NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University’s School of Education partnered with the LSU Cain Center to host the first-ever IGNITE Elementary Computer Science Integration training for pre-service and in-service elementary teachers on March 7. The training helps teachers integrate computer science into content-area instruction.
“The IGNITE Initiative is a free professional learning opportunity designed to support K–5 teachers in integrating computer science standards across content areas,” said Dr. Jessica Church, assistant professor and Elementary coordinator at NSU. “The program builds foundational computer science knowledge while providing practical, classroom-ready strategies that align with Louisiana computer science standards and support integration within mathematics, science, English/Language Arts and social studies instruction.”
The IGNITE Initiative is offered through Capital Area STEM (Region 2 Network Center) in partnership with the LSU Gordon A. Cain Center for STEM Literacy. In additional to free professional learning, the training focused on computational thinking, block-based programming and cyber safety with an emphasis on integrating computer science into existing curriculum.
“They worked on cyber safety and how to teach students to be safe using digital materials. The kickoff session ended with them learning about block coding and experimenting with the use of coding and computer-based thinking using robots,” Church said.
Starting with the 2027-28 academic year, all elementary schools will be required to implement the Louisiana Computer Science standards and NSU is getting ahead of the curve.
“We are teaching students to integrate the Louisiana Computer Science standards across all content areas to support future instruction,” she said.