Implementation Planning

Digital learning is a source of pride for East Union Elementary. ALL students use 1:1 Chromebooks and other devices on a daily basis. Online tutorials and assessments are integral parts of differentiation, and these lessons are aligned to daily Core Literacy and Math instruction. Fourth and fifth graders use Google forms to complete required Core subject area assignments. These projects are intentionally planned for students to demonstrate mastery of Core standards; they are referenced in the school-wide Rubicon Atlas Curriculum Mapping program.

Online learning is also available for all students through a variety of simulations, games, and resources associated with basic curricular materials. The school’s technology coordinator maintains availability of these resources through the Clever portal, so that young learners have access to unlimited learning with safety limits in place.

While elementary students can proficiently use many resources involving computers, the one area that is currently limited is their understanding of how and why computers and other devices work as they do! So, with resources already in place, it was time to expand learning to levels beyond imagination by launching Computer Science instruction, and the opportunity to apply for the STEM Computer Science is Elementary Award could not have come at a better time.

Prior to writing and submitting the award application, Mrs. Joan Gordon, TK-5 Principal, met with the existing TK-12 Technology Team to propose the plan, with the knowledge that there was a teacher on staff (also on the Tech Team) whose passion for technology would fuel the desire to teach Computer Science. With feedback and blessings from the Tech Team, the application was submitted, and East Union was an honored recipient of one of the first six Governor’s STEM Council CSE Awards!

The First Year

Before writing and submitting the award application, Mrs. Joan Gordon, TK-5 Principal, met with the existing TK-12 Technology Team to propose the plan, with the knowledge that there was a teacher on staff (also on the Tech Team) whose passion for technology would fuel the desire to teach Computer Science. With feedback and blessings from the Tech Team, the application was submitted, and East Union was an honored recipient of one of the first six Governor’s STEM Council CSE Awards!

Prior to the first year of implementation, a core committee, the Computer Science Team, launched the process by researching and selecting keyboarding and coding programs to be piloted in grades four and five. This team included teacher leaders, one more elementary teacher from the district Technology Team, the technology coordinator, and the elementary principal. This work was done in August, so teachers were compensated for time served outside of contract days. The work also included developing fourth and fifth grade Computer Science curriculum units with learning goals aligned to the CSTA Computer Science Standards. Units will be mapped using the Rubicon Atlas program. The Loess Hills Elementary Blueprint was used as a reference for this process.

During contracted professional development days prior to the beginning of the school year, all teachers received professional development on keyboarding and coding instruction, led by the CS Team. Coding and digital citizenship were piloted during the first year of the initiative, as part of DAILY Computer Science instruction for fourth and fifth graders. With three total sections of these two grade levels, all three teachers delivered Literacy and Social Studies instruction to their home rooms. One teacher was responsible for Math instruction for each class, another for Science, and the third teacher would pilot Computer Science instruction. The Computer Science teacher happens to be a member of both the Teacher Leadership Team AND the district Technology Team. This teacher was and is very interested in transitioning her teacher leadership role to that of a Technology Coach; what an exciting way to integrate a new curriculum with action research, effective instruction, and collegial inspiration!

Ongoing Planning: From Year 1 to Present Day

East Union Elementary has a well-established interconnecting system of instructional improvement with teacher leadership support, Core curriculum development and refinement, and accountability for student achievement through carefully aligned assessments. The development of a Computer Science curriculum with instructional plans and assessments has been the next logical step in elevating teaching and learning in the school.

The plan to establish keyboarding instruction and daily Computer Science instruction, including coding, digital citizenship, and college and career readiness for fourth and fifth grade students was successfully piloted during the 2019-2020 school year. The Computer Science Team members spent the pilot year selecting resources, writing a curriculum that includes community involvement, delivering instruction, participating in training opportunities and site visits, and providing professional development for all staff members. During June of 2020, the original plan was for the Computer Science Team to have developed a TK-3 Computer Science curriculum to be launched in the 2020-2021 school year; however, the COVID closure and subsequent mitigation requirements slowed, but did not stop this process. As 2021-2022 unfolded, East Union’s TK-3 students began participating in weekly CS lessons taught by the CS teacher, with fourth and fifth grade mentors present to model and assist.

Computer Science instruction includes keyboarding, coding, digital citizenship, and college and career readiness. Intentionally planned lessons allow opportunities for guest instructors, speakers, and partners from within our school and our community to become involved. Time is allotted during contracted professional development days for curriculum development and lesson planning and preparation. Further support for the Computer Science teacher is offered through training workshops, technology conferences, and site visits to schools with an established Computer Science curriculum. In time, coding projects will be integrated with activities and assessments that measure mastery of Core Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies standards, with application of Core Literacy skills.

Members of the Computer Science Team have also been afforded the opportunity to attend technology workshops and conferences, and have been compensated for completing coursework associated with Computer Science instruction. Other teachers have also gotten their turn to take advantage of these types of professional development activities in anticipation of continued expansion of the Year 1 pilot. For future plans of sustaining PD opportunities for staff members, please visit the Sustainability page in this blueprint.

