CSTA International Affiliates

Becoming a CSTA Affiliate

As part of its commitment to meeting the needs of CSTA members and developing a strong international community of computer science educators, CSTA encourages affiliate relationships with similar organizations in other countries. A CSTA international affiliate is a sister organization committed to supporting improvements to pre-college computer science education at the national level.

Affiliate applications must be submitted in writing to the CSTA Board of Directors in care of the Chapter Liaison at chapters@csta.acm.org. All completed applications are subject to approval by the CSTA Executive Committee based on the recommendation of the CSTA Chapter Liaison and Executive Director.

For questions with regard to international affiliate formation, please contact the CSTA Chapter Liaison at chapters@csta.acm.org.

Download Affiliate Application Form


International Comparisons Report

This briefing note created by the Computing at School group in the United Kingdom summarizes how computing (i.e. computer science) is taught at (high) school in several countries. It focused especially on what computer science qualifications are available to students. Download the report here.


CSTA Affiliate Profiles

Israel: Machshava
cse.proj.ac.il/index-en.htm

Machshava is the Israeli National Center for Computer Science Teachers. It was founded in 2000 by the Israeli Ministry of Education and is considered as the professional home for all Israeli computer science teachers. The center activities are organized around five major themes: Helping create a professional community of computer science teachers; Fostering the professional leadership of computer science teachers; Supporting, assisting and consulting academic computer science education groups, and computer science teacher educators and researchers; Collecting and distributing computer science education knowledge and experience; Researching and evaluating computer science teachers' needs and the center's activities. More information can be found on our websites at cse.proj.ac.il/index-en.htm (English) and cse.proj.ac.il (Hebrew).


New Zealand: NZACDITT
nzacditt.org.nz

NZACDITT is the subject association for Computing, Digital and Information Technology Teachers in New Zealand secondary schools. The teaching and assessing of computer subjects in New Zealand schools has been problematic for some time with a large focus on cross-curricular ICT limiting opportunities to build a strong computing curriculum. Teachers of computing have been battling for twenty years to be included in main-stream curriculum and assessment, and the subject association formed in March 2009 is proving a vital link between the teaching community and the Ministry of Education. We now have a Body of Knowledge and a suite of Digital Technologies assessment tools which covers the five focus areas of Digital Information, Digital Media, Digital Infrastructure, Electronics, and Programming and Computer Science. These assessments contribute towards the school leaving qualifications of our senior secondary students including University Entrance. The subject association continues to support its members to implement our new curriculum by working with regional co-ordinators to encourage professional development and the writing of resources, as well as building up the association. More information can be found on our website at nzacditt.org.nz.


United Kingdom: Computing At School (CAS)
computingatschool.org.uk

The Computing at School Working Group (CAS) formed in 2009 to promote the teaching of computer science in schools and to support teachers who are excited by the subject and to connect them to other like-minded practitioners. CAS is a collaborative partner with BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and has formal support from other industry partners. CAS is a grassroots whose energy, creativity and leadership come from its members which, in late 2011, was over 900. 80% of its members are school teachers. In the UK, as in the USA, New Zealand and elsewhere, the teaching of computing related subjects has focussed on ICT user skills and cross-curricular application of those skills. There is so much more! We have seen a 50% decline in students applying for degree-level courses in Computer Science over the past ten years and similar falls in school exams in both Computing and ICT. Students are voting with their feet. CAS run several regional/local hubs for teachers, publish a newsletter each term, provide training opportunities, facilitate a very active online forum for members and represent the views of teachers to exam boards, school leaders, governors and the Department for Education. Working with our partners and members we have seen the issue of computing in schools raise significantly. Exciting times are ahead of us!



   

CSTA works at many levels to support computing education.

Middle school
(problem solving &
algorithmic thinking)

High school
(computing &
computer science)

College/university
(enrollment &
transition)

Industry
(engagement &
preparation)