Northern Lights Collaborative for Computing Education

Data science is powerful when it starts with a story. What if data could be the lens your students use to see and understand their own community? When that story is rooted in a question that matters about a community, a pattern, or a tension someone actually wants to understand, it creates an accessible entry point with a low floor, high ceiling, and wide walls for students and for the teachers designing their experience. Telling Stories with Data: CS Thinking Through Human Data is a 3-day intermediate workshop for 6–12 educators with some CS or statistics experience. Drawing on UC Berkeley's Data 6 curriculum and a concepts-before-code approach, participants move between doing data investigations as learners and decomposing them as teachers — building a toolkit that's replicable across math, science, social studies, and CS classrooms. What you'll build and practice: 📊Story-first investigation design: sequence data inquiries from human question to computational answer, using unplugged moves alongside Jupyter notebooks 📊Visualization as argument: select and construct representations that reveal what matters, and interrogate what they leave out 📊Critical data literacy: examine how collection, processing, and design choices shape conclusions and whose stories get centered 📊Cross-curricular connection: link data investigations to MDE data science math standards and bring CS thinking into multiple subject areas 📊Teacher design work: leave with a data investigation built around something that matters to you and your students Don't just teach data—teach students how to find the story within it. Check out the graphic below for more details and scan the QR code to register today! 👇 #DataScience #CSEducation #STEMEducation #CSforAll

Ready to bring critical cyber security skills to your 6-12 classroom, but don't know where to start? Cyber security is one of the fastest-growing fields in technology, yet many educators have had little opportunity to explore the foundational concepts that drive the industry. Cyber security education is about far more than passwords and online safety—it includes encryption, networks, system vulnerabilities, digital forensics, threat analysis, human factors, and the ways professionals protect critical systems and data The "Cyber Security Curriculum and Standards" workshop at EmpowerMN CS+AI 2026 was designed to help teachers meet these needs. This is an Introductory Level workshop. The most important detail? No prior experience in cybersecurity or computer science is required. We are focused on empowering you with the tools you need, regardless of your tech background. Join us for this hands-on, practical 3-day experience where we will focus on inclusive teaching strategies designed to engage diverse learners and broaden participation in cybersecurity. What you will gain: ✅Summarize Major Themes: From encryption to social engineering risks, you will get a solid handle on the core concepts. ✅Critique Curricula: We will explore freely available resources, from middle school Intro to Tech courses to high school AP Cybersecurity and CTE pathways. ✅Develop Your Plan: You will leave with a clear plan to integrate cybersecurity concepts into your specific teaching context. ✅Connect to Standards: Get ready-to-use lesson ideas that align with CSTA standards and state guidelines. Cybersecurity is not just about digital citizenship—it is an essential and evolving field of study that helps students understand the systems, risks, and technologies shaping the modern world. Click the link in the comments to register today! We can’t wait to see you in Minneapolis! 📅 August 4-6, 2026 📍 Minneapolis, MN #CybersecurityEducation #ComputerScience #CTE #CSTA

On May 13, we hosted the Duluth Informal CS Learning Summit to dive deep into computer science learning outside of the traditional classroom. It was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when the community comes together around a shared goal: supporting youth to learn CS. With 18 different organizations represented, the evening was all about making connections and building partnerships to support inclusive CS education. Our Informal CS Learning group mission: "To facilitate community-building events and activities with young people, families, and adults to promote inclusivity and raise awareness about the diverse and creative ways computer science is used in art, industry, and informal learning spaces in the Duluth area." 🙌 Shoutout to the attending organizations: Non-Profit & Government: Ecolibrium3 | MN STEM Ecosystem | Raspberry Pi Foundation | Smart North | Rolling Readers | Northeast Service Cooperative | Duluth Public Library Industry: ALLETE | Intel K-12 & Robotics: DASH / DASH Board / Denfeld DASH | Duluth Public Schools | Denfeld DNA | Duluth Daredevils | Arrowhead Robotics Higher Education: University of Minnesota Duluth | Lake Superior College

The moment a student sees their code cause something to actually blink, buzz, or move in front of their own eyes? That’s when the magic happens. Join us at the EmpowerMN CS+AI workshop: "CS Integration with Physical Computing." 🛠️ The Workshop: This isn't your average "sit and get" PD. We are getting hands-on with micro:bit and Makey Makey to bridge the gap between digital logic and the physical world. What we're doing in the workshop: -Building physical prototypes (yes, you’ll leave with something working). -Mapping out how this actually fits into your specific classroom context - create a lesson or unit! -Aligning it all to MDE and CSTA standards 💡 Why Physical Computing? By using hardware and software as customizable equipment, we make "invisible" concepts tangible in both CS and classroom subject-areas: -Science: Gather and analyze real-time data. -Math: Use variables, order of operations, and more. -Arts & Music: Create interactive circuits, sounds, and light displays. -AI: Train and investigate models to make real-world predictions. If you teach Grades 3–10 and want to move beyond the screen, we’d love to see you there. -Focus: Making CS inclusive, interdisciplinary, and personally meaningful for every student. Link to register is in the comments! 👇 #ComputerScience #PhysicalComputing #STEM

