CPATH-2: Computer Science Pathways for Educators

这个CPATH项目为本科教育专业的学生创造了新的途径，使他们成为计算机科学教师，并获得良好的计算思维基础。它包括计算机科学和教育部门的教师之间的共同努力，根据国际教育技术协会制定的教育计算标准创建计算机科学（CS）认可计划。该认证计划的途径将针对不同的学生群体：所有教育专业的学生都将接触到以计算思维为重点的模块，科学教育专业的学生将能够在学习课程的同时满足一般课程要求，而从STEM学科转入教育专业的学生将能够在现有课程和教师教育的基础上进行学习。计算思维模块，突出了计算隐喻在推理，知识构建和解决问题等主题中的普遍性，将被整合到现有的课程中。两个新的课程将联合开发：一个CS方法课程与计算机科学相关的教学实习和计算机科学中的重大问题课程。这些课程为学生提供教学和内容知识经验，使他们能够有效地教授计算机科学。该团队计划举办一个研讨会，将教育工作者和计算机科学家聚集在一起，重点是将计算纳入中学教师教育，并探索建立计算机科学许可标准。计算机科学方法课程的设计以及教育和计算机科学教师之间的相关合作，应该能更好地理解如何有效地教授中学计算机科学，这是全国高中的迫切需要。从方法课程中选择的材料也将有利于计算机科学教师教授入门课程。教育学生满足他们的CS入门课程的实践培训部分将提高良好实践的意识，以及如何有效地教授CS入门主题。一个大问题课程的介绍将是有益的和感兴趣的广泛的学生。因此，该项目有可能提供一个全国性的模式，为中学计算机科学教育，并有助于稀疏的智力核心，目前存在于这一领域。更广泛的影响：该项目的目标是增加本科教育专业的数量已经采取了CS课程，并获得CS教学认可。这种增长应该转化为未来教师的数量增加，他们有资格在高中教授计算机科学，了解计算机科学作为一种职业，并且了解计算的普遍性如何影响和改变我们的社会。作为一个乘数效应，合格的高中计算机科学教师应该增加高中学生接受第一次计算机科学课程的人数。这种增加的接触是正在进行的国家努力，以提高对计算机科学的兴趣，并教育更多的计算能力和熟练的劳动力的重要组成部分。

This CPATH project creates new pathways for undergraduate education majors to become computer science teachers and to obtain sound foundations in computational thinking. It includes a joint effort between faculty in the departments of computer science and education to create a Computer Science (CS) Endorsement program based on the Educational Computing Standards set by the International Society for Technology in Education. The pathways to the endorsement program will be targeted to diverse student groups: all education majors will be exposed to modules focused on computational thinking, science education majors will be able to fulfill general course requirements while taking courses towards the endorsement, and students transferring into education from a STEM discipline will be able to build on their background.The proposed effort builds on existing courses and teacher education. Modules on computational thinking that highlight the pervasiveness of computational metaphors in topics like reasoning, knowledge construction, and problem solving are to be integrated into existing courses. Two new courses are to be developed jointly: a CS Methods course with an associated teaching practicum in computer science and a course in Great Issues in Computer Science. These courses provide students with pedagogical and content knowledge experiences preparing them to effectively teach computer science. The team plans to run a workshop to bring together educators and computer scientists with a focus on incorporating computation in secondary teacher education and exploring the establishment of computer science licensure standards.Intellectual Merit: The design of a CS methods course and the associated collaboration between education and CS faculty should result in a better understanding of how to effectively teach secondary computer science, an urgent need in the nation's high schools. Selected material from the methods course will also benefit computer science faculty teaching introductory courses. Education students satisfying their practical training component in CS introductory courses will increase awareness of good practices and how to effectively teach introductory CS topics. The introduction of a Great Issues course will be of benefit and interest to a broad set of students. Thus the project has the potential to provide a national model for secondary computer science education and contribute to the sparse intellectual core currently existing in this area.Broader Impact: The goal of the project is to increase the number of undergraduate education majors having taken CS courses and obtaining a CS Teaching Endorsement. This increase should translate into an increase in the number of future teachers who are qualified to teach computer science in high schools, are knowledgeable about computer science as a career, and who have an understanding of how the pervasive nature of computation impacts and changes our society. As a multiplier effect, qualified high school teachers teaching computer science should increase the number of high school students receiving a first computer science course. This increased contact is an important part in the ongoing national effort to raise interest in computer science and to educate a more computationally competent and proficient workforce.