Fairfield University's School of Engineering to present Google computer science summer program for high school teachers

Fairfield University's School of Engineering to present Google computer science summer program for high school teachers

Image: A Rusu With help from a grant from Google, Fairfield University's School of Engineering will present a workshop June 26-28, 2013 for area high school teachers looking for innovative, out of the box ways to use Google Apps, computer science, and gaming tools in the classroom.

Computer Science teachers from public, private and parochial high schools in Fairfield and New Haven Counties are welcome to participate in this 'Google Computer Science for High School' (GCS4HS) program at Fairfield. Stipends worth $300 will be paid to participants upon completion of the full program. For questions or to enroll, contact Amalia Rusu , Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Software Engineering, or teacher coordinator Bill McDonough . Space is limited.

The School of Engineering presented the highly successful GCS4HS program last summer for the first time, and it complements its continual efforts to interest young people in the all too important Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines. This year, topics will include Google Apps (SlideRocket, Google Drive); video game design; Computer Science Unplugged; educational games, and a panel discussion about teaching computer science curriculum on game-based learning.

"Sponsorship funds will enable Fairfield University to provide twenty high school teachers with the skills necessary to integrate Google apps education and interactive, metaphor-based computer games tools into high school curricula to help students learn computer science and engineering concepts," said Dr. Rusu, who was awarded the $12,000 Google grant.

The workshop, "Google Apps and Gaming Tools for CS Education," is designed to teach educators how to use computer science as a means to make connections between different curriculum areas and to teach higher order problem-solving skills. "The focus of this year's teachers training will be two-fold: first, to continue the implementation of computer science and engineering concepts through STEM education, and second, to create connections and extensions for high school teachers who have already been introduced to STEM curricula and teaching models," Dr. Rusu added.

Jack W. Beal, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Engineering, noted, "Working with high school teachers, the workshop will give those teachers the tools and techniques that they can use to expand existing and create new courses in computer science at their own schools."

The Fairfield University faculty-led workshop will be held in School of Engineering labs. For more information, visit http://fairfield.edu/soe/ .

Image: Amalia Rusu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Software Engineering, who received a grant from Google to support a workshop for high school teachers.

Posted On: 04-30-2013 11:04 AM

Volume: 45 Number: 278