Digital Learning

Since 2015, the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts has provided computer science teachers with professional development, digitally-delivered content aligned to state standards, and ongoing support to Arkansas students and teachers.  We work with talented educators across Arkansas to help them learn and teach computer science.

Computer Science Plus is our way of making high school computer science courses accessible to teachers with little to no prior background in Computer Science. We deliver standards-aligned curriculum and week-by-week pacing with ongoing support via email and live video conferencing to teachers. The program year begins with a week-long induction workshop where teachers learn how to best utilize these resources in the classroom with their students.

We currently offer two years worth of high school curriculum and mentorship:

Computer Science Plus Year 1

This introductory high school course covers a variety of topics in Computational Thinking and Problem Solving; Data, Information, and Security; Algorithms and Programs; Computers and Communications; and Professionalism and Impacts of Computing. Students use problem-solving strategies and draw connections between concepts from mathematics and computer science to create programs to solve problems. They analyze the use of computing devices, algorithms, and networks to collect, transmit, and analyze data, including storytelling with data. Students analyze the role of computers within industry, cybersecurity. This curriculum is taught with an emphasis in programming/coding using the 465070 course code.

Participating teachers earn the 5016 temporary approval code by attending the induction workshop and are supported in gaining full 528 licensure over the course of the year.

Boot Camp:  July 26-30, 2021
Cost:  $250 (includes housing and meals in Hot Springs)

Computer Science Plus Year 2

This course provides a deeper understanding of Computational Thinking and Problem Solving; Data, Information, and Security; Algorithms and Programs; Computers and Communications; and Professionalism and Impacts of Computing. Students use problem-solving strategies and draw connections between concepts from mathematics and computer science to create programs to solve problems. They analyze the use of computing devices, algorithms, and networks to collect, transmit, and analyze data, including storytelling with data. Students analyze the role of computers within industry, cybersecurity. This curriculum is taught with an emphasis in programming/coding.

Schools can offer this course using code 465080 for regular Computer Science Flex Credit or as AP Computer Science A using code 565130. Teachers attending the boot camp will meet their AP Summer Institute attendance requirement.

Boot Camp:  July 26-30, 2021
Cost:  $250 (includes housing and meals in Hot Springs)

Computer Science Praxis Preparation

Arkansas’ 528 Computer Science licensure area requires teachers to pass ETS 5652, the Computer Science Praxis with a minimum score of 142. We provide face-to-face and online support for those preparing for this exam.

Self-Paced 30-Hour Online Course

Educators who wish to work at their own pace and from their own location are invited to register for our online CS Praxis Prep course. The course features 30 modules covering all of the topics tested, including practice exercises and graded assignments. While the course can be taken at any pace, participants must complete the course by June 30, 2022 to earn professional development credit.

Format:  On-Demand
Cost:  Free
Register Here

Face-to-Face 18-Hour Boot camp

Educators who prefer face-to-face professional development or who struggle to complete a self-paced course can register for our Spring CS Praxis Boot camp, held each year in March or April. Materials from our online course are presented in a high-energy boot camp format at ASMSA. Registration details will be released in December or January each year.

The Advanced Biology Plus program is designed for both new and veteran AP® Biology teachers in Arkansas who seek support to help increase their student scores on the AP® Biology exam and expand their use of technology to more fully engage their students. Schools participating in recent years of this program increased their passing rate (students scoring 3 or better on the AP® Biology exam). In the first four years of the program, 55 teachers at 46 schools participated in one or more cohorts. 

Cost: $100 fee to register one teacher. No cost for students.

Participation in the program gives the teacher at least 28 hours of ADE-approved professional development at no additional cost. For the past three years, participating teachers have also been given a technology expansion packet of biology lab equipment worth $100-$400, a grant-funded opportunity we hope to continue. ASMSA also offers unique biology lab opportunities through this program, where participating AP® Biology teachers can arrange for ASMSA’s biology teachers to bring an “on the road” lab directly to their high school or they can bring their students to ASMSA for lab field trips that include topics like genetic engineering and DNA forensic analysis. Teachers may also come to ASMSA’s campus in Hot Springs for personal training in a variety of AP Biology labs.

