Computers are changing the world.
MECSP offers Massachusetts students
the skills & knowledge to thrive in it.

The MECSP Mission

The overarching goal of MECSP is to broaden computer science (CS) education across Massachusetts through the expansion of the Exploring Computer Science (ECS) course in our high schools.

To reach this goal, MECSP will build an effective multi-sector collaboration to support the expansion of the ECS course and ECS Professional Development (PD) model, which focuses on building a cadre of Teachers Leaders who prepare other teachers to engage greater numbers and a greater diversity of students in CS learning and build connections between CS education and workforce development.

Outcomes

  • Teachers become highly effective in teaching CS content/skills and engaging students in CS learning
  • Students gain foundational knowledge and literacy in CS
  • Students gain an understanding of the value of CS skills and are aware of the range of career opportunities in CS
  • Infrastructure to build and support effective multi-sector collaborations nurtures the growth of CS education throughout MA
  • Key national CS education stakeholders are aware of these efforts in MA

Goals

  • Implement the ECS course statewide in MA
    • MA high school teachers are prepared to teach ECS
    • A cadre of ECS Teacher Leaders is prepared to deliver PD to teachers new to CS/ECS
    • Participating districts offer ECS in their schools and support participating teachers
    • Secondary school students develop foundational CS knowledge and skills
  • Build a statewide infrastructure and capacity to sustain ECS implementation in MA
    • Three regional ECS PD Hubs are established and supported in order to scale implementation of ECS and build capacity of teachers across the state
    • Teachers across the state participate in an online Professional Learning Community (PLC) for ECS
    • Existing statewide CS initiatives are connected to the work of MECSP through co-developed and co-sponsored activities and initiatives

Who’s who

Joyce Malyn-Smith, Ed.D.

PI, EDC

Deborah Boivert

Co-PI; Director, Greater Boston Hub
Executive Director, BATEC
University of Massachusetts, Boston

Renee Fall

Director, Western Mass Hub
CAITE Project Manager
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Irene Porro, Ph.D.

Director, Metro West Hub
Director, McAuliffe Center for Integrated Science Learning
Framingham State University

Karen Gareis

Evaluator, Goodman Research Group, Inc.

Julia Abbott, Ph.D.

MetroWest MECSP Coordinator
Education Specialist. McAuliffe
Center for Integrated Science Learning
Framingham State University

Rick Adrion

Professor, Computer Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Co-Director, Commonwealth Information Technology Initiative (CITI)

For questions or concerns, please contact Joyce Malyn-Smith (jmsith@edc.org) or Lydia Perry (lperry@edc.org).

Our great partners

In response to NSF’s call for projects that will help develop the knowledge base and partnerships needed to catalyze the CS 10K Project within the CE21 program, our partners propose to leverage their combined expertise, relationships, and organizational experience to design and implement the Massachusetts Exploring Computer Science Partnership (MECSP).

We’ve got the numbers

In 2014, MESCP totalled over vero eos et accusam et justo duo dolores et ea rebum. Stet clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus est Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consetetur sadipscing elitr, sed diam nonumy eirmod tempor invidunt ut labore clita kasd gubergren, no sea takimata sanctus.

Please email: info@mecsp.org if you have any questions!