Competency #6: Integrating CS with Other Disciplines

The fourth AEA module — and thinking about where CS fits in your subject area.

Summary

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

Your activities for this Competency are:

Module #4

Please complete the following module:

Deliverable, Part 1 — Module Reflections

As you work through the module, take notes on what you experience. You will also be asked to complete Reflection Journal Activities at several points; make sure you engage with those as they come up.

When you are done, word process your responses to the following questions:

  1. What did you write for each of the in-module Reflection Journal Activities?
    • Reflection #9 — After watching Mrs. Spooner's lesson and reviewing the lesson objectives and materials, what aspects of her lesson could you replicate or modify to implement a computer science lesson in your classroom? How could the use of unplugged activities reinforce computer science concepts for students? How can this help with your summative assessment?
    • Reflection #10 — After watching Mrs. Conrad's lesson and reviewing the lesson objectives and materials, what aspects of her lesson could you replicate or modify to implement a computer science lesson in your classroom? What challenges would you expect to encounter during your computer science instruction and how will you overcome these obstacles?
    • Reflection #11 — After watching Mrs. Lammer's lesson and reviewing the lesson objectives and materials, what aspects of her lesson could you replicate or modify to implement a computer science lesson in your classroom? How do you anticipate your students responding to a computer science lesson? How will you gauge the success of this lesson including instruction and student understanding?
  2. What was the main point of this training module?
  3. How did this material fit in with what you have learned in your CSEd program so far?
  4. Identify and discuss at least one item or topic in the training that added to what you had previously learned. How did it improve your knowledge?
  5. Identify and discuss at least one item or topic in the training that was a completely new idea for you. How did it improve your knowledge?

Deliverable, Part 2 — CS Integration in Your Discipline

Now let's think about how integration of computer science with other disciplines applies at your grade level. Please address the following:

  1. What grade level(s) and subject(s) do you normally teach? [If you primarily teach CS, please discuss your original licensure/discipline.]
  2. How can computational thinking be applied to problem solving within your subject area?
  3. What opportunities exist for students to use programming to demonstrate their understanding of key concepts in your subject?
  4. How can data analysis and/or visualization be integrated into your curriculum to support students' understanding of your discipline?
  5. In what ways can interdisciplinary projects that include computer science enhance students' engagement and learning in your subject?

Evaluation