Computer Science Workshop Series

Academic Year 2024/25, Year 3: HUB/STD

Academic Year 2023/24, Year 2: HUB/STD

Academic Year 2022/23, Year 1: HUB

Monday, Sept,19: Grades K2 – Finding Computer Systems Everywhere: Introducing K-2 to Computer Science

Tuesday, Sept 20: Grades 6 – 8: Beginner CS in Middle School

Tuesday, Oct 18: Grades 3 – 5: Computer Science Through Computational Thinking

Monday, Nov 7: Grades6 – 8: Algorithms and Programming

Monday, Nov 14: All Grades: Performance-Based Assessment for Computer Science Standards

Assessment is key for understanding students’ abilities in any area.  In computer science, it is particularly important since abilities to learn often are predicated on earlier learned skills.

In this workshop, teachers will engage with discuss and design performance-based learning opportunities and assessments to learn assessment.  Focus will be placed on formative assessments so that you can design supportive feedback loops

Monday, Nov 21: Grades6 – 8: Grades 9 – 12: Data analysis and Algorithms

Our world is drowning in data.  One of the largest growth sectors in Computer Science is Data Science – the study of how we work with data.  This professional development experience will introduce faculty to Data Sciences and how algorithms and programming are related to it.

We will discuss innovative and effective ways people are currently working with data, how algorithms impact data and how we understand the behaviors of the techniques that use data.

This PD is dedicated toward teachers who teach high school students but everyone is welcome.  While computer science programming experience is not required, topics will be discussed in a way assuming you understand basic concepts of programming.

Tuesday, Dec 13: Grades K5: CS Plugged and Unplugged

Computers, Computers everywhere – now what do we do with them?  Overwhelmingly, there is a push to get students on computers but a lot of computer science can be taught without a computer.  These “unplugged” techniques can be especially effective with younger children and engage students who do not learn typically, who may have language challenges or who may not like computers, or think computers are not for them.

They can help those students engage in individual and group activities, play games and participate in activities that help their social and emotional learning – all while addressing the NJ Learning Standards!  This session, dedicated to K-5 teachers but open to everyone, will look at Computer Science activities that are “unplugged” and then connect them to the “plugged” concepts.  No programming or computer science experience is necessary.

Monday, Jan 9: Grades K2: Pattern Recognition and Introduction to Coding

Computers, Computers everywhere – now what do we do with them?  Overwhelmingly, there is a push to get students on computers but a lot of computer science can be taught without a computer.  These “unplugged” techniques can be especially effective with younger children and engage students who do not learn typically, who may have language challenges or who may not like computers, or think computers are not for them.

They can help those students engage in individual and group activities, play games and participate in activities that help their social and emotional learning – all while addressing the NJ Learning Standards!  This session, dedicated to K-5 teachers but open to everyone, will look at Computer Science activities that are “unplugged” and then connect them to the “plugged” concepts.  No programming or computer science experience is necessary.

Saturday, Jan 21: Computer Science Curriculum Hackathon

Teachers and administrators, bring your knowledge of what motivates your K-12 students to learn. Montclair State University will bring the Computer Science and Education experts. And together we will brainstorm curricula for all grades to help teachers with the new NJ Department of Education Student Learning Standards in Computer Science.

We will develop new teaching modules as well as look at modules already developed and modify them to work with our New Jersey students. We will have other surprises in store for you including guest speakers and giveaways!

Tuesday, Feb 7: Grades 3 – 5: Understanding the WWW (Networks and Technology)

Students, now more than ever, use the World Wide Web and the Internet to communicate, socialize, do homework, play games, and get their entertainment.  This professional development experience will review the basics of the World Wide Web and the Internet are.

Next, we will demonstrate exercises and resources to help your students navigate the World Wide Web safely and effectively. All teachers are welcome but these activities will be geared towards elementary students.

Wednesday, Feb 22: Pathways to CS

Come join us for a night of interaction with future computer scientists and those already in the industry. Stories from the University: Undergraduate students’ stories to access and enter CS studies and their career trajectory. Panelists from Howard University and Montclair State UniversityHow did I end up in this industry?  : How can computer science be applied towards a career pipeline in the industry? Panelists from NextGen Studios, Google, and others.Join administrators and teachers for dinner and discussion with the panelists and leave with the knowledge to share with your peers and students.

