Scholarships May Be Available!
WeTeach_CS at the Texas Advanced Computing Center (UT Austin) secured grant funding to provide training scholarships and physical computing kits to K-5 teachers in support of the Technology Applications TEKS. The grant period ends in December 2025. If you are interested in bringing free, high-quality, TEKS-aligned training to your classroom or campus, contact us to see if we have any scholarships left. Once the equipment and training scholarships are fully distributed or the grant period has ended, you can still access this training for a fee. Check out our Pricing tab for more details.
Unlock New Possibilities
Welcome to Launch_K5 Computer Science, where education takes flight into a realm of innovation and possibilities! Launch_K5 CS is a dynamic three-day workshop designed for K-5 educators by the experts at WeTeach_CS, the K-12 professional development arm of the Texas Advanced Computing Center at UT. It is crafted with meticulous alignment to the new K-5 Technology Applications TEKS that began implementation in the 2024-2025 school year.
This engaging professional learning experience:
- Models how to integrate the new Technology Applications TEKS into existing instruction, with and without devices.
- Includes ready-to-implement sample lessons that address science, math, and ELAR TEKS, in English and in Spanish.
- Is accessible and engaging for educators of all technology comfort levels, even those who prefer to teach “unplugged.”
Workshop Highlights
- Interactive Workshop: Immerse yourself in a transformative 3-day workshop that equips educators with the skills to seamlessly integrate computer science into their teaching practices.
- TEKS Alignment: Gain insights into aligning your teaching strategies with the latest Tech Apps TEKS, ensuring your curriculum is up-to-date and in line with educational standards.
- Inclusive Curriculum: Explore a comprehensive set of K-5 lessons, including both unplugged and plugged activities, that you can immediately implement in your classroom.
- Coding and Physical Computing: Embrace the future of education by learning about block-based coding and physical computing, essential skills for preparing our students for the digital age.
Audience
This opportunity is best suited for K-5 educators who will be embedding the new Technology Applications TEKS into their regular instruction. However, educators teaching the Technology Applications TEKS as a stand-alone course or rotation will also benefit.
Agenda
This is the agenda for the full 3-day workshop. Need something different? Check out our customization options below.
K-5 Teachers Day One
| Time | Activity |
| 30 minutes | Welcome, Logistics, Overview |
| 1.5 hours | Technology Applications TEKS Deep Dive |
| 1.5 hours | Computational Thinking & Computer Science |
| 1.5 hours | Cybersecurity |
| 1 hour | Artificial Intelligence |
K-2 Teachers Day Two
| Time | Activity |
| 3 hours | Physical Computing - VEX 123 Robots |
| 1.5 hours | Scratch Jr. |
| 1.5 hours | Integrated Lessons |
3-5 Teachers Day Two
| Time | Activity |
| 1.5 hours | Scratch |
| 1.5 hours | Integrated Lessons |
| 3 hours | Physical Computing - micro:bits |
K-5 Teachers Day Three
| Time | Activity |
| 6 hours | Self-Paced Online Course
Topics:
- Teaching and Implementing Computer Science, including Sequencing / Algorithms, Conditionals, Loops, Variables
- Introduction to and guided experiences in Code.org and Scratch
Features:
- Interactive formative assessment items
- Quizzes
- Final Exam
|
We are happy to customize!
Want only some of these topics? Wish to add others? Don’t have a full three days? Already have different computing equipment on site? We are happy to design a customized agenda to fit your needs. Contact us to discuss!
Pricing
The estimated cost to bring this training to your location for up to 30 participants during the 2024-2025 school year is $3425. Exact pricing for this service depends on the number of participants you have, which grades they teach, whether you plan to customize the agenda and where the training will take place. We can do this training at your location or at one of our locations (space permitting). Please contact us for a quote based on your specific needs and budget!
Pricing Options
Base Pricing for up to 30 Participants at Your Location
| Full Version for Grades K-5 | $3425 |
| Full Version for Grades K-2 OR Grades 3-5 | $2375 |
| Custom 1-Day Version | $1300 |
Physical Computing FAQs
Part of the Launch_K5 CS training focuses on the use of physical computing equipment in the classroom.
| Why physical computing? | Physical computing gives kids a hands-on way to use coding skills to creatively interact with the physical environment. | |
| Why VEX 123 and micro:bit? | Launch_K5 CS developers chose the VEX 123 (grades K-2) and micro:bit (grades 3-5) systems because they are sophisticated enough to fully address the applicable Technology Applications TEKS. Additionally, both systems provide lots of free online resources to help ensure long-term classroom use. | |
| What if I already have physical computing equipment? | If you already have physical computing equipment, we can help you evaluate whether your system effectively addresses the expectations of the Technology Applications TEKS. If so, we’re happy to incorporate your physical computing equipment into a customized version of the Launch_K5 CS training. | |
| Do I have to purchase physical computing equipment? | Not necessarily. We can train your teachers using our equipment even if you decide you will not be purchasing your own kits. Many physical computing systems work in a similar way, so experience with one system often translates to others. We can also create a customized version of the Launch_K5 CS training that removes the physical computing component or replaces it with something else. | |
| Can you get us a discount on the VEX 123 or micro:bit? | We may be able to negotiate a bulk discount through WeTeach_CS or a retailer depending on the number of teachers you plan to have trained and your training timeline. Contact us to inquire! | |
