Computer Science Teacher Resources
Of f ice of
Academics
Interested in teaching Computer Science?
Certification Requirements for teaching computer science in Texas (search for computer science)
Preparation Manual for the TexES test 141 for computer science 8-12
General Information about the TexES test
Registration Information for the Limited-Administration CAT test (scan down for dates)
Resources for current Computer Science teachers
You are the expert in what will work with your students. There are resources for your first year, so that you can gain
confidence and study what will suit your situation, but you must keep adjusting to keep the students engaged, challenged
and excited about computer science.
Languages
Different teachers have different opinions on the “right” language to teach in. The beauty of computer science is that
language is not the most important thing. The concepts of computer science apply to whatever language you choose to
code in. All languages have “if statements” and “loops”, etc. If a student learns computer science concepts in one language,
it is merely a matter of learning the syntax of another to apply the same ideas and strategies. With that being said, teachers
should keep current on what are the “languages of the day”.
Here are a variety of resources and people that can answer your questions
NCWIT has resources to help get more females into your classes. ACM has general computer science resources. CSUnplugged has a list of teacher resources.
CSTA (of ACM) has a resource list. eSchoolNews has a list of applications to use with your computer science classes.
Google Group for Central Texas Computer Science Teachers.
Various Curricula
Project Lead the Way - PLTW
Code.org
Code Highschool - codeHS
AP Computer Science - APCS
Sequence of Courses
Sequences of courses may vary with individual campus needs. Some high schools already have some computer
programming in place or an OnRamps course or one of the PLTW computer science courses. This is a discussion to have with
your campus after you have researched what options will suit your students best.
Secondary School Information Guide
What is Computer Science?
Computer science involves the creation of
computer programs to solve problems, and it is
not just computer programming.
Join the conversation.
@AustinISD
@AISD_CAO
#AISD_CS
For more information, please visit www.austinisd.org
Student Interest in Computer Science
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Academics
How to get students to sign up for your class
Start with direct marketing strategies to give students a chance to discover the great things they can learn in computer science.
Direct marketing strategies
l Put up flyers about your computer science class.
l Send out a mass e-mail to all students trying to entice them to take your class. l If you can get a large list of students that you know personally or know of from other teachers, it is recommended that you send direct e-mails to them listing the benefits of taking your class.
l Prepare you email to include they could have and address them in your e-mail.
l Talk to students in person and keep trying to convince them by expounding on the great projects you will be doing and the vast amount of opportunities that await them if they pursue computer science.
l Share videos found online about high school and college students talking about what they love about computer science.
l Search computer science sites and find lists of benefits of computer science or show students what they can do by actually having them explore computer science.
l Here is a sample e-mail that was sent out that you can get ideas from.
l You may assign groups of current students in your class to create a short video that you can add to your arsenal of direct marketing e-mails.
How to attract nontraditional students
People have a potentially incorrect picture of who does computer science. In the past (and somewhat currently) there are not as
many ethnically diverse people or women that work in the field of computer science.
Keep your CS classroom engaging for all.
l Start a campus Hour of Code event. This is a nice entryway to computer science.
l Share resources from the website NCWIT. It discusses why women in tech matter.
l Check out this website NCWIT for strategies that will help attract and retain students.
l Additional Resources include: College Board , UNewMexico l Talk to other teachers in the district or country that have success in retaining nontraditional students.
How to retain students
l Continue using the direct marketing strategies.
l Form a coherent computer science sequence on your campus. Sequence of Courses
l Talk with students about endorsement possibilities.
FAQ on Endorsements
l Consider your students’ interests and population in your classes when you are deciding what projects to do.
l Create and plan lessons that are accessible to all students - both those that need extra scaffolding and those that can extend their learning with little or no help from you.
What is Computer Science?
Find out more
Computer science involves the creation of
computer programs to solve problems, and it is
not just computer programming.
PLTW, code.org, codeHS, APCS
Join the conversation
For more information, please visit www.austinisd.org
@AustinISD
@AISD_CAO
#AISD_CS
Computer Science Principal Resources
Of f ice of
Academics
Do you have Computer Science questions?
Here is a 15-minute video that will answer some questions regarding CS at your high school.
New State Board of Education rules have gone into effect for what High Schools should offer in terms of computer science.
See rule 74.3.b.2.I
How can you get students to sign up for Computer Science?
Start with direct marketing strategies to give students a chance to discover the great things they can learn in Computer
Science.
What sequence of courses are needed-and what about endorsements?
Sequence of Courses
FAQ on Endorsements
2012 high school A.P. enrollment in United States
History
Math
Computer Science
Source: College Board, code.org 2013
= 100,000 students
Computer‐related occupations
Demand
Median pay: 2012
Number in field
Software Developers
22%
$93,350
1,018,000
Computer Research Scientists
15%
$102,190
26,700
Computer Systems Analysts
25%
$79,680
520,600
Source: Carnevale and Cheah, 2013
What is Computer Science?
Find out more
Computer science involves the creation of
computer programs to solve problems, and it is
not just computer programming.
PLTW, code.org, codeHS, APCS
Join the conversation
For more information, please visit www.austinisd.org
@AustinISD
@AISD_CAO
#AISD_CS