Creating opportunity through computer science education
Teachers play a crucial role in preparing students for a future shaped by technology. But it can be challenging to bring these essential computing skills to their classrooms. As part of an ongoing commitment to empower educators, Google is working to help strengthen computer science and artificial intelligence (AI) education worldwide, with a special focus on supporting teachers this Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek) from December 9-15.
Building on Google.org’s ongoing efforts, CSEdWeek is a chance for teachers, students and communities to come together, virtually and in person, to explore careers and learning opportunities in CS. Sound like something you’d like to be a part of? You can participate too— start here to find CS education resources available all year.
This CSEdWeek, we’re announcing that we have provided more than $5 million in 2024 to support organizations that are furthering CS education across the U.S. Here are some of the initiatives we have supported:
1. PrepareCS is training future computing teachers
With support from Google.org, PrepareCS is facilitating the integration of CS and computational thinking into teacher education programs across the U.S., including integrated and standalone approaches. This support will establish a community of practice and multi-year support for two cohorts, each consisting of 10 institutions and their faculty and administrators. Pre-service work is highly complex and can either be done integratively, through additional certification or coursework, or by designing entirely new programs and specializations. What makes this program unique is that it creates communities of practice to facilitate the right intervention for each institution.
2. AI4K12 is expanding middle school AI educator capacity
Building on their research on 5 Big Ideas in AI and K-12 AI Guidelines” AI4K12.org is expanding professional development opportunities for middle school teachers in Georgia, Texas and Florida. The program will equip teachers to introduce foundational AI concepts and learning principles to their students, aligned to guidelines and curriculum developed through the AI for Georgia Project. This cutting-edge AI curriculum materials is providing thousands of middle school students from diverse backgrounds with the chance to learn how AI works, better preparing them for future tech-powered careers.
3. CSTA is building capacity and connection for CS teachers
Google has collaborated closely with the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) over the last five years, including sponsoring the organization’s annual conference and their Equity Fellowship. This year, Google.org provided funding to support CSTA’s multi-year strategic plan to ensure every student is prepared for a world powered by computing through access to high-quality computer science education. In addition to supporting their K12 CS Standards Rewrite, this will help grow CSTA’s educator community, particularly among teachers from other disciplines interested in integrating CS/CT across subjects, and facilitate the development of a teacher-centric CS education policy agenda.
4. App Inventor is fostering community and creativity
App Inventor is a free global platform that teaches computer science, data science, and AI skills by empowering students and educators to create mobile applications that address real-world problems. In addition to expanding their global Appathon challenges, Google.org is supporting App Inventor’s U.S.-based educator community for hundreds of teachers who are using App Inventor in creative ways in the classroom through the App Inventor Educator Collaborative. This initiative supports educators with the resources they need to bring practical app development into their classrooms, making CS education more engaging and accessible.
By supporting teachers with training, community and other resources, we can help them create classrooms where students learn to thrive in a technology-driven future. And that’s exactly what CSEdWeek is about.
