Responding to a critical gap in technology education, CompTIA spark has launched a free technology curriculum specifically for middle grade classrooms, grades 5-8. Its goal is to support teachers so they can teach the critical skills students need to be successful in any path they choose. The nonprofit worked with educators across the country to develop the curriculum.
“World Teachers' Day celebrates the importance of teachers,” says Randi Parker, chief of staff and vice president of CompTIA Spark. “And we know that high school teachers in particular play such an important role in a student's journey, which is why they are the key to bringing technology education to more schools. “We couldn’t have developed this curriculum without them and we can’t reach students without them.”
For approximately the past year, school districts and individual teachers have been implementing the CompTIA Spark Curriculum in middle grade classrooms and providing feedback that allowed for a period of testing and development before full-scale launch. Schools that participated in this phase ranged from award-winning STEM schools to under-resourced schools, with all types of schools reporting that the curriculum was a success and that students were engaged and excited to learn.
Getting students excited about technology and increasing their confidence with hands-on learning is critical at the high school level. Without access to quality technology education, students fall behind before reaching high school, meaning they do not have the digital fluency necessary to succeed in school and in life. Filling this critical gap is the mission of CompTIA spark.
With the new free curriculum, teachers can guide middle grade students through engaging, project-based lessons that build capabilities using common applications and 21st century skills. Students gain a solid foundation in key technology concepts to prepare them for future opportunities, in high school and beyond.
Delivered through an online learning platform, the curriculum sparks interest in technology and how it is used in a wide variety of careers. For example, technology Exploration units have interactive lessons that show how technology skills are used in functions such as product design, market research, accounting, marketing, and more. Meanwhile, the Emerging technology units focus on artificial intelligence (ai), cybersecurity and smart home technology. Full access to the curriculum is available to middle grade educators completely free of charge, to train more teachers to teach the subject, even if they have not taught it before.
“Because of the way the curriculum is intentionally designed, we are able to ease the burden on the teacher by providing a high-quality technology curriculum that middle grade teachers can use in their classroom regardless of their past experience with the matter,” says Parker. “Putting this free resource in the hands of teachers can help close the technology education gap that currently exists at the high school level. The CompTIA Spark curriculum is free and always will be because it is a gift from the technology industry to future generations.”
Districts, schools, and individual teachers are invited to explore the curriculum and begin at comptiaspark.org.
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