Join us in person for the Inaugural Wyoming Computer Science Education Conference on July 20 - 22, 2022 at Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Wy. The Computer Science Education Conference is an opportunity for administrators and educators from kindergarten through higher education, to share and explore computer science teaching and learning practices for classrooms and after school programs. This conference is hosted by the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA-Wyoming) and the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE).

Hotel Information

Wind River Casino - 20 Rooms Available room block code = CSTA Wyoming

Hampton Inn - Room block code = Wyoming CSTA

Link for the first 20 rooms ($96.00): www.my-event.hilton.com/wyomingcomputerscienceteachers/

Link for the second 20 rooms ($129.00): www.my-event.hilton.com/wyomingcomputerscienceteachers2/

Schedule

Agenda At-A-Glance

Wednesday, July 20, 2022 - Optional Pre-Conference

Option 1 Code.org - Computer Science Fundamentals training (8 am to 4 pm)

Option 2 Computer Science Micro - Credential work session (1 pm to 4 pm)

Thursday July 21, 2022

8:30-9 a.m. - Conference Welcome
9-9:45 - Keynote Speaker
10-10:45 - Breakout Session
11:00 - 11:45 a.m. - Breakout Session
11:45-1 p.m. - Lunch Break/Networking
1-1:45 p.m. Breakout Session
2-2:45 p.m. - Breakout Session
3-3:45 p.m. - Breakout Session
4-5 p.m. - Birds of a Feather Networking

Friday, July 22, 2022

8-9 a.m. - Welcome and Keynote Speaker
9:15-10:00 a.m. - Breakout Session
10:15-11:00 a.m. - Breakout Session
11:15 a.m.- 12 p.m. - Keynote Speaker
12-12:30 p.m. - Closing Remarks and Door Prizes

Sponsor Opportunities

The WY Computer Science Education Conference is seeking sponsors for the 2022 in person conference. There are two opportunities:

Keynote Sponsor: includes 2-3 minute speech before the keynote, a 45-minute session, mentions throughout the conference, participant list, and logo on the conference website. This opportunity is $500 and space is limited to three keynote sponsors.

Session Sponsor: includes a 45-minute presentation session, mentions throughout the conference, participant list, and logo on the conference website. This opportunity is $200 and spaces are limited.

Vendor Exhibit Hall: Set up an informational table to showcase your organization/company for teachers to learn more about your organization. This opportunity is $100 and spaces are limited.

Keynote: Jared O'Leary

Boot Up PD - Director of Education and Research

2022 Wyoming Computer Science Education Conference image

Biography

Jared O'Leary is a multiplicity. At BootUp PD, Jared is the Director of Education & Research, where they create 100% free elementary coding curricula and collaborate on research initiatives. Visit JaredOLeary.com to view their latest podcasts, presentations, publications, and free resources for drummers, gamers, and computer science educators.

Keynote: Alexis Harrigan

Code.org - Director of State Government Affairs

Biography

Alexis Harrigan serves as Senior Director of State Government Affairs at Code.org where she works with law and policy-makers in multiple states to expand access to computer science education. Based in Colorado, Alexis' career in education policy spans local, state, and federal levels. She has advised district superintendents, governors and members of Congress on education policy. As the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants, Alexis is passionate about Code.org's focus on increasing computer science participation by women and students from marginalized racial and ethnic groups. She volunteers her time on initiatives focused on female economic empowerment and education advocacy in her local community.

Keynote: Chad Lane

Associate Professor of Educational Psychology & Computer Science

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Title: Unpacking the Cognitive and Emotional Aspects of Learning to Code

Computer programming is a complex task that involves a wide range of cognitive and metacognitive skills. Research has shown that novice programmers struggle in many predictable ways that, when understood, can be ameliorated through unique instructional practices and provision of learning supports. Learning to code is also influenced by emergent learner emotions, such as frustration and delight, and can be more rewarding when learners are patient, curious, and resilient. In this talk I will provide an overview of these issues and describe current research findings from learning sciences research that are relevant for computer science educational practice. I will describe my own research projects on supporting problem solving skills and promoting self-efficacy to provide concrete examples of both cognitive and emotional aspects of learning to code. My talk will conclude by highlighting the potential links between informal and formal learning of coding skills and explore important potential links between creativity, educational game design, and computational thinking that we are investigating in my lab.

Biography

H. Chad Lane is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology and Computer Science at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Chad's research focuses on the design, use, and impacts of intelligent technologies for informal STEM learning. He has over 100 publications in a variety of areas, including intelligent tutoring, educational games, computer science education, and narrative-based learning environments. Broadly, his work involves blending techniques from the entertainment industry (that foster engagement) with those from artificial intelligence and intelligent tutoring systems (that promote learning), as well as running studies to better understand whether and how the resulting learning experiences impact learners. His work in computer science education looks at the intersection of cognitive and affective issues involved with learning to code and viewing problems through computational lenses. His PhD is in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh (2004), and prior to joining UIUC, he spent ten years as a research scientist and project director at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies.

Keynote Sponsors

BootUp Professional Development, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, helps districts implement elementary computer science initiatives through long-term professional development (PD), model teaching, coaching, curricula, and Professional Learning Community (PLC) support. BootUp works closely with each district to create a custom initiative and then provides the PD, curricula, and support to create a complete and sustainable elementary coding program. Through ongoing professional development and mentoring, BootUp equips teachers with the experience and resources to be successful, confident coding teachers.

Teachers learn how to engage students through easy-to-use, block-based programming languages. Students create and share interactive stories, animations, games, art, music, and more through problem-solving and other fundamental computer science concepts and practices (based on the K12 CS Framework and CSTA Standards). No prior coding experience is required and BootUp’s support includes a free, interest-driven curriculum with more than 100 class projects (and more to come in the future) for grades K-6.

Imagine Learning is a PreK–12 digital learning solutions company that ignites learning breakthroughs by designing forward-thinking solutions at the intersection of people, curricula, and technology to drive student growth. Imagine Learning serves more than 10 million students and partners with more than 7,500 school districts nationwide. Imagine Learning’s flagship brands include Imagine Edgenuity, provider of online courseware and intervention solutions; Imagine Learning, provider of digital supplemental and intervention solutions for literacy, language, and mathematics; and LearnZillion, StudySync, and Twig Education, providers of high-quality, digital-first core curriculum. Read more about Imagine Learning’s new brand at https://www.imaginelearning.com/en/us.

Skill Struck's mission is to create opportunities for all students to learn to code and equip them to have a positive impact on the world. Their computer science education platforms provide applicable resources for teachers and foster industry connections for administrators. Skill Struck's curriculum is engaging and accessible for all learners.