Educators will participate in a 5 Day Certification Summer Institute in which they will be immersed in the NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards as well as the NYS Social Emotional Learning Benchmarks. Each session will include inclusion activities, engaging strategy, brain breaks and optimistic closings. Educators will experience the standards at work and facilitators will model the standards and instructional technology integration throughout the 5 days while using research artifacts such as articles, videos, and learning experiences to increase the knowledge of the attendees. Overarching NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards to be embedded throughout the entire experience are Digital Literacy Standards and Impact of Computer Standards. Educators will adapt and/or create new lessons/units tied to the learning throughout the cohort to integrate the NYS CSDF Standards. Educators will have the opportunity (optional) to utilize a Swivl recording device to receive growth producing feedback from facilitators of integration of the standards and student engagement within their classroom. Educators will submit a portfolio which illustrates integration of the standards into curriculum within their classroom by May of each year. Once educators submit portfolio, they will receive a certificate of completion and badge indicating they are a certified NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency Certified Educator. Educators will continue their learning through coaching monthly webinars, which will focus on additional standard integration exemplars. Teachers will participate in one themed coaching webinar per month from September – April. Webinars will allow for further exemplars to be shared, and for discussions around classroom integration, reflection, questions, and troubleshooting.
Push-in Support/Coaching: Teachers will receive up to five days (per district) of NYSCATE facilitator-led push-in support and coaching to reinforce pedagogy and technology integration, including a focus on ELL and SWD student needs.
Teachers will develop the skills to create Standards-Driven Learning Experiences aligned to the NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards; implement pedagogical protocols/strategies to engage learners to achieve the NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards; integrate instructional technology tools that enhance NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards aligned learning experiences; design student-centered learning experiences with authentic tasks that tell me what my students know; and create a culture of learning.
As part of the project, a series of videos will be developed to promote and inform students about computer science, engineering and other careers in these fields. Local businesses and professionals will be highlighted in this series and the video interviews can be viewed and used for instructional purposes. This work will support our efforts with the FLREDC (Regional Business consortium) and build student understanding and awareness around possible career paths connected to the NYS Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards.