The SOE held a Computational Literacy/Computational Thinking (CL/CT) summer mini-conference on our SU campus July 16-17. Computational Literacy/Computational Thinking is an ongoing initiative for the SOE, with a goal of integrating CL/CT activities into 90% of our courses.
The sessions were facilitated by adjunct professors Janel Frazier, Courtney Koerber, and Dr. Lauren Speiser. After a review of our faculty’s prior participation in professional learning offered by the Maryland Center for Computing Education (MCCE), the facilitators provided an overview of Computational Literacy and Computational Thinking. This was followed by examples of how to incorporate CL/CT tools, devices, and resources into learning activities in courses. The group was joined by Middle School Math and Science education major Kayla Basnight-McLean, who demonstrated several robot devices such as Robot Mice, Botley, Dash, and Ozobot.
On Day 2, Instructional Designers Sam Page and Thom Schlitzer presented a new AI conversation tool soon to be available to faculty on Blackboard Ultra. Afterwards, a variety of AI resources and tools for educators and students were shared. The SU and SOE AI policies were examined, and then small groups worked collaboratively to develop AI statements for course syllabi on the effective, ethical, and appropriate uses of AI tools in learning activities and assignments. Finally, participants designed CL-CT activities to incorporate into their courses, with facilitators offering guidance and feedback.
Pictured in group photo (front row, left to right): Janel Frazier and Courtney Koerber; (back row, left to right): Larry Sizemore, Sorsha Mulroe, Rosalie Dembowski, Maya Lars, Khadeeja Shafi, Lisa Moyer, Valerie Valdez, David Nicholson, and Dr. Beth Kobett, Dean of the SOE; (not pictured: Jesse Schneiderman and Lauren Speiser)