Target Audience: All K-4 Educators   Length of PD: 1 days (6 hours)   

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Laptop or Chromebook is required for this PD session   

Description: This training aims to provide an introduction to computer science at the K-4 level using embedded activities. Join us in exploring coding tools, unplugged activities, and online coding resources to make connections between Literacy, STEM, and Computer Science. Network with other teachers, leaders, and curriculum coordinators to engage in meaningful learning activities. Participants will leave with resources including lesson ideas and projects. 

Note: To further develop your knowledge of elementary CS coding concepts, join the Middle School Intro To Coding: Learn Text-based Code

Computer Science: Intro to Block-Based Coding 

Target Audience: All K-4 Educators   Length of PD: 1 day (6 hours)

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Laptop or Chromebook is required for this PD session   

Description: This training helps participants gain a fundamental understanding of computer science concepts through the use of block-based coding in Scratch. It is the perfect opportunity for those who have never coded before and yet feel comfortable around technology. Participants will gain a more concrete understanding of computer science in general and strengthen their ability to integrate those computer science concepts into the classroom.

Note: Teachers may wish to attend Computer of Science: Teaching K-4 if they have little experience with CS integration. 

Computer Science: Teaching 5-8

Target Audience: All 5-8 Educators   Length of PD: 1 days (6 hours)

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Laptop or Chromebook is required for this PD session. 

Participants may wish to bring a personal copy of “My Life as a Coder”

Description: This training focuses on the integration of computer science into the 5-8 classroom. Explore coding tools, unplugged activities, and online coding resources to make connections between Literacy, ELA, Computer Science and more! Join with other teachers, leaders, and curriculum coordinators to engage in activities meant to be embedded in other content areas. Participants will leave with resources including lesson ideas, projects, and connections with other CS teachers. 

Note: Participants who are interested in progressing their (or their students’) CS skills to text-based coding should join us for Computer Science: Transition to Text-based Coding. 

Participants who will be teaching the Middle School Intro To Coding: Learn to Text-based Code (formerly Coding Block) may wish to attend the 2-day Middle School Intro To Coding: Learn to Text-based Code (formerly Coding Block) which focuses on introduction to text-based coding and/or the Teaching Middle School Intro to Coding which focuses on standards, pacing and activities.

Computer Science: Transition to Text-based Coding 

Target Audience: All 5-8 Educators   Length of PD: 1 days (6 hours)

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Laptop or Chromebook is required for this PD session  

Description: This training will focus on providing activities and opportunities to help teachers guide students through block-based coding and explore text-based coding for the first time. All the activities will begin with block-based coding and transition to text-based. Participants will utilize resources such as Pencilcode, Microsoft MakeCode Arcade and EarSketch. 

Note: Participants who want a heartier introduction or to focus solely on block-based should consider taking the Computer Science: Teaching 5-8. Participants who will be teaching the Middle School Introduction to Coding (formerly called Coding Block) may wish to attend the 2-day Middle School Intro To Coding: Learn to Text-based Code (formerly Coding Block) which focuses on introduction to text-based coding and/or the Teaching Middle School Intro to Coding which focuses on standards, pacing and activities. 

Middle School Intro To Coding: Learn Text-based Code (formerly Coding Block)

Target Audience: Any 5th to 8th-grade educator interested in improving their knowledge of programming 

Length of PD: 2 days (12 hours)    

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Laptop or Chromebook is required for this PD session 

Description: Do you need to learn the concepts behind the coding block and explore a professional, beginner-friendly, text-based programming language that can be used in the coding block? This training puts you on the path to better understanding the programming coding block standards and becoming more proficient in a text-based programming language. Content and activities are geared towards increasing your knowledge of programming to aid in teaching the coding block.

Teaching Middle School Intro to Coding (former Coding Block Resources)

Target Audience: All 5-8 Educators

Length of PD: 1 days (6 hours)    

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Laptop or Chromebook is required for this PD session 

Description: This training will focus on providing participants with activities and support in developing a pacing guide for the Middle School Intro to Coding course (formerly called the Coding Block), and is often part of KeyCode. Participants will have access to discuss the standards, review and engage in activities that meet these standards, and will have time and support in developing their own pacing guide prior to leaving this training. 

Note: If you need the basics of coding, we strongly encourage you to also consider joining us for the Middle School Coding Block: Learn to Code. 

