The University of Texas at Arlington has joined a statewide program to help address the urgent need for K-12 teachers with computer science certification in Texas.
The WeTeach_CS Secondary Certification Preparation Hub provides training for teachers to implement computer science education in their classrooms. The program is operated by the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at UT Austin.
“The Texas Legislature recognized that the shortage of computer science classes in public schools is a real problem, and the WeTeach_CS program is working to address that problem,” said Greg Hale, professor of instruction in chemistry and the codirector of UTA’s UTeach Arlington, a science and mathematics secondary teacher preparation program. “Less than half of all Texas high schools have a computer science course, so the need is great.”
The UTeach Arlington program has trained hundreds of science and mathematics teachers since its launch in 2010. Now, UTA is partnering with WeTeach_CS to train teachers pursuing certificates in computer science for grades 8-12 or in technology applications for early childhood through 12th grade. Technology applications include programs such as digital forensics, animation, robotics, web design and digital communications.
“I think this program is really important in the continuing education of students for a more technologically advanced world,” said Nicholas Prasatporn, a math teacher at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst. “Even if they won’t be the ones coding all of the AI algorithms, they will still need to have a grasp of how integrated computer science is with their lives. I got involved because I wanted to diversify the subjects I could teach and perhaps find better opportunities in employment.”
UTA’s program has 27 certified teachers enrolled, including four UTeach Arlington alumni who work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Twenty-two of the teachers are on the computer science track and five are on the technology applications track.
The training includes online courses taught by staff from TACC, as well as several in-person training sessions at UTA. An orientation was held at UTA in February and more on-campus visits will follow this summer.
Additionally, UTA faculty are providing mentoring for the teachers, who will take the certification exams in August.