Montclair Research Team Creates Educational Programs for Northern New Jersey Schools
Published in: Education, Science and Technology
An interdisciplinary team of researchers from Montclair State University is tackling one of New Jersey’s pressing educational challenges – a lack of computing (CS) resources and professional development programs for K-12 schools and teachers. 12th year.
Katherine Herbert, associate professor of computer science, and Sumi Hagiwara, acting associate dean for academic affairs at the College of Education and Human Services, oversee more than $1.2 million in National Science Foundation (NSF) grants and of the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) to create supportive programs, resources, professional development programs, and opportunities for teachers in Northern New Jersey to increase computer science offerings in elementary education.
With one of two NJDOE awards of $333,330, the University will host Montclair State University’s Computing for All program – a series of workshops designed to help teachers and administrators use New Jersey Computing and Design Standards – on campus starting July 12, 2022.
“These programs will help K-12 teachers meet the computing standards set out in Governor Murphy’s 2019 plan to grow computing in New Jersey, with Montclair as a model for computer-led instruction.” by computer science and teacher training faculty,” says Herbert. “We designed these programs to provide K-12 teachers with a supportive and collaborative environment to deliver inclusive and equity-focused computer science and education to all K-12 students. of New Jersey.”
The second NJDOE award will enable the team to establish the Montclair State University Computer Science Education Center, which will serve as a central resource for Northern New Jersey for computer science professional development for teachers, counselors, and administrators. from kindergarten to 12th grade. Starting in September, the initiative will include a resource library and a “Curriculum Hack-a-Thon” in December to kick off Computer Science Education Week.
As part of NSF’s Answers and Research Experience for Teachers programs, two collaborative grants (administered alongside NJIT, Rutgers, and West Virginia University) will also provide resources for K-12 teachers. year of visiting Montclair to work in research on campus. and teaching labs to develop modules for their classes based on their individual research experiences. The two awards – NSF award numbers 2149750 and 2206885 total over $660,000.
The grants follow Montclair’s launch of its online graduate certificate program in K-12 computer science education in 2020, the first of its kind in New Jersey.
Designed for equity-focused educators looking to meet the demand for high-quality computer science education, the 15-credit, five-course program offers courses in computer science content, including coding, programming, Computational Thinking Problem Solving, Equity and Diversity in Computing. scientific fields and methods of teaching computer science based on research.
“The certificate program creates a pathway to prepare computer science educators to deliver high-quality computer science education,” says Hagiwara. “With the grant programs, Montclair is poised to become a leader in interdisciplinary research and best practices in computer science education in New Jersey.”
For more information about professional development events related to computer science grants at Montclair State University, register by visiting Montclair’s Computer Science K-12 Professional Development Interest Form.