High School Computer Science Certification and Preparation

Target Audience: High School Teachers   

Length of PD: 5 days (30 hours)

Maximum 20

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Required Technology: Computer or Chromebook 

Description: Don’t know where to begin or need help getting 528 certified? The purpose of this training is to help narrow down and focus your studies on essential concepts while also giving you a basic understanding of various computer science principles. This session is to prepare Arkansas educators planning to teach high school computer science and needing assistance passing the Computer Science (CS) Praxis Exam 5652. Participants will review Arkansas 9-12 Computer Science course codes, computer science standards, resources, and prep material to be used for passing the Computer Science Praxis. Participants will need to spend time outside of the training prior to taking the Praxis Exam. 

Note: If you are interested in a deeper understanding of programming, networking, or cybersecurity we strongly encourage you to consider joining us for one or more of the intermediate and/or advanced PDs. Registration information can be found here.

Intermediate Cybersecurity - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: 9-12 Teachers interested in teaching Year 2 Cybersecurity
Length of PD: 3 days, 18 hours

Maximum Participants: 20  

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Required Technology: Laptop (preferably non-chromebook)

Description: This 3-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development.  This PD is a great entry point for educators with little or no experience in Cybersecurity. You will be introduced to security concepts as well as methods to help teach those concepts. We’ll cover topics such as hacker methodologies, classic information security concepts, threats and vulnerabilities, and physical security as well as how to have engaging cybersecurity experiences in the classroom.  We’ll leverage several platforms and resources that you can take back to the classroom. If you would like to extend your knowledge further, we encourage you to also consider joining us for the Advanced Cybersecurity training. 

Advanced Cybersecurity - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience:  Any 9-12 teacher who is interested in guiding students through advanced material
Length of PD: 5 days, 30 hours

Maximum Participants: 20  

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Required Technology: Laptop (preferably one able to run a virtual machine)

Description: This 5-day workshop is for educators who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development.  It is recommended, but not required, that the intermediate training be completed before participating in the advanced level training. This PD session will be hands-on, focusing on exploring labs and activities that will touch on various facets of Cybersecurity that will include, but are not limited to, ethical and legal considerations, hacker methodologies, digital forensics and incident response, network forensics, analyzing malware, and more. We will explore a number of resources and approaches that you can utilize in your classroom as well as various resources to help you build your own skills and confidence in Cybersecurity.

Intermediate Python Programming - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: Teachers interested in teaching Year 2 Programming using the Python programming language.
Length of PD: 3 days, 18 hours

Maximum Participants: 20

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Required Technology: Laptop 

Description: This 3-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development, and have a fundamental understanding of computer science and programming. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, Python syntax, data structures, object-oriented programming, file input/output, GUI building, algorithm analysis, and collaboration and version control software. If you would like to extend your knowledge further, we encourage you to also consider joining us for the Advanced Python training. 

Advanced Python Programming - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: Teachers interested in teaching Advanced (Year 3) Programming using the Python programming language.
Length of PD: 5 days, 30 hours

Maximum Participants: 20  

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Required Technology: Laptop 

Description:  This 5-day workshop is for educators who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development, and have a fundamental understanding of computer science concepts and the Python programming language.  It is recommended, but not required, that the intermediate training be completed before participating in the advanced level training. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, object-oriented programming including inheritance and polymorphism, processing binary files, exception handling, algorithm analysis, working with data collections, simulations, using Python libraries, and version control and collaboration software.

Intermediate Java Programming - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: Teachers interested in teaching Year 2 Programming using the Java programming
Length of PD: 3 days, 18 hours

Maximum Participants: 20  

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Required Technology: Laptop 

This 3-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development, and have a fundamental understanding of computer science and programming. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, Java syntax, data structures, object-oriented programming, file input/output, GUI building, algorithm analysis, and collaboration and version control software. If you would like to extend your knowledge further, we encourage you to also consider joining us for the Advanced Java training. 

Advanced Java Programming - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: Teachers interested in teaching Advanced (Year 3) Programming using the Java
Length of PD: 5 days, 30 hours

Maximum Participants: 20  

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Required Technology: Laptop 

Description:  This 5-day workshop is for educators who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development, and have a fundamental understanding of computer science concepts and the Java programming language.  It is recommended, but not required, that the intermediate training be completed before participating in the advanced level training. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, object-oriented programming including inheritance and polymorphism, processing binary files, exception handling, algorithm analysis, working with data collections, simulations, using Java libraries, and version control and collaboration software.

Intermediate Networking - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: 9-12 Teachers interested in teaching Year 2 Networking
Length of PD: 3 days, 18 hours

Maximum Participants: 20  

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Required Technology: Laptop

Intermediate: This 3-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development.  This workshop will explore fundamental networking concepts through a practical and hands-on approach. Participants will explore concepts such as the OSI Model, packet analysis, network architecture, and more. If you would like to extend your knowledge further, we encourage you to also consider joining us for the Advanced Networking training. 

