Afternoon Sessions (choose one from sessions below)
Lunch Gathering
Open to All SuperQuest Registrants, 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Complimentary deli-style “Lunch & Learn”.
Progress Report: Oregon’s Computer Science Standards and the Statewide Computer Science Exam - For those of us that teach under the Certified Technical Educator (CTE) license (and even for those that don’t), we will present a progress report about the statewide Computer Science exam. This exam is being mandated by the federal Perkins grant program. We will discuss how we are incorporating the Exploring Computer Science curriculum into the exam, along with state CS standards and CS standards coming from the national CSTA organization. A short Q&A session will follow. Presented by Dan Velasquez
Portland Metro and Regional STEM Center Partnership – The Portland Metro STEM Partnership is a collective impact partnership comprising K–12 school districts, higher education, business/industry, and informal education providers and community organizations focused on improving K–12 STEM education using whole-school teaching and learning cultures as the unit of change. Beginning in April 2012, the Portland Metro STEM Center for College and Career Readiness will serve as the communications and programming hub for the Portland Metro STEM Partnership. The STEM Center will provide leadership, research, professional development and student services that enable schools to implement four-year strategic investment plans to transform STEM teaching and learning cultures. This partnership design and engagement strategy is currently being considered for replication in other geographic regions in Oregon. If adopted, the regional STEM education partnerships will form a state-wide Oregon STEM Education Partnership that will operate under the auspices of the Oregon Education Investment Board. Presented by Melissa Dubois
TechStart Pilot Program: Exploring Computer Science Course – TechStart Education Foundation will work for the next two schools years to implement a 9th/10th grade Exploring Computer Science course curriculum in five Oregon high schools as a pilot model for offering pre-AP computer science throughout the state. We are excited to preview this program for all of Oregon’s teachers already committed to ensuring that technology education opportunities remain available for students at all grade levels. Presented by Chris Brooks
Oregon Computer Science Teachers Association (OCSTA) – Annual Meeting, led by Dan Velasquez and Jay Bockelman
Morning Sessions
Making Math Relevant with Computer Science
Instructor: Dan Velasquez
This session is all about using computer science to teach your students how to apply well-known mathematical formulas to solve compelling, real-world problems. I will present 3–4 teachable units that you can take directly from this session and use in your classroom. These units will explore the direct application of mathematics in diverse fields of robotics engineering, computer game design, the fractal geometry found in nature, and in the evaluation of mathematical expressions using recursion.
Using LEGO Robotics and Engineering Systems in the Elementary Classroom
Instructor: Mark Gullickson, Central Elementary School
This presentation is “geared” towards educators seeking new ways to introduce elementary/lower middle school level students to hands-on STEM exploration using LEGO. This presentation will be especially useful to those new to using LEGO engineering and LEGO robotics in the classroom. Over the course of the last eight years, Mark has coached 12 - 1st place elementary/middle school level First LEGO League (FLL) teams. Mark was recognized by the Software Association of Oregon as the 2009–2010 Oregon Technology Educator of the year. Mark and his students have test-piloted LEGO Educational STEM curriculum and building systems and he was recently recognized by LEGO Education as the February 2012 National “Spot Light” Educator.
CLOSED / FULL - Enhance K–5 Learning with Scratch
Instructor: Emma Dugan, Elementary Tech Educator
Teachers - Would you like to wrap math, reading, writing and critical thinking into easy lessons that will bring squeals of delight from your students? This class will give you an introduction to Scratch Programming which can empower your students and their learning. The class is geared specifically for K–2 Teachers but in past years teachers at all levels have benefited from this Introductory Workshop. The presentation will be modeled by an experienced K–12 level teacher and you will leave with “copy ready” handouts as well as some detailed lessons and resources for use right away. Guaranteed to be Fun!
Vernier Probeware for STEM: CS in the Science Classroom
Instructor: Jake Hopkins, Vernier
Use sensors and software to graph and analyze scientific data using state-of-the-art technology for your science classroom. In this presentation, you’ll learn from Vernier's alpha geek about Vernier’s LabQuest handheld, Logger Pro software, and how to use probeware to teach core topics in physics, chemistry, biology, Earth science and environmental science. We will also discuss how the software is made, Vernier's new STEM extensions, and how to have students write their own data collection software or embed sensors in robots.
Oregon Game Project Challenge (OGPC) Game Jam Mentor Training
Learn how to be an industry mentor at the OGPC Game Jams to be held in Portland and Eugene in March. Mentors will collaborate with middle school and high school teams and their coaches to help convey key concepts related to software planning and design, game design, prototyping, and the value of design iteration. Some experience in the software or computer game industry would be helpful.
Afternoon Sessions
Much of What I Knew about Web Design is Wrong: Object Oriented Cascading Style Sheets (OOCSS)
Instructor: Chris Winikka, Century High School
Rethink how to code layouts using a solid (yet little know) technique called, Object-Oriented CSS (OOCSS). These techniques were developed and tested from a guru who redesigned Facebook’s HTML and CSS code. In this workshop, we’ll learn some misconceptions on “best practices”, learn the concepts behind the techniques used, and get a free copy of the starter code, so you can begin styling web site layouts now. Techniques & concepts are appropriate for any first or second level web design class that covers layout designs.
Make YouTube Videos to Expand Classroom Instruction
Instructor: Don Domes, Hillsboro High School
Have you visited Khan Academy on the web and wonder how these trainings are created? Do you want to make high definition training content simply and quickly for your students? I will demonstrate solutions that cost under $300 to acquire the production software or equipment so you can make high definition training materials. We will actually make some training materials in the session. If you have a camera that takes 720p video please bring it. Please contact Don Domes at
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with questions prior to the session.
How Video Game Design leads to Software Engineering
Instructor: Jason Galbraith, Sunset High School
This presentation goes over how programming video games in the classroom is a great medium for teaching software engineering. Consideration will be given to what video games actually teach, why we should use them in the classroom, and how this leads into college and the industry. The lessons and games from the classes at Sunset High School will be shown as a potential model. This presentation is particularly useful for anyone just starting out; alternately, can be used to justify your program to your administration!
Free Student Development Tools from Microsoft: Intro to Dreamspark
Instructor: Dan Velasquez, Southridge High School
Come and learn how your high school can obtain Microsoft’s complete set of professional-grade design and development tools at no cost to you or to your students, both at home and in school. These tools can help enhance your students’ design skills as they create projects involving technology, math, science, and/or engineering. The list of freely downloadable programming tools is pretty extensive:
Visual Studio 2010 Professional, including compilers for Visual Basic, C++, and C# languages.
Windows Server 2008 or 2005 Standard
XNA Game Studio, allowing students to write computer games for their XBox 360 game console.
TechStart is founded and supported by the Software Association of Oregon and its members.
