DENVER, Dec. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- mindSpark
Learning (mSL), a nationally-focused nonprofit dedicated to
re-engineering education through educators with unique professional
learning experiences for both school leaders and teachers, played
an integral part in this year's Computer Science Education Week
(CSEdWeek), which took place nationally December 3-9. CSEdWeek helps bring awareness
about computer science education to communities, inspiring
commitment for the next school year.
Attending the national kickoff in Seattle on December
3, the organization, as the Code.org Colorado Regional
Partner, announced its commitment to expand computer science
education by creating K-12 pathways to provide professional
learning programs to 32 high, 96 middle, and 500 elementary
school teachers, and continuing to seek foundation grants to
promote K-12 pathways providing elementary robotics kits and
supporting professional development. Additionally, mSL invited
the following six Colorado school
districts to attend the Seattle
kickoff, each committed to improving or implementing computer
science programs in their districts:
- Adams 12 Five Star
Schools
- Poudre School District
- Littleton Public Schools
- Pueblo City Schools District 60
- Falcon School District 49
- Widefield School District
Locally, mSL coordinated seven computer science (CS)
events, which 3,000 students, educators, parents, community
members and businesses attended. mindSpark Learning's staff and
local tech organizations provided background on why CS education is
crucial, how leaders can bring Code.org computer science programs
to their schools and ways in which robotics can be integrated into
CS courses. CSEdWeek attendees gained hands-on experience with
Code.org's Hour of Code programs as well as robotics such as Wonder
Workshops' Dash and Dot, Ozobots, and Sphero SPRK+. Throughout
these events, mSL raffled eight Dashes, seven Cues, 200 Ara the
Star Engineer books and 6,000 pieces of Hour of Code swag.
"We are forever grateful to Code.org and the Gill Foundation for
their support in our mission to help bring computer science
education to schools across the state," said mindSpark Learning
Director of Computer Science Education Tina
Granato. "With their support, we provided computer science
learning programs to more than 800 teachers, impacting
hundreds of schools in 48 districts and 100,000
students. We look forward to exceeding that impact in the
2019-20 school year because of the success last week's events!"
To learn more about mindSpark Learning's computer science
initiatives, please visit
www.mymindsparklearning.org/computer-science/.
About mindSpark Learning
mindSpark Learning, a Denver-based
nonprofit founded as Share Fair Nation in 2007 and rebranded in
2017, is the catalyst and intermediary between education and
industry. It is dedicated to evolving education through educators
and mobilizing diverse communities to create sustained economies.
mindSpark Learning leads programs and services designed to help
schools understand workforce development, participate in work-based
learning experiences, foster career literacy and directly connect
students to mentors and authentic opportunities at a young age. Its
core areas of focus are critical to today's education landscape and
include STEM, EdTech, Social-emotional learning (SEL) and
Equity-centered Design Thinking. These lay the foundation for
skills that are inherently necessary for career success.
mindSpark Learning is re-engineering education by incorporating
the voice of community leaders in a variety of fields - from
education, to industry, to government. Since 2017, mindSpark
Learning has impacted 13,074 education professionals. For more
information, please visit www.mymindsparklearning.org.
Media Contact:
Kim Peterson
kim@mymindsparklearning.org
(630) 835-4020
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SOURCE mindSpark Learning