WeTeach_CS Summit 2025

The four pillars of computational thinking—decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithmic thinking—serve as essential skills for problem-solving in the digital age. Yet, introducing these abstract concepts to learners can be challenging. This presentation explores how simple songs commonly taught in elementary school can serve as accessible, engaging tools for teaching computational thinking. Attendees will gain practical strategies for leveraging these familiar tunes to foster computational thinking in elementary education and beyond. By connecting music to computational frameworks, educators can create a playful yet purposeful bridge to foundational 21st-century skills. This presentation is ideal for educators, curriculum designers, and advocates for interdisciplinary approaches in STEM education. Whether you're a seasoned coder or just starting your journey, this session offers a playful and collaborative unplugged environment to experience the joy of integrating music and computational thinking in your classroom. Come prepared to clap, code, and create!

Get ready for an exciting, hands-on session where you'll unlock the power of computational thinking in K-2 lessons! This dynamic workshop will show you how to seamlessly weave essential skills like problem-solving, pattern recognition, and algorithmic thinking into your lessons, making your current curriculum even more engaging. Say goodbye to the feeling of adding “one more thing” – instead, you’ll be empowered to enrich your teaching without the overwhelm. Plus, we'll dive into how integrating Tech Apps standards will make learning more interactive, connected, and impactful for your students. You won’t want to miss this!

This session will present a CT framework developed to help educators articulate the elements associated with successful school-wide integration and develop a plan to achieve their goals. During our session, we will share examples of district-wide CT integration efforts taking place in Maryland and introduce how the CT Framework is supporting their effort. This session will engage participants with opportunities to build their own knowledge of CT and highlight examples of CT across disciplines, and provide the framework and additional lesson examples for  implementing CT and equipping participants with strategies for providing all students with meaningful exposure to CT education.