This program is also not “one size fits all” - the directors work with each teacher to help them make AP® Biology successful in their unique classroom environment. Participation in this program includes access to slide presentations, assessments and unit exams, virtual labs, recommendations for course pacing, questions of the week taken from past AP® Biology exams, updates on latest life science research, and access to interactive Pear Deck lessons to use in their classrooms. Students at participating schools also have online access to high-quality digital materials, including quizzes, scientific skills exercises, review sheets and hundreds of hours of videos that teach the AP® Biology curriculum.

The program is directed by ASMSA’s Dr. Whitney Holden and Dr. Patrycja Krakowiak. Dr. Holden has a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology. Dr. Krakowiak is nationally board certified in Science Education and has a Ph.D. in Human Genetics. Together, they have an AP® Biology teaching history of 23 years.

Spaces are limited to the first 50 teachers who register.

• Access to expert teachers at ASMSA via lab field trips.
• Opportunity to earn college credit via the AP Biology exam.
• Improved skills in written and verbal communication.
• Experience in digital learning. The class fulfills the Arkansas Department of Education requirement of taking an online (digital) class prior to graduation.

Additional Information:

Advanced Biology Plus is approved by the College Board as a digital learning class. It is directed by Dr. Whitney Holden and Dr. Patrycja Krakowiak, who are both College Board certified. Dr. Holden has a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology. Dr. Krakowiak is National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certified and has a Ph.D. in Human Genetics. They have a combined biology teaching history of 24 years.

Advanced Biology Plus does not replace College Board AP Biology certification for teachers or the need to complete a Summer Institute Program. The experience is designed as a pathway for teachers to gain new strategies to support students and their own instructional practice.

The Advanced Statistics Plus program is designed for those already teaching AP® Statistics who are looking to increase scores and student achievement as well as those who are not yet certified to teach AP® Statistics.

The goals of the Advanced Statistics program are:

• Remove barriers for schools who desire to offer Statistics
• Remove barriers for students success
• ASMSA's Advanced Statistics program hopes to increase student engagement and success in the Advanced Placement Statistics course.

Cost: $100 fee to register one teacher. No cost for students.

Participation in the program gives the teacher at least 24 hours of ADE-approved professional development at no additional cost. Participating teachers will be provided with standards-aligned curriculum and week-by-week pacing with ongoing support via email and live video conferencing to ASMSA’s math specialist.

This program is also not “one size fits all” - the math specialist will work with each teacher to help them make AP® Statistics successful in their unique classroom environment. Participation in this program includes access to slide presentations, guided lesson notes, additional examples which can be used for homework, assessments and unit exams, and recommendations for course pacing. Students at participating schools also have online access to high-quality digital materials and hours of videos that teach the AP® Statistics curriculum.  The program begins with a 5-day induction workshop (July 10-14, 2023) where teachers learn how to best utilize these resources in the classroom with their students.

The program is supported by ASMSA’s Mathematics Specialist Tracy Watson. Tracy Watson has a Master of Science degree in Mathematics, has been teaching mathematics (college and high school) for over 20 years and has been an AP® Statistics Reader for three years.

• Access to an expert teacher at ASMSA before, during, and after your regularly-scheduled classes.
• Access to slide presentations, videos, assessments, and a weekly pacing calendar.
• Training in graphing technology including the TI-84 Plus CE or TI-Nspire along with other online technology incorporated into the curriculum.
• Access to a community of other statistics teachers around the state.
• Up to 42 Arkansas Department of Education-approved hours of professional development as part of a required 5-day summer boot camp (July 10-14, 2023) and two day-long workshops (dates TBD based on teacher schedules) at ASMSA or Zoom during the 2023-2024 school year.
• A guided learning experience that allows teachers to explore college-level statistics and master instructional approaches alongside their students without the pressure of teaching alone.

• Access to an expert teacher at ASMSA via email and Zoom.
• Opportunity to earn college credit via the AP Statistics exam.
• Improved skills in written and verbal communication.
• Experience in digital learning. The class fulfills the Arkansas Department of Education requirement of taking an online (digital) class prior to graduation.

Additional Information:

Advanced Statistics Plus is supported by Tracy Watson, who is College Board certified.

Advanced Statistics Plus does not replace College Board AP Statistics certification for teachers or the need to complete a Summer Institute Program. The experience is designed as a pathway for teachers to gain new strategies to support students and their own instructional practice.