Tackling CS education in K-12: Implementing a Google CS4HS Grant Program in a Rural Underserved Area

TL;DR

This paper describes the successful implementation of a Google CS4HS grant program in a rural underserved area, focusing on teacher training and curriculum development to improve K-12 CS education and address the IT workforce gap.

Contribution

It presents a practical model for training rural teachers in CS through workshops, online courses, and community support, demonstrating effective strategies for expanding CS education in underserved areas.

Findings

Teachers gained CS curriculum development skills.

Online community supported sustained implementation.

Program improved teacher confidence in teaching CS.

Abstract

Providing computer science (CS) offerings in the K-12 education system is often limited by the lack of experienced teachers, especially in small or rural underserved school districts. By helping teachers in underserved areas develop CS curriculum and helping them become certified to teach CS courses, more young people in underserved areas are aware of IT-career opportunities, and prepared for CS education at the university level, which ultimately helps tackle the IT workforce deficit in the United States. This paper discusses a successful implementation of a Google CS4HS grant to a rural underserved area, as well as lessons learned through the implementation of the program. Key elements in the implementation included a face-to-face hands-on workshop, followed by a seven week graduate-level online summer course for the teachers to learn and develop curriculum that covers the CS concepts they will be teaching. The teachers were supported with an online community of practice for the year as they implemented the curriculum.