Code.org Regional Partnership
Code.org Professional Learning
As a Regional Partner for Code.org, the Learning Technology Center facilitates professional learning programs for current and future computer science educators. Through scholarships, these programs are available little-to-no cost so that Illinois educators and their districts can develop the capacity and expertise needed to operate an enriching computer science curriculum.
Free CS Curriculum Provided by Code.org
Starting July 1, 2022, educators that participate in CS Principles or CS Discoveries courses hosted by the LTC are eligible to earn graduate credit through Code.org’s partnership with National Louis University.
Designed to be fun and engaging, Code.org’s progression of Computer Science Fundamentals blends online and “unplugged” non-computer activities to teach students computational thinking, problem solving, programming concepts and digital citizenship.
- Audience: Elementary students, ages 4-11
- Curriculum length: 6 courses, 10-25 hours each, optimized for grades K-5
- Prior Knowledge: None! Just bring your curiosity
- Cost to use curriculum: None
Computer Science Discoveries is an introductory course that empowers students to engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun!
- Audience: Middle and high school students, grades 6 – 10
- Curriculum length: 50-150 hours, can be taught as a semester or full-year course
- Prior knowledge: None! Just bring your curiosity.
- Cost to use curriculum: None
- Graduate Credit: Earn up to 1 Semester Hour
Computer Science Principles covers many topics including the Internet, Big Data and Privacy, and Programming and Algorithms. The curriculum is flexible to be taught as an AP or non-AP course.
- Audience: High school students, grades 9 – 12
- Curriculum length: 100-180 hours, should be taught as a full-year course. Contains 10 units, including a Create Performance Task prep unit.
- Prior knowledge: None! Just bring your curiosity.
- Cost to use curriculum: None
- Graduate Credit: Earn up to 1 Semester Hour
Computer Science A invites students to learn programming using Java and can be taken after completing an introductory course such as CS Principles or CS Discoveries.
- Audience: High school students, grades 9 – 12
- Curriculum length: Full-year course of at least 140 class hours, containing 9 units (including an AP Exam Prep unit)
- Prior knowledge: For students, Computer Science Principles, Computer Science Discoveries, and/or a similar introductory computer science course. For teachers, the ability to independently write and debug an error-free function (or procedure) with one or more parameters and that uses conditional logic, loops, and an array (or a list)
- Cost to use curriculum: None
Designed to be fun and engaging, Code.org’s progression of Computer Science Fundamentals blends online and “unplugged” non-computer activities to teach students computational thinking, problem solving, programming concepts and digital citizenship.
- Audience: Elementary students, ages 4-11
- Curriculum length: 6 courses, 10-25 hours each, optimized for grades K-5
- Prior Knowledge: None! Just bring your curiosity
- Cost to use curriculum: None
Computer Science Discoveries is an introductory course that empowers students to engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun!
- Audience: Middle and high school students, grades 6 – 10
- Curriculum length: 50-150 hours, can be taught as a semester or full-year course
- Prior knowledge: None! Just bring your curiosity.
- Cost to use curriculum: None
- Graduate Credit: Earn up to 1 Semester Hour
Computer Science Principles covers many topics including the Internet, Big Data and Privacy, and Programming and Algorithms. The curriculum is flexible to be taught as an AP or non-AP course.
- Audience: High school students, grades 9 – 12
- Curriculum length: 100-180 hours, should be taught as a full-year course. Contains 10 units, including a Create Performance Task prep unit.
- Prior knowledge: None! Just bring your curiosity.
- Cost to use curriculum: None
- Graduate Credit: Earn up to 1 Semester Hour
Computer Science A invites students to learn programming using Java and can be taken after completing an introductory course such as CS Principles or CS Discoveries.
- Audience: High school students, grades 9 – 12
- Curriculum length: Full-year course of at least 140 class hours, containing 9 units (including an AP Exam Prep unit)
- Prior knowledge: For students, Computer Science Principles, Computer Science Discoveries, and/or a similar introductory computer science course. For teachers, the ability to independently write and debug an error-free function (or procedure) with one or more parameters and that uses conditional logic, loops, and an array (or a list)
- Cost to use curriculum: None
LTC Professional Learning
In partnership with Code.org, the LTC provides optional professional learning opportunities to support new and experienced computer science educators as they adopt the Code.org curriculum.
Computer Science Fundamentals
Participants receive a hands-on intro to computer science, pedagogy, overviews of the Code.org online curriculum and teacher dashboard, as well as strategies for teaching “unplugged” classroom activities. At the end of the workshop, teachers will have:
- A plan of action to start teaching CS Fundamentals.
- An implementation plan for teaching two CS Fundamentals lessons
- Goals for how deep into the course they would like to try to get.
- Strategies for teaching CS Fundamentals lessons.
- A connection to the community of CS Fundamentals teachers.
- A printed curriculum guide with pedagogy, tips, and best practices.
- A certificate of attendance
Attendee: K-5 Computer Science Teacher, Media/Library Specialist, General Education classroom teacher
Workshop Length: 1 Day
Cost: Free or low-cost
Computer Science Discoveries
Participation in this year-long program includes teaching materials, workshop supplies, nine days of professional development, and meals during workshops. Professional learning will occur during a week in the summer and four follow-up days throughout the school year. Additional travel costs are not covered and are the responsibility of the school or district.
