Are you a Texas educator interested in expanding your knowledge and skill sets in physical computing, integration of computer science into fine arts, or quantum computing?
The WeTeach_CS Deep Dives consists of 5 workshops to choose from:
Final selections will be based on your experience and background as well as availability. Space is limited. Attendees will spend the the entirety of one workshop over the two day period.
These trainings will be on June 11-12, 2025, at The Commons in Austin, TX from 8:00am to 4:00pm each day. Continental breakfast, lunch, snacks, and water/coffee/tea will be provided.
Texas educator participants will be selected through an application process and will receive:
The priority deadline is April 15, 2025, and applications will close on May 1, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their status no later than, May 14, 2025.
In this two-day deep dive, educators will explore all the functions of the micro:bit, from the foundational coding piece to its various functions. Participants will begin by engaging with Coco and MakeCode to build a strong understanding of block-based programming before applying their learning through hands-on lessons. They will then explore the micro:bit’s diverse capabilities through interactive stations and task card challenges, gaining practical experience with its various functions.
The workshop will conclude with collaborative planning, where educators will develop their own classroom lesson ideas and strategies for seamlessly integrating the micro:bit into their curriculum. By the end of the experience, participants will leave with a solid foundation in micro:bit programming, classroom-ready resources, a club kit of 10 micro:bits, and innovative ways to engage students in physical computing.
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In Code/Art's "Intro to Creative Coding" course, teachers learn to program and deliver four art-infused, project-based lessons designed to expand participation in computing. These easy-to-implement lessons also explore strategies for recruiting students into computer science.
Each lesson includes:
Beyond training and year-long curriculum access, teachers receive post-PD implementation support from Code/Art-trained teaching assistants, as well as resources for in-school creative coding competitions and exhibits.
There are two main goals of EarSketch: to make computer science more engaging for students, and to diversify the population of students interested in computer science. EarSketch is a music producing web-based application that does not need any installation of a separate program. It offers the choice of three different computer languages, Python, Java Script, and Block enabling the user to create and remix music. Students will learn basic applications of music production while learning to code and creating a wide variety of original music. Giving the student immediate results and success.
On day one participates will learn the basics of EarSketch, saving music pieces, grouping, and coding their music projects. We will complete two (minimum) selections of music. Day two participates will learn how to create special effects within their music projects such as volume and distortion, creating custom beats, and controlling the tempo.
Immerse yourself in a dynamic two-day professional development experience with By Land or Air: Hands-On Coding Exploration with Robotics & Drones!
On Day 1, dive into Seeker, an interactive coding platform that seamlessly transitions students from block-based coding to Python. Seeker brings computer science and robotics to life, helping students connect the dots between the concepts they're learning and their real-world applications. Educators will explore Seeker’s AI-powered simulation environment, learn best practices for guiding students through coding challenges, and engage in hands-on programming exercises that foster problem-solving and computational thinking. By the end of the day, participants will leave with practical strategies to integrate Seeker into their classrooms and enhance student engagement in computer science and robotics.
On Day 2, take learning to new heights with Echo Drone, where participants will experience hands-on drone programming using block-based coding. Educators will explore aviation-focused lessons, program flight patterns, and tackle real-world drone challenges. In addition to coding, participants will complete the FAA TRUST Certification, earning their official Recreational Pilot Certificate. This immersive training empowers educators with the skills and confidence to bring real-world coding and aviation experiences into their STEM and CTE classrooms.
One of the key difficulties in teaching and learning quantum information science (QIS) is the rather abstract and unintuitive nature of its many unique key concepts. While capable students can become skilled in the mathematical and operational aspects of QIS, their understanding of the underlying physics tends to be far more limited. In our work introducing QIS to high school and first-year undergraduate students, we have found that the use of light can help bridge the gap between the familiar and the unfamiliar. In accordance with the law of primacy, classical light, and classical waves in general, can provide a good starting point for introducing QIS, as there are many strong physical and mathematical analogies between classical and quantum optic concepts. This allows the teacher and learner to build off of familiar concepts and focus more on the truly novel aspects of quantum physics. Ideally, this activity would be done in a real laboratory setting in which students could explore classical and quantum optics phenomena directly. Limited time, space, and resources often do not afford such a luxury, so we have developed instead an alternative — the Virtual Quantum Optics Laboratory (VQOL).
VQOL is a freely available online tool accessible at https://www.vqol.org and described in more detail at https://arxiv.org/abs/2105.07300. There, users can build experiments on a virtual optics table using a menu of components through a simple drag-and-drop web interface. A variety of classical and quantum optics experiments can be performed using a combination of base components such as lasers, entanglement sources, polarizers, beam splitters, wave plates, power meters, detectors, and many more! VQOL is also unique in that, unlike many quantum simulators, it is designed in incorporate important real-world effects in real quantum optics experiments, such as detector dark counts and efficiency. Thus, an important aspect of the student’s use of VQOL is in bringing the gap between realistic observed phenomena and textbook quantum theoretic concepts.
In this Deep Dive, we will explore the use of VQOL for introducing the foundational QIS concepts of superposition, entanglement, and quantum measurement. This will be done in an active learning environment in which participants will build and execute their own experiments using a personal laptop or tablet device. (Access via smartphone is possible but somewhat more difficult.) No special software, other than a standard web browser, will be needed, and the conference venue will provide internet access. Workshop participants will also be given access to an electronic VQOL laboratory manual which they can use for further exploration or adaptation for their own instructional purposes.
