Using a problem-based approach, we look at the impacts computing and technology have had on our society, economy, and culture. Starting from a benefit or concern, we look at issues affecting our relationships, our personal data, the workplace, and global society. We then follow up on related technology or computing innovations that underlie and impact these issues. Through these we'll explore computing systems, networks and the internet, data and analysis, and algorithms and software. Learn with curated, student-appropriate, freely available resources including videos, tutorials, interactive websites, and more.
Analyze and find resources you can use with your students and create and share classroom resouces to use these and provided materials.
Course cost: $300 This course does NOT confer any unviersity credits.
Do you want to earn UC San Diego graduate credit? Take this course instead. Credit is required for the California Supplementary Authorization in Computer Science.
There is no prerequisite knowledge required for this course. Teachers with no prior computer science background enjoy and succeed in this course.
Dr. Simon has 20+ years experience teaching and improving student outcomes through best practices in introductory programming. She has been involved in K-12 efforts in CS for over 10 years serving as an inaugural piloter of the APCS Principles course, leading the development of California's CS Standards, and offering courses for in-service and pre-service teachers seeking to teach computing in K-12.
This course does not confer univeristy credit, which is required for the California Supplementary Authorization in Computer Science. If you know you need that take this course instead. If you are not sure, you can start with this course and upgrade later.
This course is offered with flexibility for busy teachers in mind. You can complete the course on your own pace, you just need to complete before the "Classes End" date. When you finish your grade will be submitted and you will recieve your transcript within 1 month. The course contains ~100 hours of learning materials and activities which you can complete as fast or slowly as you want. We also want you to have access to the course WHILE you are teaching, which is why you have access until summer.
You have until the session end date to complete each course - the session end date is June 29, the year after the course started. In general, select the session that has already started, unless you know you won't complete by June of next year, then select an upcoming session.
Yes! Please follow the instructions here to start the process.
The course is continuously monitored by the professor and designated staff. You are encouraged to ask questions on the course discussion forum and we (and possibly others in the class) will get back to you.
However, this course is designed for you to learn with materials you can turn around and use with your students. We hope you will find the course materials and activities interesting and enjoyable, not dry and onerous.
Yes, as this course was designed specifically with teachers in mind, it differs a bit from courses for computing majors. Check out details about this course here (be sure to scroll to the relvant course).