The purpose of this group is to develop a regional network of P-16+ educators and stakeholders to support computational thinking and the new CS standards across the region. We also want to provide opportunities for students of all ages to visit locations that use these standards in the workplace. The Illinois Innovation Network has provided preliminary funding to support the planning and network development as part of their seed grants.
We hope to spend the next year developing a support network across the region that helps teachers and schools increase the opportunities for students related to computational thinking and computer science. This funding will support discussions, organizing resources, professional development, travel for site visits, and materials for pilot classrooms in the fall.
You may participate in a continuum from getting updates to joining PD, site visits, workgroups, etc. We ask that you complete this form to help us gather information and solicit participation in our workgroups. Our time this year will be spent learning, discovering resources, talking, and planning the network and we want to find a range of pilot projects. As of right now we expect activities to be a blend of in-person and virtual engagement:
1. The general meetings (4th Tuesdays @ 4 pm) will start to start virtually to allow more to participate
2. The workgroups may be virtual and in-person based on members preferences.
3. The PD will be both virtual and in person based on content
4. Site visits will be in person
5. The April 2 Tech Conference will be in person in Buzzard Hall on EIU campus.
If you have any questions, please contact Brian Reid (
bdreid2@eiu.edu) or Terry Sullivan (
tsullivan@eiu.edu).
Please like and follow our new Facebook Page (@SoutheasternIllinoisComputationalThinkingNetwork). We will share resources and updates on activities. Our preliminary website is
https://www.eiu.edu/rsi/se_il_ctn.php.
THANKS!