CS-FAST

K12 CS Framework Aligned

Colorado School of Mines

C-START Colorado - Strategic Approach to Rally Teachers

When compared to national numbers, it’s clear that Colorado is in desperate…

CS-FAST is a curriculum developed specifically for Colorado elementary school teachers that offers a Fundamental Approach to Standards Training (FAST). This elementary school teacher training is being offered for free by Colorado School of Mines, thanks to a collaboration with the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). Participating teachers also have the opportunity to receive a stipend (up to ) from CDE. The Mines CS-FAST workshop focuses on:

1. Learning and applying Computational Thinking.

2. Introducing the Computer Science Teaching Association standards for each grade level.

3. Providing experience in coding.

Computational Thinking embodies the process of solving a computational problem: from breaking down the problem into a way that can be solved efficiently with a computational system, to creating an effective decision from the results. To apply Computational Thinking is to think like a computer scientist.

URL:

https://cstart.mines.edu/FAST/

Cost:

Some Paid Content

K12 CS Framework Components

What is this?
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Computing Systems
Sub-Concept:
Devices
Statements:
People use computing devices to perform a variety of tasks accurately and quickly. Computing devices interpret and follow the instructions they are given literally.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Computing Systems
Sub-Concept:
Hardware and Software
Statements:
A computing system is composed of hardware and software. Hardware consists of physical components, while software provides instructions for the system. These instructions are represented in a form that a computer can understand.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Computing Systems
Sub-Concept:
Troubleshooting
Statements:
Computing systems might not work as expected because of hardware or software problems. Clearly describing a problem is the first step toward finding a solution.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Networks and Internet
Sub-Concept:
Network Communications
Statements:
Computer networks can be used to connect people to other people, places, information, and ideas. The Internet enables people to connect with others worldwide through many different points of connection.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Networks and Internet
Sub-Concept:
Cybersecurity
Statements:
Connecting devices to a network or the Internet provides great benefit, but care must be taken to use authentication measures, such as strong passwords, to protect devices and information from unauthorized access.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Collection
Statements:
Everyday digital devices collect and display data over time. The collection and use of data about individuals and the world around them is a routine part of life and influences how people live.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Storage
Statements:
Computers store data that can be retrieved later. Identical copies of data can be made and stored in multiple locations for a variety of reasons, such as to protect against loss.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Visualization and Transformation
Statements:
Data can be displayed for communication in many ways. People use computers to transform data into new forms, such as graphs and charts.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Inference and Models
Statements:
Data can be used to make inferences or predictions about the world. Inferences, statements about something that cannot be readily observed, are often based on observed data. Predictions, statements about future events, are based on patterns in data and can be made by looking at data visualizations, such as charts and graphs.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Algorithms
Statements:
People follow and create processes as part of daily life. Many of these processes can be expressed as algorithms that computers can follow.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Variables
Statements:
Information in the real world can be represented in computer programs. Programs store and manipulate data, such as numbers, words, colors, and images. The type of data determines the actions and attributes associated with it.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Control
Statements:
Computers follow precise sequences of instructions that automate tasks. Program execution can also be nonsequential by repeating patterns of instructions and using events to initiate instructions.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Modularity
Statements:
Complex tasks can be broken down into simpler instructions, some of which can be broken down even further. Likewise, instructions can be combined to accomplish complex tasks.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Program Development
Statements:
People develop programs collaboratively and for a purpose, such as expressing ideas or addressing problems.
Grade Band:
K-2
Concept:
Impacts of Computing
Sub-Concept:
Social Interactions
Statements:
Computing has positively and negatively changed the way people communicate. People can have access to information and each other instantly, anywhere, and at any time, but they are at the risk of cyberbullying and reduced privacy.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Computing Systems
Sub-Concept:
Devices
Statements:
Computing devices may be connected to other devices or components to extend their capabilities, such as sensing and sending information. Connections can take many forms, such as physical or wireless. Together, devices and components form a system of interdependent parts that interact for a common purpose.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Computing Systems
Sub-Concept:
Hardware and Software
Statements:
Hardware and software work together as a system to accomplish tasks, such as sending, receiving, processing, and storing units of information as bits. Bits serve as the basic unit of data in computing systems and can represent a variety of information.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Computing Systems
Sub-Concept:
Troubleshooting
Statements:
Computing systems share similarities, such as the use of power, data, and memory. Common troubleshooting strategies, such as checking that power is available, checking that physical and wireless connections are working, and clearing out the working memory by restarting programs or devices, are effective for many systems.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Networks and Internet
Sub-Concept:
Network Communications
Statements:
Information needs a physical or wireless path to travel to be sent and received, and some paths are better than others. Information is broken into smaller pieces, called packets, that are sent independently and reassembled at the destination. Routers and switches are used to properly send packets across paths to their destinations.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Networks and Internet
Sub-Concept:
Cybersecurity
Statements:
Information can be protected using various security measures. These measures can be physical and/or digital.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Collection
Statements:
People select digital tools for the collection of data based on what is being observed and how the data will be used. For example, a digital thermometer is used to measure temperature and a GPS sensor is used to track locations.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Storage
Statements:
Different software tools used to access data may store the data differently. The type of data being stored and the level of detail represented by that data affect the storage requirements.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Visualization and Transformation
Statements:
People select aspects and subsets of data to be transformed, organized, clustered, and categorized to provide different views and communicate insights gained from the data.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Inference and Models
Statements:
The accuracy of inferences and predictions is related to how realistically data is represented. Many factors influence the accuracy of inferences and predictions, such as the amount and relevance of data collected.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Algorithms