Advanced Networking/Hardware - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: Any 9-12 teacher who is interested in guiding students through the advanced material.

Length of PD: 5 days, 30 hours

Maximum Participants: 20  

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm   

Required Technology: Laptop

Note: Individuals selected for the Academy will be given priority any remaining seats will be given to individuals registered through escWorks. The escWorks registration will serve as a waiting list. 

Description: Required Technology: Computer running Virtualbox. This 5-day workshop is for educators who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development, and are comfortable with using computers.  It is recommended, but not required, that the intermediate training be completed before participating in the advanced level training. This PD is engineered with a hands-on approach in mind. Participants will reinforce and extend the concepts learned in the Intermediate PD to build and analyze larger and more sophisticated computer networks. We’ll discuss and implement various networking scenarios that are meant to be replicated in the classroom. Participants should come away with a set of practical experiences that they can use to build, diagnose, and repair computer networks. 

Intermediate Data Science - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: 9-12 Teachers interested in teaching Year 2 Data Science

Length of PD: 3 days, 18 hours

Maximum Participants: 20

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm   

Required Technology: Computer with Internet access

Description: This 3-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development. This workshop aligns with the year 2 curriculum standards for data science. Lectures and demonstrations will introduce participants to the basics of the field and help to demystify the process of transforming data into intelligence. Over the course of the workshop, participants will receive an overview of the profession, its social impact and ethics, and the current “state of the art.” Participants will have the opportunity to interact with several popular data science tools as we break down the data science process from planning and data prep to model evaluation and visualization.  If you would like to extend your knowledge further, we encourage you to also consider joining us for the Advanced Data Science training, which is scheduled for launch in summer 2023. 

Advanced Data Science - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: 9-12 Teachers interested in teaching Year 3 Data Science

Length of PD: 5 days, 30 hours

Maximum Participants: 20

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm   

Required Technology: Computer with Internet access

Description: This 5-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development. This workshop aligns with the year 3 curriculum standards for data science. In this interactive workshop, participants will get a deep dive into the data science process including acquiring and storing data, preparing data for analysis, building and testing a range of statistical and AI-based predictive models, and creating engaging data visualizations and narratives. Participants will also discuss current applications of data science, its social impacts, and ethical questions related to the field.

Intermediate Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: 9-12 Teachers interested in teaching Year 2 AI and Machine Learning

Length of PD: 3 days, 18 hours

Maximum Participants: 20

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm   

Required Technology: Computer with Internet access

Note: Intermediate professional developments do not satisfy the advanced PD requirements for the Arkansas Computer Science and Computing Educator Academy. 

Description: This 3-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development. This workshop aligns with the year 2 curriculum standards for artificial intelligence and machine learning. Lectures and demonstrations will cover the history, current state of the art, and future of the field of AI. Over the course of the workshop, participants will receive an overview of the field, including the various academic disciplines that have influenced it, the history of its conception and development, and the current state of the art. Participants will also have the opportunity to build and explore several different AI paradigms, including search algorithms and machine learning classification and prediction algorithms. We will also look at AI within its current social and professional contexts to better understand the ways in which it is being applied, how it impacts our society and the ethics of its development and use.  If you would like to extend your knowledge further, we encourage you to also consider joining us for the Advanced Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning training, which is scheduled to launch in the summer of 2023.

Advanced Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: 9-12 Teachers interested in teaching Year 3 AI and Machine Learning

Length of PD: 5 days, 30 hours

Maximum Participants: 20

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm   

Required Technology: Computer with Internet access

Description: This 5-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development. This workshop aligns with the year 3 curriculum standards for artificial intelligence and machine learning. In this hands-on workshop, participants will have an opportunity to build and test a range of AI algorithms, including deep neural networks, generative algorithms (e.g., chatbots), image processing algorithms, and more. Participants will also discuss current developments in AI, their social impacts, and ethical questions related to the field.

Intermediate Game Development and Design - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: Teachers interested in teaching Year 2 Game Development and Design.
Length of PD: 3 days, 18 hours

Maximum Participants: 20  

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Description: This 3-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development, and have a fundamental understanding of computer science and programming. This will be hands-on training learning about game development and design through building video games. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, game mechanics, core areas of digital game design, game assets, object-oriented programming, game interfaces, algorithm analysis, and collaboration and version control software. If you would like to extend your knowledge further, we encourage you to also consider joining us for the Advanced Game Development and Design training. 

