Partner with Counselors for Computing 

Are you looking for meaningful professional development opportunities that empower school counselors, career coaches, and STEM educators? We’re here to help guide students toward exciting careers in computing.

NCWIT Counselors for Computing (C4C) is excited to collaborate with state leaders, Departments of Education, and organizations like yours to bring our impactful workshops to your community. 

For more information, please contact us at [email protected]

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#NCWITC4C 2024 Leadership Development Institute
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Why Work with Us?

    • Proven Impact: Our professional development has a solid history of empowering educators to make a lasting impact on their students’ lives.

    • Nationally Recognized Expertise: NCWIT is a leader in broadening participation in computing, and the C4C program is at the forefront of these efforts in K-12 education.

    • Collaborative Approach: We work hand-in-hand with our partners to tailor our workshops to the specific needs of your educators and students.

C4C Offers:

    • Expert-Led Workshops: Our engaging sessions are led by seasoned school counselors and educators who know the ins and outs of the K-12 landscape.

    • Cutting-Edge Content: Our workshops focus on broadening participation in computing. We offer insights into a wide range of computing careers and provide educators with the tools they need to weave computing into their advising and teaching.

    • Flexible Formats: Whether you prefer in-person workshops, virtual sessions, or a blend of both, we have options to fit your needs and schedule.

One-Hour Workshops

This workshop is designed specifically for elementary school counselors and focuses on integrating computer science (CS) in early education. This session provides essential strategies for introducing young students to computer science and sparking interest in technology. The event highlights the role of counselors in fostering early interest in technology, equipping them with a variety of tools to guide and inspire. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how to effectively communicate the importance of CS education and develop skills to encourage wider participation in technology from a young age. This engaging and informative session is a must-attend for counselors who want to prepare a future-ready generation.

This workshop highlights how counselors can become pivotal guides in the digital era, helping students navigate the rapidly-evolving landscape of technology and computing. This session helps counselors effectively integrate computer science education into counseling practices. These tools not only aid in building an understanding of the field but also enable counselors to identify and nurture a wider range of talents, ensuring access to all future careers. By focusing on strategies that align with college and career readiness, counselors can foster a generation of tech-savvy, innovative thinkers who are prepared to take on the challenges and opportunities of the future workplace. Amplify your impact as a school counselor, equipping your students with the skills and confidence to thrive in a world where computing is at the heart of every industry and aspect of modern life. 

Computer science is about so much more than coding! Learn about artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, training data, and how AI can be used to address world problems. As a demonstration, we will use free materials from Code.org – an NCWIT K-12 Alliance member organization – to model a lesson and conversation talking points you can use with K-12 students! The event aims to quickly introduce counselors to a resource that can be used to meet a variety of goals, and can be conducted either in-person or remotely, both asynchronously and synchronously.

Half-Day Workshops (3.5-4 hours)

This interactive workshop equips school counselors and career coaches with knowledge and strategies to connect students’ interests with careers in computing and tech. Participants will dive into the landscape of the industry, align career counseling practices with American School Counseling Association (ASCA) Student Standards: Mindsets & Behaviors for Student Success, and develop strategies to engage a wider range of students in computing education and career exploration. Through group activities, action planning, and resource sharing, attendees will gain the tools to inspire and prepare students for success.

This interactive workshop provides advisors and counselors with the tools and skills to foster students’ social-emotional learning (SEL) while guiding them towards computing careers. Participants will explore the dynamic landscape of the tech industry, align practices with the ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors standards, and develop strategies that empower students to engage with computing and tech. Through hands-on activities, action planning, and resource sharing, participants will learn how to use computer science education to level up K-12 students’ SEL.

Full-Day Workshops

This workshop is designed to help K-12 advisors show students how every field and industry is impacted by computer science. Computer science is not a “fad” – it’s the key to unlocking a world of career opportunities! Participants will be empowered to build awareness of the changing career landscape and learn how the arts, media and creative services – and even many middle-skills jobs – now require computing and technology literacy. This session will convince school counselors that computer science is a non-negotiable when it comes to teaching career lessons. Counselors will gain the skills and resources to:

    • Identify emerging career trends, and the requisite skills needed.

    • Incorporate contemporary advising practices to support career exploration. 

    • Strategically use individual counseling to empower students’ through career exploration.

    • Reach stakeholders to generate excitement and engagement in computer science education and careers.

AI is here and demanding an immediate shift in how we counsel and prepare students for college and career pathways. This workshop moves beyond the hype to true AI Readiness.  Providing K-12 School Counselors, Career Counselors, and those in student advising roles with the knowledge, research, and resources to be AI literate and support students AI literacy. 

You will gain a clear, jargon-free understanding of core AI concepts and learn to address ethical challenges like AI bias and data privacy. Feel prepared to guide students toward the durable skills and interdisciplinary pathways that prepare them for a workforce impacted by automation and augmentation. You will learn about the impact of cognitive dependency and ways to support students in using AI as a co-creator to enhance critical thinking, rather than a replacement for essential skills. Finally, you plan and practice your own professional AI strategies and prompting techniques for prioritizing direct student services and optimizing indirect services, dedicating more time to the essential human connection students need. Upon completion of this workshop, you will be able to:

    • Master a jargon-free understanding of core AI concepts to confidently discuss AI’s impact on all industries and the future workforce.
    • Develop and Implement student advising strategies that emphasize durable skills and interdisciplinary studies to prepare students for emerging, high-value jobs.
    • Evaluate and plan a human-centered approach to AI literacy that empowers students to use AI as a co-creator, mitigate the risk of cognitive dependency, critically evaluate AI bias, and prioritize data privacy.
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    • Test AI tools and practice prompt engineering techniques for prioritizing direct student services and optimizing indirect services.

The rise of generative AI demands that every K-12 educator re-evaluate their teaching practices and curriculum. This hands-on workshop provides practical, evidence-based strategies to transform AI from a distraction into a powerful, ethical teaching partner.

You’ll gain a firm grasp of AI fundamentals and learn how to integrate AI literacy seamlessly into any subject. The core focus will be on teaching students how to use AI as a co-creator to enhance their learning and support true AI readiness, rather than becoming passively dependent on it and risking cognitive dependency. Leave with the confidence to foster critical thinking, manage academic integrity, and guide students on the responsible, bias-aware use of AI tools, ensuring they are prepared for a world where AI is the norm and essential skills remain intact. Upon completion of this workshop, you will be able to:

Integrate core AI concepts and AI literacy competencies into any K-12 subject area using engaging, age-appropriate activities and lesson plans.
Apply pedagogical strategies that actively combat cognitive dependency and coach students on using AI as a co-creator to enhance critical thinking, evaluation, and problem-solving skills.
Utilize AI tools and effective prompt engineering to streamline professional tasks, such as generating lesson plans, outlining presentations, and creating differentiation materials.
 
Design classroom guidelines and discussions that instruct students on the ethical use of AI, including critically evaluating outputs for bias and practicing responsible data privacy and digital citizenship.

The NCWIT Counselors for Computing (C4C) Community Connections workshop offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of computing pathways and connect with local tech employers. This full-day experience blends C4C program resources with immersive site visits and panel discussions. Tour local companies, engage with tech professionals, and explore wide range of career pathways in your region. Learn how to effectively guide students towards computing and tech careers, regardless of their chosen field. Participants will gain actionable strategies and resources to enhance career counseling programs.

Multi-day events are available in collaboration with partners.

Ready to Move Forward? Reach out to us at [email protected] to learn more or to schedule a consultation. Our staff will be in touch soon to discuss how we can bring NCWITC4C professional development to your community.

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