In 2018, the State Legislature passed Registration Act No. 48. This is after learning from industry experts that seniors graduating from the University of Wyoming are ill-equipped, adding computer science to the common core of knowledge, and keyboarding skills to computational thinking in the common core of skills. It’s replaced. Laurie Hernandez, Director of Standards and Assessment for the Wyoming Department of Education, said of computer science skills:

Computer science education is an important step in preparing students for the future. Sheridan County 2nd School District Assistant Superintendent Christie Garifa said:

To ensure that students acquire computer science knowledge and skills throughout their schooling, WDE has convened a committee to recommend standards for computer science, Hernandez said. The state board of education is required by law to promulgate uniform computer science content and performance standards by January 1, and school districts must implement the standards by the 2022-2023 school year. had.

Do the standards tell us what students should learn? From a basic understanding of hardware in kindergarten through second grade, to an advanced understanding of programming, cybersecurity, and the role of technology in society at the high school level. It depends on the school year. Schools will be required to teach computer science concepts, said Laurel Ballard, WDE’s director of digital learning and innovation, but computer science classes are not graduation requirements. Schools should offer students options to pursue computer science interests.

In Sheridan County school districts, adopting computer science standards requires staff training and integration of computer science classes into the core curriculum.

All three Sheridan County school districts have been working to train computer science teachers this summer, through statewide training and partnerships with Sheridan College, said Garriffa, SCSD1 Superintendent Pete Kilbride, SCSD3 Education. Chief Chase Christensen said. Statewide, Ballard said the Department of Education is working to ensure that current teachers have the necessary skills to bring computer science into the classroom.

Kilbride explained that the challenge with bringing new areas of knowledge into schools this year is that the number of hours in the school day has not increased despite the new subjects being taught. In the elementary school context in particular, schools across the state are working to integrate his science classes into other classes, from math to science to English, Ballard said.

At SCSD1, Kilbride said computer science classes will be incorporated into technology classes that are required for all students from grades 1 through 12. SCSD1 High School includes computer science as part of the electives already offered.

Computer science education at SCSD2 follows a similar pattern, Garriffa said, with all students receiving computer science instruction throughout elementary school and middle and high school students learning increasingly complex computer science as their skills progress. You can choose to participate in electives. The district is gearing up to launch new computer science requirements and expects to build on the school’s computer science offerings, Garriffa said.

Also, SCSD3 students will see computer science appear more and more frequently in other subjects, Christensen said. Christensen also works with SCSD3 librarians and PE teachers to teach standards that are difficult for students to integrate into their daily learning while in the library or PE.

Computer science will be integrated into elementary school classes this year, giving students additional opportunities to develop and explore their skills throughout middle and high school, according to local school officials.

“Our kids will learn how programming works. Not only will they be able to use the technology, it will certainly move them,” said Kilbride.