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The #CS4LAUSD Conference provides L.A. Unified educators, leaders and practitioners a space to engage in promising practices to support the expansion of computer science education.
2023
This year’s #CS4LAUSD conference focuses on Girls and Women of Color in Tech, and provides educators with valuable strategies and resources to create inclusive and fair learning environments that motivate and support all students, particularly girls and women, to participate and excel in Computer Science Education. The primary goal is to inspire and empower teachers to foster diversity in perspectives and ideas, promoting equitable access to opportunities and innovative solutions.
2022
2021
10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Keynote
- Keynote
Hadi Partovi,
Founder and CEO at Code.orgBiography: After immigrating to the United States, Hadi spent his summers working as a software engineer to help pay his way through high school and college. In 2013 Hadi and his twin brother Ali launched the education nonprofit Code.org, which Hadi continues to lead full-time as CEO. Code.org has established computer science classes reaching 30% of US students, created the most broadly used curriculum platform for K-12 computer science, and launched the global Hour of Code movement that has reached hundreds of millions of students spanning every country in the world.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91626106205
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Morning Breakout Sessions
5 Options
- STEAM Ahead with Block Coding (ETK-6)
Facilitator(s): Wen-Wen Cheng, Dominic Caguioa, & Michelle Swensson
Description: Participants will explore the integration of academic content and computer science in a social studies project. Participants will receive ready-to-use resources to begin implementing interdisciplinary computer science lessons.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/99924144520
- Computer Science Across the Curriculum Cultivating
Algorithmic Thinkers (K-6)
Facilitator(s): Maria Franco, Jennifer Leshnick & Renee Sanchez
Description: Participants will gain knowledge of the Computer Science Framework and progression chart across grade levels with an emphasis on the core concepts of Algorithms and Programming and two of the seven core practices: Creating Computational Artifacts and Collaborating Around Computing. Participants will engage in a hands-on approach to learning on how embedding variables and controls will allow them to build simpler, more efficient algorithms for their computer science projects.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97964867816
- Explore CS Fundamentals Pathways (PK–2)
Facilitator(s): Amy Adams & Nelida Thomatis
Description: This session is an introduction to computer science fundamentals and the pathways Code.org offers for PK–2. We will explore best practices to meet the needs of diverse student populations while teaching computer science concepts and skills to foster equity and access for all students. Participants will understand how coding teaches problem solving skills and fosters a growth mindset. Throughout the session, participants will engage by reading, viewing videos, completing interactive puzzles, and exploring Code.org curriculum with unplugged and plugged lessons. At the end of the session, participants will reflect on their learning and will be prepared to teach computer science.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93146080234
- Integrated Game-Based Learning with Minecraft: Education Edition (3-12)
Facilitator(s): Jamie Galgana & Desiree Palacios
Description: This session will provide participants opportunities to explore game-based learning as part of the curriculum and to see the possibilities of how Minecraft can help students learn valuable skills in a whole new way. Through this lesson on identity, learners will engage in computational thinking and reflect on why it is important for us to better understand ourselves in order to better understand others. Participants will understand how to integrate computational thinking skills and game-based learning to support interdisciplinary instruction.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91066429937
- Text-Based Creative Coding with BrainPOP!
Facilitator(s): Robert Miller
Description: Explore Creative Coding projects on BrainPOP! Discover best practices for integrating coding into your 3 - 8 curriculum and join a hands-on workshop that models the student experience with BrainPOP’s text-based Creative Coding tools. No teacher or student coding experience is needed! Leave with a plan to implement Creative Coding in the classroom to develop computational thinking.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93345909082
- Block-Based Creative Coding with BrainPOP!