Advanced Game Development and Design - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: Teachers interested in teaching Advanced (Year 3) Game Development and Design.

Length of PD: 5 days, 30 hours

Maximum Participants: 30

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Description:  This 5-day workshop is for educators who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development, and have a fundamental understanding of computer programming. It is recommended, but not required, that the intermediate training be completed before participating in the advanced level training. Participants will be introduced to game design and development through a hands-on process using the Unity software and the C# programming language. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, using the Unity Development platform, object-oriented programming, game mechanics, core areas of digital game design, using version control/collaboration software, and utilizing game assets.

Intermediate Robotics - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: 9-12 Teachers interested in teaching Year 2 Robotics

Length of PD: 3 days, 18 hours

Maximum Participants: 20

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm   

Required Technology: Computer with Internet access 

Description: This 3-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development. This workshop will address how to teach the Robotics standards using various resources and how to apply robotics concepts regardless of the resource.  We will use the Arkansas Robotics Computer Science standards as part of our framework. Participants will build and program robotic systems and explore various robotic concepts through engaging activities and dynamic lessons. If you would like to extend your knowledge further, we encourage you to also consider joining us for the Advanced Robotics training. 

Advanced Robotics - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: 9-12 Teachers interested in teaching Year 3 Robotics

Length of PD: 5-days, 30 hours

Maximum Participants: 20

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm   

Required Technology: Computer with Internet access 

Description:  This 5-day workshop is for educators who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development, and who plan on teaching advanced robotics concepts. It is recommended, but not required, that the intermediate training be completed before participating in the advanced level training. This workshop will address how to teach the Robotics standards using various resources and how to apply robotics concepts regardless of the resource used. Participants will build and program robotic systems and explore various robotic and industry-related concepts through engaging activities and dynamic lessons. 

Intermediate Mobile Application Development - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: Teachers interested in teaching Year 2 Mobile Application Development.

Length of PD: 3 days, 18 hours

Maximum Participants: 20  

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Description: This 3-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5014 or 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or have completed the 30-hr ADE approved professional development, and have a fundamental understanding of computer science and programming. This will be hands-on training learning about mobile application development through building mobile applications. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, mobile application design process, data structures, object-oriented programming, mobile hardware, GUI building, algorithm analysis, and collaboration and version control software.  If you would like to extend your knowledge further, we encourage you to also consider joining us for the Advanced Mobile Application Development training. 

Advanced Mobile Application Development - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: Teachers interested in teaching Advanced (Year 3) Mobile Application Development.
Length of PD: 5 days, 30 hours

Maximum Participants: 20  

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Description: This 5-day workshop is for those who hold the 528 Computer Science Teacher Certification, 5016 Computer Science Approval Code, or 5014 Computer Science Approval Code and have a fundamental understanding of computer science concepts and mobile application development.  It is recommended, but not required, that the intermediate training be completed before participating in the advanced level training. This will be hands-on training learning mobile application development through building mobile applications. Topics covered will include, but are not limited to, mobile application design, object-oriented programming including inheritance and polymorphism, application simulation and deployment, algorithm analysis, hardware and limitations, input and output, asset utilization, and version control and collaboration software.

Advanced Placement Computer Science A - High School CS Professional Development

Target Audience: 9-12 Computer Science Teachers holding 528 Endorsement or the 5016 Approval Code
Length of PD: 5 days, 30 hours

Maximum Participants: 25  

Facilitator: Arkansas CS Specialist Computer Science

Time: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

A Zoom-capable Laptop or Chromebook is required for this PD session

Description: This training includes an overview of the AP Computer Science A Course and Exam Description along with lab activities that can be used to teach key concepts. The workshop covers the AP CS A units of Data Types, Objects, Logical Operators, Iteration, Arrays, Inheritance, and Recursion. 

Administrators Supporting Computer Science Education in Their Schools

Target Audience: Counselors, Building Level Administrators, District Level Curriculum
Available on Arkansas IDEAS   

Course Information: Technology - Course ID TCC18067

Description:  Overview of the Arkansas Computer Science Initiative. Anthony Owen, State Director of Computer Science Education, and panel members, Russellville Superintendent Dr. Mark Gotcher, Lake Hamilton 8-12 Computer Science Teacher Karma Turner, and Bryant K-12 Science Specialist Greg Wertenberger discuss the need for an appropriate computer science education. They explain the responsibilities of districts, schools, and teacher licensure requirements, discussing the opportunities presented by the CS Flex Credit and Completer Pathways. Diversity in computer science is a key area for growth in our state and across the nation, and the panel shares information regarding the wealth of resources available to help build a strong, diverse computer science program.