Mr. Higgins’ Blog

Wait a second….I just realized that the title of this blog entry is an oxymoron. There is no such thing as teaching training for computer science teachers. As a matter of fact, I only qualify for an alternative license through the Ohio Department of Education because I have 30 hours of college coursework in computer science and mathematics courses that relate to computer science. I will be happy when my license is upgraded to a full license. I have a minor in Computer Science Engineering from the University of Toledo. I thought I was going to be a Computer Science major until I switched to adolescent math education. It is the single greatest decision I have made to this point in my life and I love it. I had to jump through many hoops to have the ability to teach computer science courses.

Once my school district showed interest in hiring me, they were proposing a schedule to me, which included AP Computer Science A because they knew I had previous experience in the class. However, they were as clueless as I was about how big the “hoops” appear. First, you simply cannot major in Computer Science Education from any place that I could even find which was within 5 hours of our location. Second, it took me at least two months to FINALLY get a straight answer about how to qualify for an alternative license and if I actually qualify. I eventually talked to the right individual at the Ohio Department of Education and here is basically the criterion a person needs to match completely…

1. Have 30 Hours in Computer Science through accredited college(s). I could have even taken and nickel-dimed my credit hours at many different colleges.
2. Have 3 hours of educational psychology and 3 hours in a methods type course.
3. Continue your education by taking an undefined number of educational courses to upgrade to a full license.
4. Extensive work in the industry can cancel out the first three requirements; however, that was not an option for me being a college student who was still in the middle of student teaching while investigating the mystery of computer science cortication.

For more perspective on the issue of certification, the Computer Science Teachers Association had a great conversation going on at one time concerning this issue in three separate blogs.

• What to Do About CS Teacher Education
• More Certification Insanity
• Entering the Forbidden Forest of Teacher Certification

Brian Scarbeau and Alfred Thompson have begun to discuss this matter in the blogosphere again and I have many of the same feelings. As a young teacher, I probably don’t have a pulse on “industry” of education; however, I can tell you that teaching computer science is hard work, but in the end, it is very enjoyable. All teachers who consider themselves true “computer science” teachers understand that they are going to be asked to teach a lot of different classes and other teachers will think they are technical support. I remember my classroom being interrupted several different times because other teachers thought I could fix something. Sorry, I have my own issues to take care of in the classroom.

My school is the only school with an accredited AP Computer Science program for many miles according to other technology coordinator. This is why I like to go to AP Computer Science workshops during the summer to hear form other teachers. Of course, I’m always the youngest because there aren’t many CS teachers that are my age. I have attended Advanced Placement Summer Institute 2006 at Ball State University in Muncie, IN and this summer I am attending the 2007 Summer Java Workshop for APCS teachers at Carnegie Mellon University starting this Saturday. I am really looking forward to talking to other computer science teachers and learning about the new Gridworld Case Study.

I am going to have to work hard to make sure that my AP Computer Science A class does not die out because of lack of interest. We already have trouble getting enough students to take the course.