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Educators

Grant Wood AEA #CSForGWAEA gwaea.org/computerscience

Grant Wood AEA has an interdisciplinary computer science team committed to supporting area schools in addressing computer science standards. Area schools should contact their assigned computer science contact for more information on how to get started.

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Logo for Iowa CS PD week. Text with pixelated image of Iowa in shades of blue.The 2023 Iowa Computer Science Professional Development Week (CS PD Week) hosted over 300 PK-12 educators at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls!

Save the dates for the 2024 CS PD Week June 10 through June 14. Registration for this in-person event will be shared when available and includes PD & materials, stipends, lodging and several meals during the week. Additional information and links for registration can be found on the CS PD Week web page.

Large group picture of Iowa educators attending the 2023 CS PD Week wearing purple shirts that say "This is my teaching computer science shirt"

Photo credit NewBoCo

Requirements

Computer Science Requirements For Districts (Click to Enlarge)

Computer Science in Iowa [This graphic breaks down the timeline for districts, click for P D F)What you need to know:

  1. Each public school district and nonpublic school shall develop and implement a K-12 computer science plan by July 1, 2022.

2. One-half unit of computer science incorporating the standards shall by offered, beginning July 1, 2022 in high school.

3. Computer science instruction incorporating the standards shall be taught, beginning July 1, 2023, in at least one grade level 1-6.

4. Computer science instruction incorporating the standards shall be offered, beginning July 1, 2023, in at least one grade level 7-8.

2023-24 Funding Opportunities

⏰ Time Sensitive Computer Science Professional Development & Funding Opportunities! 

The Iowa Department of Education has appropriated funds to help districts meet the computer science requirements included in House File 2629. Please learn more in the Important Computer Science Updates & Funding Opportunities document.

Supports

Grant Wood AEA is part of the Statewide Iowa AEA CS Team. Please visit the team's website at bit.ly/IowaAEACS for SCRIPT resources, CS standards and unpacking information, current updates, and statewide computer science programs.

Professional Learning & Events

Professional learning, events, and information to strengthen computer science instruction.

💡 Professional Learning

📑 Computer Science Standards

The Iowa State Board of Education adopted statewide Computer Science standards in June 2018. The standards include five concept areas and seven practices. The standards progression chart and abridged standards document are both good resources for educators.

ℹ️ Curriculum & Club Resources

District/Educator teams are encouraged to use the TEC Rubric developed by Canon Lab to review curricular and club resources prior to adopting them for instruction.

🤖 Physical Computing Resources

Check out our new Physical Computing ToolKit website at bit.ly/GWAEAPhysicalComputingToolkit! The website highlights resources & lessons to teach CS with robots, micro-controllers, and robotics kits!

You can learn more about:
💡 Lesson Ideas from Beginning to Advanced!
🎥 Video Tutorials
📄 Printables
💰 Lending and Purchasing Information

Screen capture of the home page of the Physical Computing website. Text and menus are over an image of students uses the indi robot and color mats.

Please use the bit.ly/PCReserveGWAEA form to reserve physical computing devices or robots. Reservations are for two weeks.

🤜🏿 🤛🏼 Professional Organizations & Networking

🎉 Special Events

🎓 Computer Science Endorsement Programs

📨 Contact the Team

Search our computer science contact list to find your district contact(s).