Rose-Hulman has received a nearly $230,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Education to help Indiana elementary and secondary school teachers implement computer science education programs to prepare students for future success in a high-tech world Prepare for robotics, computer programming and cybersecurity issues.
As part of the Designing for Impact Next Level Computer Science program, this summer and fall, Rose Hulman Professors of Computer Science and Software Engineering will offer professional development workshops for Indiana educators teaching kindergarten through grade 12.
In the workshops, teachers learn how to program robots and teach robot programming through Botball, a hands-on robotics education program, and apply principles of the Python programming language.
Meanwhile, teachers learn how to integrate computer science principles into their own subject, discipline, and grade level, and demonstrate the power and diversity of computer science. Teachers will also participate in intensive on-campus workshops covering basic and advanced computer and robotics skills, as well as introductory cybersecurity courses.
This program aligns with Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s Next Level Agenda education initiatives for 2023.
“These initiatives are important in helping Indiana schools equip their students with the computing tools they need to take advantage of opportunities that lie ahead for the rest of their lives,” said President Robert A. Coons, a member the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, which developed elements of Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Initiative. “Skills in all forms of technology are critical to meeting Indiana’s future workforce development needs, and the sooner our students learn these skills the better.”
Rose Hulman professors planning to organize and teach the workshops include David Mutchler, Rachel Krohn, Mohammad Noureddine; and Kim Tracy. The program is overseen by Nicki Manion, associate director of Rose-Hulman’s Portal Resource for Indiana Science and Mathematics (PRISM) program.
Supporters of the IDOE grant application were educators Karen Goeller, Assistant Superintendent, Vigo County School Corporation; Rusty King, Executive Director, West Central Indiana Educational Service Center Region 3; and Christy Wrightsman, Director of Career Connected Learning at Brown County School Corporation.
