What We've Done So Far
What We've Done So Far
The major activities and most significant results of CS4MS+ to date.
CS4MS+ students hard at work in the classrom.
Previous semesters:
- Multiple meetings with principals and teachers to discuss and validate curated educational resources
- Developed and presented a CS workshop for teachers
- Developed and curated CS lessons that can be incorporated into the teachers’ (sometimes non-CS) curriculum
- Developed three major documents (explanations of the Indiana state academic standards for grades 6-8, other activities, and worksheets and other supporting resources) and many other supporting documents to assist teachers to successfully implement CS standards
- Developed a website to make the curated resources widely available
- Attended "Flipping the Switch: Integrating Computer Science Across the Indiana Curriculum Summit", and staffed the educational "toys" area (2 years)
- Developed and delivered many CS activities at our partner schools
- Assisted teachers by being present to answer questions
- Established a BSU student organization to informally continue some project efforts
- Participated in BSU Immersive Learning Showcases
- Channel 6 (RTV6) aired a short video filmed at Northside Middle School
- Multiple published accounts of CS4MS+’s efforts and impact
- Established an after-school CS club for students led by project members
- Updated and refined the CS4MS+ website
- Researched and created activities for teachers to implement in classrooms
- Produced offline activities for teachers and students who may not have access to necessary technology
- Rebooted the CS4MS+ BSU student organization
- Connected our partners with other on-campus resources
- Outlined a plan for a school visit to BSU, including a viewing of the CS120 Art Show
- Created tutorials for Sphero robots with middle school students in mind
- Created lesson plans using Minecraft Education Edition to help engage the students
This Semester:
- Researched and created activities for teachers to implement in classrooms
- Created and distributed a student interest survey to determine students' interest in CS activities
- Analyzed data from the student interest survey to inform the semester's activities
- Planned and implemented a field trip to Ball State for middle school students
- Planned and implemented a kid bot activity during the field trip
- Created sticker designs for the CS department
- Researched possible activities to be implemented in schools during future semesters
"This class is an important one in my mind, one that allows for an experience unlike any other at Ball State and one that has an impact on the greater community and the lives of others.” ~Participating student