Statements:
Different algorithms can achieve the same result. Some algorithms are more appropriate for a specific context than others.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Variables
Statements:
Programming languages provide variables, which are used to store and modify data. The data type determines the values and operations that can be performed on that data.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Control
Statements:
Control structures, including loops, event handlers, and conditionals, are used to specify the flow of execution. Conditionals selectively execute or skip instructions under different conditions.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Modularity
Statements:
Programs can be broken down into smaller parts to facilitate their design, implementation, and review. Programs can also be created by incorporating smaller portions of programs that have already been created.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Program Development
Statements:
People develop programs using an iterative process involving design, implementation, and review. Design often involves reusing existing code or remixing other programs within a community. People continuously review whether programs work as expected, and they fix, or debug, parts that do not. Repeating these steps enables people to refine and improve programs.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Impacts of Computing
Sub-Concept:
Culture
Statements:
The development and modification of computing technology is driven by people’s needs and wants and can affect groups differently. Computing technologies influence, and are influenced by, cultural practices.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Impacts of Computing
Sub-Concept:
Social Interactions
Statements:
Computing technology allows for local and global collaboration. By facilitating communication and innovation, computing influences many social institutions such as family, education, religion, and the economy.
Grade Band:
3-5
Concept:
Impacts of Computing
Sub-Concept:
Safety, Law, and Ethics
Statements:
Ethical complications arise from the opportunities provided by computing. The ease of sending and receiving copies of media on the Internet, such as video, photos, and music, creates the opportunity for unauthorized use, such as online piracy, and disregard of copyrights, such as lack of attribution.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Computing Systems
Sub-Concept:
Devices
Statements:
The interaction between humans and computing devices presents advantages, disadvantages, and unintended consequences. The study of human–computer interaction can improve the design of devices and extend the abilities of humans.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Computing Systems
Sub-Concept:
Hardware and Software
Statements:
Hardware and software determine a computing system’s capability to store and process information. The design or selection of a computing system involves multiple considerations and potential tradeoffs, such as functionality, cost, size, speed, accessibility, and aesthetics.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Computing Systems
Sub-Concept:
Troubleshooting
Statements:
Comprehensive troubleshooting requires knowledge of how computing devices and components work and interact. A systematic process will identify the source of a problem, whether within a device or in a larger system of connected devices.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Networks and Internet
Sub-Concept:
Network Communications
Statements:
Computers send and receive information based on a set of rules called protocols. Protocols define how messages between computers are structured and sent. Considerations of security, speed, and reliability are used to determine the best path to send and receive data.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Networks and Internet
Sub-Concept:
Cybersecurity
Statements:
The information sent and received across networks can be protected from unauthorized access and modification in a variety of ways, such as encryption to maintain its confidentiality and restricted access to maintain its integrity. Security measures to safeguard online information proactively address the threat of breaches to personal and private data.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Collection
Statements:
People design algorithms and tools to automate the collection of data by computers. When data collection is automated, data is sampled and converted into a form that a computer can process. For example, data from an analog sensor must be converted into a digital form. The method used to automate data collection is influenced by the availability of tools and the intended use of the data.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Storage
Statements:
Applications store data as a representation. Representations occur at multiple levels, from the arrangement of information into organized formats (such as tables in software) to the physical storage of bits. The software tools used to access information translate the low-level representation of bits into a form understandable by people.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Visualization and Transformation
Statements:
Data can be transformed to remove errors, highlight or expose relationships, and/or make it easier for computers to process.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Data and Analysis
Sub-Concept:
Inference and Models
Statements:
Computer models can be used to simulate events, examine theories and inferences, or make predictions with either few or millions of data points. Computer models are abstractions that represent phenomena and use data and algorithms to emphasize key features and relationships within a system. As more data is automatically collected, models can be refined.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Algorithms
Statements:
Algorithms affect how people interact with computers and the way computers respond. People design algorithms that are generalizable to many situations. Algorithms that are readable are easier to follow, test, and debug.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Variables
Statements:
Programmers create variables to store data values of selected types. A meaningful identifier is assigned to each variable to access and perform operations on the value by name. Variables enable the flexibility to represent different situations, process different sets of data, and produce varying outputs.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Control
Statements:
Programmers select and combine control structures, such as loops, event handlers, and conditionals, to create more complex program behavior.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Modularity
Statements:
Programs use procedures to organize code, hide implementation details, and make code easier to reuse. Procedures can be repurposed in new programs. Defining parameters for procedures can generalize behavior and increase reusability.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Algorithms and Programming
Sub-Concept:
Program Development
Statements:
People design meaningful solutions for others by defining a problem’s criteria and constraints, carefully considering the diverse needs and wants of the community, and testing whether criteria and constraints were met.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Impacts of Computing
Sub-Concept:
Culture
Statements:
Advancements in computing technology change people’s everyday activities. Society is faced with tradeoffs due to the increasing globalization and automation that computing brings.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Impacts of Computing
Sub-Concept:
Social Interactions
Statements:
People can organize and engage around issues and topics of interest through various communication platforms enabled by computing, such as social networks and media outlets. These interactions allow issues to be examined using multiple viewpoints from a diverse audience.
Grade Band:
6-8
Concept:
Impacts of Computing
Sub-Concept:
Safety, Law, and Ethics
Statements:
There are tradeoffs between allowing information to be public and keeping information private and secure. People can be tricked into revealing personal information when more public information is available about them online.
Curriculum Directory Sponsored by BNY Mellon