CS Summer of Fun 2025: Full Schedule

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8:45am EDT

Leadership for Computer Science and Computational Thinking Integration: Foundation, Planning, and Support

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 10:15am EDT

The session will introduce participants to the foundational underpinnings of integrating computer science and computational thinking into schools and classrooms. It will directly address tools for planning, supporting, and assessing the integration of computer science (CS) and computational thinking (CT). Participants will also experience hands-on activities to help translate theory into practice.

Speakers

Pam Buffington

Director of Rural STEM Initiatives, EDC

Pam Buffington is the co-PI of WFR and Director of Rural STEM Initiatives at EDC. She has over four decades of experience in education, including teaching computer science, mathematics, physics, and instructional technology classes. She has also led numerous STEM projects and initiatives... Read More →

Becky Tapley

STEM Education Specialist, MMSA

Becky Tapley is a STEM Education Specialist at the Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance. She serves as the Project Manager of the STEM WorkForce Ready 2030 project, as well as a math consultant and ACRES (Afterschool Coaching for Reflective Educators in STEM) coach.After growing... Read More →

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 10:15am EDT

Admin

8:45am EDT

CS Connections | Code.org

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 10:15am EDT

Speakers

Geoff Cyr

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 10:15am EDT

K-5

8:45am EDT

Biolab Drop in Hours

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 12:00pm EDT

BioLab

Curious about what the BIOLAB has to offer? Drop in and explore our mobile science lab designed to ignite curiosity and support hands-on learning in the life sciences. Join us to see how the BIOLAB brings STEM learning to life through engaging, standards-aligned activities. Drop in, explore, and leave inspired!

During your visit, you’ll get to preview four sample lessons:

Wind Energy – Investigate turbine design and renewable energy concepts.
Glucose Tolerance Testing – Simulate diagnostic testing and analyze patient data.
Parasite Identification – Examine real-world microscopy slides and learn about global health.
Lab Equipment Basics – Build student confidence with foundational lab tools and techniques.

Speakers

Anna Stehlik

STEM Educator, Educate Maine

Anna has a unique background in experiential and environmental education with a focus on outdoor leadership, having worked as a conservation education trek guide for youth and gained experience in environmental education program management. She holds a B.A. in Environmental Biology... Read More →

Angela Oechslie

Director, STEM Pathways & Innovation, Educate Maine

I lead the Project>Login & Maine Mobile BioLab programs at Educate Maine and love to support teachers as they implement STEM and computer science in their schools. I am a trained SCRIPT facilitator, the community partner for Girls Who Code, and the regional partner, along with MMSA... Read More →

Heather Carlisle

Middle School STEM Educator, Educate Maine

With over two decades of experience ranging from molecular biology labs to middle school classrooms, Heather brings a unique blend of technical expertise and educational insight to her work. She currently serves as a middle school STEM educator on the Maine Mobile BIOLAB with Educate... Read More →

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 12:00pm EDT
BioLab

8:45am EDT

Integrating Music and Technology!

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

A hands on session for participants to use computer science tools (example Makey Makeys, Coding with Scratch, Chorme Music lab, Soundtrap ect.) to directly connect to what they are already teaching in their music classrooms or how they can incorporate music and technology in to other disciplines to collaborate and enhance learning opportunities. This session is for all novice - intermediate skill levels. Participants will get to create their own project as well as discuss other projects that could be used for students to show understanding of their curriculum. The main grade level focus is Middle School Grades 6-8 but some of these can also be applicable for elementary students grades 3-5.

Speakers

Sarah Cousins

6-8 General Music and Choral Teacher, James F. Doughty School

I have taught music for 22 years! I currently teach General Music to grades 6-8 and Chorus at the James F. Doughty School in Bangor, Maine! Over the past 4 years, I've focused on integrating music and technology during my middle school general music classes to enhance and engage... Read More →

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

5-8

8:45am EDT

Micro:bit Experiments

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Looking to bring science and technology alive in your classroom? A Micro:bit is a tiny, friendly computer that fits in your palm, packed with sensors to detect light, sound, motion and magnetic fields. Programming is simple and intuitive, perfect for beginners. During the workshop, you'll explore engaging experiments and have time to build a small project. This workshop is perfect for teachers in any subject area, especially those new to coding.

