ExCITE II
(Exploring Computation Integrated into Technology and Engineering) is an NSF-funded partnership (led by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) in conjunction with Hofstra and North Carolina State universities to develop a professional development and implementation support program to help prepare the nation’s high school Technology and Engineering teachers to teach a College Board Advanced Placement level one-year Computer Science Principles (AP- CSP) course.
ExCITE II
has enhanced the Beauty and Joy of Computing (BJC) AP-CSP endorsed curriculum by the addition of computer control and robotic activities based on real-world hands-on problem-solving challenges. The resulting ITEEA AP-CSP by Design curriculum aims to increase student engagement and is better suited to the design-based approach used by Technology and Engineering and many other STEM teachers. This course combines STEM and Computer Science to prepare students for careers in the fastest-growing job sector in the US!
Research how our Professional Development program leads to increased teacher CS/CT competence and efficacy in implementing BJC-T&E and how students’ interest in further study of CS/CT is increased through involvement in design-based Computer Science problem-solving activities.
Enhance the current Beauty and Joy of Computing curriculum with the addition of real-world problem-solving design challenges to make the curriculum more relevant to all students (creating a new version of BJC known as BJC-T&E).
Enhance T&E teachers’ understanding of Computer Science and Computational Thinking skills and prepare them to implement BJC-T&E curriculum with their students effectively.
Increase the number of HS students, including students from underrepresented and underserved populations, taking BJC-T&E courses.
Develop an effective Research Practitioner Partnership that can inform our work and the work of others outside of the partnership.
Ensure that the ExCITE RPP framework is fully documented and externally evaluated to allow for replication and national dissemination.
Sustain ExCITE beyond the Project’s life by establishing an ongoing ITEEA-led and financed PD support system.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants Nos. CNS 1923552, 2318343. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
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