Below is an alphabetized collection of annotated links to web sites and organizations offering tools, support, or other resources for Computer Science education.
AgentSheets and AgentCubes
AgentSheets & AgentCubes are revolutionary tools that let you create your own games and simulations. Users of all ages can build games, interactive demonstrations, modifiable simulations, and more! Discover a new relationship to technology as you quickly CREATE games and computational science applications with all sorts of multi-media, and SHARE your creations online.
AgentSheets rule-based, drag-and-drop interface is easy to learn and hard to outgrow! Our users range from school districts to NASA scientists; city planners to clinical psychiatrists; middle school teachers to university professors, and students of all ages!
Bootstrap
Bootstrap is a curricular module for students ages 12-16, which teaches algebraic and geometric concepts through computer programming. At the end of the module, students have a completed workbook filled with word problems, notes and math challenges, as well as a video game of their own design, which they can share with friends and family.
Their mission is to use students’ excitement and confidence around gaming to directly apply algebra to create something cool.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) at UNT
The University of North Texas CTE website houses an extensive collection of curriculum resources for all CTE courses in the Information Technology Career Cluster. If you are looking for curriculum to teach courses such as Computer Programming, Advanced Computer Programming, Computer Maintenance, Telecommunications and Networking, this is a great resource.
Code.org
Code.org is a non-profit dedicated to expanding participation in computer science by making it available in more schools, and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. Whether you’re a schoolteacher, an administrator, an after-school teacher, or a volunteer, Code.org provides educational resources for all ages, free of cost.
CodeHS.com
CodeHS.com offers complete sets of instructional materials that allow educators to both learn and teach CS subjects. Materials include curriculum, tools, individual support, and an online community of CS teachers.
Computer Science K-5 Blog
The Computer Science K-5 Blog provides resources for K-5 Computer Science. Curated by Karen North, Master Technology Teacher and Computer Science Advocate.
CS Principles (CSP) / Exploring Computer Science (ECS)
NSF has funded the development and implementation of two new computer science courses—CS Principles (to be a new College Board Advanced Placement course starting in the Fall of 2016) and Exploring Computer Science (ECS). Both courses are designed to teach the fundamental concepts and big ideas of computing along with coding, and to inspire kids about computer science’s creative potential to transform society. Alignment of the TEKS for Fundamentals of Computer Science can be found here.
CS10K Community
Computational Thinking should be part of everyone’s education, and every Texas student should have access meaningful high school courses that may lead to a career in computing. Teachers of Exploring Computer Science (ECS) and Computer Science Principles (CSP) are putting this belief into action. The CS10K Community is where they come to connect with each other and with the resources and expertise they need to excel. With the support of a team of expert facilitators and supporting professionals, teachers get answers to their burning questions, share their experiences, and work together with others to develop materials and strategies they need to embrace powerful pedagogies, get students engaged with exciting technologies, and make the case to potential students and to school leaders that computer science education is integral to preparing future leaders.
Dylan Ryder, Ed Tech Blog
Dylan Ryder, a Teacher and Technology Integrator at a K-8 school in NYC, collects and shares his thoughts about education, pedagogy, and practice through his Ed Tech blog. The blog also features example units and lessons.
Khan Academy: Computing
Khan Academy’s Computing subject area provides online courses for a wide range of related topics, from a simple introduction to programming to information theory and other advanced topics.
MyCS
Entitled Middle Years Computer Science, or “MyCS” for short, Harvey Mudd College’s NSF funded online CS curriculum is designed for classrooms ranging from middle to early high school. Their goal: to provide engaging, accessible, and easy-to-use content to middle-years teachers, who can implement the content in their classroom using their own specific pedagogical adaptations of activities and exercises. More information.
Oracle Academy – Ask the Oracle Experts
Oracle Academy’s Ask the Oracle Experts series provides students and faculty the opportunity to hear directly from Oracle experts on a wide variety of technology-related topics. This page contains everything you need to know about this live webcast series and supporting podcasts.
Project GUTS
Project GUTS — Growing Up Thinking Scientifically — is a summer and after-school science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) program for middle school students. Project GUTS CS4HS is providing eight weeks of free online instruction to educators who are interested in embedding computer science within regular school day science classes through the integration of computer modeling and simulation. More information.
Python ebook
A research group at Georgia Tech, CSLearning4U, is developing new approaches to teaching computer science at a distance. In collaboration with researchers at Luther College, they have created a new kind of electronic book for preparing teachers to teach the AP CS Principles course, specifically the programming section using Python. The book is entirely web-based and cross-platform, with special features, including programming within the book, program visualizations, videos, multiple-choice questions, and Parson’s problems.
Technology Education And Literacy in Schools (TEALS)
TEALS is a grassroots program that recruits, trains, mentors, and places high tech professionals from across the country who are passionate about computer science education into high school classes as volunteer teachers. TEALS volunteers team teach AP CS A or CS Principles with ISD teachers. This embedded PD model builds teacher capacity. Additional information can be found on the TEALS Factsheet.
Texas Computer Science
Texas Computer Science provides valuable resources for novice and seasoned Texas Computer Science teachers. The website was created and is maintained by Kim Garcia, the Educational Technology Coordinator of Georgetown ISD and current President of the TCEA Technology Applications Computer Science Special Interest Group (TA/CS-SIG).
Texas Girls Collaborative Project (TxGCP)
TxGCP connects non-profits, K-12 schools, higher education institutions, companies, organizations and individuals across the state of Texas committed to informing and motivating girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Led by the Women in Engineering Program (WEP) at The University of Texas at Austin, TxGCP provides forums, curriculum, best practices and resources to foster collaborations, build capacity of participating organizations, and create a state-wide network of informed and connected informal and formal STEM educators and advocates.
Thriving in our Digital World
Thriving in our Digital World is rooted in the CS Principles curriculum, designed to expose students to the big ideas in computer science across disciplinary boundaries. The primary premise of the course is the engagement of diverse student populations wit science through a rigorous, relevant, student-centered curriculum built upon inquiry- and project-based learning.
Scratch
Scratch helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively — essential skills for life in the 21st century.
Scratch is a project of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. It is provided free of charge.
Solving the Equation The Variables for Women’s Success in Engineering and Computing
When it comes to the engineering and computing workforce, which accounts for more than 80 percent of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) jobs, women remain dramatically underrepresented.
Women make up just 26 percent of the computing workforce and 12 percent of the engineering workforce, and African American, Hispanic, and Native American women are especially underrepresented.
–From the Solving the Equation website
STEMed Labs
STEMed Labs is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Austin, TX dedicated to improving educational opportunities in our communities. Our goal is to serve as an incubator for novel, cross-disciplinary approaches to STEM education. We partner with schools, teachers, parents, and industry to build a sustainable, grassroots model of delivering innovation in education.
OnRamps
OnRamps is a dual-enrollment program designed to increase the number and diversity of students who engage in UT-designed college courses aligned with the expectations of leading research institutions. The primary purpose of OnRamps is to accelerate college student success.
University Interscholastic League (UIL) – Computer Science
The UIL Computer Science Contest challenges students to study a broad range of areas in computer science and has both an individual and a team component. Competition consists of a 45-minute written exam for both components, along with a two-hour programming contest for teams.
At all levels of competition, individual places are determined solely by written exam scores. All contestants compete for individual honors at all levels of competition. Individuals placing first, second and third advance to the next level. For the team component, the team’s top three scores on the written exam are added to its score in the programming session to produce an overall team score. First-place teams advance to the next level of competition.
