Photo by Norton Gusky

Focus for Presentation:

Learners need to see connections in order to make meaning out of experiences. Using a STEAM fabric South Fayette, Fort Cherry, and the Manchester Academic Charter School have found a variety of ways to develop a systemic K-12 program around computational thinking that engages students in problem-based learning. Discover how three very diverse schools have collaborated to meet the needs of their learners. Hear from two administrators, a teacher/administrator, and a Board member how the South Fayette STEAM Fusion Thinking model has scaled and impacted inner city and rural students in the Pittsburgh region. Learn about sustainable gardening projects that lay the seeds for an entrepreneurial mindset.

Resources:

• Presentation – Making a Digital Salad
• Articles
  • NextPittsburgh: South Fayette Creating a National Model for Computational Thinking
  • WQED: Learning Innovation: South Fayette
  • IU1: Spotlight on Fort Cherry School District and STEM Education
  • WQED: Learning Innovation: MACS
  • UP Global: Makers Make Money
  • Hechinger Report: How One School District Works Computational Thinking into Every Grade and Class
• Videos
• Research
  • eTextiles: Breaking the Gender Gap in STEM – Kyler Peppler (University of Indiana)
  • New Frameworks for Studying and Developing Computational Thinking – Karen Brennan (Harvard) and Mitch Resnick (MIT)
• Other
  • Digital Salad: WQED Pittsburgh Innovators Project