Friday, Mar 3: Makey Makey

Come join us for a night of interaction with a panel of professional development providers and company representatives from Makey Makey, Sphero, Kibo, Arduino

 Join administrators and teachers for dinner and discussion with the panelists, followed by break-out sessions where you will see the devices in action.  At the end of the evening, leave with knowledge to be able to make decisions about which devices you may want to acquire for your classroom or district.

Wednesday, Mar 8: Sphero

Come join us for a night of interaction with a panel of professional development providers and company representatives from: Makey Makey, Sphero, Kibo, Arduino

Join administrators and teachers for dinner and discussion with the panelists, followed by break-out sessions where you will see the devices in action.  At the end of the evening, leave with the knowledge to be able to make decisions about which devices you may want to acquire for your classroom or district.

Monday, Mar 13: Grades 6 – 8: Networks and Technology

Networks and Technology is one of the more challenging standards.  Students use networks every day but know little about them.  This professional development experience will look at understanding the basics of networks: what is a network, what are the technologies that create networks, how do we maintain networks and how do computers interact on networks.  We will work on understanding TCP/IP, protocols, and packet switching.

Tuesday, Mar 14: Morning Admins: Developing District’s Mission in Computer Science

The New Jersey Computer Science Education Standards present an opportunity for all school districts to consider their place in computer science in the region.  However, with this opportunity come the challenges of curriculum, teacher professional development and student support.

MSU College of Education faculty will lead this discussion for school administrators to work on how to harness this opportunity while also marshaling district resources to create the best computing environment for their districts.  This PD will be restricted to school district leadership personnel

Thursday, Mar 23: Arduino

Come join us for a night of interaction with a panel of professional development providers and company representatives from Makey Makey, Sphero, Kibo, Arduino

Join administrators and teachers for dinner and discussion with the panelists, followed by break-out sessions where you will see the devices in action.  At the end of the evening, leave with the knowledge to be able to make decisions about which devices you may want to acquire for your classroom or district.

Monday, Mar 27: Counselors: Supporting Inclusive CS Education

Computer Science has many student support challenges.  The field is known for having challenges in supporting diversity and giving equitable access to students from various walks of life.  In this professional development workshop, we will be discussing how to support students in their interests in computing – everything from SEL needs to needs based on various demographics like gender, race, socio-economic status, special education classification, and English learning abilities.

School counselors, administrators, psychologists, case workers, child study team members and teachers who serve as these supports are welcome.

Tuesday, Mar 28: Piper PD

This PD is an introduction to the Piper computer. What objective students should achieve after building the computers, an overview of the computer components, and best practices to facilitate learning, all while engaging in the hands-on activity of building the computers themselves and engaging in the computer’s learning programs once the build is complete

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Academic Year 2022/23, Year 1: STANDARDS

Wednesday, Oct 26: Digital Citizenship

Wednesday, Mar 8: DEVICE DEMO (Kibo, Sphero, Makey Makey)

Come join us for a night of interaction with a panel of professional development providers and company representatives from Makey Makey, Sphero, Kibo, Arduino

Join administrators and teachers for dinner and discussion with the panelists, followed by break-out sessions where you will see the devices in action.  At the end of the evening, leave with the knowledge to be able to make decisions about which devices you may want to acquire for your classroom or district.

Wednesday, Mar 22: Real World Problem Solving with CS

From building trips using Google Maps to finding common friends or colleagues in LinkedIn or Facebook, and to ensuring your favorite video streaming platform delivers your binge-worthy series without any lag, graphs and search algorithms play a key role in all of these.

Understanding how individuals move and interact are key to better modeling of global pandemics and allows us to better understand complex systems such as ant colonies. Here, computer science, through large-scale simulations, allows us to model complexity at scale.

In this session, we will start by looking at several computer science concepts such as path planning, graph searches, and parallel computation together with examples of how we can use them in real-world scenarios and consider how such topics can be included in classroom activities

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Academic Year 2022/23, Year 1: HUB PLC

Academic Year 2022/23, Year 1: STANDARD PLC

Academic Year 2022/23, Year 1: Pre-Service

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