2024 Indiana Connected Educators Conference

The purpose of this session is to introduce participants to professional learning opportunities and K-8 OER resources, all focused on the integration of the Indiana K-8 computer science standards (one strand of the science standards) into K-8 content areas. In 2023-24, IUB began a Next Level Computing Grant partnership with IDOE, primarily focused on discovering if and how EPPs around the state were preparing preservice teachers to integrate CS and conceptual thinking standards and concepts, and growing their capacity to prepare preservice teachers for the future. Thanks to IDOE, we were able to design and deliver resources on these topics both to preservice teachers AND the instructors of preservice teachers around the state. We ran a cohort of 20 college professors this spring, upscaling their knowledge of CS teaching, so that they can better equip their students. We are currently building a web portal that will house the resources, and we will be beginning another cohort of EPPs soon.  This year, we are expanding the grant work in several ways - primarily to in-service teachers - while still providing resources and professional learning to university faculty and students.  This session will quickly share the rationale and goals of this work, but the majority of the time will be spent leading participants through exploration and discovery of resources to support their teaching and enhance student learning. Depending on the makeup of the group, I will highlight particular content areas and learning experience designs that they might want to use in their classrooms. All of these learning experiences (lessons) are of course aligned with both Indiana content area and computer science standards in grades K-8. This webpage is incomplete and DATED (we're building a new portal now) but at least you can look to get the idea of what's available: https://education.indiana.edu/research/centers/crlt/projects/building-indiana-computing-capacity/index.html Participants will leave with a better background of what it means to integrate CS and computational thinking into literacy, math, etc., and they will gather many practical ideas and resources for classroom implementation.

Join us for an overview of a no-cost, 90-minute strategic session designed specifically for K-12 district leaders and professional developers. This virtual readiness check, led by seasoned consultants from Advanced Learning Partnerships (ALP) and CDW, will explore the transformative opportunities and challenges of Generative AI in education. Our goal is to provide actionable insights that will help your district define and successfully scale AI-infused learning environments.

Participants will be introduced to the concept of computer coding and how it is adapted for young learners through a basic block coding language designed to help students understand the coding process. This interactive session will feature a hands-on approach using block coding through Scottie Go!. Participants will receive a sample product and can access the platform virtually via an app on their phones, if they choose. Visual examples will also be presented to ensure everyone can follow along. Scottie Go! combines both virtual and hands-on elements, allowing students to create a code using physical blocks on a board. Once the code is assembled, students take a photo of it with a mobile device (i.e. iPad or phone). The program then runs the code, and Scottie moves through a challenge on the screen. If the code is correct, Scottie solves the challenge and proceeds to the next task. Incorrect codes require students to "debug" or fix the issue before being able to advance. While this session focuses on Scottie Go!, the coding concepts learned can be applied to any platforms teachers have available to them. Although not all platforms include the added benefit of physical pieces to aid in the coding learning process (which is one of the elements we love most about Scottie Go!), electronic versions are still adaptable to the concepts discussed during the session. In the next part of the session, participants will engage in led discussions and have the opportunity to try interactive lessons designed to incorporate learned coding skills and adapt them to other curriculum areas. Resources will include a STEM engineering and design project, which is thematically connected to Scottie and his space adventure. Participants will also brainstorm ways to apply algorithmic thinking in subjects such as writing/language arts, science processes, and mathematical computational thinking.