With support from the Google CS4HS program, Santa Fe Institute's Project GUTS: Growing Up Thinking Scientifically is offering a free online course focused on teacher professional development in computer modeling and simulation.
For more information and to register, please go to: https://guts-cs4hs.appspot.com
Project GUTS CS4HS provides eight weeks of free online instruction to educators who are interested in embedding computer science within regular school day science classes through the integration of computer modeling and simulation. The course will begin the week of November 24, 2014 and run eight consecutive weeks, ending on January 16, 2015. Course materials will be posted online at the start of the course to enable teachers to progress through the coursework at their own pace.
This course was designed for middle and high school teachers interested in learning how to integrate computer science concepts and practices within the context of earth, life, and physical science classes. The Project GUTS modules infuse computational thinking into science classes by engaging students in using, modifying, and creating computer models and conducting scientific investigations using their computer models as experimental test beds.
There are no prerequisites for the course and no prior programming experience is required.
The course was designed as professional development for secondary science teachers and thus teaching approaches and best practices to increase student learning will be included. Additionally, university faculty, school administrators, and others may benefit from gaining an understanding of modern scientific practice using computer models and simulation in the context of scientific inquiry. (You will need a Google account to access the course. Visit https://accounts.google.com/SignUp to set up an account if you don't already have one.)
This course parallels the Code.org Project GUTS "Computer Science in Science” professional development program piloted in Broward County, FL, Chicago, IL and Charles County, MD in 2014, and builds on the Project GUTS' professional development program offered in New Mexico since 2007 (developed with funding by the National Science Foundation - NSF award #0639637). A certificate of completion from the Santa Fe Institute will be provided for those who complete the course.
For questions, please write to Irene Lee, lee@santafe.edu
Please forward this information to anyone you think might be interested!