Review the NC Computer Science Standards- Leas
According to the report to the North Carolina General Assembly, the overall goal is for all students to
learn the skills to “create and contribute” to the digital community and “actively engage as informed
citizens” in a technological world.
learn the skills to “create and contribute” to the digital community and “actively engage as informed
citizens” in a technological world.
Curriculum goals include developing a pathway of courses that sequence through middle and high
school for students to follow. Develop computer science standards that have the same high quality and
rigor as current math and science programs. These courses should become part of the core curriculum
and students should receive high school credits towards fulfilling math and science credits. I think that
the curriculum should absolutely include a computer science program. In our current world,
understanding the digital community and being able to be an active member of it is key for students.
These should be essential skills that all students should learn and have access to.
school for students to follow. Develop computer science standards that have the same high quality and
rigor as current math and science programs. These courses should become part of the core curriculum
and students should receive high school credits towards fulfilling math and science credits. I think that
the curriculum should absolutely include a computer science program. In our current world,
understanding the digital community and being able to be an active member of it is key for students.
These should be essential skills that all students should learn and have access to.
Teacher goals include preparing preservice teachers in the field of computer science. Also including
computer science into all preservice teacher learning so that they are better prepared to integrate
concepts into all areas. This also includes leveraging professional development partnerships to enable
current teachers the chance to learn and grow. Another consideration would be to look at current
licensure requirements for K-12 teachers and update them to include computer science concepts into
them. Many teachers are not comfortable with integrating technology. By having them take courses and
giving them the support needed, they will gain the confidence they need.
computer science into all preservice teacher learning so that they are better prepared to integrate
concepts into all areas. This also includes leveraging professional development partnerships to enable
current teachers the chance to learn and grow. Another consideration would be to look at current
licensure requirements for K-12 teachers and update them to include computer science concepts into
them. Many teachers are not comfortable with integrating technology. By having them take courses and
giving them the support needed, they will gain the confidence they need.
K-12 schools need to look at the integrating computer science into all content areas to help prepare
students for the workforce. Another consideration is to have dedicated computer science classes in both
middle and high schools. Schools should provide guidance on the best ways for teachers to move
forward with integrating computer science. Schools should offer these courses starting in elementary
school, in my opinion. My 9 year old son did the Hour of Code on Code.org with his 2nd grade class two
years ago and he loved it. If we can start to engage students at a young age, then they will learn to love
it. In my STEM class we did various activities on Code.org and I had a few students after that start to
look at college programs for coding. They want to write code for games and apps.
students for the workforce. Another consideration is to have dedicated computer science classes in both
middle and high schools. Schools should provide guidance on the best ways for teachers to move
forward with integrating computer science. Schools should offer these courses starting in elementary
school, in my opinion. My 9 year old son did the Hour of Code on Code.org with his 2nd grade class two
years ago and he loved it. If we can start to engage students at a young age, then they will learn to love
it. In my STEM class we did various activities on Code.org and I had a few students after that start to
look at college programs for coding. They want to write code for games and apps.
(All information from the Report to the North Carolina General Assembly)
ISTE Standards for Educators:
The five standards for teachers include computational thinking, equity leader, collaborating around
computing, creativity and design, and integrating computational thinking. I think these standards provide
a flow of knowledge for teachers to be able to learn about computer science and then apply it to their
classrooms. The first standard focuses on the teacher as a learner. I think this would be a key part of
professional development for teachers. Learning about what CS is and how it can enhance a classroom
is the first step in teachers wanting to incorporate it into their classrooms.
computing, creativity and design, and integrating computational thinking. I think these standards provide
a flow of knowledge for teachers to be able to learn about computer science and then apply it to their
classrooms. The first standard focuses on the teacher as a learner. I think this would be a key part of
professional development for teachers. Learning about what CS is and how it can enhance a classroom
is the first step in teachers wanting to incorporate it into their classrooms.
Being an equity leader means ensuring all students have the same access regardless of various factors.
