2016 Professional Development Grants
- to integrate the embedded K-8 Computer Science Standards within multiple content areas and provide guidance in how to integrate the embedded K-8 Computer Science Standards within multiple content areas to other K-8 teachers within their school, or
- to instruct students in the 7th/8th grade coding block, integrate the embedded K-8 Computer Science Standards within multiple content areas, and provide guidance in how to instruct students in the 7th/8th grade coding block and integrate the embedded K-8 Computer Science Standards within multiple content areas to other K-8 teachers within their school, or
- to prepare existing Arkansas educators to pass the assessment necessary to gain an ADE Computer Science Endorsement on an Arkansas Educator’s License (or individuals in non-traditional licensure programs to pass the assessment necessary to obtain an ADE Provisional License in computer science) and teach high school level computer science content.
Program and MOU | Focus Area | Registration Info | Contact Person |
Arch Ford Education Service Cooperative Up to $37,500.00 | Coding Block for 7th/8th Grade and K-8 Embedded CS Standards | Registration Info | Marilyn Johnson or Lenett Thrasher 501-354-2269 |
Arch Ford Education Service Cooperative Up to $104,172.60 for both Arch Ford CS Endorsement and High School CS programs | CS Endorsement and High School CS | Registration Info | Marilyn Johnson or Lenett Thrasher 501-354-2269 |
Arch Ford Education Service Cooperative Up to $104,172.60 for both Arch Ford CS Endorsement and High School CS programs | CS Endorsement and High School CS | Registration Info The Cyber Innovation Center, in conjunction with the Arkansas Department of Education, will host a 4-day professional development workshop experience where teachers will receive dynamic, hands-on training in implementing innovative, project-driven, multi-disciplinary computer science curricula. The Arkansas Computer Science Training will introduce attendees to computer science as a hands-on, project-based curriculum that utilizes a unique computing platform to engage students in an immersive exploration of the breadth of computer science. Through a puzzle-based learning approach that is strategically meshed with candid discussions of the philosophy and expectations that underlie the learning process, a foundation of problem solving and critical thinking is laid and the four major themes of computer science are then iteratively built as pillars. Various beams that showcase the applications of computer science are finally laid atop the pillars. The high-level goals of the curriculum are to (1) expose students to the beauty of computer science through an engaging discovery process; (2) show how exploring computer science can be used to solve difficult problems; and (3) cultivate problem solvers who are comfortable tackling hard problems and who understand that computer science is a lifelong learning process. *Algorithms form the basis for representing solutions to problems. *Computer Programming explores the reasons for using computers to execute problem solutions for us. *Data Structures explores various major data manipulation and processing structures used by computers. *Computer Architecture provides students with the foundations of computing. Important Session Information: This training will be held at EAST Initiative, 6215 Ranch Drive, Little Rock, AR. This training is for computer science teachers in grades 9-12. This conference is free. Participants should be prepared to attend all of the training on each of the four days. Lunch will be provided. | Marilyn Johnson or Lenett Thrasher 501-354-2269 |
Up to $32,957.60 | CS Endorsement and High School CS | Registration www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=283525 or email jgrady@astate.edu Info The Department of Computer Science at Arkansas State University is offering the Computer Science Praxis (5651) Preparation Institute to help 12 teachers prepare to pass the praxis test. Teachers of any grade level may apply to attend the institute. The grant will provide a $1250 stipend to teachers who, BEFORE JUNE 1, 2017, (1) complete the professional development, (2) attain the ADE Computer Science Endorsement or ADE Provisional License in Computer Science, and (3) are scheduled to support the instruction of one or more of the approved Act 187 courses through either face-to-face or hybrid instructional models for 2016-2017. Up to 84 hours of professional development can be earned by teacher participation in the institute. The 14-day institute dates are June 6-10 and 13-17, July 28-29, and two Saturdays during the school year (dates TBA). Lodging is available for 6 teachers, double-occupancy, who have to travel at least 60 miles to the institute. | Dr. Julie R. Grady 870-680-8100 |
