Expanding Computer Science and STEM Teacher Professional Development and Student Learning: Evaluation of the PAsmart Initiative
State and local education agencies nationwide have grown increasingly interested in expanding K-12 computer science (CS) and STEM education, particularly for traditionally underserved students. To help expand CS education and prepare a competitive modern workforce, Pennsylvania introduced the PAsmart initiative in 2018.
The PAsmart initiative has distributed multiple rounds of grants to support CS teacher professional development and the creation of cross-sector partnerships in K-12 CS and STEM education.
By collecting the perspectives of educators and students and leveraging state-wide data, AIR has produced actionable insights for PDE to bolster computer science education and prepare all Pennsylvania students to compete in a modern workforce.
– Robert Schwarzhaupt
In partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN), AIR has conducted multiple evaluations of PAsmart grants since 2021 to understand the experiences of grantees and progress towards PAsmart’s goals.
AIR uses a mixed methods evaluation approach including:
- Focus groups with over 300 educators, students and grantees;
- Longitudinal statistical analyses of statewide administrative data on teachers, students, and CS courses;
- State-wide surveys of all computer science educators and administrators;
- Thematic analysis of teacher professional learning artifacts and district-level CS plans;
- Landscape scans and systematic reviews of state, federal, and peer-reviewed literature on CS and integrated STEM instruction
AIR uses a formative and summative evaluation approach to provide recommendations for future Commonwealth initiatives related to K-12 CS and STEM education.
