with CSTA Chapter Leaders and PaTTAN consultants. All K-12 educators are welcome to attend. Participants will break out into smaller groups to tackle key topics in CS education such as: broadening participation in CS, teaching CS with evidence-based practices, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence in computing.
The first 50 registrants will be eligible to receive a 1-year CSTA+ Membership if they complete the conference activities. Additionally, all eligible participants will be entered into a special drawing for one classroom set of micro:bit.
There is no cost to participate and Act 48 hours will be provided. Please click this link to register for the event on the PaTTAN website.
ISTE+ASCD AI Innovator Challenge
Inspire your high school students (grades 9-12) to become AI innovators with the ISTE+ASCD AI Innovator Challenge, supported by Lenovo and Intel!
This exciting challenge invites students to create a digital product using Generative AI that helps their peers and communities use AI responsibly and ethically. It’s a chance for students to showcase their creativity, problem-solving skills, and commitment to ethical tech use.
The top three teams will win an all-expenses-paid trip to ISTELive 25 in San Antonio to present their projects on a global stage!
Learn more and get your students involved: https://info.iste.org/ai-innovator-challenge
Let’s empower the next generation to shape the future of AI responsibly!
Resources & Opportunities
Join CSinPA in Shaping Future Drone Pilots!
The CSinPA team partnered with Tech Kids Unlimited to create an accessible FAA curriculum designed to engage and inspire your students as they embark on their journey to becoming skilled drone pilots.
The curriculum is 100% free and educators do not need to be licensed drone pilots to use it. Key features include effective study aids for exam preparation, resources that familiarize students with essential acronyms and terms, and assessment quizzes to track progress after each lesson. Our curriculum can be found on our website at this link..
We welcome your involvement! Please complete this interest form.or email us at csforall@pattan.net with any questions.
7-12 CS Praxis peer tutoring program
The peer tutoring program for teachers preparing for the PA 7-12 CS certification exam is back for 2024-25! We continue to offer the program to participants in any current or previous PaTTAN 7-12 CS professional learning program (7-12 PAsmart 1.0/2.0, CSinPA 7-12 CS Praxis Prep pathway). For more information on the CSinPA 7-12 Praxis Prep pathway for the 2025-25 school year please click here
Coming Soon!
CSforAllPA Summit
We are excited to announce that we will be offering another opportunity for the CSforAllPA Summit. Save the date for April 9-10, 2025.
More information to come!
2025 CSinPA Code Arcade Camp
Save the date! The CSinPA Code Arcade Camp will be a part of PaTTAN’s 2025 Bridging Knowledge to Know-How Conference. This camp offers an exciting hands-on computer science experience designed for high school students with disabilities!
Camp Details:
Dates: Monday, July 28 - Thursday, July 31, 2025
Location: A school in close proximity to The Penn Stater Conference Center
Eligibility: High School students with disabilities entering grades 9-12 in fall 2025 (at least one parent or guardian must attend the conference).
Fees: Free to attend, with limited scholarships available for parents/caregivers.
Campers will dive into computer science college and career pathways through hands-on activities, an engaging field trip, and an exciting game design project!
Registration: Opening in Spring! Space is limited, and spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, contact us at CSCamp@pattan.net.Subscribe!
Access previous editions of the CSinPA newsletter.
To ensure you never miss the latest CSinPA news, join the CSinPA Community of Practice.