We hope that you all had a restful and wonderful summer!
We’re all back to school or soon will be. It’s time to start using all that AI and cybersecurity training you took over the summer. Be proud that you understand the underlying principles and can guide your students in navigating these technologies of growing importance.
Like you, we have wonderful plans for this school year. While details and circumstances may change, it will be fantastic, and new opportunities will emerge.
In addition to our open general chapter meetings each quarter and asynchronous online PD offerings, events to look out for this school year include the following:
Congressional App Challenge Info Session (for students and teachers) on Sep 17
We are also starting up interest groups of members interested in promoting CS Education in the following areas: K-5 Education, CSHS (Computer Science Honor Society), and Data Science.
If you are interested in participating in any of the above or volunteering in some other way, please fill out the following survey.
On Sep 17 from 7:00 - 8:00 PM, PSCSTA will host a virtual Info Session for the Congressional App Challenge (CAC) for all Washington teachers and students.
CAC is an annual competition sponsored by U.S. congressional districts for high school students in their districts.
Speakers include Ryan Kirzner, Congressional Operations Coordinator of the national CAC office, and the 2023 winners of Washington state.
Save the date for our next Open Board meeting on Sep 11 from 7:00 - 8:00 PM, where will discuss plans for the upcoming school year, including brainstorming what we could do to support teachers for CSEd week in December.
All are welcome to PSCSTA Open Board meetings. We encourage everyone to join us and be part of the discussion. To register for the meeting and receive a Zoom link, visit the Sep 2024 Open Board Meeting event page.
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time...
This year's "It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time" panel at the 2024 CSTA Annual conference in Las Vegas was such a hit, we're planning to reprise it for 2025! We are once again looking for K-12 educators to apply to be panelists. Applications are open until October 10th, 2024. Please see the story on the PSCSTA website for more details and how to apply.
Computer Science Honor Society (CSHS)
PSCSTA would like to sponsor and help coordinate the activities of Computer Science Honor Societies (CSHS) in Washington. CSHS is the official student organization of CSTA. There are over 200 active CSHS chapters worldwide. CSHS encourages secondary students’ enthusiasm for computer science, honors academic excellence, and promotes service.
If you are a current CSHS advisor or interested in starting a CSHS at your school and would like PSCSTA support, please contact csta.pugetsound@gmail.com and let us know of your interest.
New Resource: Brightest Futures
At the CSTA Conference, Project STEM and Amazon Future Engineer introduced a free 1 to 3 day lesson called Brightest Futures to be used as an introductory lesson in any CS class.
The Brightest Futures lesson plan:
Introduces students to computer science and why it is so important to learn.
Allows students to explore how their passions intersect with computer science and possible future careers
Guides students in researching possible colleges, career paths, and how these can support a future in computer science
NSF Game Maker Awards
The NSF Game Maker Awards for grades K-12 commemorate NSF's 75th anniversary by engaging students in a video game design challenge.
Contestants will have the chance to win prizes, gain recognition and explore the fascinating world of STEM while developing a video game.
The contest theme is 'Life in 2100'. Entries are due by Jan 31, 2025. See contest site for more details.
Teacher Spotlight: Maryke Haynes
Maryke Haynes teaches at Sequoia High School, an alternative high school with 175 students in the Everett School District. The school's population consists of 59% low-income, 15% homeless, 20% IEP, and 18% 504. Maryke graduated from the inaugural UW STEP CS program in 2022, passed the CS Endorsement Exam, and is currently President of the Washington State Mathematics Council.
Courses Taught 2023-24
Introduction to Programming, 14 students; Introduction to Data Science, 9 students. Also, Advanced Algebra and Physics.
Course Schedule 2024-25
Introduction to Data Science is a College in the High School class with UW for CSE180. For the four required projects for UWHS, we worked with our district team and UW and found the YouCubed HS Data Science curriculum to be a great fit.
Introduction to Programming is project-based to meet the needs of an alternate school and our month-long terms (4 terms = 1.0 credit). We have a different environment and theme for each term - 3D with Tinker CAS, Interactive Games with Scratch, Graphics and Interactive Games with CMU, Solving Problems with Lists and Data with Collab
Why you decided to teach CS?
Two major experiences in 2020 launched my learning and teaching journey in CS. During the stay-at-home order, I was teaching math and, as many did, turned to the Desmos Custom Activities website. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the Computational Layer to be able to customize user interactions and effective feedback to the students. That summer, I participated in the ACCESS STEM Cohort from Washington Alliance for Better Schools, where I worked as a team of teachers and Machine Learning Specialists from Boeing to create an Introduction to ML unit that focused on how data analysis could help make decisions using YouTube data. Through this experience, I realized that CS was no longer the future for our students; it was our present.
