Teaching Computing Ideas
Computing Ideas is a first year course that introduces students to the foundational ideas of computer science. With this online professional development course, teachers gain the skills, pedagogical knowledge, resources, and confidence to lead a great Computing Ideas course on CodeHS.
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No programming experience required
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Flexible self-paced timeframe
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In-course support with an instructor
Course Overview
Here is an outline of the course modules:
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Welcome
Get an overview of the Computing Ideas professional development course. Learn about key principles and ideas for teaching the course, discuss access and equity in the field of Computer Science, and set goals and expectations for how to make the most out of this course. |
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Programming Bootcamp
Dive in and learn the basics of web development and programming by working through some of the Computing Ideas curriculum. |
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How CodeHS Works
In this short module you will gain an understanding of what CodeHS brings to your classroom, and learn how to use the CodeHS platform effectively. |
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Teaching Web Development
In this module we'll go over teaching the basics of web development. We will cover common misunderstandings, explain ways to teach these concepts in the classroom, and how to grade student web pages. |
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Teaching Karel
This module covers the pedagogy behind teaching introductory programming topics with Karel the Dog. We will cover common misunderstandings, explain ways to teach these concepts in the classroom, and how to grade student programs. |
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Basics of Debugging
Debugging is locating and fixing errors in programs, and is one of the most important skills for your own programming as well as grading others’ code. In this module we\’ll identify common errors, and teach you effective debugging strategies that you can model and teach to your students. |
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Teaching a Blended Coding Class
Learn what leading a blended classroom with both online and offline activities looks like, and learn helpful ideas and best practices for incorporating online learning into a traditional classroom. |
Course Format
This PD course is offered entirely online and is made up of a series of learning modules that cover both the basics of programming and the pedagogy of teaching computer science in a blended classroom. Each module is made up of short video tutorials, programming exercises, open-ended responses, debugging problems, and grading practice.
The course is high-touch, with teachers receiving personalized feedback and support from our PD team after completing each activity. The course takes approximately 30 hours. Teachers can complete it on their own time, during summer, school professional development days, or school holidays.