The Infosys Foundation USA Pathfinders Online Institute is quickly filling up. If you haven't applied for this free opportunity to learn CSAwesome yet, now is the time to apply! #InfyPathfinders #APCSA

We regularly hear educators say they avoid teaching computer science (CS) and computational thinking (CT) because they thought they needed to be expert coders. CS education is much more than just programming, and anyone can get started with no previous experience! CS & CT are great ways to build essential critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving skills in students... all while having fun! We have a perfect opportunity for you to get started, and earn a stipend along the way! Join us at the EmpowerMN CS+AI workshop: "Introduction to Computer Science and Computational Thinking." This introductory-level professional development is specifically designed for K-8 educators who are new to teaching CS. Facilitated by educators Tom Cozzolino and Emilee Vlasin Milde who have years of experience teaching CS to K-8 students in MN. CS education in elementary doesn't mean teaching Python to kindergarteners. It means teaching kids to break down problems, spot patterns, think like debuggers, and become creators with technology instead of merely consumers. Why attend this workshop? ✅ Build Your Confidence: We'll help you expand your understanding and feel empowered to teach CS/CT. ✅ Practical Teaching Moves: Learn specific ways to address equity gaps — like how to support students who've never touched a computer alongside those who code at home. ✅ Inclusive Classrooms: Learn how to include and engage all students using culturally responsive-sustaining pedagogy and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles. ✅ Ready-to-Use & Customizable: Access lessons and materials from a variety of reputable sources across various grade bands and subjects! ✅ Earn a stipend for attending, as well as travel support available! Eligibility details on website. Don't miss this opportunity to grow your understanding of CS/CT, utilize research-based frameworks, and align with the MDE Minnesota CS State Strategic Plan! Check out the link in the comments to learn more, and register today! See you in August! #K12Education #CSed #ComputationalThinking #CSforAll

Three teachers asked us the same question last week: "Should I take the intro #AI workshop or the #CS one?" This year at EmpowerMN CS+AI 2026 we've got two opportunities designed for different educators, different goals, and different starting points. 💡 Choose Intro to AI if you are thinking... ✅ I teach math, science, social studies, ELA, elementary, special education, or another non-CS subject, and AI is already showing up in my classroom. ✅ I want to understand AI without getting buried in technical jargon. ✅ I need practical ways to talk with students about responsible AI use, bias, privacy, accuracy, and ethics. ✅ I want to use AI thoughtfully while keeping students, learning, and human judgment at the center. 🌱 This is the workshop for educators who want to build confidence, clarity, and responsible practice around AI. 💻 Choose AI for CS Education if you are thinking... ✅ I teach computer science and want to understand how AI connects to the new Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) standards. ✅ I want to teach AI as CS content, not just use AI tools. ✅ I'm ready to dig into machine learning, training data, model behavior, AI-assisted programming, and AI-generated code. ✅ I want time to design or adapt AI-related CS lessons I can actually teach. This is the workshop for educators ready to go deeper into AI, machine learning, and classroom-ready curriculum design. 🚀 Which one sounds like you? Spots are still open. Check the comments for the link to recieve a $600 stipend for attending. Two workshops. Two clear paths. Same goal: helping educators feel more prepared for the AI-influenced classrooms we're already teaching in. 💛 #AIinEducation #CSed #TeacherPD #STEMed #CSforAll

Tech talent isn’t just built in the classroom. 💻 How can we support young people to learn about computing outside school hours? We’re looking for your voice to help bridge the gap and participate in conversations. Northern Lights is hosting the Duluth Informal Computer Science (CS) Learning Summit 2026, and we need a seat at the table for: 🏢 Industry leaders 🏛️ Government: To discuss community-wide equity and support 🌟 Youth-serving organizations and HS youth representatives 🎓 Higher Ed & K12 leaders The Details: 📅 When: May 13 | 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM 📍 Where: University of Minnesota Duluth's Griggs Conference Center 💸 Cost: Free (registration is required) ⏰ Registration is EXTENDED until May 4! Don't miss the chance to join this community conversation. 👉 Register here: http://t.ly/bPhp6 #DuluthTech #ComputerScience #STEMEducation #YouthDevelopment #CSforAll

Will you be at the MN Council of Teachers of English (MCTE)'s Spring Conference next week? So will we! Tom Cozzolino will be presenting on integrating computing education into English Language Arts. You will have an opportunity to identify the MDE CS-integrated standards for ELA, explore a 2nd grade unit that connects algorithms to our daily lives, and connect with other free resources. You won't want to miss it! See you at the MCTE Spring Conference! (https://lnkd.in/gBg-uKsh) #CSintegration #CSed #CSforAll

We’re headed to the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics (MCTM) conference in Duluth! 🚌 Next week (April 24-25), join educators Molly Olson, Nicole Roy, and Paul Schonfeld for an workshop on the Minnesota 2022 Math Standards & CS Benchmarks (workshop on Friday: t.ly/rM0l5) When you aren't in sessions, come find the Northern Lights team at Booth #8! ✅ Try it: Program a micro:bit temperature converter to teach about order of operations. ✅ Take it: Grab handouts of MDE-aligned math/CS curriculum. See you there!