Day 1
01 Opener 02 Barriers & Challenges 03 Break 04 Model Lesson 05 Lunch 06 Async Prep 07 Teaching Practices 08 Focus on Equity 09 Break 10 Lesson Planning 11 Wrap Up

Session 2: Addressing Barriers and Challenges

30 minutes

discussion-based

Purpose

The purpose of this session is for participants to share barriers and challenges in implementing and teaching CS Fundamentals and discuss the following steps to address them.

Objectives

  • Participants will identify barriers to implementing and sustaining CS Fundamentals courses in their classrooms.
  • Participants will identify challenges to teaching CS Fundamentals equitably.
  • Participants will identify the power they have to influence strategies that address barriers and challenges.

Supplies & Prep

Facilitator Supplies:

Teacher Materials:

  • Computer
  • Writing Utensil
  • Journal

Agenda

Barriers and Challenges (30 minutes)

Facilitation Guide

Barriers and Challenges (30 minutes)

(8 minutes) Breakout Rooms

Remarks

We will begin this session by identifying barriers and challenges faced when implementing and teaching CS Fundamentals courses. Barriers may be obstacles that prevent or block implementing and sustaining CS Fundamentals courses. For example, lack of time throughout the school day for all of your students to consistently learn CS Fundamentals. Challenges may be questions or actions needed to teach CS Fundamentals equitably to all students. For example, how can I maintain the pacing of a lesson to support all learners?

Facilitator Tip

Examples of top barriers and challenges may include:

  • Barriers: Limited access to devices regularly
  • Challenges: Providing students with various ways for communicating throughout the lesson to ensure all students share their thinking and ideas.
  • Extending across both barriers and challenges: Time constraints - teaching during the school day; planning lessons, too much content

Participants discuss the following prompts in breakout rooms with small groups of 3-4 people.

  • Groups identify the top two barriers and top two challenges and add them on the designated slides by filling out the column labeled, “Identifying Barriers and Challenges.”

    • Prompts:
      • What barriers, if any, have you encountered in implementing and sustaining CS Fundamentals in your classroom?
      • What challenges, if any, have you encountered in teaching CS Fundamentals equitably?

  • Participants will return to the main room, switch to another group’s slides to brainstorm ways to address the barriers and challenges identified, and then go back to breakout rooms with the same small group as before.

Transition: Remind participants the designated slides include prompts for the breakout room discussion.

Producers: Send groups of 3-4 participants to breakout rooms for eight minutes. Then bring participants back to the main room.

Circulate: Circulate the breakout rooms and provide support as needed.

(8 minutes) Addressing Barriers and Challenges

Remarks

Next, let’s take a look at what another identified as the top two barriers and top two challenges so that we can begin to brainstorm and find ways to help each other address them. Consider how the strategies shared might generate ideas to address unique barriers and challenges you may encounter.

Transition: Instruct groups to switch to another group’s slide and fill out the column labeled “Addressing Barriers and Challenges.”

Producers: Send groups of 3-4 participants to breakout rooms for eight minutes. Then bring participants back to the main room.

Circulate: Circulate the breakout rooms and provide support as needed.

(5 minutes) Whole Group Share Out

Facilitator Tip

The CS Teaching Practices session is an opportunity to address teaching challenges further.

Invite a participant from each group to present key takeaways in identifying and addressing barriers and challenges when implementing and teaching CS Fundamentals courses.

(2 minutes) Journal

Participants individually reflect prompts and type their responses on the designated slides.

  • Prompts:
    • Which of the barriers and challenges I identified do I have the power to influence?
    • What are the risks to supporting equity in CS if I do not address the barriers and challenges I have the power to address?

(5 minutes) Whole Group Share Out

Discussion Goal

Support participants in recognizing what they can do to address barriers and challenges and identifying immediate next steps.

Invite participants to share their responses to the prompts with the whole group.

  • Prompts:
    • What are the risks to supporting equity in CS if I do not address the barriers and challenges I have the power to address?
    • What steps can I take towards addressing a barrier or challenge I identified?