Kean Hosts Google Funded Program for Computer Science Teachers

Kean University hosted CS4HS, a 3-day Google-funded professional development program for high school computer science (CS) teachers July 27-29. Kean professor Jenny Li, Ph.D., is the program’s director, supervising and instructing over 30 high school teachers from throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Teachers learned about how to establish a peer network and leverage shared insights and resources for curriculum development at the event. The program also included a workshop on the new AP Computer Science Principles course. 

"We are very excited about the new AP Computer Science Principles course, available this fall," said Dr. Jenny Li. "Google's support for teachers planning to teach the course is outstanding."

Utilizing national repositories for computer science education materials, such as Engage CS Edu and CS10K, CS4HS attendees were taught proven CS teaching methods and best practices. Part of a nationally-funded effort by Google to increase K-12 teacher preparation for computer science education, CS4HS programs have been held at Kean annually since 2011.

Starting this summer, Kean’s new North Ave. Academic building will house the university’s computer science program in state-of-the-art environs. Kean undergraduates have the opportunity to work collaboratively with dedicated faculty on research and publications. In the last three years, two Kean alumni have been awarded graduate research fellowship awards by the National Science Foundation. In 2016, Pat Morreale, Ph.D., Department of Computer Science Chair, was awarded a national Faculty Mentoring Award by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR). Morreale has mentored over 100 undergraduates, leading to 40 peer-reviewed publications and more than 50 peer-reviewed presentations at both national and international conferences. To learn more visit www.kean.edu/~compsci.