The K-12 STEM Center follows all University guidelines for protecting students, families, teachers, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic: no events on or off campus, and staff are working remotely.
Our PD Community of Teachers are Now Introducing
CS Discoveries and CS Principles Courses This Fall
38 Middle and High School Teachers from Hueneme School District to Montebello Unified are Teaching CS for the First Time Thanks to K-12 STEM Center and Code.org
USC Viterbi K-12 STEM Center has partnered with Code.org to expand access to computer science in Southern California* by offering schools the training that empowers teachers to introduce a CS course in middle and high schools in Fall 2020. Whether teachers are new to CS or have experience teaching CS courses, this program promotes growth by providing space for teachers to become comfortable with curricular materials, CS content, and pedagogy.
"Keep up the great program. Teachers are often intimidated and don't see the need to add one more thing to their plate unless they are like me and know that coding is the new literacy and must provide it for students to be successful and happy in life. Timing works for teachers - one week in the summer and then on Saturdays through the year. It is very supportive and convenient for us. Thank you for everything."
Image credit: Code.org
The USC/Code.org summer cohort with 52 teachers
CS Discoveries Faciltiators John Landa and Debbie Spear with USC Viterbi K-12 STEM Co-Director Katie Mills (L to R)
Whether teachers are new to computer science (CS) or have experience teaching other CS courses, this program promotes growth by providing space for teachers to become comfortable with curricular materials, CS content, and pedagogy. Learn more about Code.org's Professional Learning training here.
*LAUSD teachers can access this training through LAUSD. Consequently, USC will be working with other SoCal school districts.
Why Schools Need More Quality Computer Science Education?
- Every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science.
- Computer science is about logic, problem solving, collaboration and creativity. Students gain an opportunity to take part in creating technology that will solve problems in their communities and in the world.
- Computer science teaches students foundational 21st-century knowledge — skills that will open doors in every field, in every state.
California
67,863 Open computing jobs
(3.3x the state average demand rate)
6,236 Computer science graduates
see advocacy.code.org
California has no dedicated state funding for CS PD and does not require all high schools to offer CS, even though it has K-12 CS curriculum standards. Code.org and USC Viterbi's K-12 STEM Center offer a solution to Southern California school districts, schools, and teachers.
The value of a computer science education
Computing jobs are the #1 source of new wages in the United States
The need for CS Teachers
Image credit: Code.org
Support K-12 Computer Science Education in California here.
About Code.org
Code.org is a Seattle-based, 501c3 non-profit dedicated to expanding access to computer science and increasing participation by women and underrepresented students of color. Code.org's vision is that every student in every school should have the opportunity to learn computer science. Since launching in 2013, Code.org has partnered with public school districts nationwide, helped change policies to expand computer science programs, built innovative curriculum for all levels K-12, and organized the Hour of Code campaign – which has introduced over 100 million students to computer science to date.