If I could tell my high school self one thing, it would be to listen to my Algebra 2 teacher – former PSCSTA Board Member Alec McTavish - when he suggested I take a programming class in 2000, because I really do love it!
How can local CSTA chapters best help teachers
I have found the best experiences to be when I can connect with other teachers and be inspired. One of the hardest parts of teaching is feeling the pull to constantly be creative and inspire students. Any help we can get to bring engaging activities and lessons to our students can help with teacher burnout.
About the Washington State Mathematics Council
I am currently serving as the President of the Washington State Mathematics Council and the Logistics Chair of the Mathematics Conference that will be held in Tacoma in Oct 2025. I found CS to be an excellent complement to teaching all math, but particularly teaching Data Science has been an authentic and engaging way for students to expand their STEM skills and challenge their understanding of the world. With Data Science and CS Standards entering all grade levels, the Math and CS Teaching communities have a great opportunity to learn from each other to create effective programs for all students.
Background
After receiving her BQ in Math Education from CWU, Maryke started teaching in the Everett School District in 2010 while getting a Masters in Physics Education at WGU. She taught mathematics for 8 years in the Battle Ground School District before returning to Everett SD. In 2022, Maryke completed the UW CS STEP program and CS certification.
Partner Spotlight: NCWIT (National Center for Women and Information Technology)
NCWIT Aspirations in Computing (AiC) Award Recognitions offers awards that honor aspirations, abilities, technical accomplishments, and influential guidance. The Seattle and Western Washington and Eastern Washington Affiliates committee honors High School students and their educators.
The AiC High School Awardhonors 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, and non-binary students for their computing-related achievements and interests, and encourages them to pursue their passions.
The AiC Educator Awardidentifies exemplary formal and informal educators who play a pivotal role in encouraging 9th-12th grade women, genderqueer, and non-binary students to explore their interests in computing and technology.
In the 2023-24 academic year, we honored 54 incredible high school students and 3 educators. Honorees and their guests traveled from all over Washington to attend an exciting Awards Event at the Paul Allen G. School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle. The event combined networking with peers and professionals, speakers, delicious food for a variety of diets, and fun including a photo booth and raffle prizes!
Awardees receive a variety of prizes including recognition at the Award Event, scholarship and internship opportunities, automatic induction into theAiC Community, various other prizes and swag, and cash for national winners.
NCWIT also honors college undergraduate and graduate students through its AiC Collegiate Award
Applications for this year's awards will open on September 1st. Encourage your students and educators to apply and join the amazing community!
Data Corner: Chapter Satisfaction Survey
Every year in May, CSTA National asks its members to respond to a survey regarding how satisfied they are with their local chapter. In 2024, 32 PSCSTA members responded to this survey representing over 20% of our membership at the time.
The above chart shows that networking opportunities and professional development were the events that our membership were the most interested in attending. Other findings from the survey include the following:
Respondents were most interested in PD that offered insights into new curricula (97%) and new tools (100%)
Respondents were most interested in contributing to the chapter by attending events (97%) and providing resources (68%)
Regarding chapter engagement, respondents were satisfied overall with chapter activities (75%). Respondents felt that their perspective was welcomed and honored (84%) and that they had a way to ask questions and get support (81%). On the other hand, only 37% could name chapter leaders.
The New Social Media Manager Rubber Duck Spotlight
This month, the Rubber Ducks took a trip to Spokane to meet the new social media manager, Megan Foertsch. Megan is a rising junior at Whitworth University, where she's double majoring in Math and Secondary Education, with a minor in Computer Science. When she's not immersed in her studies, Megan enjoys spending time outdoors and has a soft spot for dachshunds, especially her dog Ronnie. Megan captured some fantastic photos of the Rubber Ducks exploring Spokane during their visit. We’re excited to see more of your Rubber Duck escapades! Please send your photos by email to csta.pugetsound@gmail.com, or direct message them to PSCSTA on Instagram or Facebook to be featured next!
If you would like to view the history of the rubber ducks view our May Connector. If you are interested in receiving a duck, stay tuned for an upcoming CSTA event!
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The Puget Sound Computer Science Teachers Association Connector is a monthly newsletter containing relevant information, upcoming events, learning, and connection opportunities for local CS Educators. Previous issues can be viewed by following the "News" tab on the PSCSTA homepage. If you have any comments about the current edition or ideas for future editions, please email csta.pugetsound@gmail.com. If you wish to not be receiving the monthly PSCSTA Connector unsubscribe from them HERE.
