Think CS
The SCRIPT: Strategic CSforALL Planning Tool for School Districts
The SCRIPT — the Strategic CSforALL Resource & Implementation Planning Tool — is a framework to guide teams of district administrators, school leaders, and educators through a series of collaborative visioning, self-assessment and goal-setting exercises to create or expand upon a computer science education implementation plan for their students.
School districts and other local education organizations are the unit of change toward creating rigorous, inclusive and sustainable K-12 computer science education. The SCRIPT supports systems-level change by addressing five key areas: (1) Leadership, (2) Teacher Capacity and Development, (3) Curriculum and Materials Selection and Refinement, (4) Partners, and (5) Community.
For more information about hosting a SCRIPT workshop in your district, contact Monique M. Rice at mrice@kstc.com or Dr. Sheri McGuffin at smcguffin@kstc.com.
Teach CS
Find the right professional development for your teachers to create CS pathways that align with your specific school goals and provide students with the foundation to take advantage of opportunities within your community.
Code.org Regional Partner Program
As the Kentucky Code.org Regional Partner, AdvanceKentucky provides professional development for teachers of grades K-12.
Computer Science Fundamentals
Designed to be fun and engaging, Code.org’s progression of Computer Science Fundamentals courses blend online and "unplugged" non-computer activities to teach students computational thinking, problem solving, programming concepts and digital citizenship.
- Audience: Elementary students, ages 4-11
- Curriculum length: 6 courses, 10-25 hours each, optimized for grades K-5
- Prior Knowledge: None! Just bring your curiosity
- Optional professional learning: 1-day workshop, in-person or online. Two types of workshops: introductory and deep dive.
- Cost to use curriculum: None
- Languages: English, Spanish, +24 more
For more information and/or to host a workshop, please contact Monique M. Rice (mrice@kstc.com) or Dr. Sheri McGuffin (smcguffin@kstc.com) for more information.
Computer Science Discoveries
Computer Science Discoveries is an introductory course that empowers students to engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun!
- Audience: Middle and high school students, grades 6 - 10
- Curriculum length: 50-150 hours, can be taught as a quarter, semester or full-year course
- Prior knowledge: None! Just bring your curiosity.
- Optional professional learning: Our year-long program includes a 1-week summer workshop, 24 hours' worth of follow up workshops during the academic year, and online support through the Code.org teacher forum.
- Cost to use curriculum: None
- Languages: English only
For more information, please contact Monique M. Rice (mrice@kstc.com) or Dr. Sheri McGuffin (smcguffin@kstc.com) for more information.
(AP®) Computer Science Principles
Computer Science Principles covers many topics including the Internet, Big Data and Privacy, and Programming and Algorithms. The curriculum is flexible to be taught as an AP or non-AP course.
- Audience: High school students, grades 9 - 12
- Curriculum length: 100-180 hours, should be taught as a full-year course. Contains 10 units, including a Create Performance Task prep unit.
- Prior knowledge: None! Just bring your curiosity.
- Optional professional learning: Our year-long program includes a 1-week summer workshop, 24 hours' worth of follow up workshops during the academic year, and online support through the Code.org teacher forum.
- Cost to use curriculum: None
- Languages: English only
For more information, please contact Monique M. Rice (mrice@kstc.com) or Dr. Sheri McGuffin (smcguffin@kstc.com) for more information.
Applications for the 2021-22 AdvanceKentucky Professional Learning Program for CS Principles and CS Discoveries open December 1, 2020! For more information and to apply visit code.org/apply.
iCodeKY Program
In summer 2020, AdvanceKentucky started working with Apple Education to provide teachers working with Apple devices professional development in their Everyone Can Code and their Develop in Swift curriculum.
Everyone Can Code
The Everyone Can Code curriculum will guide you through Swift Playgrounds, an app that teaches coding for kids through a world of interactive puzzles and playful characters. It's great for students ages eight and up (primarily grades 4-8), and will help you introduce coding in the same language used by professional app developers.
The Everyone Can Code guides have in-class activities to help students understand the concepts behind the code and on-device exercises where they can practice coding and problem-solving. The student guides allow learners to work at their own pace, where the teacher guides help you support all your students from extra help to extra credit.
Device needed: iPad.
Develop in Swift
You don't need prior experience to dive right into designing and developing apps. The Develop in Swift curriculum makes it easy to teach ages 14 and up (grades 9-12) to code just like the pros - whether it's for a semester or for certification.
The Develop in Swift guides are flexible enough to help you support students brand new to coding and those with advanced skills. The lessons provide practical experience in developing apps with Swift in Xcode, the integrated development environment professional developers use to build real apps.
Device needed: MacBook or iMac.
Applications will open soon for the 2021-22 school year. For more information, please contact Monique M. Rice (mrice@kstc.com) or Dr. Sheri McGuffin (smcguffin@kstc.com) for more information.
AP® Computer Science A Expansion Program
If you are a Kentucky high school teacher who wants to gain computer computer programming and build your school's high school computer science curriculum, this program will help to support you. A participant does not need to have previous computer science teaching experience but some programming or coding experience is recommended.
Participants in this program will receive
- full access to an introductory college-level Java programming course
- full access and self-paced professional development to an AP® Computer Science A curriculum for your students
- mentorship from an experienced AP® CS A teacher
- mock exam support
Applications will open soon for the 2021-22 school year. For more information, please contact Monique M. Rice (mrice@kstc.com) or Dr. Sheri McGuffin (smcguffin@kstc.com) for more information.
Digital Literacy with 3D Printing
If you are Kentucky high school teacher who wants to gain 3D printing skills and teach Dual Credit Digital Literacy at your local high school or ATC, this program will help to support you. A participant does not need to have previous 3D printing experience, just a willingness to learn and apply how 3D printing is changing today's educational and manufacturing environments.
Participants in this program will receive
- Full access to a college level Digital Literacy course with a focus on 3-D printing
- A 3-D printer to use in your classroom
- Post-program approval to teach Dual-Credit Digital Literacy which fulfills multiple Kentucky CTE career pathways
Applications will open soon for the 2021-22 school year. For more information, please contact Monique M. Rice (mrice@kstc.com) or Dr. Sheri McGuffin (smcguffin@kstc.com) for more information.
Do CS
Provide opportunities for your students, teachers, and community to create authentic CS projects. Provide students opportunities to participate in STLP and earn college credit and valuable industry certifications.
Opportunities Include
- Girls Who Code (AdvanceKentucky is a Community Sponsor)
- Computer Science Teachers of America (CSTA). AdvanceKentucky is leading interested K-12 CS teachers to reinstate, revitalize and reinvigorate CSTA chapters in Kentucky.
- Computer Science Education Week (December 7-13, 2020)
- The Hour of Code