July 29th marks the start of the fourth-annual CS Summer of Fun, a week of computer science professional development for K-12 teachers.
Taking place at the University of Maine in Orono, the event will be attended by 137 teachers from 80 communities from around the state and a handful from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
“Access to computer science early—and consistently—means students will not only be consumers of tech but will lead the pack in creating and using that science to solve big problems and create new opportunities, said Rhonda Tate, STEM specialist at MMSA. “From blueberry fields to rocket launch pads, Maine needs computer science. We are committed to supporting our educators to meet this challenge.”
MMSA is joined by Educate Maine in hosting the event, which is Maine’s largest professional development opportunity focused on computer science. Educators will attend workshops and classes ranging from beginner basics to more advanced methods for integrating CS into K-12 curricula. They’ll also network with their peers from across the state as well as partners from the tech sector.
“Educators come from all different backgrounds, areas of teaching and levels of preparation,” said Angela Oechslie, the program director for Educate Maine’s signature Project>Login. “The common denominator is that they want to prepare their students in an encompassing way for future education and employment. CS Summer of Fun is a great way to help them do that.”