Event Description

*If WeTeach_CS cancels this event due to COVID-19, registrants will receive a full refund.*

The WeTeach_CS Summit is a 3-day event which educates, empowers, and inspires K-12 CS teachers, advocates, administrators, professional development providers, university instructors, and policy-makers to advance the goal of CS for all in Texas and beyond. This year’s Summit will be held on the shores of the San Gabriel River at the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel and Conference Center in Georgetown, TX, just outside of Austin. Approximately 400 CS champions will be in attendance.

There will be 95 learning sessions at this year's Summit appropriate for novice, intermediate, and advanced computer science educators. Topics include:

Scholarships

We are awarding a limited number of scholarships to cover the registration fee OR a stipend for transportation and lodging ($400 payable after the event) for Texas educators to attend the Summit. A link to the application with more information can be found here.

Teacher Awards

Do you know a teacher, counselor, or administrator making an impact in CS in their community? Nominate them for a WeTeach_CS Change Maker award to acknowledge their work. 

• WeTeach_CS Change Maker Nomination Form (Teacher)
• WeTeach_CS Change Maker Nomination Form (Administrator)

Do you have a fantastic idea to improve teaching and learning in your classroom? Apply for a WeTeach_CS Mini-Grant to support instructional resources and materials for K-12 Computer Science. 

• WeTeach_CS Mini-Grant Application

The WeTeach_CS Change Maker Awards and WeTeach_CS Mini-Grants are sponsored by Texas Instruments.

Deep Dives

Interested in a more in-depth look at Computer Science 1, Physical Computing, and Integrating Computational Thinking and CS into core curricula? The WeTeach_CS Summit 2020 Deep Dives are 2-day intensive trainings occurring right after the Summit on the 25th and 26th, taught by vetted content experts. Earn 12 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE credits) for participating. More information on each Deep Dive can be found on their respective registration pages, linked below. Summit attendance is not necessary to attend a Deep Dive.

• Introduction to Programming Deep Dive
• Integrating Computational Thinking for Elementary School Deep Dive
• Physical Computing (micro:bits) Deep Dive
• WeTeach_CS for HS Deep Dive
• Coding Into Action

Keynote Sessions

SciGirls Code: Strategies to Engage Girls (and All Students) in Computer Science

TRICIA BERRY, Director, Women in Engineering Program, UT Austin

During her keynote, Tricia will share research-based researched based strategies designed to engage girls (and all students) in computer science and all of STEM. You will walk away with an understanding of current demographics and research, practical applications of the SciGirls strategies, and resources for the classroom and beyond.

 

Named one of the 100 Women Leaders in STEM by STEMconnector, Tricia Berry leads efforts to recruit and graduate women in the Cockrell School of Engineering as director of the Women in Engineering Program at The University of Texas at Austin. She concurrently serves as collaborative lead for the Texas Girls Collaborative Project, leading the dissemination of STEM best practices and informal curriculum across Texas in coordination with the National Girls Collaborative Project.

 

Building Bridges Between AI and Social Good

JENNIFER C. CLEMENTE, Content Director: Journey to AI, IBM

Learn from IBM how putting a focus on social good can expand both how we understand AI and expand opportunities for learning.

Jennifer holds a M.A. from American University and a B.A. from Lewis and Clark College, and after a flagship Storytellers for Peace stint in the Soviet Union, spent several years in Eastern and Central Europe as a reporter covering a region emerging from Communism to Capitalism. Today, she is focused on efforts to build a future of trusted, inclusive AI -- and through her work at IBM, she has published a series of NYT advertorials about women leadership in the AI era — and brings her ethos to story building and content with leading companies like Siemens, Mercedes, HSBC and Harley-Davidson.

 

 

SUZANNE PIERCE

Suzanne A. Pierce, PhD, is a Research Scientist with the Texas Advanced Computing Center and Environmental Science Institute in the Jackson School of Geosciences. Dr. Pierce leads an NSF-funded community of researchers using intelligent systems to understand Earth, including water, energy, urbanization, and ecosystem services (IS-GEO.org). Results from her research develop tools and techniques that aid integrated modeling and group decision support. She's received awards both locally and internationally for innovation and engagement.

 

Bootstrap: Integrating CS across History, Math and Science

EMMANUEL SCHANZER, Co-Director @ Bootstrap

Bootstrap has been building engaging, evidence-based, and free curricular modules for more than a decade, specializing in integrated curriculum that allow teachers from all these subjects to bring computing to their students. More than 25,000 students every year discover computer science through Bootstrap — and evidence shows improved outcomes in their mainstream subjects. Emmanuel will showcase these highly successful models in a keynote presentation to enrich the learning lives of you and your students.

Emmanuel is the founder and co-director of Bootstrap, which builds research-based curricular modules that help teachers integrate computer science into mainstream classes like History, Science and Math. He has long been involved in connecting educators and technology, connecting parties at the Computer Science Teachers Association, Google, Microsoft, Facebook and at universities across the country. He holds degrees in Computer Science and curriculum development, and completed his doctoral studies at Harvard with a research focus on using programming to teach algebra.

Registration

• Registration fees cover breakfast, lunch and training materials. 
• Payments are due before this event. 
• Event limited to 450 participants. 
• Registration deadline is 6/08/2020.
• Registration and payment instructions can be found during checkout or here.

Exhibitors can register here.

Certificates

Certificates stating 18 hours of Continuing Professional Education hours (CPE credits) earned can be downloaded from the UTakeIt dashboard after the participant has completed the online course evaluation. Any questions about certificates should be directed toward the contact person listed on this page.

Logistics

Accommodations and Transportation

All participants are responsible for their own transportation and lodging arrangements and payments. If your institution is paying for your lodging, a copy of the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax Exempt form is provided and should be printed and turned in to your hotel upon arrival. 

Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax Exemption Certificate (PDF)

A limited room block at the Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center is available for $101.00 per night.

• Start Date: Sunday, June 21, 2020
• End Date: Friday, June 26, 2020
• Last Day to Book: Sunday, May 31, 2020

Book your group rate for WeTeach CS Summit 2020.

Schedule

• Monday, June 22: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Tuesday, June 23: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Wednesday, June 24: 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Download the Agenda

Getting There

Parking is free and available at Sheraton Austin Georgetown Hotel & Conference Center. Go to the map.