Facilitator(s): Marley Zeno
Description: Explore Creative Coding projects on BrainPOP! Discover best practices for integrating coding into your 3 - 8 curriculum and join a hands-on workshop that models the student experience with BrainPOP’s text-based Creative Coding tools. No teacher or student coding experience is needed! Leave with a plan to implement Creative Coding in the classroom to develop computational thinking.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91994171843
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch Break
1:00 P.M. - 2:00 P.M. Afternoon Breakout Sessions
- STEAM Ahead with Block Coding (ETK-6)
Facilitator(s): Wen-Wen Cheng, Dominic Caguioa, & Michelle Swensson
Description: Participants will explore the integration of academic content and computer science in a social studies project. Participants will receive ready-to-use resources to begin implementing interdisciplinary computer science lessons.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/99924144520
- Computer Science Across the Curriculum Cultivating Algorithmic Thinkers (K-6)
Facilitator(s): Maria Franco, Jennifer Leshnick & Renee Sanchez
Description: Participants will gain knowledge of the Computer Science Framework and progression chart across grade levels with an emphasis on the core concepts of Algorithms and Programming and two of the seven core practices: Creating Computational Artifacts and Collaborating Around Computing. Participants will engage in a hands-on approach to learning on how embedding variables and controls will allow them to build simpler, more efficient algorithms for their computer science projects.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/97964867816
- Explore CS Fundamentals Pathways (PK–2)
Facilitator(s): Amy Adams & Nelida Thomatis
Description: This session is an introduction to computer science fundamentals and the pathways Code.org offers for PK–2. We will explore best practices to meet the needs of diverse student populations while teaching computer science concepts and skills to foster equity and access for all students. Participants will understand how coding teaches problem solving skills and fosters a growth mindset. Throughout the session, participants will engage by reading, viewing videos, completing interactive puzzles, and exploring Code.org curriculum with unplugged and plugged lessons. At the end of the session, participants will reflect on their learning and will be prepared to teach computer science.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93146080234
- Integrated Game-Based Learning with Minecraft: Education Edition (3-12)
Facilitator(s): Jamie Galgana & Desiree Palacios
Description: This session will provide participants opportunities to explore game-based learning as part of the curriculum and to see the possibilities of how Minecraft can help students learn valuable skills in a whole new way. Through this lesson on identity, learners will engage in computational thinking and reflect on why it is important for us to better understand ourselves in order to better understand others. Participants will understand how to integrate computational thinking skills and game-based learning to support interdisciplinary instruction.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91066429937
- Text-Based Creative Coding with BrainPOP!
Facilitator(s): Robert Miller
Description: Explore Creative Coding projects on BrainPOP! Discover best practices for integrating coding into your 3 - 8 curriculum and join a hands-on workshop that models the student experience with BrainPOP’s text-based Creative Coding tools. No teacher or student coding experience is needed! Leave with a plan to implement Creative Coding in the classroom to develop computational thinking.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/93345909082
- Block-Based Creative Coding with BrainPOP!
Facilitator(s): Marley Zeno
Description: Explore Creative Coding projects on BrainPOP! Discover best practices for integrating coding into your K-2 or 3-8 curriculum and join a hands-on workshop that models the student experience with BrainPOP’s block-based Creative Coding tools. No teacher or student coding experience is needed! Leave with a plan to implement Creative Coding in the classroom to develop computational thinking.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91994171843
2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. Closing Keynote and Student Panel
- Closing Keynote and Student Panel
Facilitator(s): Dr. Tarika Barrett and Sophia Mendoza
Biography: Girls Who Code is an international non-profit organization working to close the gender gap in technology by inspiring, educating and equipping young women with the computing skills to pursue 21st century opportunities. In her role, Tarika oversees the organization's free Summer Immersion Program and after-school Clubs Program, which have reached 300,000 girls around the world, in addition to International Programming, Alumni Programming, and People & Culture teams. Tarika also serves on the board of McGraw Hill, a leading learning science company creating world-class educational content and providing best-in-class digital platforms for learners and educators.
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91626106205
- STEAM Ahead with Block Coding (ETK-6)
