WeTeach_CS Summit 2025: Full Schedule

June 9-10, 2025
Renaissance Austin Hotel - 9721 Arboretum Blvd, Austin, TX 78759
Click HERE to access the WTCS Summit registration page

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9:45am CDT

Integrating Computer Science and Amateur Radio into your TEKS and After School Club

Monday June 9, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Sabine

Our session shares how our WeTeach_CS Mini-Grant has allowed us to integrate coding skills in an innovative way with amateur radio. This opportunity involves students from computer science and engineering classes as well as law and health science. Students initially capture satellite data and upload it to a Raspberry Pi for analysis (coding). Ultimately students build an antenna rotator and code it using an Arduino to automate the position of a small antenna tracking a weather satellite. This project brings together technical knowledge and hands-on experience, while learning skills for job environments and community service opportunities.

Presenters

Kay Orr

Instructional Technology Specialist, Rockwall ISD

Leslie Reese

Teacher, Rockwall ISD

I have dedicated more than two decades of my career to education, with all of that time spent in Rockwall Independent School District (ISD). For the past 15 years, I have had the privilege of teaching high school classes focused on Engineering and Robotics. Throughout my journey... Read More →

Monday June 9, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Sabine

Physical Computing, Middle School and High School (Grades 6-12)

12:45pm CDT

Amazon Future Engineer - Virtual Field Trips to Explore Careers of the Future

Monday June 9, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm CDT

Sabine

I am excited to invite you and your students to participate in the immersive Amazon career tours, designed specifically to enhance learning in the fields of robotics and computer science. These tours provide a unique opportunity for students to engage with cutting-edge technology in a real-world environment.

Career Tours are free, interactive virtual field trips that inspire students to pursue careers of the future by exploring Amazon’s technologies. Tour whenever, wherever on Kahoot!

Presenters

Javier Aguilar

Computer Science teacher and Robotics coach, East Fort Worth Montessori Academy

@javierfaguilar

Monday June 9, 2025 12:45pm - 1:45pm CDT
Sabine

Introductory Computer Science, K-5

2:00pm CDT

Incorporating Python Through Google Colab into Physics/Kinematics

Monday June 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Sabine

Google Colab can be used to introduce students in non-CS courses to the applications of programming in a conveniently structures environment.

This session will demonstrate how a teacher can use the Text and Program boxes to break up the programming tasks into small/manageable sub-tasks.
Students learn the basics of computer programming and the use of its application to science without needing to first learn Algorithmic Thinking.

It's a great way to get them a taste of programming to spark a greater interest.

Monday June 9, 2025 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Sabine

Advanced Computer Science, K-12

10:00am CDT

Spectacular Science Projects with Scratch

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Sabine

Scratch Coding is a wonderful way to teach elementary students how to code. Learn the best practices to help your students grow from novices to experts in computer science. Elementary and middle school students will combine research, writing, science, art, music, sound editing - and a lot of fun. Learn how to integrate the new Tech App TEKS into core-subject concepts and TEKS. Examples and full lesson plans will be given for projects including animating a cow’s digestive system, illustrating bee pollination, showing the development of a chicken egg, circuits, medieval castles, physical computing, and more. (There are some history projects as well as science). Directions are picture based and step by step. Even if you have never used Scratch- these instructions are designed for 2nd-8th grade students to follow independently and push them to the top of Bloom’s Taxonomy- not to mention personal satisfaction.

Presenters

Elizabeth White

CTE Engineering Teacher, GT District Coordinator, Hawkins ISD

Elizabeth White is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University and is an Andrew Carnegie Scholar for the School of Design. She spent 13 years as a software and UI experience designer for several software companies and then made a career switch to teaching. She currently teaches 1st-12th... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Sabine

Integrating Computational Thinking / Computer Science / Cybersecurity into other subjects, K-8

11:15am CDT

Micro:bit Magic - Sparking Science with Hands-On Tech

Tuesday June 10, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT

Sabine

Discover how to engage middle school students in science using Micro:bit in this hands-on session. Participants will explore TEKS-aligned activities, from measuring environmental data to simulating genetic traits. You'll gain practical experience programming using Micro:bit. Walk away with ready-to-implement strategies that make abstract concepts concrete, while fostering students' critical thinking and data analysis skills. Transform your science classroom into an interactive, tech-powered learning environment that excites and inspires!

Presenters

Cindy Hopkins

Teacher, Kaffie Middle School

Facebook.com/cindy.hopkins.35/

Tuesday June 10, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Sabine

Physical Computing, Middle School (Grades 6-8)

1:30pm CDT

Why Sense of Belonging Matters (And How to Increase It)

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT

Sabine

Building students’ sense of belonging is critical to recruiting, engaging, and retaining them in computer science (CS). When students feel they belong, they are ready to engage on a deeper level. However, girls often feel they do not belong in CS classes. Our research lab has been studying when and why these gender gaps emerge in CS to help teachers address them. Teachers will be presented with research findings in a simple, actionable, and fun way to discuss in a community of practice. Teachers will leave with an action plan to promote their students' belonging.

Presenters

Allison Master

Assistant Professor, University of Houston

@allisonmaster.bsky.social

Summer Robinson

Graduate Student/Research Assistant, University of Houston

Hi, my name is Summer Robinson! I am a Ph.D. student in the Measurement, Quantitative Methods, and Learning Sciences program at the University of Houston. I am an educator with experience as a classroom teacher, creating video lessons for local television, and a district-level instructional... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
Sabine

Broadening Participation, Middle School and High School (Grades 6-12)