Computer science has emerged as a key driver of innovation in the 21st century. Yet preparing teachers to teach computer science or integrate computer science content into K-12 curricula remains an enormous challenge. Recent policy reports have suggested the need to prepare future teachers to teach computer science through pre-service teacher education programs. In order to prepare a generation of teachers who are capable of delivering computer science to students, however, the field must identify research-based examples, pedagogical strategies, and policies that can facilitate changes in teacher knowledge and practices. The purpose of this book is to provide examples that could help guide the design and delivery of effective teacher preparation on the teaching of computer science. This book identifies promising pathways, pedagogical strategies, and policies that will help teacher education faculty and preservice teachers infuse computer science content into their curricula as well as teach stand-alone computing courses. Specifically, the book focuses on pedagogical practices for developing and assessing pre-service teacher knowledge of computer science, course design models for pre-service teachers, and discussion of policies that can support the teaching of computer science. The primary audience of the book is students and faculty in educational technology, educational or cognitive psychology, learning theory, teacher education, curriculum and instruction, computer science, instructional systems, and learning sciences.

* Provides models of curricular integration and assessment practices to inform the design of and research on computational tools and practices. * Addresses critical areas of computational thinking such as challenges in implementation and unsubstantiated claims for effectiveness. * Covers a diversity of perspectives including unplugged CT, CT as a vehicle for learning, and CT in and across subjects.

* Provides models of curricular integration and assessment practices to inform the design of and research on computational tools and practices. * Addresses critical areas of computational thinking such as challenges in implementation and unsubstantiated claims for effectiveness. * Covers a diversity of perspectives including unplugged CT, CT as a vehicle for learning, and CT in and across subjects.

Computer science is increasingly becoming an essential 21st century skill. As school systems around the world recognize the importance of computer science, demand for teachers who have the knowledge and skills to deliver computer science instruction is rapidly growing. Yet a number of recent studies indicate that teachers report low confidence and limited understanding of computer science, frequently confusing basic computer literacy skills with computer science. This is true for both teachers at the K-8 level as well as secondary education teachers who frequently transition to computer science from other content areas, such as mathematics. As computer science is not yet included in most teacher preparation programs, professional development is a critical step in efforts to prepare in-service teachers to deliver high-quality computer science instruction. To date, however, research on best practices in computer science professional development has been severely lacking in the literature, making it difficult for researchers and practitioners alike to examine effective in-service preparation models. This book provide examples of professional development approaches that help teachers integrate aspects of computing in existing curricula at the K-8 level or deliver stand-alone computer science courses at the secondary school level. Further, this book identifies computational competencies for teachers, promising pedagogical strategies that advance teacher learning, as well as alternative pathways for ongoing learning including microcredentials. The primary audience of the book is graduate students and faculty in educational technology, educational or cognitive psychology, learning theory, curriculum and instruction, computer science, instructional systems and learning sciences. Additionally, the book will serve as a valuable addition to education practitioners and curriculum developers as well as policy makers looking to increase the number of teachers who are prepared to deliver computing education.

Computer science has emerged as a key driver of innovation in the 21st century. Yet preparing teachers to teach computer science or integrate computer science content into K-12 curricula remains an enormous challenge. Recent policy reports have suggested the need to prepare future teachers to teach computer science through pre-service teacher education programs. In order to prepare a generation of teachers who are capable of delivering computer science to students, however, the field must identify research-based examples, pedagogical strategies, and policies that can facilitate changes in teacher knowledge and practices. The purpose of this book is to provide examples that could help guide the design and delivery of effective teacher preparation on the teaching of computer science. This book identifies promising pathways, pedagogical strategies, and policies that will help teacher education faculty and preservice teachers infuse computer science content into their curricula as well as teach stand-alone computing courses. Specifically, the book focuses on pedagogical practices for developing and assessing pre-service teacher knowledge of computer science, course design models for pre-service teachers, and discussion of policies that can support the teaching of computer science. The primary audience of the book is students and faculty in educational technology, educational or cognitive psychology, learning theory, teacher education, curriculum and instruction, computer science, instructional systems, and learning sciences.

Computer science is increasingly becoming an essential 21st century skill. As school systems around the world recognize the importance of computer science, demand for teachers who have the knowledge and skills to deliver computer science instruction is rapidly growing. Yet a number of recent studies indicate that teachers report low confidence and limited understanding of computer science, frequently confusing basic computer literacy skills with computer science. This is true for both teachers at the K-8 level as well as secondary education teachers who frequently transition to computer science from other content areas, such as mathematics. As computer science is not yet included in most teacher preparation programs, professional development is a critical step in efforts to prepare in-service teachers to deliver high-quality computer science instruction. To date, however, research on best practices in computer science professional development has been severely lacking in the literature, making it difficult for researchers and practitioners alike to examine effective in-service preparation models. This book provide examples of professional development approaches that help teachers integrate aspects of computing in existing curricula at the K-8 level or deliver stand-alone computer science courses at the secondary school level. Further, this book identifies computational competencies for teachers, promising pedagogical strategies that advance teacher learning, as well as alternative pathways for ongoing learning including microcredentials. The primary audience of the book is graduate students and faculty in educational technology, educational or cognitive psychology, learning theory, curriculum and instruction, computer science, instructional systems and learning sciences. Additionally, the book will serve as a valuable addition to education practitioners and curriculum developers as well as policy makers looking to increase the number of teachers who are prepared to deliver computing education.