Day 1

Virtual CS Fundamentals 2021-22 Intro Workshop

Printing Agendas

PDF of Virtual CS Fundamentals Intro Workshop Agenda

Agenda Resources

Goals for the Workshop

  • Proactively prepare to successfully implement CS Fundamentals courses, regardless of prior CS experience.
  • Examine equity in CS education and commit to taking steps in establishing equitable CS Fundamentals classrooms.

Prior to the Workshop

Prep for Model Lessons

The Model Lessons session included in this agenda is intended for K-5 workshops as well as workshops specifically focused on 2 - 3 grade bands. The model lessons for the K-5 workshop are from Course C, Lesson 14: The Big Event and Lesson 15: Build a Flappy Game.

Note: If the workshop is grade band specific for K-1 or 4-5, the agenda includes twenty minutes for the first type of model lesson and twenty minutes for the second type of model lesson, for a total of forty minutes for both types of lessons. The recommendation for each type of model lesson is

  • 5 minutes Warm Up
  • 10 minutes Main Activity
  • 5 minutes Wrap Up

The table below provides a list of model lessons to teach during the Model Lessons session based on the grade levels participants indicate they teach on the workshop pre-survey. For example, a workshop pre-survey showing participants teaching across K-5 will have a model lesson from Course C, whereas a workshop pre-survey showing all participants teaching kindergarten or first grade will have a model lesson from Course A. The table also includes links to the slide deck with K-1 and 4-5 CS Fundamentals model lessons in the column labeled “Type of Workshop" as well as links to any handouts used during the model lessons.

Type of Workshop Course and
Name of Lesson
Type of Lesson Lesson Concept Handouts
K-5 Workshops Course C, Lesson 11: The Big Event

Course C Lesson 12: Build a Flappy Bird
context-building

skill-building
Events None
Grades K-1 Course A, Lesson 11: The Big Event Jr.

Course A, Lesson 12: Mini-Project On the Move with Play Lab
context-building

mini-project
Events Event Controller (Course A-B)
Grades 2-3
(Same as K-5)
Course C, Lesson 11: The Big Event

Course C Lesson 12: Build a Flappy Game
context-building

skill-building
Events Event Controller (Course C)
Grades 4-5 Course E, Lesson 1: Following the Algorithm Course E

Lesson 2: Swimming Fish with Sprite Lab
context-building

skill-building
Sprites None

The following teaching practices are modeled during the model lessons in order to support discussions after the model lessons, as part of the reflection. These teaching practices are part of the Pedagogical Approach to our Values which accompany the Curriculum Values.

  • Role of the Teacher
    • The teacher will act as the lead learner, “I may not know the answer, but I know that together we can figure it out.”
    • Let the lesson activity expose the concept to students instead of lecturing or first offering an explanation.
  • Discovery and Inquiry
    • The curriculum is designed for students to explore concepts and build their own understanding through lesson activities.
    • Students (and teachers) do not need prior experience to learn CS concepts and engage with the course content.
  • The Classroom Community
    • Lessons allow for building a classroom community where students are almost always communicating, solving problems, and creating things as a class.
    • Building this type of learning community calls for active teaching which leads to active learning and an inclusive classroom culture with opportunities for all students to share and listen to ideas.

Update Slides in the Slide Deck

After making a copy of the slide deck template, review the slides to identify which slides need to be updated for your workshop. Slides that need to be updated have sections highlighted in orange and are called out below.

  • Add an attendance link, shared slides link, and workshop section code.
  • Add information to "Meet your facilitator(s)."
  • Add specific logistics for your workshop.
  • Add information to the Ice Breaker slide (optional).
  • Add local information for "What’s happening in your state?"
  • Slides for model lessons in a K-5 or 2-3 grade specific workshop are included.
    • Slides for model lesson for K-1 and 4-5 grade specific workshops need to be added in and the K-5/2-3 workshop model lesson slides removed from the slide deck.
  • Add specific times to breaks and lunch slides as needed.
  • Add local information for "Ongoing Learning."

Review Feedback

Review your feedback from teachers in the Workshop Dashboard to see what needs you can address and how you can continue to improve.

  • If you have a co-facilitator, talk about feedback for each other in how you can better prepare for the workshop together, how you run certain sessions, and other ways you can grow as individuals and a team.
  • Make a plan for actions you are going to take to improve.

Workshop Dashboard

Find your virtual workshop on the online workshop dashboard and follow the instructions found on your facilitator landing page to start the workshop. For instructions to start the workshop, see the Facilitator Tools Guide.

As Participants Join

Start of Virtual Workshop

As participants join the workshop, consider the following:

  • Welcome participants and ask them to check their audio by saying “hello” and check their video by turning it on.
  • Refer to the list of tasks to complete while waiting for others to join.
    • Take attendance.
    • Add name, grade level, their role at their school.
    • Respond to optional icebreaker prompts.