Computer Science skills are in high demand. Computer Science is a driving force behind many of the advances in business, science, medicine, engineering and even social sciences and art.
Idaho allows students to take dual credit or AP computer science as core math or science credit – providing incentive for students to explore the field of Computer Science.
To address this opportunity, Idaho needs teachers trained to teach computer science effectively for all students.
IDoCode – Secondary Education Program
Program Info
Computer science skills are in high demand as it has become a driving force behind many of the advances in business, science and math, and now even social sciences and art. Thus in 2014, the State Board of Education and House Education Committee approved a rule change which allows students to take dual credit computer science or AP computer science as a math or science credit versus being counted as electives – providing incentive for students to explore the field of Computer Science.
Educational Programs
To supply this demand, Idaho requires teachers capable of teaching computer science effectively to all students. Thus the Boise State University Computer Science department developed a bachelor and two master programs designed for pre-service and in-service teachers with the training to successfully bring a number of computer science classes to their students. The BSU education programs prepares teachers to receive an Idaho Computer Science teacher endorsement. Teachers are able to begin teaching computer science courses prior to completion of the program.
- The Computer Science Secondary Education Emphasis and CS Teacher Endorsement programs are designed for pre-service teachers. These programs combines content knowledge, theories of learning and human development, study of curriculum, and methodology to help students develop the knowledge, skills and dispositions essential for success in secondary school teaching.
- The CS Secondary Education emphasis is obtained by completing the required coursework outlined in the course catalog.
- Students may pursue the endorsement through the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundational Studies (CIFS) department by completing the required education coursework and the following courses to receive the Computer Science Teaching Endorsement.
NOTE: Contact the Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Foundational Studies for more information.
Computer Science Teaching Endorsement
| Course Number and Title Credits | Credits |
|---|---|
| MATH 189 Discrete Mathematics | 4 |
| CS 121 Computer Science I | 4 |
| CS 221 Computer Science II | 3 |
| CS 230 Ethical Issues in Computing | 3 |
| CS 321 Data Structures | 3 |
| CS 401 Introduction to Web Development or CS 402 Mobile Application Development |
3 |
| CS-HU 398 Current Topics in Computer Science | 1 |
| Total | 21 |
- The two masters programs are designed for in-service teachers who wish to pursue the Idaho CS teacher endorsement. New cohorts form each summer – the application deadline is the end of March.
- The Computer Science Teacher Endorsement Graduate Certificate program prepares in-service teachers to teach computer science in high schools.
- The new MA in Education, Curriculum and Instruction with CS pathway provides the teacher with additional instructional course work on top of the CS courses leading to a masters degree.
Teachers will be capable of teaching an introductory Computer Science course beginning with the fall semester after completing the first Computer Science course and if desired, an additional summer workshop specifically focused on the introductory course curriculum. Upfront planning by the district or principal is required to promote the fall course to their students during normal fall registration.
Additional CS courses in the program prepares the teacher to instruct additional CS classes and become a subject matter expert in their district. The complete sequence of courses is especially useful for districts who plan to offer a four-year sequence in their district, such as Career Technical Education programs.
News
- A Code.org study indicates there will be 1,000,000 more CS jobs than students by 2020. View more facts and infographics about CS jobs.
- Idaho’s Advanced Opportunities program, which sets aside up to $4,125 per Idaho student to use between seventh and 12th grades to pay for certain academic costs such as dual-credit classes that can run students and families hundreds of dollars.
- Legislative Change: HB 648 approved. On March 23, 2018 Idaho Governor Butch Otter signed a bill into law requiring all high schools to offer at least one computer science course. The Idaho legislature unanimously passed this bill.
FAQ
Prior Experience
If I have content knowledge, can I challenge a course?
Yes, credit can be granted for verifiable skills and learning gained through the experience. Details can be found at: Credit for Prior Learning
- Fill out the Prior Learning form and work with your advisor to initiate the evaluation process.
- After filling out the form, contact Dr Amit Jain to work out the details of your portfolio assessment.
I have a Masters, am I eligible for the Masters of Arts in Education program?
Yes, up to 1/3 of the Masters credits may apply from your prior relevant education or computer science coursework.
- Contact Amit Jain to determine which of your prior Computer Sciences courses are transferable: Amit Jain, (208) 426-3821.
- Contact Julianne Wenner to determine which of your prior educational courses are transferable: Julianne Wenner, (208) 426-1615.
NOTE: There is a seven year window which spans all coursework required for the masters from the first course to finishing your degree.
Program Operations
Will classes be offered in the afternoon and evenings?
Yes, classes will be scheduled 4:30 or later to accommodate a teachers’ schedule. Classes will also be offered during the summer.
The registration system says I have not met the prerequisite – how do I register?
The system believes the class if full.
In this case, contact the professor and request a permission number.
The system believes you have not fulfilled the prerequisites.
This may occur in the fall semester if you are also taking summer session courses. In this situation, contact the professor to request a permission number to register for the class.
Do I need a special ID card to access the computer labs?
Yes, you will need an ID card with a “proximity sensor”. Be sure to request a Student ID card with a proximity sensor.
If you received a magnetic strip only card, you can take the card to the info desk in the student union to be replaced with a proximity sensor card for free.
Can I receive both the Graduate Certificate and Master degree?