Attendee: New computer science teacher
Workshop Length: A year long program includes a one week summer workshop, 4 days of follow up workshops and online support.
Registration Process: Attendees must apply to be part of the CS Discoveries cohort. Application details are available on the links below.
Fee: $1200 per teacher.
Scholarships: Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be awarded based on information provided on the application. To attend the program at no cost, attendees must meet ONE of the following criteria:
- The participant’s school has students from marginalized racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in computer science where the rate is ≥ 50%.
- The participant’s school is non-rural with a percentage of students eligible for Free-and-Reduced-Meals at ≥50%.
- The participant’s school is rural with a percentage of students eligible for Free-and-Reduced-Meals at ≥40%.
Computer Science Principles
Participation in this year-long program includes teaching materials, workshop supplies, nine days of professional development, and meals during workshops. Professional learning will occur during a week in the summer and four follow-up days throughout the school year. Additional travel costs are not covered and are the responsibility of the school or district.
Attendee: New computer science teacher
Workshop Length: A year long program includes a one week summer workshop, 4 days of follow up workshops and online support.
Registration Process: Attendees must apply to be part of the CS Principles cohort. Application details are available on the links below.
Fee: $1200 per teacher.
Scholarships: Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be awarded based on information provided on the application. To attend the program at no cost, attendees must meet ONE of the following criteria:
- The participant’s school has students from marginalized racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in computer science where the rate is ≥ 50%.
- The participant’s school is non-rural with a percentage of students eligible for Free-and-Reduced-Meals at ≥50%.
- The participant’s school is rural with a percentage of students eligible for Free-and-Reduced-Meals at ≥40%.
Computer Science A
Participation in this year-long program includes teaching materials, workshop supplies, 5 days of professional development during the summer, virtual meetings during the school year, a two-day capstone workshop the following summer, and meals during workshops. Additional travel costs are not covered and are the responsibility of the school or district.
Attendee: Current computer science teachers looking to prepare students for the AP Computer Science exam.
Workshop Length: A year long program includes a one week summer workshop, 8 monthly virtual follow-up meetings throughout the school year, a two-day capstone workshop during the following summer, and online support.
Registration Process: Attendees must apply to be part of the Computer Science A cohort. Application details are available on the links below.
Fee: $1400 per teacher.
Scholarships: Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and will be awarded based on information provided on the application. To attend the program at no cost, attendees must meet ONE of the following criteria:
- The participant’s school has students from marginalized racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in computer science where the rate is ≥ 50%.
- The participant’s school is non-rural with a percentage of students eligible for Free-and-Reduced-Meals at ≥50%.
- The participant’s school is rural with a percentage of students eligible for Free-and-Reduced-Meals at ≥40%.
Earn Graduate Credit
The LTC partners with National Louis University’s National College of Education and Code.org to provide CS Discoveries and CS Principles participants the opportunity to earn graduate credit for their work. To become eligible for this transferable credit, participants must:
- Attend all CS Principles/CS Discoveries workshop sessions and complete all required assignments to earn the appropriate certificate of completion from Code.org
- Complete NLU’s Prior Learning Credit by Credential application process as a Non-Degree Seeking student and cover the associated $100 fee
Participants that complete the above requirements will earn one (1) Semester Hour (SH) of graduate-level course credit. Participants can use their 1 SH of credit toward advancing their career prospects or earning NLU’s Masters of Education (Learning Sciences Education or Curriculum & Instruction Advanced Professional Specialization) degree.
About the NLU National College of Education
The National College of Education (NCE) is the largest and oldest of the colleges that form National Louis University. For more than 130 years, they have been a pioneering and innovative force in new teacher preparation, educator advancement, and educational leadership. Their programs prepare educators to make a difference in schools and in the lives of students.
The National College of Education’s mission is excellence in teaching, scholarship, service, and professional development. Recognizing the importance of life-long learning in a diverse, rapidly changing global society, NCE is committed to developing and empowering all learners – including those currently serving in the field.
CS Fundamentals Evolve
Be a model & expand access to K-5 CS learning through this Code.org pilot program
K-5 Illinois school districts are invited to take part in CS Fundamentals Evolve, an exclusive pilot program from Code.org that makes building in-district capacity for CS teaching comprehensive and sustainable.
Participating districts will send one professional development trainer and one admin to CS PD Week, where they will take part in the Computer Science Explorations (Elementary) and Supporting Computer Science PD tracks, respectively. With LTC support, both attendees will then develop and implement a plan for providing school-wide CS learning to all of their district’s K-5 students.
Through this program, districts can demonstrate their value for equitable CS learning while sustainably working toward meeting new state-level CS teaching mandates.
There is no cost to take part in this pilot program (participants must still pay for lodging during training).
Applications submission closes April 1, 2023.
Sarah leads computer science and STEM initiatives, manages partnerships with state and national organizations, and elevates the LTC’s role as a thought leader in the K-12 computer science space.