Goals and Outcomes

The University of Texas at Austin's WeTeach_CS project trains K-12 educators to improve access to high quality computer science experiences for a broad and diverse range of students.

WeTeach_CS is increasing the number of computer science certified high school teachers, increasing the number of high schools offering computer science courses, increasing the number and diversity of students enrolled in computer science courses, and expanding access to computational thinking, coding and programming experiences for all students in K-8.

Content

Growing computing content knowledge

  • Comprehensive online courses
  • Unique face to face workshops
  • Nationally renowned WeTeach_CS Summit featuring: computer science experts, academic researchers, and industry partners

Pedagogy

Improving instructional strategies

  • A WeTeach_CS for HS and WeTeach_AP®CSA curricula
  • Integrating computational thinking into core academics
  • Incorporating computer science into the entire continuum of K-12 training from ScratchJr. and Code.org with pre-readers to advanced topics like 3D printing, robotics, and cybersecurity with high school students

Equity

Broadening participation in computing

  • An expansive online course that can be facilitated by WeTeach_CS instructors or within your own cohort of educators
  • The WeTeach_CS Summit brings the latest pioneers in CS equity to share their research and solutions with the community
  • Our newsletter which highlights events, workshops, and successful programs to provide examples of equity in action

Certification

Increasing the number of certified educators

  • Self-paced online course aligned to the TExES and Praxis exams
  • A three-day face to face course, WeTeach_CS Certification Prep
  • Stipends to incentivize educators seeking certification

Community

Building community with all stakeholders

  • The WeTeach_CS Summit is a three day event that brings together K-12 educators and CS advocates to network, collaborate, and share what works in advancing the goal of computer science for all
  • Partnerships with industry and non-profit leaders, such as CS4TX, ECEP, and Code.org, as well as numerous institutions of higher education and research
  • A newsletter which highlights professional development, grants and scholarships, student experiences, and policy/funding updates at the state and federal levels

Over 500 inservice Texas educators have added a computer science certification through the WeTeach_CS Certification Incentive Program since fall 2015. This total exceeds all university pre-service programs in the nation combined.

Note: "Initial" includes certifications obtained through preservice programs as well as teachers who transferred from out of state. "Inservice" includes only teachers whose initial certification was in another field and who later obtained certification in CS.

Texas has nearly doubled the percentage of high schools offering computer science since 2011-12.

After adjusting for population growth, Texas has seen a 169% increase in overall computer science enrollment since 2011-12.

Texas is beginning to close CS enrollment gaps for economically disadvantaged students, students of color, and students with disabilities, but it is still struggling to attract young girls to high school computer science.