Building Teacher Capacity to Integrate Computer Science in Elementary Mathematics

Challenge

Rapid changes in computing, especially with advances in artificial intelligence, are reshaping the future needs of society and the demands on the STEM workforce. More than ever, computer science (CS) education is critical for all children. Many schools are looking for ways to introduce CS skills and thinking in the elementary grades.

EDC’s Building Teacher Capacity to Integrate Computer Science in Elementary Mathematics project is exploring an approach to helping children learn critical CS concepts, fostering their future career readiness, and building their mathematics proficiency. EDC is supporting teachers in using EDC’s Math+CS online modules to integrate CS into instruction. Each module revolves around a “microworld”—a programming environment that provides a limited number of tools to complete a specific task using Snap!, a visual blocks-based language. All modules support children’s engagement with interactive mathematics and offers affordances that go beyond what is possible with paper-and-pencil mathematics lessons.

Key Activities

The project is carrying out the following activities:

• Creating, testing, and refining a set of teacher resources that include Teacher Guides, Video Previews, and Professional Learning designed to support for classroom implementation
• Supporting implementation of Math+CS modules in 96 classrooms, across 12 schools in 4 states
• Investigating children’s engagement with Math+CS and their use of programming and CS/computational thinking (CT) skills
• Studying teacher outcomes, including teachers’ self-efficacy and beliefs about CS/CT integration

Impact

• Widely disseminate teacher resources and professional learning opportunities that support classroom implementation of Math+CS modules.
• Advance knowledge of how to build capacity to integrate CS and mathematics learning in elementary classrooms.