Speakers

Karen Locke

Hopkinton School District

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

5-8

8:45am EDT

Part 1: Hands-On Space Exploration: Building Drop Towers, Studying Impact Craters, Exploring Waves, and Designing Circuits with Tinkercad

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Come and do space science!! Experience 4 different space related activities. AMDrop towers provide teachers with the chance to explore the physics of gravity, acceleration, and impact forces. Teachers will design drop tower models to study how varying object masses and heights affect speed and force upon impact. Understanding impact craters is an essential part of planetary science. In this workshop, teachers will simulate meteorite impacts and study the resulting craters to gain insights into the forces that shape planets and moons. Teachers will create craters in different materials and observe how variables like speed, angle, and the type of material impact the shape and size of the crater. PMWaves play a critical role in space exploration, particularly in communication systems. Teachers will explore how electromagnetic waves, such as radio waves, are used to transmit data between spacecraft and Earth. Teachers will gain practical experience designing simple circuits using Tinkercad, a user-friendly online tool for 3D design and electronics simulation. By creating circuits that power various devices, teachers will understand the foundational concepts of electrical engineering that are used in space technology, such as the circuits that power space probes, satellites, and space stations. Limited to 15 participants.

Speakers

Karin Paquin

K-12 Educator, St John’s Catholic School

I am a dedicated middle school science teacher and space enthusiast with over a decade of experience in both formal and informal education. I hold a Master’s in Science Education with a focus on Curriculum Design and Theory, as well as a Bachelor’s in Marine Science, both from... Read More →

Kathy Bock

K-12 Educator, Cape Elizabeth High School

I have taught a wide variety of scientific disciplines over my career. I currently teach earth, space and environmental science to high school students at all levels. My classes include real world experiences and activities that allow students to “do” science. I believe that... Read More →

Rhonda Stevens

Grade 8 Teacher, Sipayak Elementary School

Jim Lenke

K-12 Educator, Machias High School

Long time engineer now teaching physical sciences to high schoolers, which allows me to introduce engineering fundamentals of STEM education in particular as it applies to "harsh environments" such as space and the ocean. I'm a huge Tinkercad fan and use it for both 3D printing and... Read More →

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

6-12

8:45am EDT

K-5 Cyber Literacy: A Hands-On Approach to Coding and Cybersecurity Education with the micro:bit LIMITED

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 12:00pm EDT

TBA

Empower students to explore the world of cryptography through hands-on, engaging activities paired with micro:bit technology. In this professional development session, educators will first dive into interactive cybersecurity lessons for elementary and middle school students. Next, participants will then use CYBER.ORG custom extension blocks and MakeCode to experience how micro:bits can be used as cryptography lesson extensions! Target Audience: intermediateFormat: Session

Speakers

Charlene Cooper

Director of Curriculum, CYBER.ORG

Charlene Cooper is a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of Early Adolescent Science with over 20 years of experience as a public-school educator. She has a master’s degree in educational leadership and a Cyber Education Graduate Certificate from Louisiana Tech. Charlene... Read More →

Jeff Holcomb

Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:45am - 12:00pm EDT
TBA

K-5

10:15am EDT

Break LIMITED

Wednesday July 23, 2025 10:15am - 10:30am EDT

10:30am EDT

Insights on Integrating CS/CT

Wednesday July 23, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Join a collaborative conversation with other Maine administrators as insights are shared from districts about integrating Computer Science (CS) and Computational Thinking (CT) into schools. Come ready to reflect on your own district as well as learn about how other districts in Maine are navigating the challenges and successes of building these skills across schools. Dig into data from our most recent CS Education Summit and identify how those insights apply to your situation.

