Competency #2: The CS Framework

Summary

In this activity you will complete the second of four modules prepared by the state of Iowa Board of Education and AEAs to help teachers in the state better understand CS and how to apply the CS Framework and Standards when designing CS lessons for students.  [My big thank you to the state of Iowa for making these available for us to use in our program].

Your activities for this Competency are:

• Complete AEA Online Module #2 including answering several reflection questions
• Read/examine the published CS Framework documents
• Apply this material in a "Competency Demo" activity.

Module #2

For today's activity please complete the following module:

• Module #2 - Understanding the K12 Computer Science Framework

It is estimated that this will take 90-120 minutes depending on how closely you read the material and how much time you spend on answering the questions.

Deliverable, Part 1

While completing the Module you should take notes about what you experience.  Furthermore, you should complete the Reflection Journal Activities as they are presented in the materials. 

When you are done, please word process your responses to the following reflection questions.

1. What did you write for each of the the Reflection Journal Activities?
   • Reflection #4 - Journal about where you envision the subconcepts fitting in to a lesson. Your students are probably doing the practices throughout the day. Do you see it happening in the lesson you journaled about just a moment ago? If not, can you think of a lesson where both a subconcept and a practice exists? How can this support your summative assessment?
   • Reflection #5 - Thinking about equity, journal about the lessons in your classroom. Are they equitable? What shifts could you make to ensure equity?
2. What was the main point of this training module?
3. How did this material fit in with the material you have learned in your CSEd program so far?
4. Identify and discuss at least one item/topic in the training that you felt added to what you had previously learned.  How did it improve your knowledge/learning?
5. Identify and discuss at least one item/topic in the training that was a completely new idea or thought for you.  How did it improve your knowledge/learning?

Readings

In this second AEA module you learned about the CS Framework. I think it is worth taking some time to review the Framework documents. Furthermore, you will use these materials in an activity next week at the Community of Practice event.

• Become familiar with the K-12 CS Framework website. In particular:
  • Thoroughly explore the "Vision menu" and it's subtopics
  • Thoroughly explore the "Framework Statements" menu and it's subtopics
    • Navigating the Practices
    • Navigating the Concepts
    • K–12 CS Framework grade-band statements
• Read:
  • Chapters 1 and 4 of the the K12 CS Framework

Deliverable, Part 2

Why start with a Framework?

In considering this question/idea, I want you to consider in what ways does (or maybe should) the K-12 Computer Science Framework guide the development of curriculum for students and professional development for teachers?

Deliverable, Part 3

Concepts vs. Practices?

The framework for computer science involves five concepts and seven practices? What are the differences between, and purposes of these two categories? Are there certain concepts you see as more relevant in your grade band? What about practices? [Please clearly identify which grade band you are writing about].

Evaluation

• Please submit a single document containing all of your responses to the questions posed above.
  • The deadline for this is no later than Sunday, June 22
• This is evaluated as a competency demo.
• Each question will be evaluated on a scale of 0-4, and the entire set assigned a combined grade that will not necessarily be the mathematical average of those scores.