Up to $96,903.45 | K-8 Embedded CS Standards | Registration Session I (Repeat) https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=285219
Info Dawson Education Cooperative, 711 Clinton St. Arkadelphia, AR 71923; Participants will go through a six week online training in Scratch Block Programming and participate in three face-to-face training on implementation into the content areas with a focus on STEAM and Makerspaces. | Tonia McMillan |
Harding University STEM Center Up to $24,418.80 | K-8 Embedded CS Standards | Registration and Info | Tim Brister |
Up to $37,972.00 | CS Endorsement and High School CS | Registration www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=282675 Info www.hsu.edu/stemcenter | Betty Ramsey |
Northeast Arkansas Education Cooperative Up to $39,159.53 | CS Endorsement and High School CS | Registration and Info https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/calendar.aspx?location=2459&iscooperative=1 | Rhonda Fowler 870-886-7717 |
Northwest Arkansas Education Service Cooperative Up to $50,264.00 | Coding Block for 7th/8th Grade and K-8 Embedded CS Standards | http://www.starfishnw.org/ | Marcia Sanders |
South Central Service Cooperative Up to $48,247.50 | K-8 Embedded CS Standards | Registration https://www.escweb.net/ar_esc/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=285356 Info https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bHxiSGhLoqK7y6H8O-ukc0p-mt6CG6fhqSiSwvXR1H8/edit?usp=sharing | JoAnn Womack |
Southwest Arkansas Education Cooperative Up to $51,800.00 | Coding Block for 7th/8th Grade and K-8 Embedded CS Standards | http://www.swaec.org/ | Monica Morris |
University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Up to $59,400.00 | CS Endorsement and High School CS | Registration https://canvas.instructure.com/courses/1024796 Info | Gail Fulenwider |
University of Arkansas at Little Rock Up to $35,335.00 | CS Endorsement and High School CS | Registration http://goo.gl/forms/wKddSMCMrn Info Date: June 4, 2016 - July 29, 2016 Location: University of Arkansas at Little Rock Cost: FREE (Participants will be responsible for all living and transportation expenses.) Registration: Please register here: http://goo.gl/forms/wKddSMCMrn Application Deadline: May 22, 2016 (EXTENDED) Class size limit: 15 seats Point of contact: Dr. Kenji Yoshigoe (kxyoshigoe@ualr.edu) Objectives: The objectives of this summer program are: 1. To enhance participants’ professional identity as computer science teachers; 2. To enable the participants to apply a variety of computer science teaching methods in their high school classes; 3. To enable participants to apply pedagogical tools for teaching computer science; 4. To expose participants to experience the social impacts in a cooperative and supportive environment through the work and class discussions as a team; and 5. To prepare the participants to take Computer Science 5651 Praxis exam. Tentative Program Schedule: Pre-assessment and Catch-up Day: Before 6/4/16: Pre-assessment (one-hour online assessment) 6/4 (9AM-12:30PM): Catch-up Day - Primarily for those who have minimal knowledge in computer literacy and programming experience (e.g., based on the pre-assessment results) Main Program: 6/6/16 - 7/1/16, 9AM-12:30PM (M-W-F): Programming & Computer Literacy 7/5/16 - 7/29/16, 9AM-12:30PM (M-W-R-F): Data Structures and Algorithms 7/8/16 - 7/29/16, 9AM-12:30PM (Fridays): Education in Computer Science 7/8/16 - 7/29/16, 1:30PM-4:30PM (Fridays): Software Engineering | Kenji Yoshigoe |
University of Arkansas (Fayetteville) Up to $34,604.00 | CS Endorsement and High School CS | CATE 4073: Introduction to Teaching Programming in the Secondary Schools will be offered for three hours of graduate credit to participants in the program. The course will provide an introduction to the foundations of teaching methods for computer programming in the secondary schools. Methods of computer programming instruction will include teaching strategies in coding, developing computational thinking, problem-solving skills, and applying key programming concepts. This is an introductory level class that will focus on preparation to pass the assessment necessary to gain an ADE Computer Science Endorsement. Eighteen participants will be selected for the program. Please email Dr. Betsy Orr at borr@uark.edu for additional information. | Dr. Betsy Orr |
University of Central Arkansas Up to $116,998.00 | K-8 Embedded CS Standards | Registration and Info uca.edu/cnsm/2016cscipd | Stephen Addison 501-450-3199 |
For more information, please contact:
Four Capitol Mall Little Rock, AR 72201 501-682-0459 | |
State Director of Computer Science Education 501-682-0459 | |