One day per quarter is set aside for the Computer Science Team members to be released from teaching duties to review the effectiveness of the fourth and fifth grade pilot, assist the Computer Science teacher with unit development, and continue planning for expansion of coding and digital citizenship instruction for the lower grades. Once again, the COVID closure and restrictions altered the plan so that Year 2 goals were actually achieved in Year 3 of the project.

Publicizing East Union Elementary’s model Computer Science program was an important link to the vision of “Being a School of Choice in Our Region” during Year One of the initiative. Community Computer Science Nights, student-created advertising and articles in local newspapers, social media posts, school website links, and guest appearances by students on local radio talk shows, such as Creston’s KSIB “Grapevine,” would be ways to spotlight the exciting work being done by East Union’s staff members and students. Planning of these events could, eventually, even be incorporated into the actual Computer Science curriculum to enhance student engagement.

The plan for Computer Science instruction was a first-time initiative. While East Union Elementary students could proficiently use many, many resources involving computers, the one area that was previously limited was their understanding of how and why computers and other devices work as they do. With many resources already in place, including 1:1 Chromebook access for all students, Computer Science instruction would elevate learning to a dimension beyond the basic Core Curriculum offerings.

The initiative would include daily Computer Science instruction in keyboarding, coding, and digital citizenship for all fourth and fifth grade students (Year One and Two), and weekly Computer Science instruction in coding and digital citizenship for transitional kindergarten through third grade students (Year Three).

During the first two years, Computer Science was scheduled to be taught as a stand-alone discipline. This, however, did not preclude teachers from developing projects or activities that included coding or college and career connections. Since East Union Elementary learners already used digital tools such as Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets and many online resources for research and instructional tools, digital citizenship would naturally be integrated and applied as students completed Core subject area assignments, assessments, or other activities.

During the third year, all teachers will be expected to integrate at least two coding projects into existing Core ELA, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies units. These projects will be assessed using standards-referenced grading tools. Professional development will be provided, and time will be allotted during contracted professional development days for teachers to work collaboratively to select or create coding projects.

During the first year, all fourth and fifth grade students received daily Computer Science instruction in a departmentalized format. A fourth grade teacher, who is also a member of the TLC Leadership Team and the district Technology Team, taught this newly developed curriculum. Computer Science instruction did and will include coding, digital citizenship, keyboarding, and community involvement with an emphasis on college and career readiness.

Also during the first year, a committee of six teachers, the technology coordinator, the school librarian, and the elementary principal (The Computer Science Team) were tasked with selecting resources, developing units aligned with the CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards, attending training, visiting model Computer Science Schools, and providing embedded professional development for ALL staff members through the TLC process. All staff members were encouraged to seek learning opportunities beyond that which was offered during contracted professional development days. Compensation was available for Computer Science Team members so that work could be done during August of 2019. Compensation will continue to be available for Computer Science coursework or training completed by any interested staff member.

Flexibility must be allowed for plans to unfold, and the COVID closure and restrictions definitely impacted plans! Following a year of grace (Year 2), the Computer Science Team began meeting again in June of 2021 2021 with compensation for time spent refining, developing, and solidifying a Computer Science curriculum for grades TK-5. Computer Science units are being mapped using the Rubicon Atlas online curriculum program, so that all teachers will have access to all grade levels’ units by the fall of 2022.

During the 2020-2021 school year, the Computer Science teacher continued to enact daily Computer Science instruction for all fourth and fifth grade students. Now in Year 3 of the project, the plan has been for time to be allotted in schedules so that the CS teacher can deliver weekly direct instruction on coding and digital citizenship to students in grades TK-3. Forty minutes each week are designated for Computer Science instruction for lower elementary learners. The curriculum with unit plans are being developed, resources have been purchased, and time for lesson planning is provided during contracted professional development days.

Meanwhile, the daily fourth and fifth grade Computer Science course will be continuously refined so that projects completed during Computer Science can be integrated with Core instruction in other subject areas. Grade level team collaboration is an established practice for East Union Elementary, and release time is already available for this purpose. The teacher responsible for departmentalized Computer Science instruction would be able to plan activities and projects that measure mastery of Core ELA, Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics standards in collaboration with grade level teacher teams.

While one teacher is currently primarily responsible for delivering stand-alone TK-5 Computer Science instruction, all teachers will be expected to integrate at least two Computer Science projects into Core ELA, Mathematics, Science, or Social Studies units. These projects will be assessed using standards-referenced grading tools.

The Computer Science Team will continue to enact training on coding and digital citizenship for the entire staff during contracted professional development days. All teachers will be afforded the opportunity to attend workshops, conferences, or complete coursework associated with Computer Science instruction, with compensation. Teachers will also be able to visit schools with successful Computer Science programs in place. The Computer Science Team will again be provided with one day per quarter to evaluate the effectiveness of the Computer Science program, refine curriculum (including activities and assessments that integrate coding with Core subject areas), and plan professional development for the staff.

Teachers’ learning opportunities combined with time spent refining a high-quality, carefully mapped curriculum will establish a momentum that will carry the Computer Science initiative beyond June of 2022. Computer Science instruction and learning have become the new “norm” at East Union Elementary!