AP CS A with CSAwesome - free PD

[Jennifer Rosato]

Hi all,

CSAwesome is providing free professional development for public high school teachers through the Pathfinders Online Institute this summer. If you are considering offering the Advanced Placement Computer Science A course or any programming course using Java, then please consider joining us!

Dates: July 20 - 24, 2026

Times: ~8 hours per day, including three synchronous meetings daily (tentatively 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET, 2:00-4:00 PM ET, and 5:00-6:00 PM ET) and asynchronous work during the rest of the daily hours

Apply: https://forms.gle/wCrH3b7VTG8Ks5vE6

Thanks,

Jen

CSAwesome is an Advanced Placement CS A curriculum equivalent to a first-semester, college-level course in computer science. The course emphasizes both imperative and object-oriented design and problem-solving using Java, covering fundamental topics that include problem-solving, design strategies, and methodologies, organization of data (data structures), approaches to processing data (algorithms), analysis of potential solutions, and the ethical and social implications of computing. The CSAwesome curriculum is available for free on Runestone Academy, an interactive e-book platform with many hands-on activities, sample AP questions, and programming challenges. This CSAwesome professional development (PD) will be a 45-hour immersive experience where educators will learn how to program in Java, learn how to use inclusive teaching practices to recruit and retain underrepresented students in computing, as well as learn how to use the Runestone Instructor Dashboard in an equitable way. Teachers will be led by experienced CSAwesome facilitators and will receive access to a complete set of online lesson plans and teaching materials. 

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Jennifer Rosato

Director | Northern Lights Collaborative for Computing Education

Find a time to meet: https://calendly.com/jrosato-umn/

[Jennifer Rosato]

Hi folks,

Pathfinders Online Institute is almost full! If you're interested in completing this free CSAwesome professional development, please submit your application as soon as possible (likely no later than Friday, May 8th).

If you are a private school teacher or another person who is not eligible for the free PD through Pathfinders, there is an option to pay for the PD ($1,700) and you can register here. 

Finally, if you're a more experienced AP CS A teacher and are looking to switch to the CSAwesome curriculum and/or just want a refresh with the new course changes, we have a CSAwesome 2.0 PD available July 28-29, 2026, 10 am - 4 pm EST ($630). Register here.

Information about CSAwesome can be found at csawesome.org and about all PD opportunities.

Thanks,

Jen