What is this project about?

This project, called "Jumpstart Philly CS4All," aims to inspire teachers to become certified in computer science and teach it to students at their schools. The project's goal is to promote and increase the availability of computer science education in schools, particularly in underrepresented communities. 

What's in it for me?

If you are a teacher interested in computer science education, Jumpstart Philly CS4All can provide you with the resources and support you need to become certified in computer science and teach it to your students. By participating in this project, you can expand your skills, enhance your teaching abilities, and make a positive impact on the lives of your students by providing them with essential skills for their future careers. 

Additionally, you may have the opportunity to connect with other teachers and professionals in the computer science education field, as well as gain recognition and support for your efforts to promote and teach computer science in your school and community. 

What Professional Development opportunities are offered? 

We have designed a range of professional development programs for teachers with diverse levels of experience in Computer Science. Our objective is to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully complete the CS Praxis exam and to start teaching AP Computer Science Principles. We offer multiple pathways to certification, so that teachers can choose the one that best suits their needs and background.

CS Teacher PD Pathways: we offer differential PD based on teacher background. We currently have identified four groupings:

• Beginners: for teachers having little familiarity with CS, or experience with programming.  We expect that such teachers will need a year to prepare to reach the Moderately Experienced level and take the WeTeach_CS curriculum.

• Moderately Experienced: for teachers having enough familiarity with CS and programming experience to be able to handle the programming aspects in WeTeach_CS and Praxis preparation.

• Highly Experienced: for teachers who are experienced enough as programmers that they do not need to take the WeTeach_CS PD, but still need exposure to CS Principles ideas, to prepare for the Praxis Exam.

• Most Advanced: for teachers who are already certified in CS, and need more programming preparation for teaching AP CS A.

PD for these pathways will typically be offered during the academic year, weekly or biweekly on a 4-8 month basis.

Additionally, we offer a summer PD “boot camp” preparatory to taking the CS Praxis Exam, which is most appropriate for Moderately Experienced or Highly Experienced teachers. 

How does joining this project help me get CS certified?

Jumpstart Philly CS4All provides a comprehensive training program designed to help teachers become certified in computer science. The program includes a series of courses taught by our teachers, online resources and mentoring support to help teachers learn the necessary skills and concepts to obtain their certification.

Additionally, participating teachers will have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning experiences, collaborate with other teachers and professionals, and receive ongoing support throughout the certification process. By participating in this project, teachers can gain access to the resources, support, and training needed to successfully obtain their CS certification and become effective computer science educators. 

Do you provide certifications for completing the course?

Once you have passed the CS Praxis Exam, you need to apply for “Add-On certification” for 7-12 Computer Science, through the PA Department of Education. 

What are the qualifications needed to enroll for this program?

The Jumpstart Philly CS4All program is open to all teachers who are interested in becoming certified in computer science and teaching it to their students, regardless of their educational or technical background. The program is designed to provide comprehensive training and support to help teachers learn the necessary skills and concepts to become effective computer science educators.  Therefore, any teacher who has a willingness to learn computer science and grow can enroll in the program. 

Who can join this project?

Jumpstart Philly CS4All is open to any teacher who is interested in becoming certified in computer science and teaching it to their students, regardless of their educational or technical background. The project aims to promote and increase the availability of computer science education in schools, particularly in underrepresented communities, so all teachers who share this goal are welcome to join. 

Additionally, the program may be especially beneficial for teachers who are looking to expand their skills and enhance their teaching abilities, as well as those who are passionate about promoting STEM education and preparing their students for future careers in the field of computer science. 

What grades can I teach once I'm CS certified?

Once you become certified in computer science, you may be qualified to teach computer science courses at any grade level from K-12. This can include teaching introductory courses in computer science to younger students, as well as advanced courses in areas such as programming, web development, and data analysis to high school students. The specific grade levels and courses you may be qualified to teach will depend on your certification and the requirements of your school or district. However, in general, a CS certification can open up a range of opportunities to teach computer science at various grade levels. 

What is an RPP? 

“RPPs are defined in the literature as ‘long-term, mutualistic collaborations between practitioners and researchers that are intentionally organized to investigate problems of practice and solutions for improving district [and school] outcomes [1]’. RPPs require well-organized teams of academic researchers and preK-12 practitioners (teachers, administrators, and counselors), possibly augmented with other community, foundation, policy, and industry partners. Members of these teams work together to iteratively define and refine common goals, research questions, metrics, and implementations.”

Source: NSF Computer Science for All program solicitation (NSF, 20-539)

[1] Coburn, C.E., Penuel, W.R., & Geil, K.E. (January 2013). Research-Practice Partnerships: A Strategy for Leveraging Research for Educational Improvement in School Districts. William T. Grant Foundation, New York, NY, pg. 2.

What is a Networked Improvement Community?

For this project, a Networked Improvement Community (NIC) is an organized network of partners who collaborate to solve problems of practice and test solutions.  Our RPP is a form of Networked Improvement Community (NIC). 

Bryk, A. S., Gomez, L.M., Grunow, A., & LeMahieu, P.G. (2015). Leaming to improve: How America's schools can get better at getting better. Cambridge: Harvard Education Press.

Why is this project situated in an RPP? 

RPPs aim to strengthen the capacity of an organization to reliably produce valued CS and CT education outcomes for diverse groups of students, educated by different teachers in varied organizational contexts. The focus is on building efforts that can succeed when implemented at scale. These studies have less prescriptive research designs and methods, with research occurring in rapid, iterative, and context-expanding cycles. They require the deep engagement of researchers and practitioners during the collaborative research on problems of practice that are co-defined and of value to researchers and education agencies, such as a school district or community of schools.

Which groups and persons are part of our RPP? 

RPPs aim to strengthen the capacity of an organization to reliably produce valued CS and CT education outcomes for diverse groups of students, educated by different teachers in varied organizational contexts. The focus is on building efforts that can succeed when implemented at scale. These studies have less prescriptive research designs and methods, with research occurring in rapid, iterative, and context-expanding cycles. They require the deep engagement of researchers and practitioners during the collaborative research on problems of practice that are co-defined and of value to researchers and education agencies, such as a school district or community of schools.

Which groups and persons are part of our RPP? 

The project brings together teachers and administrators, computer science teacher association, community and informal education organizations, students, parents, and researchers. The principal partners include the School District of Philadelphia, CS4Philly, the Philadelphia STEM Ecosystem and its Computer Science Workgroup.

How will we know when our RPP is effective?  

The external evaluation will focus on the contributions of the RPP to equitable opportunities for teacher development and access to CS students. Evaluation of the RPP will  be used to monitor the progress and strength of the partnership.