Strengthening Nebraska’s K-8 computer science curriculum

An interdisciplinary Nebraska research team is using a four-year, $2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to help the state’s educators effectively teach computer science to K-8 students. Leen-Kiat Soh, professor of computer science and engineering, is leading development of the program, called Adapt, Implement and Research (Air@NE). About 100 educators from diverse districts statewide, including majority-minority, rural and Native schools, will take summer courses to boost their computer science knowledge and learn about a K-8 computer science curriculum that has been successfully used in the Lincoln Public Schools district since 2014. They’ll also join a network linking them to experienced computer science educators, who will support the teachers as they use the LPS curriculum in their home districts.