As teachers, we do this all time in our classes already. It does not matter what you bring into my room,
you have the ability and opportunity to learn and grow, that applies to CS as well. Collaboration is an
important piece of education in general. Working with others helps everyone to learn more.
As teachers, we do this all time in our classes already. It does not matter what you bring into my room,
you have the ability and opportunity to learn and grow, that applies to CS as well. Collaboration is an
important piece of education in general. Working with others helps everyone to learn more.
As teachers gain more confidence they then move into the creativity and design standard. When they
are ready to make their activities, from a professional development standpoint, they will need ongoing,
in classroom, support to ensure they are achieving what they have planned. Finally, teachers move into
integrating computational thinking, at this level they are most confident with incorporating various
strategies and technologies into their classrooms. PD at this time would be follow up support if needed.
are ready to make their activities, from a professional development standpoint, they will need ongoing,
in classroom, support to ensure they are achieving what they have planned. Finally, teachers move into
integrating computational thinking, at this level they are most confident with incorporating various
strategies and technologies into their classrooms. PD at this time would be follow up support if needed.
Computer Science Standards for Students
These are focused on five core concepts:
1. Computing Systems
2. Networks and the Internet
3. Data and Analysis
4. Algorithms and Programming
5. Impacts of Computing
These standards are more specific to if the students were enrolled in computer science courses.
However, core class teachers could support the process. Focusing on grades 6-8 standards, in
computing systems, students could learn about various graphing software in math class like
Desoms or GeoGebra and figure out how they work. For networks and the internet, students
could research how networks are set up and how to protect themselves online. In healthful
living, students could investigate security on the internet and set up their own network within
the school to better understand the permission and privacy aspects of networks. For data and
analysis, in math and science there is always data to collect and look at. Students could develop
their own software or programs to help them better understand the concepts. This could be
done in healthful learning too. Right now there is tons of data surrounding COVID-19 and
students could be looking at it to find trends and such. In my math class, we used Desmos to
talk about the exponential growth since that was the unit we had finished before schools let out.
However, core class teachers could support the process. Focusing on grades 6-8 standards, in
computing systems, students could learn about various graphing software in math class like
Desoms or GeoGebra and figure out how they work. For networks and the internet, students
could research how networks are set up and how to protect themselves online. In healthful
living, students could investigate security on the internet and set up their own network within
the school to better understand the permission and privacy aspects of networks. For data and
analysis, in math and science there is always data to collect and look at. Students could develop
their own software or programs to help them better understand the concepts. This could be
done in healthful learning too. Right now there is tons of data surrounding COVID-19 and
students could be looking at it to find trends and such. In my math class, we used Desmos to
talk about the exponential growth since that was the unit we had finished before schools let out.
For algorithms and programming, this could include creating graphs, tables, and charts in all
subject areas. Students could learn to create algorithms to help them solve problems in math.
They could develop programs to answer many problems in math and science and then test
them to see if they work. Finally, for impacts of computing, students could investigate the
effects of computer science on our bodies and our world. They could look at how equity plays
a role in computer science and how that affects people’s jobs and overall lives.
subject areas. Students could learn to create algorithms to help them solve problems in math.
They could develop programs to answer many problems in math and science and then test
them to see if they work. Finally, for impacts of computing, students could investigate the
effects of computer science on our bodies and our world. They could look at how equity plays
a role in computer science and how that affects people’s jobs and overall lives.
Overall, I think these standards do align well with the purpose, rationale, and goals of computer science and technology education in NC. Teachers need the help and support and the teacher standards layout a good plan for that. I think the students standards are well organized and have a nice progression as students move up in grade levels. A few challenges would be, if the K-2 does not “meet” their standards, then students will get behind just like in math and reading. Another challenge is the teacher not having the training or support in order to incorporate and teach computer science into the classroom. Equity is also a huge challenge in integrating computer science. Schools may not have the hardware or infrastructure in order to fully support all students and teachers in the process.
Comments