PLTW
Computer Science
Pathway
WHY CS IN ALL GRADES?
Why?
LABOR PIPELINE DEMAND
TOTAL STEM JOBS THROUGH 2022
STEM JOB OPENINGS THROUGH 2022
WHY THE DISCREPANCY?
Imagine:
No K-8 life science
No universal 9-12 life science
Only one life science elective in high school
How many students would be interested in
biology? Medicine?
WE NEED COMPUTER SCIENCE IN K-12
AP Exam Takers
Number of Students Taking AP Exam (1984 -2014)
Computer Science
.
Data from research.collegeboard.com
PREPARATION FOR DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

Effective Use and Troubleshooting:
Using best practices with a computer and knowing
how to fix any issues are a must in the modern
world.

Safety:
Understanding digital footprint and online safety is
a necessity.

Understanding artifacts:
Learning how to utilize digital artifacts for
research and collaboration is needed in both
academic and professional sectors.
PROVIDE A FOUNDATION
Engaging fundamentals at early, developmentally
appropriate ages allows rich content in high school.
What if high school mathematics had to begin with
lessons on place value and arithmetic?
Most coders began before
high school.
ENSURE ACCESS
 Poor demographics in CS today.
 Low enrollment in high school,
post secondary, AP exams, and the
CS labor poor.
 Need to teach CS in K12.
 Students identify interests
early.
 Elective approach is
unacceptable.
* Margolis, Jane. Stuck in the Shallow End.
MIT Press. 2008.
INEQUITABLE AP EXAM PARTICIPATION
Source: C. Stephenson, 2012. https://csta.acm.org/Advocacy_Outreach/sub/PresentationFiles/NGCPConPres.pdf
WHAT IS COMPUTER SCIENCE ALL ABOUT?
What?
Discuss
Broad MeaningTHINKING
AIM FOR COMPUTATIONAL
Computational
Thinking
Technology
Enhanced
Learning
Computer
Science
Digital Literacy
Coding
Information
Technology
PLTW APPROACH TO DIGITAL LITERACY
Student Teams
Create Solutions
to
Real Problems
STRANDS ACROSS THE PLTW
COMPUTER SCIENCE PATHWAY
 Collaborative problem-based learning that fits in a
combination of these problem areas:
a. Creating products as algorithms, coding, and software
b. Networked and embedded computing and
collaborative/crowd sourced effects
c. Data collection, exploration, and analysis
d. Modeling and simulation
e. Robotics, physical automation, and artificial intelligence
 Safe use of computing
 Career opportunities
ARE THERE ANY STANDARDS?
What should students know, and when?
CSTA STANDARDS
Strands
Computational
Thinking
Community
Global, and
Ethical Impacts
Collaboration
Computers and
Communications
Devices
Computing
Practice &
Programming
Grade Bands
K-3 / 3-6 / 6-9 / 9-12
Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA)
Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
ISTE STANDARDS FOR STUDENTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Creativity and innovation
Communication and collaboration
Research and information fluency
Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making
Technology operations and concepts
Digital citizenship
PLTW FOLLOWS THE UNDERSTANDING
BY DESIGN MODEL
* Understanding by Design, by Grant P. Wiggins
and Jay McTighe. Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development. 2005.
WHAT IS THE PLTW CS PATHWAY?
What does PLTW offer?
PLTW COMPUTER SCIENCE
K-12 PATHWAY
Click here for more information.
TEACHER-READY MATERIALS
STUDENT-READY MATERIALS
SOME TOOLS FOR K-12
Thank you!