Iowa schools work to equip their students with a solid foundation of computer science competency to prepare them for next-generation careers Marcus & Remsen, IA.(March 10, 2022) – This year,educators from MMCRU Schoolsjoined over 150 middle and high school educators, representing rural and urban schools throughout Iowa, to participate in NewBoCo’s Code.org Professional Learning Program [https://code.org/educate/professional-learning].
“We are proud to be bringing Code.org Professional Learning Programs to even more Iowa schools,” NewBoCo Director of K-12 Education and Code.org Program Manager Samantha Dahlby said. “Districts are partnering with us and their local Area Education Agency to fulfill the legislative requirements to teach the Iowa Computer Science standards.”
Throughout the history of the program, the NewBoCo team has trained over 400 middle and high school teachers on best practices for teaching computer science. This year alone, 150 teachers participated in the program ahead of newState of Iowa Computer ScienceRequirements
[https://educateiowa.gov/pk-12/instruction/computer-science].
“By providing computer science education to students at a young age, we equip them with the computer skills that are vital to their success in school and the workforce,” Dahlby said. “With our high-quality professional development options, and a network of local teachers to learn along with, we can create a culture of excellence in computer science education across all of Iowa schools.”
Through the training of Iowa teachers, NewBoCo is driving to its goal of having high-quality computer science education opportunities in every school in Iowa. Educators who participated in the year-long programs started with a weeklong intensive over the summer; this prepared them to start the school year. Additional workshops throughout the academic year supported them as they implemented the curriculum, and provided opportunities for them to connect with peers in the program.
“Most educators do not have an extensive background in computer science instruction,” said Aaron Horn, NewBoCo’s executive director. “Through proven professional development and their hard work, any teacher from anywhere in the state can equip themselves with the skills necessary to prepare their students for the careers of tomorrow.”
MMCRU Community Schools is dedicated to equipping its students with the computer science skills they will need in the increasingly technological world. We are proud of our participating teachers!
“We are excited and pleased that our district and staff members have been willing to take this training so that we can better provide the skills our students need to be successful for the jobs of the future. Our goal at MMCRU is always to provide the best opportunity for each individual student to succeed in their lives beyond high school.” Dan Barkel, MMCRU Superintendent