Implementing an Accelerated Computer Science Teacher Summer Bootcamp in a Southeastern State

• In Event: Empowering Educators for Equitable & Integrated Computer Science Learning: Innovations in PD

Abstract

Computer Science (CS) teachers in a southeastern state are typically business teachers with little CS background. They have low CS efficacy and want an accelerated solution that prepares them to teach rigorous CS courses, such as Advanced Principles CS Principles, in their schools. In this mixed-methods study, we investigated an accelerated, yet comprehensive, summer bootcamp completed by five teachers who reported considerable CS self-efficacy and domain content knowledge gains. These teachers suggested expanding the bootcamp over four months and incorporating strategies such as pair programming in our program revisions. This is necessary, as most teachers withdrew because they needed more time to grasp the content, given their limited CS knowledge. Increasing completion rates is a future priority for our team.

Authors

• Marvin Evans, Coastal Carolina University

• Alex Fegely, Coastal Carolina University

• Xingfeiyue Liu, The Ohio State University

• Crystal Cox, Coastal Carolina University