Computer Science & STEM
Resources, professional learning, and support for fostering robust computer science and STEM programs and knowledgeable educators.
Coding the Future: CS & STEM in K-12
Computer science and STEM education are vital for K-12 students in our tech-driven world. These fields foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity while providing essential skills for future careers. They go beyond coding and math, offering a foundation in complex systems, data analysis, and logical reasoning – skills valuable across all disciplines.
Early exposure to CS and STEM helps bridge the digital divide, giving all students access to technological literacy regardless of background. This not only equips them to navigate our digital landscape but also opens doors to a wide range of high-demand career paths. By introducing these concepts early, we’re preparing students to shape the future they’ll inherit.
At the Learning Technology Center (LTC), we’re committed to supporting educators in bringing CS and STEM to their classrooms. We leverage our statewide network of CS educators to make integrating these subjects both empowering and standards-compliant for all educators and school districts. Our team provides resources, training, and practical support to help teachers feel confident in incorporating CS and STEM into their curriculum. Whether you’re looking to start a coding club, integrate computational thinking into existing lessons, or explore advanced topics in computer science, the LTC is here to guide you every step of the way.
The LTC provides support to implement and align curricula with both state and national computer science standards, ensuring high-quality learning experiences that meet educational and workforce demands.
Relevant Standards
Udacity
Online Course Portal. Our mission is to democratize education through the offering of world-class higher education opportunities that are accessible, flexible, and economical. Virtually anyone on the planet with an internet connection and a commitment to self-empowerment through learning can come to Udacity, master a suite of job-ready skills, and pursue rewarding employment. Learn to build a program, build a search engine, and build a social network. Some courses are paid, while others are free.
UTeach > CSP, CSA, CyberSec.
UTeach Computer Science courses engage students in authentic learning through project-based instruction, an evidence-based approach that encourages problem solving, critical thinking, and group collaboration. Our personally meaningful curriculum keeps students excited and our comprehensive instructional materials provide both new and experienced teachers with everything they need to create a successful learning environment.
Vex Robotics Competition
VEX competitions are also a great way to expose students to valuable soft skills like communication, collaboration and time-management in a fun and authentic way. The VEX Robotics competition prepares students to become future innovators with 95% of participants reporting an increased interest in STEM subject areas and pursuing STEM-related careers. Tournaments are held year-round at the regional, state, and national levels and culminate at the VEX Robotics World Championship each April!
Vidcode
Vidcode is an award-winning software that teaches middle and high school students computer programming through their favorite hobby: video-making. Vidcode is used by teachers across the country to teach JavaScript through full year courses and paired with math, art and science courses to teach code in a cross-disciplinary manner. On Vidcode, students can upload videos, code effects, and share with their classmates.
Wonder Workshop
Wonder Workshop’s robots, which include Dash and Dot, are ready to go, right out of the box. These responsive robots are packed full of capabilities that allow them to interact with students, their environment, and each other thanks to their multiple built-in motors, sensors, LEDs and audio capabilities. No Assembly Required: Our robots are truly easy to implement and include five free apps, which include in-app puzzles and challenges, across all subject areas. Grows With Your Students: Easy for beginners in kindergarten, and then scaffolds learning to higher grades through meaningful curricular and educational programs. Support of 21st Century Skills: Our robots encourage students to continue building critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration skills for tomorrow’s job market. Bring coding to life with Robotics for All Our products and apps teach students from kindergarten on up how to code, and with our five, free apps, students tackle a series of challenges and in-app puzzles that introduce the fundamental concepts of coding. Our unique Wonder app uses state machine programming and an original visual design to advance young students’ understanding of computer science. The Blockly app uses the most kid-friendly block based coding on the market to introduce students to programming. And Swift Playgrounds from Apple now powers Dash! Wonder Workshop has thoughtfully designed their product for education and introducing computer science concepts with our youngest students in mind, while allowing complex programming to occur to keep the oldest of students challenged and engaged.
Code Tribe
CodeTribe is an educational platform empowering middle and high school students to learn text-based programming through game creation, web development, and algorithm exploration. Teachers can assign tasks, track progress, and access Resource like lesson plans aligned with educational standards. The platform bridges block-based and text-based coding skills.
STEMCoding Project
We created the STEMcoding Project as an answer to this. We developed over two dozen “physics of video games” activities and other exercises that explore math concepts like our Pi day activity in order to show teachers and students how a single activity can align with relevant math, science and computer science standards (including data science).
Stencyl
Game Studio in a Box Stencyl isn’t your average game creation software; it’s a gorgeous, intuitive toolset that accelerates your workflow and then gets out of the way. We take care of the essentials, so you can focus on what’s important – making your game yours. Publish Everywhere With extensive platform support, you can rest assured that all players will have access to your game. Today, Stencyl supports: iOS (iPhone/iPad) Android Windows Mac Linux Flash HTML5 (experimental)
Computer Science Kickstart
For this session, we’ll be diving into the Illinois Computer Science standards to gain a better understanding of the concepts as well as find cross-curricular connections.
We’ll then explore resources- unplugged, online, and physical computing (including robots) that can not only introduce students to the basics of CS and computational thinking but also support your content area instruction!
SIU-Edwardsville STEM Field Trip
Visit the SIUE STEM Center to see the equipment lending library, try some of the hands-on demonstrations, and talk with our STEM education staff about recent projects and opportunities to partner!
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
Coding with Ozobots: A Hands-On Workshop for Educators
In this hands-on workshop, educators will learn the basics of Ozobots, including how they work and how to program them. K-12 students can code Evo two ways: screen-free with Color Code markers and online with Ozobot Blockly visual programming or Python. You’ll explore how Ozobots can be used to teach coding concepts like sequencing, loops, and conditionals, and how to integrate them into your curriculum.
Bring 3D Printing Into Your Classrooms!
Innovative problem solvers are using 3D printing in every industry, from medicine to construction to space exploration. Teach your students to design for the future by adding 3D printing to your curriculum!
Tinkercad & Other Tech Tools to Engage Students with STEM Concepts
Teachers (4th-12th grade) will learn how to incorporate Tinkercad into the math or computer classroom. They will design their very own object with TinkerCad, which will be printed using a 3D printer. Teachers will also discover other tech tools that enhance the teaching, learning, and application of STEM topics. Classroom teachers and technology teachers can attend this workshop together or individually.
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
AA 4054: Designing a Comprehensive [CS] Program for School Leaders
Participants will know/be able to…
Examine key concept areas of computer science as a content area, using technical terminology when appropriate
Investigate the differences between computer science and computer literacy
Determine the relevance a computer science education has to long-term student success
Evaluate their resource availability and compare it to the version they have for their computer science program
Create their computer science implementation plan
The Makerspace Starter Kit
This workshop will provide you a structured protocol for planning, designing, and fully stocking your makerspace to best meet the needs of YOUR students at YOUR school. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, we’ll share the questions you need to be asking and the research you’ll want to complete in order to tailor the space to your needs.
Bring 3D Printing into your Classrooms
Whether you’re brand new to 3D printing or you have one that’s not being used to its full potential, this workshop will give you the foundation you need. We’ll begin at square one of the 3D printing process and go from ideation to finished print, covering everything in between. You’ll then learn how 3D printers work, how to create and prepare models for printing, how to operate your printer and optimize its settings, and how to troubleshoot your printer when issues arise.
Coding with Ozobots: A Hands-On Workshop for Educators
Ozobot’s Evo robots are tiny programmable robots that are a fun and interactive way to introduce coding to students of all ages. In this hands-on workshop, educators will learn the basics of Ozobots, including how they work and how to program them.
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
CS & STEM Networking Meeting
Calling all K-12 computer science and STEM educators! Join your peers from across the state each month for an informative, engagement-rich networking meeting centered on topics that matter most to you.
Take Coding to the Sky with Drones!
Come discover what it takes to bring drones into the classroom as a part of this hands-on workshop. Participants will have the chance to ask questions, code their own drone, and learn about essential drone terminology, safety issues, legal concerns, operational requirements, and drone model options. Participants will also walk away with a Robolink Codrone of their own to make implementing their newfound drone knowledge even easier.
Roll into the Future: Sphero Bolt+ and the Power of Play
Get ready to roll into the future of education with Sphero Bolt+! This workshop invites you to unlock the power of play and explore the endless possibilities of this cutting-edge robotic ball.
LTC Announces Inaugural Illinois State Fair Butter Cow 3D Printing Contest Winner
The Learning Technology Center is proud to announce the winner of its first 3D printing contest. Learn about the winning student and how you can grab the miniature butter cow he designed as a souvenir at the 2024 Illinois State Fair.
Code.org Regional Partnership
Through our Code.org partnership, Illinois educators can obtain high-quality CS professional development and curricular resources – often for little-to-no cost. You can also develop the expertise needed make CS learning accessible at any grade level using their ever-growing library of projects and teaching tools.
More than two million teachers have brought CS learning to their classroom through Code.org. Learn more about how Code.org can help you and your district grow CS teaching capacity starting today.