P-12 Teacher Resources

Resources for Inside and Outside the Classroom

From elementary to high school, the College of Information Science and Technology offers a plethora of tools for teachers to engage students in information technology. From teacher training, hands-on activities, and internship opportunities, our college is invested in helping more schools integrate computational thinking into their classrooms.

P-12 Teacher Engagement

P-12 Community Engagement Activities Research Experience for Teachers

Every summer, high school teachers and undergraduate students have the opportunity to attend two research experiences at IS&T: Research Experience for Teachers (RET) and Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in Engineering and Computer Science. These projects focus on “Infusing Mobile Platform Applied Research into Teaching” with funding from the National Science Foundation. Five computer science faculty members serve as mentors for the teachers and students. Click here for more information.

Teacher Training in Emerging IT Disciplines

For teachers interested in infusing emerging IT disciplines into their P12 curriculum, IS&T faculty and staff will work collaboratively with them, designing custom training programs in traditional computing (Computer Science and Information Systems) and Interdisciplinary Informatics (Bioinformatics, Cybersecurity and IT Innovation). Please contact the IS&T Dean’s office at (402) 554-4150 and set up a time to visit the college.

IS&T Student Speakers

Interested in having your class learn more about information technology and the programs offered at IS&T? Current students can speak to your class about their experiences and future goals. From Robotics, IT Innovation to Computer Science, our students are passionate about IT and excited to help others find their career paths. Please contact the IS&T Dean’s office at (402) 554-4150 to arrange for an IS&T student to visit your classroom.

CodeCrush

Starting in the fall of 2013, the IT Immersion Experience will create an opportunity for young women to gain an invaluable look into the IT career landscape and UNO college life. Over the course of four days and five nights, the College of IS&T will host students and teacher mentors, offering a variety of hands-on educational activities, corporate visits, and meetings with potential IT role models and mentors. Evenings will be filled with a glimpse into campus life, including a picnic with UNO students, UNO sporting events, a visit to the Henry Doorly Zoo and other activities.

Click here for more information. 

Middle School Teacher Engagement

Classroom Tools

Programming with Scratch
Introduce your classroom to programming with this simple and free tool. This presentation will walk your classroom through a simple exercise that will help you understand computational thinking, practice your programming skills and set you up to learn more complicated programs.

High School Engagement

IT High School Internship Program

This summer, 14 high school students gained an unparalleled experience as the College of IS&T hosted its inaugural High School IT Internship Program. Over eight intensive weeks, these high school students worked side-by-side with IS&T professors, staff and graduate students in research areas and labs such as robotics, bioinformatics, software engineering, cybersecurity, public health informatics, database-driven web development, IT innovation, open community participation, iOS/Droid app development, Unity game development, and others. Attracting 30 applicants from across the metro area in its first year, this highly successful summer program is expected to expand in the coming years. More information about the program is available here.

IT Innovation Cup

Bringing together the thrill of competition with hands-on educational activities, the annual IT Innovation Cup engages Nebraska schools to create the most innovative, creative and best IT-based solution to today’s most pressing problems. Established in 2012, the IT Innovation Cup presents a yearly challenge to high school teams in which teams must bring together a wide range of skills and expertise. From creating “Serious Games” to innovative answers for “Technological Assistance for People with Disabilities,” the IT Innovation Cup pairs high school teams with IS&T mentors, campus resources, and networking opportunities with area IT companies and sponsors. More information for this year’s challenge can be found here.

Dual Enrollment

UNO’s Dual Enrollment program allows talented students to earn college credit while still in high school. college-bound students can get a jump on their degree and maximize their time in advanced high school classes. Dual enrollment can also provide enhanced curriculum opportunities that help students remain engaged in their junior and senior years of high school and help prepare for college-level work. The College of IS&T currently offers its dual enrollment program in 18 different schools across Nebraska. In 2012-2013, a total of 180 students were enrolled in courses that ranged from CIST 1300, 1400, 2500 and CSCI 2980.

Courses that are currently offered by IS&T for dual enrollment include: CSCI 1200 Computer Science Principles, BIOI 1000 Introduction to Bioinformatics, CYBR 1100 Introduction to Information Security, CIST 2100 Introduction to Management Information Systems, CIST 1100 — Introduction to Computing, CIST 1300 — Introduction to Web Development, CIST 1400 — Introduction to Computer Programming, CIST 1404 — Introduction to Computer Programming laboratory (1 credit), CIST 2500 — Introduction to Applied Statistics for IS&T, CSCI 1000 — Computer Literacy with Applications, CSCI 1620 — Introduction to Computer Science II, and CSCI 2510 — Introduction to Game Programming. More information about UNO’s dual enrollment program and processes can be found here.

Shadow an IS&T Student

High school students can learn even more about what it means to be a college student and study information technology by shadowing a current student. From working in our labs to attending class, IS&T is a unique experience that allows students to pursue their passions in IT. Through shadowing a current student, high school students can get a jump start on their college experience.

Early Entry Program

Currently enrolled high school students may apply to take undergraduate courses at IS&T concurrently with their high school program by enrolling through the UNO Early Entry Program. Enrollment requires the recommendation of their high school counselor and demonstration high academic achievement. Click here to apply for the early entry program.

About Me App
Teach your students how to make an app with this exercise. Discover the different ways apps are developed, the tools needed and specific instructions for making your own app. Additional resources are included in this presentation.

About Me App PowerPoint

Adventures in Cybersecurity
Are you susceptible to cyber crime? This presentation is full of exercises you and your students can work through to learn how you can avoid social engineering scams and gain a better understanding about Cybersecurity.

About Cybersecurity PowerPoint
Social Engineering PowerPoint
Anti-Phishing Game

Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is a new and exciting field that combines information technology and biology. Learn how to extract DNA from a strawberry, how diseases spread and how to help public health in this presentation and workbook. 

Bioinformatics PowerPoint
Bioinformatics Workbook

IT Innovation
Motivate your students to think differently! Learn what it truly means to be innovative, how to encourage critical thinking, evalutation, and planning skills. 

IT Innovation PowerPoint