University Communications

The University of Southern Indiana Computer Science Program, part of the Romain College of Business, has been tapped to participate in a state-wide effort to accelerate and deepen computer science in Indiana through teacher training across the K-12 grade range.

These resources, which were started prior to the COVID-19 outbreak and an intensive effort to move all forms of education online, are being offered as part of a state contract offered to IndianaComputes!, a collaboration of Indiana universities and colleges to provide local computer science opportunities for teachers and students within their own regional area. The organization has been awarded a contract with the Indiana Department of Education exceeding $600,000 to offer these opportunities across the entire state.

“Understanding computing at some level will serve the teachers in our community well and our computer and information sciences faculty are uniquely qualified to serve in this role,” said Dr. Cathy Carey, dean of the USI Romain College of Business. “In today’s modern technological times, an understanding of computer and information sciences is becoming important at every age, both at home and in the workforce.”

USI, in partnership with the University of Evansville, will provide computer science workshops, coursework and resource development to educators in southwest Indiana, including Dubois, Gibson, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Warrick and Vanderburgh counties.

According to Scott Anderson, coordinator of the Computer Science Program and instructor of computer science at USI, services will be offered online free of charge to Indiana educators. Training launches this coming summer and continues into next year. Teachers will have free access to topical workshops, classroom materials, graduate coursework and dual credit training.

Workshop topics to be offered by IndianaComputes! as part of this program include:

• District Planning and Evaluation Strategies
• iLearn Preparation
• Computer Science K-8 Standard Fundamentals
• Physical Computing
• Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Computer Science
• Data Literacy
• Industry Exploration
• Agile Software Development
• Computer Science-related Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Technology Tools
• K-8 Computer Science Showcase of Curricula Classroom Materials
• K-8 Cybersecurity
• Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
• Scratch Programming

For more information, contact Anderson at rsanderson@usi.edu or 812-465-7113. To learn more about IndianaComputes!, visit their website at indianacomputes.net.