Critical Computational Literacies

This course centers critical computational literacies as a framework for thinking about how and why we might teach K12 Computer Science (CS). Just as schools participate in broader social systems which shape our lives and which may or may not contribute to a more just and peaceful society, CS is only one part of the work of a school. Our work as CS educators may be constrained by other priorities and stakeholders, and our work can also reshape the work of the school beyond the classroom. We take as our starting point the premise that CS education is currently figured in a way which gives it unusual leverage to reshape K12 educational practice.

Large Language Models in Education

This is an interdisciplinary, studio-based course focused on designing and implementing theoretically-grounded tools for K12 teaching and learning. Over the semester, teams of students will articulate a learning goal and then design, build, deploy, and analyze an AI application in partnership with a school or community organization. Students from multiple departments with experience in design, education research, and/or computer science are encouraged to join.

The Pedagogy of Programming

This introductory course on computer programming simultaneously teaches beginners the fundamentals of computer programming while using that learning experience as a context for developing K-12 pedagogical content knowledge of how programming is most effectively taught and learned. One primary audience for the course is future CS teachers, or future teachers interested in interdisciplinary CS. Programming topics include variables, data types, control flow, planning, debugging, abstraction, and modularization. Pedagogical topics include debugging, misconceptions, formative and summative assessment, and teaching with computational media.

Survey of Topics in K12 CS

This course provides an overview of the content knowledge topics taught in K12 computer science. Classrooms are considered as nodes within broader learning ecologies, and emphasis is placed on the relevance of topics to interdisciplinary and connected K12 CS pedagogy. This course will be of primary interest to students enrolled in the CS advanced certificate who do not have a formal background in CS, as well as future teachers interested in interdisciplinary CS.