Supporting K-5 computer science integration through high-quality teacher professional development

• Relatively few elementary teachers have sufficient confidence and pedagogical content knowledge to integrate computer science into their classrooms. • A state-wide computer science integration professional development opportunity was offered through a randomized controlled trial to K-5 teachers to investigate its effects on their capacity to teach computer science and their reported implementation of standards aligned, computer science-integrated lessons. • Targeted, sustained professional development was causally related to improvements in teachers’ confidence to teach CS, experience integrating CS standards into core content lessons, and ability to engage students during CS lessons. • Teachers randomized to the treatment condition taught statistically significantly more CS lessons than teachers randomized to the control group. Workforce development and education leaders have increasingly emphasized the need for high-quality computer science (CS) instruction for K-12 students. Though states have created and mandated the implementation of CS curriculum standards, few in-service teachers have been provided sufficient opportunities to develop CS pedagogical content knowledge and self-efficacy. This study evaluated the effect of a CS integration professional development (PD) program on K-5 teachers’ perceptions of their capacity to teach CS and their implementation of CS-integrated lessons using a randomized controlled trial design. Treatment included an intensive online summer institute with school year follow-up. Results indicate statistically significant effects of the PD on teachers’ confidence to teach CS, experience integrating CS into core content, and ability to engage students during CS lessons; treatment teachers also taught significantly more CS lessons than control teachers. Findings indicate that the program provides a scalable model for delivering PD designed to expand access to CS at the elementary level.