Computational Thinking Competencies + Microcredentials for Pre- and Inservice Educators

Octavia Abell is a CT Advisor to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) In this capacity she supports ISTE’s computer science and computational thinking strategy and advises the team on related projects. Previously Octavia served as the Director of Strategy for the Rhode Island Office of Innovation where she led efforts to build government effectiveness and catalyze innovation across Rhode Island, including designing Computer Science 4 Rhode Island (CS4RI) an initiative to bring computer science education to every K-12 public school in the state. She holds a BA in Political Economy and International Development from Tulane University.

Brendan Calandra is Professor and Chair of the Department of Learning Sciences at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. His research and teaching focus on digital media, learning, and professional development. Some of his projects include using rich and immersive technologies to help novice teachers learn from practice teaching; designing technology-enhanced safety awareness training; and providing authentic, technology-rich learning experiences for underserved and marginalized youth. His work has been funded by private, non-profit, state, and federal organizations.

Bryan Cox is the Computer Science Program Specialist at the Georgia DOE. At the GaDOE, Bryan is responsible for broadening participation in Computer Science educational experiences in Georgia and building Computer Science into a K-12 discipline. He develops and offers training opportunities and other support for Computer Science teachers and organizes the state Department of Education’s Computer Science Advisory Council. He is a backbone member of the CS4GA collective and serves on several advisory committees for CS initiatives around the state. Prior to working for the GaDOE, Bryan spent 8 years as a High School STEM teacher, teaching math, computer science, and engineering courses, mostly within the Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education department. He is currently pursuing a Phd in Instructional Technology from Georgia State University with a research focus in online learning and computational thinking. He also received an M.A.T. in mathematics from GSU and a B.S. in Computer Information Systems from Florida A & M University. He has spent time working as a network designer, computer technician, and an after-school and summer youth programs coordinator.

Lauren Margulieux is an Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences at Georgia State University. She received her Ph.D. from Georgia Tech in Engineering Psychology, the study of how humans interact with technology. Her research interests are in educational technology and online learning, particularly for computing education. She also coordinates an initiative in Georgia State’s teacher preparation programs to integrate computing into pre-service teacher training in all disciplines and directs a computer science endorsement to certify in-service teachers to offer computing courses.

Carolyn Sykora, senior director of ISTE Standards programs, has more than 20 years of experience in education leadership and program management for nonprofits. She promotes the implementation of the ISTE Standards in K-12 and in teacher preparation programs. including through the development of the ISTE Certification for Educators. Carolyn specializes in project and program leadership for resources, products and services that serve school and district leaders, technology coaches, classroom teachers and higher education faculty.

Heidi Williams is a passionate coding and computational thinking advocate. She has over 30 years of experience in K-12 public education as both a teacher and administrator. She currently serves as a computer science curriculum specialist for Marquette University's PUMP CS grant in Milwaukee, WI. Williams has shared her passion for integrating coding and computational thinking into the curriculum at local, state, regional and national conferences, and many have leveraged her expertise for conference presentations, coding coaching, professional development and K-12 scope and sequence alignment of computer science skills throughout the curriculum. Visit nofearcoding.org for a wealth of CS administrator and teacher resources.