Monday, 09/20/2021 | 11:00am - 11:59am
Simon Peyton Jones, FRS, is a leading computer science researcher at Microsoft Research (Cambridge), where his main research interest is the design and implementation of functional programming languages.
He has been deeply involved in computing education at school since Computing at School was launched in 2007, and he still serves as CAS’s chair. Simon chaired the working group that wrote the Programmes of Study for computing in 2012, and was appointed chair of the National Centre for Computing Education in 2018.
Link to session recording: https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_vqqghm05
Quantum and CS What is Quantum computing and is it here to stay? Is quantum really for our elementary, middle, and high school students? What does quantum computing look like in K-12 classrooms? This panel will explore quantum computing in the classroom and why it is important for our students and educators to learn. | AI and Education AI impacts our daily lives in a myriad of ways and increasingly impacts the educator sector. How is AI currently being used in education? What are the ethical and practical implications of AI and education? What is the future of AI and education and how do we incorporate learning about and using AI into our K-12 classrooms? |
Research in K-12 CS Education Effectively teaching computer science in a K-12 setting and preparing students for the many careers that now require computer science is still a new enterprise. Research is needed on many topics such as what to teach, how to teach it, when to teach it, and how to evaluate and improve teaching. This panel will highlight current research on K-12 CS education from CS Education contexts across the country.
CS Career Panel Computing and computer science are becoming increasingly central to a variety of careers including many that are not within traditional STEM / engineering fields. This panel will explore a discussion on the integration of computer science within fields such as Art, Music, History, and other non-engineering fields. | CS in Post-Secondary Education and Workforce Development Building an Illinois workforce for the 21st century and addressing our state’s most pressing challenges requires us to think critically about what knowledge and experiences need to be afforded to our students. What are the skills that students will need to hone to successfully enter and remain in the future workforce? How do we build opportunity rich pipelines from K-12 to Post-Secondary Education and WorkForce Development in Chicago and beyond? What are the experiences, internships, and work-based learning opportunities that need to be created to foster successful transition to a new, digital workforce? Panelists will identify the skills, experiences, and collaborations necessary for Illinois to continue to grow a skilled and innovative modern workforce. |
Scratch Fireside Chat Come join us for an interactive discussion with the Scratch Foundation as they share their work developing the new Scratch Education Collaborative (SEC). Scratch is used around the world and was created by a team from the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab. The SEC is bringing together seven Education Partners: Brazilian Creative Learning Network, Chicago Public Schools, Micro:Bit Foundation, Raspberry Pi Foundation, Stanford d. School, STEM Nola and The Tinkering Studio. They will talk about the philosophy of Scratch and creative computing as captured in the 5-Ps: Projects, Passion, Play, Peers and the newest P, Purpose. The SEC will support the growth and development of creative computing around the world with 41 non-profit and educational institutions. Link to session recording: https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_v1nvkou8 | Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Student Panel Discussion and understanding of obstacles to, and pedagogy supporting, efforts towards increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in K-12 CS education are critical and vital to the success of these efforts. It is important to ensure that in these discussions we elevate and honor the perspectives of those who are most impacted by a lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion. This panel will explore the lived experiences of youth in computer sciences classes during their K-12 educational journey. What was their experience of CS? What works in increasing DEI? What didn’t work? What would these students like to tell educators about being a minoritized student in these classes? Moderator Charity Freeman, Discovery Partners Institute Panelists Students from Illinois K12 schools, representative of Illinois' urban and rural school districts Link to session recording: https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_kr3btzmc |
CS Education, Research and Funding Computer Science Education and Broadening Participation in Computing have been supported and funded by large federal agencies as well as large and small sized foundations for several years. In looking to the future, what areas of computing education will be funding priorities in the next year? In the next five years? What are the impacts that funders hope to see in the next decade? Moderator Jessica Li, University of Illinois, Urbana - Champaign Panelists Allyson Kennedy, National Science Foundation Anupama Shekhar, Microsoft Philanthropies Joshua Elder, Siegel Foundation Endowment Link to session recording: https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_pu9gcz2d | K-12 CS Education Standards The Illinois State Board of Education is in the process of implementing new K-12 computer science student standards. The new standards will apply to all computer science courses taught in Illinois. This panel will discuss the new standards including addressing questions such as: Why create these standards now? Why are they important and how are they going to be addressed at building and district levels? How might these standards be integrated into existing courses? Where can educators find information on the standards and more. Moderator Caroline Sanchez Crozier, CSC Consulting Group Panelists Joseph Carroll-Mirana, Universidad de Puerto Rico Erica Thieman, Illinois Board of Education Bryan Twarek, Computer Science Teacher Association Link to session recording: https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_od869un3 |
Role of Teachers in Educational Policy Achieving computer science for all students in Illinois requires intentional planning, policy, and allocation of resources. In addition, retaining high quality teachers means building teacher roles in Educational Policy. How can teachers become advocates for education policy in their buildings, districts, and at a state level? Moderator Eric Lugo, Discovery Partners Institute Panelists Olga Gutierrez, Environment, Public Policy, and Social Initiatives at Apple Jennifer Leban, Learning Technology Centers of Illinois Janelle Scharon, Gary Comer College Prep High School Link to session recording: https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/1_596vg8w5 | Celebration Spotlight Panel This panel will highlight a few of the amazing computer science educators that are doing innovative, interesting, and exciting things in their education spaces. Each speaker will discuss their educational context and CS content (school-based classroom, out of school community space, district wide efforts, etc), barriers they have faced, successes they would like to highlight, and how they are engaging with families and communities around computer science. Panelists Susan Young, Effingham Jr. High Keith Jacobs Jr, 4H Extension Abril Vela, CS for Success Renee Neumeier, Innovation and Digital Learning Manager - Evanston Public Library Link to session recording: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/85421430516?pwd=UFZQRVNnYlhTeVFpLzFQb1MvRGtEdz09 |
Chair:
Raya Hegeman-Davis, Computer Science Teacher Education Program Coordinator, University of Illinois
Planning Committee Members: