Computer Science Professional Learning
Grow as a CS Educator
The Learning Technology Center offers a series of computer science workshops and year-long cohort programs for Illinois and Missouri educators. Full scholarships are available to eligible attendees, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, select opportunities provide participants with the opportunity to earn college credit.
Each of our immersive programs offers a unique opportunity to:
- Get hands-on with student-ready robotics, coding, and problem solving
- Build community with fellow CS educators
- Grow your classroom or district CS program using comprehensive teaching resources (including free curriculum)
Each summer, we also partner with Code.org, CS4IL, Discovery Partners Institute, CSTA Illinois, and Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to provide accessible professional learning opportunities to both new and experienced CS educators – including at Illinois’ annual CS PD Week.
Illinois Workshops & Cohorts
Take a confident first step toward teaching computer science with this introductory workshop designed for elementary educators.
During this workshop, you’ll learn the basics of computer science pedagogy and get hands-on with age-appropriate “unplugged” classroom activities. You’ll also receive an overview of Code.org’s Computer Science Fundamentals curriculum and teacher dashboard – both of which can help make teaching CS in your classroom engaging and sustainable.
By the end, teachers will walk away with:
- A plan of action for teaching the CS Fundamentals curriculum
- An implementation plan for teaching two CS Fundamentals lessons
- Goals for how deep into the course they would like to try to get
- Strategies for teaching CS Fundamentals lessons
- Connections to a community of CS education peers
- A printed curriculum guide filled with pedagogy, tips, and best practices
- A certificate of attendance
Learn more about CS Fundamentals →
Who is this Training for?
K-5 teachers (with or without prior CS teaching experience), librarians and library media specialists, any educator interested in teaching computer science
Workshop Length
1 Day
Cost
Free or low-cost
Scholarships
Available
Upcoming Trainings
June 23-24, 2025 | CSEL program | Rosemont, IL*
*Priority participation in CSEL programs will be given to teachers of multilingual students
Ignite your students’ interest in computer science with this year-long program for middle and high school educators.
Come discover the many ways Code.org’s free Computer Science Discoveries curriculum can help your students grow as CS learners through a unique mix of problem solving, programming, physical computing, and user-centered design activities.
Participants in this course will also learn how to connect CS to students’ experiences through the creation of websites, apps, animations, games, and physical computing systems.
Learn more about CS Discoveries →
Who is this Training for?
6-10 teachers (with or without prior CS teaching experience), librarians and library media specialists, any educator interested in teaching computer science
Workshop Length
5 days (with 4 follow-up workshops during the academic year)
Cost
$1,200
Scholarships
Available
Upcoming Trainings
June 23-27, 2025 | CSEL program | Rosemont, IL*
*Priority participation in CSEL programs will be given to teachers of multilingual students
Challenge your high school students to explore how computing and technology can impact the world, with a focus on the internet, cybersecurity, app design, and the complexities of digital information.
Participants in this training will learn about Code.org’s free Computer Science Principles curriculum, as well as how to integrate it into an existing CS program using project-based learning.
Learn more about CS Principles →
Who is this Training for?
9-12 teachers, librarians and library media specialists, any educator interested in teaching computer science
Workshop Length
5 days (with 4 follow-up workshops during the academic year)
Cost
$1,200
Scholarships
Available
Upcoming Trainings
June 23-27, 2025 | CS PD Week | Central Illinois | Apply now →
June 23-27, 2025 | CSEL program | Rosemont, IL*
*Priority participation in CSEL programs will be given to teachers of multilingual students
Take your high school students from theory to real-world application with Code.org’s AP-aligned curriculum where students act as software engineers and learn object-oriented programming using Java.
Participants in this training will also engage with intermediate CS topics including data structuring, processing data using algorithms, and computing’s ethical and social implications.
Learn more about AP CS A →
Who is this Training for?
9-12 teachers, librarians and library media specialists, any educator interested in teaching computer science
Workshop Length
5 days (with 4 follow-up workshops during the academic year)
Cost
$1,200
Scholarships
Available
Upcoming Trainings
June 23-27, 2025 | CS PD Week | Central Illinois | Apply now →
Have fun exploring robots, unplugged activities, and much more as you practice weaving computational thinking and interdisciplinary connections together with your elementary classroom’s core content areas.
Participants in this training will also get hands-on with popular CS teaching tools, including micro:bit, Ozobot, LEGO Education Learning System, Hello Ruby, and more.
Who is this Training for?
K-5 teachers (with or without prior CS teaching experience), librarians and library media specialists, any educator interested in teaching computer science
Workshop Length
5 days
Cost
$400
Scholarships
Available
Upcoming Trainings
June 23-27, 2025 | CS PD Week | Central Illinois | Apply now →
Learn to incorporate interdisciplinary connections, computational thinking, and a variety of fresh, engaging CS education activities into your grade 6-12 curriculum using robots, unplugged activities, and more.
Participants in this training will also get hands-on with popular CS teaching tools, including GitHub, Ozobot, Google’s Applied Digital Skills, micro:bit, LEGO Education Learning System, and more
Who is this Training for?
6-12 teachers (with or without prior CS teaching experience), librarians and library media specialists, any educator interested in teaching computer science
Workshop Length
5 days
Cost
$400
Scholarships
Available
Upcoming Trainings
June 23-27, 2025 | CS PD Week | Central Illinois | Apply now →
Missouri Workshops & Cohorts
Ignite your students’ interest in computer science with this year-long program for middle and high school educators.
Come discover the many ways Code.org’s free Computer Science Discoveries curriculum can help your students grow as CS learners through a unique mix of problem solving, programming, physical computing, and user-centered design activities.
Participants in this course will also learn how to connect CS to students’ experiences through the creation of websites, apps, animations, games, and physical computing systems.
Learn more about CS Discoveries →
Who is this Training for?
6-10 teachers (with or without prior CS teaching experience), librarians and library media specialists, any educator interested in teaching computer science
Workshop Length
5 days (with 4 follow-up workshops during the academic year)
Cost
$1,200
Scholarships
Available
Upcoming Trainings
June 9-13, 2025 | Microsoft Office, Cortex | St. Louis, MO | Apply now →
Challenge your high school students to explore how computing and technology can impact the world, with a focus on the internet, cybersecurity, app design, and the complexities of digital information.
Participants in this training will learn about Code.org’s free Computer Science Principles curriculum, as well as how to integrate it into an existing CS program using project-based learning.
Learn more about CS Principles →
Who is this Training for?
9-12 teachers, librarians and library media specialists, any educator interested in teaching computer science
Workshop Length
5 days (with 4 follow-up workshops during the academic year)
Cost
$1,200
Scholarships
Available
Upcoming Trainings
June 9-13, 2025 | Southwest Baptist University | Bolivar, MO | Apply now →
June 9-13, 2025 | Microsoft Office, Cortex | St. Louis, MO | Apply now →
Take your high school students from theory to real-world application with Code.org’s AP-aligned curriculum where students act as software engineers and learn object-oriented programming using Java.
Participants in this training will also engage with intermediate CS topics including data structuring, processing data using algorithms, and computing’s ethical and social implications.
Learn more about AP CS A →
Who is this Training for?
9-12 teachers, librarians and library media specialists, any educator interested in teaching computer science
Workshop Length
5 days (with 4 follow-up workshops during the academic year)
Cost
$1,200
Scholarships
Available
Upcoming Trainings
No trainings scheduled for 2025. Contact Sarah Phelps for alternative options.
Application Steps & Timelines
All LTC-hosted summer CS professional learning events now use a common application. With it, you can apply to attend and request a scholarships (when available, subject to eligibility) all in one place.
Step 1: Complete the Initial Application
Submit an application to attend an LTC-hosted summer CS training. Applications open each year in November.
After submission, applications will be reviewed on a 3-week rolling basis. Applicants will receive a provisional acceptance and scholarship eligibility within 3-4 weeks from Sarah Phelps (sphelps@ltcillinois.org). The application will be finalized upon receipt of a school administrator’s approval.
Step 2: Register for your Event
After receiving acceptance and scholarship eligibility, lock in your participation by registering for the event you indicated on your application. Instructions for registering will be provided after your application is finalized.
Reminder: Multiple trainings covering the same content may be occurring at the same time at different locations. Be sure to register for the correct location for your desired training.
Step 3: Watch for Updates
During the following Spring, we will reach out for additional participant information, as well as to provide event information including = location, hotel options, and parking.
Illinois & Missouri Code.org Regional Partner
As the Code.org Regional Partner for Illinois and Missouri, the Learning Technology Center (LTC) takes great pride in facilitating professional learning programs that significantly enhance the capabilities of both current and aspiring computer science educators. By offering scholarships, these invaluable programs become accessible at little-to-no cost, enabling educators and their districts across Illinois and Missouri to cultivate the expertise necessary for delivering a comprehensive and enriching computer science curriculum.
This collaboration underscores the LTC’s dedication to fostering educational excellence and equity, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to explore the vast potential of computer science.