Students in the CS Educational Master program should also apply for the Graduate Certificate as they have earned both. Be sure to apply for the Graduate Certificate program before you apply for graduation in the masters program.
If you were admitted directly into the Masters program, you will need to apply for the Graduate Certificate: Computer Science Teacher Endorsement at the Graduate College web site – how to apply.
CS Teaching Endorsement
Does Idaho have a “Computer Science Teacher Endorsement”?
The Computer Science Teacher Endorsement was approved Fall 2015. This approval creates a “Graduate Certificate” for teachers who wish to obtain an SBOE/OSBE endorsement to teach Computer Science in Idaho High Schools.
The Boise State University endorsement requires the teacher to successfully complete the course requirements for the Graduate Certificate in Computer Science Teacher Endorsement. Refer to the Idaho CS Endorsement page for additional steps required by SBOE/OSBE to receive the Idaho Endorsement in addition to the Bachelors or Masters CS instructional coursework.
Do I need field observations for the Idaho Computer Science Teacher Endorsement?
After finishing the CS courses in the Graduate Certificate, apply to the Professional Standards Committee at Boise State University. The committee will endorse the teacher to the State Department of Education based on the following:
- Evidence of positively evaluated teaching in current position
- Transcript review
- Passing the Idaho Computer Science Praxis exam
- Four observations using the Danielson Framework across a span of no less than four weeks
High School Instruction
Do I need to complete the BSU Computer Science Teacher program before I can start teaching the course material in my school?
The BSU CS teacher programs prepares High School teachers to teach Computer Science courses in their School. We encourage teachers to begin teaching Computer Science in their school before they complete the program.
The Exploring Computer Science (ECS) and CS Discoveries (CSD) courses provides a great opportunity to introduce students to computer science concepts. While the AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) course expands the students knowledge and provides opportunities for concurrent enrollment and High School Math or Science credit for graduation. These courses are designed to be engaging to a wide range of high school students.
Once you have completed the “CS 501 AP Computer Science Principles” course, you are well on your way to teach the ECS or CSD courses. Teachers may choose to supplement their CS 501 course work with hands on experience with the ECS or CSD curriculum. Idaho Digital Learning has hosted summer workshops with the ECS and CSD curriculum.
By the time you have completed “CS 503 Teaching and Learning Computer Science I” you have the foundation to teach AP CSP.
Does the Idaho Professional Standards Commission (PSC) have a computer science teacher endorsement?
Yes, Idaho does have a endorsement and the Boise State programs fulfill the endorsement requirements.
The ISEE code manual shows dual credit CS classes will count for Math/Science credits, but it doesn’t require the new CS Endorsement at this time. The Endorsement has been approved, however the PSC will make it a requirement at some time in the future.
Currently, BSU has a Masters teacher program with CS Emphasis and a Graduate Certificate in Teacher Endorsement that are approved for the endorsement.
Are the Exploring Computer Science (ECS) and AP Computer Science Principals (CSP) courses a sequence for students?
The ECS course is targeted to attract a broad diverse audience to explore a student’s interest in Computer Science. There are no prerequisites for this course.
The AP CSP course is intended to be a more in-depth discovery of Computer Science. The ECS course material would be useful to a student taking AP CSP; however, a student will be able to pick up the material after completing Algebra II. Thus ECS is not a prerequisite for AP CSP.
NOTE: The AP CSP course is comparable to the high school version of the CS 101 class at Boise State.
Is the Computer Science Principles course AP accredited? Can students who take this course receive college credit?
The College Board has approved CSP as a AP curriculum beginning Fall 2016.
BSU offers concurrent enrollment for the AP CSP course as CS 101. Concurrent enrollment can be obtained for students successfully passing the course taught by a BSU qualified teacher.
What are the equipment requirements for ECS and AP CSP courses?
Each student should have access to a computing device (e.g., Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook or tablet) device with internet access. This provides a number of possibilities a school might consider:
- Schedule existing computer lab(s) for this course.
- A number of schools have access to a laptop cart which can be scheduled for use. This allows the course to be offered without allocating a dedicated room with devices.
- Other schools are considering the alternative of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device).
- For larger classes, consider a hybrid model in which a schools laptop cart is used and students may choose to utilize their own device to expand the computer capacity for the class.
The teacher should carefully consider the computing requirements:
- Each platform will impose different requirements on the teacher, a homogeneous environment can simplify the teachers work.
- A keyboard and mouse are very useful when writing and editing code, thus a tablet alone may make coding more difficult affecting student interest and progress.
The ECS curriculum unit 6 is about Robotics. This unit is optional, but may be an enjoyable unit to cap off the ECS course.
- Some school districts have created technology grants – check with your district or the Idaho STEM Action Center regarding grant opportunities.
- CTE certification provides additional opportunities for teachers to obtain money for classroom equipment.
What does the timeline for a new pilot CS course look like at the secondary level?
Each district has their own process, the few districts we have information on have a deadline for the initial pilot application around October 15th to pilot a new course in the Fall of the following year. Due to the differences in districts, it is best to have the Pilot course discussion with your Principal as soon as possible before October.
The curriculum committee will consider the proposal and provide their decision. In the Boise district, the decision is made before November 30th in preparation for upcoming student registration.
If the application is approved, additional information maybe submitted to the content area supervisor. This information may be similar to what the Boise districts requests by January 31st:
- A detailed budget, including student fees
- Course prerequisites
- A course outline and assessment plan