Teachers and high school students can benefit from a new, online graduate course at the University of Missouri College of Education.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has approved the School of Information Science and Library Technology (SISLT) course “Computer Science for Educators” as a way for teachers to meet DESE’s “Computer Science proper qualification” requirements for teaching secondary Computer Science courses for credit in Missouri.

Where school districts permit, state law now allows high school students to substitute the credit from a Computer Science course for the required graduation credit in either Math or Science, but only if their teacher has attained the Computer Science proper qualification.  

Starting in Summer 2020, Computer Science for Educators (IS_LT 9410 Section 1) examines the practices and concepts central to computer science education at the secondary level. The course provides an introduction to computing systems, networks and the internet, data analysis, algorithms, programming, and the impacts of computing. The course also integrates instructional strategies, computational thinking practices and the big ideas included in AP Computer Science Principles Curriculum Framework.  

In addition to providing the DESE CS qualification, “Computer Science for Educators” also provides content that meets and exceeds not only Missouri’s teaching standards, but also nationally-endorsed Computational Thinking and Computer Science teaching standards. Enrolled students will receive national-level content and instructional quality, with direct Missouri benefits, and the convenience of online learning.

To learn more, contact Rose Marra, Director and Professor in the School of Information Science & Learning Technologies at Rmarra@missouri.edu.