CSinPA: November 2021

17 local education agencies (LEAs) will soon implement CS with drones

We're pleased to announce the LEAs participating in cohort 1 of our professional learning program to implement CS with drones. In just a few days, teachers serving as their LEA’s ambassadors will begin with a day of building, flying, and coding drones.

Athens Area, Avon Grove, Blackhawk, Blast Intermediate Unit 17, Boyertown Area, Brockway Area, Chartiers Valley, Dubois Area, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Hempfield Area, Riverview Intermediate Unit 6, Montoursville Area, Pittston Area, Tri-Valley, Tunkhannock

Offered in collaboration with For the Win Robotics, this program is available to all public LEAs in Pennsylvania. We are still accepting applications for cohort 2 and cohort 3. Click here for more information.

K-8 Pathway

• Open to all PA K-8 educators
• Dates vary; cohorts hosted locally by IUs

7-12 Praxis Prep Pathway

• Open to PA 7-12 educators currently or will soon be teaching CS
• Registration is ongoing

7-12 CS teachers, share your certification & exam status with this survey.

School/District Teams: SCRIPT (CS strategic planning)

• Open to all PA LEAs
• Dates vary; workshops hosted locally by IUs

Open Office Hours: November 30, 3:00 - 5:00 pm

No registration needed.

• K-8: Click here to join via Zoom
• 7-12: Click here to join via Zoom

CSK5 goals campaign

• Open to PA elementary schools
• Share your school’s CS goals by November 30 to be entered into a special drawing for a class set of micro:Bit.

CSinPA monthly meet-up: November 17, 3:00 - 4:00 pm (virtual)

• Open to anyone interested in CS education
• Featured topic: Preparing for CSEdWeek 2021

AIinPA Think Tank

Facilitated by the CSinPA team, this new advisory committee will help shape artificial intelligence (AI) education Pennsylvania

• Open to anyone interested in AI
• Submit this interest form to learn more

CSTA/ACM Cutler-Bell Prize

• Open to high school seniors
• Applications due January 10
• Students: Apply here
• Teachers: Nominate a student

NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing

• Open to 9-12 grade woman, genderqueer, or non-binary student
• Applications due November 5
• Prizes for regional (PA has 3), state, and national winners.

Microsoft TEALS 2022-23 professional learning

• Recruiting high schools in Philadelphia

Basic membership in the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) is FREE and educators may join multiple chapters.

• Pittsburgh: Leadership positions available (contact Erin Cawley directly for info.)
• Susquehanna: Grade-level band leader positions available
• Longwood
• Philadelphia: Leadership positions available

Upcoming events:

Philadelphia - Fall symposium: November 13, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm (virtual)

• Keynote: Addison Lilholt, "Lessons Learned from Gamification of the Remote Classroom"

Susquehanna - Chapter meeting: December 2, 7:30 pm (virtual)

Susquehanna - Getting started with Phidgets Edu: January 26, 7:30 pm (virtual)

• Registration coming soon.
• Teachers may click here to request a free starter set of Phidgets. Use promo code CSTASUS for a free bonus sensor.

Click here to explore more Opportunities, Resources, & Current Events (Google Doc).

Here's one more thing we're excited about this month:

Pennsylvania PBS Family Night: Space

K-5 students and their families are invited to join meet people who are involved in space travel and try out some aerospace skills with hands-on activities in this one-hour TV program.

Watch Family Night: Space on November 4, 7:00 pm

on your Pennsylvania PBS station (6:00 pm on WPSU) or the Pennsylvania PBS website.