RIC partnering with startup to offer tech boot camp for teachers

An intensive computer science course for teachers will be held this fall as a result of a partnership between Rhode Island College and General Assembly, a global education startup.
An intensive computer science course for teachers will be held this fall as a result of a partnership between Rhode Island College and General Assembly, a global education startup.

PROVIDENCE – An intensive computer science course for teachers will be held this fall as a result of a partnership between Rhode Island College and General Assembly, a global education startup.
“This exciting partnership with General Assembly will provide Rhode Island teachers the opportunity to acquire new computer science proficiencies, ensuring that all Rhode Island students acquire the critical skills necessary to meet future workforce demands,” Rhode Island College President Frank D. Sánchez said in a statement.

This is part of the governor’s Computer Science for Rhode Island, or CS4RI, initiative, according to RIC, which said the hybrid course will be taught by GA web development instructors.
In-person classes will be held on the RIC campus Oct. 14-16 and continue through ongoing online training and mentorship.

“In our technology-driven world, computer science is becoming the new basic skill,” Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said in a statement. “I’m thrilled that this partnership will equip Rhode Island teachers with the computer science skills they need to prepare our students for future careers and develop the next generation of creative problem-solvers.”

Block- and text-based computer programming, front-end web design with HTML and CSS, pair programming and model lesson plans will be taught.

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Teachers also will be provided with coding and computer science-related resources to supplement materials and encourage further professional development. No prior computer science experience is required.

RIC associate professor of computer information systems Lisa Bain, who collaborated with GA on course design, said that the course will “give middle and high school teachers an opportunity to develop new skills in computer science and web design, deepen their existing content knowledge and empower them to replicate workshops and best practices for teaching coding to students.”

All course materials will be provided; however, teachers will need to bring their own laptops. The course fee is $500 and billing and payment will be through RIC’s Office of the Bursar. Tuition grants for qualified teachers are available through the Office of Innovation at Rhode Island College. Those completing the course will receive three continuing education units and a RIC Certificate of Continuing Study.
Information and registration instructions can be found at www.ric.edu/RIC-CS4RI. The registration deadline is Oct. 5.

CS4RI was established to ensure that computer science is taught in every public school by December 2017.

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