This spring, WeTeach_CS and the UT Center for STEM Education are offering both self-paced and facilitated online professional development experiences for CS and STEM teachers who don’t have time to attend a multi-day workshop.
Key Features
- Comprehensive and innovative learning methods to expand your content knowledge and pedagogy.
- Gain continued access to online materials after completing the course.
- Many courses include a preview to allow participants to sample course methods and activities.
- Earn CPE credits from The University of Texas at Austin.
Note – Facilitated Courses
Registering for a facilitated course will place you in a cohort with a University of Texas at Austin instructor serving as the facilitator. If you are interested in purchasing access for your own cohort of teachers (e.g. pre-service teachers, a professional development project, or a school PLC) and providing a facilitator, we can design a custom solution to t your needs and schedule. For further details, please contact carol.fletcher@utexas.edu.
Online Computer Science Professional Development
Foundations of Computer Science for Teachers
Foundations of Computer Science for Teachers is designed to prepare teachers to take the TExES 241 Grades 8-12 Computer Science certification exam. The course provides extensive detailed instruction, examples and practice on everything from introductory programming topics such as variables, functions, loops and logical expressions to more advanced topics such as data structures, recursion, and object oriented programming. Enrolled participants will receive access to weekly quizzes and the comprehensive final, which mimics the actual 100 question CS certification exam.
- Format – Self-paced
- Duration – 7 weeks
- Time requirement – 6 hours per week
- Cost – $199
- CPE Credit – 40 hours
More information / Registration
Strategies for Effective and Inclusive CS Teaching
The purpose of this course is to support your efforts, as a computer science teacher or related stakeholder, to develop the insight, resources, and skills necessary to move computer science education into the forefront of your school and communities’ priorities. Completing this course will give you the understanding and methodology necessary to evolve your computer science teaching, both content and pedagogy, and to be equitable and inclusive for all students – regardless of their ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or gender preferences. In addition, you will gain an understanding of the factors influencing how and why we must reach the students that need computer science the most.
- Format – Facilitated
- Start Date – March 19, 2018
- Duration – 6 weeks
- Time requirement – 4 hours per week
- Cost – $149
- CPE Credit – 24 hours
More information / Registration
Online STEM Professional Development
T-TESS for Success
The T-TESS for Success project will enable teachers to build their instructional capacity through the review of online modules that are designed to deconstruct each dimension of the T-TESS rubric so that the indicators are clearly understandable to math and science teachers. Teachers who invest their time in this program will be active participants in the continuous improvement process and will be encouraged to hold themselves to a high standard for individual development and performance.
- Format – Facilitated
- Start Date – March 19, 2018
- Duration – 6 weeks
- Time requirement – 4 hours per week
- Cost – $149
- CPE Credit – 24 hours
More information / Registration
Focus on Algebra: Introducing Linear Functions
Focus on Algebra: Introduction to Linear Functions demonstrates how discussion can be used to help students understand the big ideas behind linear functions through honest inquiry and constructive feedback. This course uses a virtual classroom to experience student-centered problem-solving instruction with an expert teacher and actual students. Earn CPE credit in this self-paced course while expanding your ability to inspire students to grow in their understanding of the key concepts of algebra.
- Format – Self-paced
- Duration – 3 weeks
- Time requirement – 4 hours per week
- Cost – $99
- CPE Credit – 12 hours
More information / Registration
Gifted & Talented Refresher: Differentiation with Menus
Differentiating for Gifted and Talented students is critical to ensuring they receive appropriate and equitable instruction in the classroom. Providing students choice through the use of menus (aka choice boards) engages and empowers them while helping each student build skills and content knowledge. This course will guide you through the vital step of getting to know your students, how to differentiate, and how menus allow for differentiation through choice. You will analyze several pre-made menus specific to math and science, and then be guided through the design of your own menu – allowing you to apply what you have learned.
- Format – Self-paced
- Duration – 1 week
- Time requirement – 6 hours per week
- Cost – $49
- CPE Credit – 6 hours