Speakers

Pam Buffington

Director of Rural STEM Initiatives, EDC

Becky Tapley

STEM Education Specialist, MMSA

Wednesday July 23, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Admin

10:30am EDT

Teaching and Integrating Computer Science Using Children's Literature

Wednesday July 23, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Speakers

Geoff Cyr

Wednesday July 23, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm EDT

K-5

12:00pm EDT

Lunch

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT

1:00pm EDT

AI & Machine Learning (AI/ML)

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

TBA

Using Code.org curriculum materials this hands-on workshop session will cover AI & Machine Learning (AI/ML). Main topics and learning outcomes are: understanding fundamental AI/ML concepts and their real-world applications, designing hands-on, age-appropriate AI activities that promote critical thinking, exploring ethical considerations, including bias, privacy, and the societal impact of AI.

Speakers

Karen Locke

Hopkinton School District

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
TBA

5-8

1:00pm EDT

Physics and LEGO: Build

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

Speakers

Pam Buffington

Director of Rural STEM Initiatives, EDC

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

6-12

1:00pm EDT

Developing Integrated Units Connecting Computer Science with a New District Reading Program

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 2:45pm EDT

This session presents a graduate research project focused on integrating Computer Science (CS) instruction into the Into Reading literacy curriculum used in K–5 classrooms. Conducted in a small, rural Maine school district, the project involved developing a series of integrated units that align CS concepts and standards with the themes, texts, and timelines of the Into Reading program. The session will detail the process of designing these units, including curriculum analysis, teacher collaboration, and iterative development based on educator feedback. Findings highlight both the opportunities and challenges of cross-curricular integration in elementary education, as well as insights into the kinds of support teachers may need to implement CS instruction effectively within a literacy framework.

Speakers

Geoff Cyr

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 2:45pm EDT

K-5

1:00pm EDT

Balloons over Broadway

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

This lesson integrates Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet—a story about Tony Sarg and the creation of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons—with hands-on activities using LEGO kits, computer science (CS)/computational thinking (CT), and social studies (SS) standards.By integrating LEGO kits, computational thinking, and social studies, this lesson engages students in a hands-on exploration of history, engineering, and teamwork. It’s a fun, collaborative way to demonstrate the relevance of CS and SS in real-world applications!2nd-8th grade. Hands-on learning experience for beginners.

Speakers

Jenn Trowbridge

K-12 Educator, Ellsworth School Department

Leeanna Conners

K-12 Educator, Ellsworth School Department

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA

5-8

1:00pm EDT

Part 2: Hands-On Space Exploration: Building Drop Towers, Studying Impact Craters, Exploring Waves, and Designing Circuits with Tinkercad

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

Speakers

Karin Paquin

K-12 Educator, St John’s Catholic School

Kathy Bock

K-12 Educator, Cape Elizabeth High School

Jim Lenke

K-12 Educator, Machias High School

Rhonda Stevens

Grade 8 Teacher, Sipayak Elementary School

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA

6-12

1:00pm EDT

CYBER.ORG No Cost Cybersecurity Curriculum and Resources for K-12 LIMITED

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

TBA

Cybersecurity is now a foundational skill for students living and learning in an increasingly digital world. In this informational session, administrators will be introduced to our K–12 cybersecurity curriculum and support services. Attendees will gain an understanding of the content we offer, how it aligns with state and national standards, and the various ways schools and districts can begin or expand their cybersecurity education efforts. Whether you're just exploring the topic or looking to build on existing efforts, this session will provide a clear picture of what's possible,and how we can support you.

Speakers

Charlene Cooper

Director of Curriculum, CYBER.ORG

Jeff Holcomb

Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
TBA

K-12

2:30pm EDT

Break

Wednesday July 23, 2025 2:30pm - 2:45pm EDT