Integrate-2-Innovate (i2i)

Looking for more resources to help you integrate Computer Science and Computational Thinking into your classroom? This curated list, especially made for K-8 educators, was shared at CSTA 2020.

1. Integrate-2-Innovate (i2i) is an exploratory research-to-practice partnership that is intended to:
2. Create a shared vision of how school districts can successfully integrate computer science into the PreK-8 curriculum through effective professional development structures and meaningful collaborations with other school districts and MMSA.
3. Establish a partnership among K-8 educators, representatives from computer science business in Maine, school administrators, and educational researchers to collaboratively explore supporting rural computer science learning progressions.
4. Build a network of rural districts committed to integrating computer science into their K-8 curriculum and school culture.

During this 18-month project (January 2019 – June 2020) participants  explored where the potential entry points are for computer science that already exist in current learning standards and curricula, and what types of high-quality options are already available that could be integrated into existing curricula.  Participants piloted modified lessons, units, and tools from a wide variety of sources and added those experiences to the data collected from classroom observations, participants surveys and focus groups. The outcomes of this project led to recommendations for professional development support structures for computer science that will work for districts and others across the State of Maine.

Which school districts are participating?
RSU 4 MSAD 44 Bethel
AOS 91 Mt. Desert Island
AOS 94 Dexter School District

Throughout the life of this project, the interest in integration of Computer Science has only increased. With an added emphasis on integration in state and national conversations, the i2i participants are on the cutting edge of important work that will only enrich this growing field. Participants are working together to synthesize their research and co-design learning opportunities for our upcoming CS Integration Spring Symposium that will highlight their work as well as the work of many other groups from throughout the state.