Implementation Plan and Timeline

All students at Laurens-Marathon receive regularly scheduled STEM Education, which includes Computer Science.  Students in grades 3-6 currently receive 60 minutes of STEM education per week, while students in K-2 receive 30-60 minutes per week on a rotating schedule. Computer Science is also included in the general classrooms, with a focus on First Grade for the first year of our plan. 

The Computer Science curriculum is built upon the CSTA standards, with STEM incorporated where appropriate. Students learn through both unplugged and plugged activities to reinforce understanding of concepts. Computational thinking, programming, and digital literacy are a large focus of our lessons, with data/analysis, impacts of computing, and computing systems incorporated into various lessons as well. Careers related to Computer Science are discussed at all age levels, with a goal to incorporate guest speakers and other opportunities for older students.

The current CS team consists of the Principal/Curriculum Director, the STEM/CS teacher, the First Grade Teacher, and a Computer Science Mentor Teacher. E-mail correspondence and face-to-face meetings take place as needed. 

The current STEM class is in its third year in the district, with Computer Science standards and concepts being covered each year.  Future goals include:

• Complete a District-wide Computer Science plan for K-6, to include both STEM class and general classrooms (First Grade to be fully implemented in the Fall of 2023 followed by K/2 and 3-6)

• Continue to seek funding through various grants and awards that are available (Governor's Council Scale-Up Awards, local grants, and state/federal grants)

• Reach out to local/regional businesses to create partnerships in CS Education to build upon 21st Century Skills and strengthen our careers in Computer Science units

• Continue to seek and offer professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge and implementation of Computer Science in all grade levels by both the STEM/CS teacher and the general classroom teachers.

• Orchestrate a STEM Parent's night and/or STEM day where students showcase their computer science knowledge to parents and community members