Stories

Pathfinders is back this summer! Can we get a WOOHOO?! Read along for the exciting details.

 

Firia Labs and Infosys Foundation USA have committed to providing NO COST to you teacher professional development which fully prepares teachers to deliver authentic project-based CS instruction using the industry-standard Python language. These scholarships are offered to US public school and charter school teachers.

A cybersecurity professional development for up to 10 teachers and a summer camp for 40-50 students. There is a focus on combining computer science concepts with the growing field of cybersecurity. More details about registration coming soon!

 

Please help us spread the word about a FREE camp for girls to explore their digital world in a career setting, Teens Exploring Careers, June 16-21 at Casper College. Register at https://www.cyberwyoming.org/camp/ or contact us at info@cyberwyoming.org or 307.314.2188.

 

CodeHS has partnered with WDE to provide Wyoming Computer Science teachers with a preparatory course for the Computer Science Praxis.

Attention All Elementary Educators, Principals, District Staff: Spread the Word/Attend the Summit! CSK5 is a national master class in K-5 computer science education.

Our podcast with Dr. Hegeman-Davis is officially live!  She recently joined the University of Wyoming School of Computing in 2022 and we are grateful to have had her join us. Her current research interests include Teacher training, K-12 Computer Science integration, STEM education in rural contexts, CS equity and inclusion, STEM pathways and retention, and educational policy.  

The CSTA WY leadership team has reserved a room block for this summer's conference at the Ramada Plaza in Sheridan and dorm options at Sheridan College.

 

Richard Winn has worked with computers since the early days (he got a Commodore 64) when they first came out. He was working in Food and Beverage in Las Vegas, but his love of all things computer was sparked.  He ran his Bulletin Board System (BBS) back in the day on a dial-up 300-baud modem. He was self-taught on most things computer related, including BASIC programming. Richard worked his way up to being the Director of Food and Beverage in one of the Casino/Hotels.  He got bored with this and decided to do something more stimulating. He was looking for a challenge. 

Loud, orchestrated chaos, and a whole lot of fun can sum up a day spent with Mrs. Price.  Melissa teaches STEAM to 1st - 5th-grade students at 5 different elementary schools in the Sheridan County School District #2. Students work collaboratively, in small groups of 2-3, while engaged in unplugged problem-solving activities, engineering projects, robotics, and computer programming. Rich discussions amongst students happen daily from understanding the strategies of computational thinking to working through the iterative process to solve a problem. 

Technology Education and Learning Support (TEALS) is a Microsoft Philanthropies program that builds sustainable computer science programs in high schools, with a focus on serving students excluded from learning CS because of race, gender, or geography. Microsoft TEALS helps classroom teachers learn to teach computer science on their own by pairing them with industry volunteers and proven curricula. The TEALS school application for 2023-2024 is now open. You can access the application at Microsoft.com/TEALS. 

Firia Labs was born out of our passion and commitment to ensure that all students have access to real world computer programming learning opportunities. Our focus is to assist teachers and district leadership in moving students from block-based coding to learning Python in standard computer programming courses as well as cross-curricular experiences.
 

CSTA Wyoming and the University of Wyoming have teamed up to bring you the second annual Teacher Hackathon - Titled: Change for Good. Educators across the state will build teams, define a problem, and create change for good. Register HERE.

Barb has been working with technology since "the olden days"-- in high school she learned programming on a computer where code was stored on cassette tapes, and then she progressed to using a “mini” computer with disks larger than a turkey platter. She has 26 years experience in public education, and an earlier career in software sales, testing, and training. Even when she worked for software developers she was more interested in helping people learn to use the technology than she was in creating it. 

As we prepare for the implementation of the Wyoming Computer Science Standards in all schools by the year 2022, it's important that we come together.  Please join your CSTA WY chapter for news on learning opportunities, networking, and strategies.