CSTANJ CSPDWeek 2026

Seesaw offers an expert-designed, all-in-one solution for teaching elementary computer science with confidence. It provides ready-to-use lessons, pacing guides, and professional development, along with engaging instructional content, meaningful practice activities, and assessments that track student growth in problem-solving and computational thinking.

This session explores how Seesaw supports confident, high-quality elementary computer science instruction through an expert-designed, all-in-one approach. Participants will discover how to leverage built-in scope and sequences, lesson plans, pacing guides, and professional development to effectively plan and deliver instruction. The session will highlight engaging instructional tools, including videos, interactive texts, and discussion prompts that deepen student understanding. Attendees will also learn how students apply their knowledge through cross-curricular, real-world activities, and how built-in assessments provide valuable insights into growth in problem-solving and computational thinking.

What if every student had a “Design Thinking Buddy” to guide them through coding, debugging, and creative problem solving? This hands-on session explores how student-facing AI agents—customized for CS classrooms—can scaffold design thinking, UDL, and inclusive CS practices for diverse learners.

Participants will experiment with an AI Coding Buddy, learn core prompt‑engineering strategies, and explore adaptable templates for building their own classroom bots using platforms such as Flint, MagicSchool, SchoolAI, Gemini, ChatGPT, Canva AI, Makers Empire, Coding Makers, Tinkercad, or Qweebi.

Through open-ended challenges and reflection, we’ll examine how AI supports English learners, reluctant writers, and neurodiverse students while strengthening confidence and independence in CS.

Attendees will leave with practical integration strategies, alignment to CSTA and UDL frameworks, and ready-to-use resources for launching their own Design Thinking Buddy in any grade level.

This Intermediate Java workshop is designed for learners who have completed the Java for Teachers course or who have basic experience with the Java programming language, including declaring variables, printing to output, writing conditional statements, and using loops. To build on this foundation, learners will be introduced to key object-oriented programming concepts in Java, such as using objects as data types, understanding the structure of a class, writing and calling instance methods, and—time permitting—basic inheritance.

Planting Ideas is a workshop designed for educators interested in agricultural, computer science and design thinking who want to bring real-world relevance in the classrooms. Using an agricultural-based innovative challenge as the anchor, this session models how authentic problems/topics can spark computational thinking, creativity and design. Teachers will walk away with lessons that include literature, videos and additional resources which are all adaptable. These are classroom ready resources that help students grow from curious thinkers into inventive problem solvers.

In this workshop, educators will explore how real-world agricultural challenges-adapted from the National Agriculture in the Classroom site are met in the classroom setting . This platform can be a powerful launchpad for computer science and design thinking as well as teaching agricultural concepts in the classroom.

Participants will engage in exploring activities that model the full design cycle: identifying authentic problems, analyzing constraints, brainstorming and creating solutions. Teachers can connect these experiences to core CS practices.

You will leave with classroom ready strategies, adaptable project prompts, and cross curricular ideas that help students apply CS and design thinking to meaningful, real-world contexts. Whether you teach in a classroom, computer science, STEAM or designed based topics, this session will help you cultivate a learning environment where ideas take root and grow.

This session will be a review of Day of AI's new curriculum unit Changing the Game: Using AI Fairly and Responsibly in Sports.

In this session, participants will hear an overview of Day of AI's new curriculum unit Changing the Game: Using AI Fairly and Responsibly in Sports. Changing the Game is a 5-lesson unit designed for middle school and high school students. Students will have a chance to experience some of the activities as learners, review the materials, and ask questions.

An introduction to JuiceMind’s AI creator, including how teachers can instantly generate content using a prompt or by uploading a PDF/Google link.

The session introduces JuiceMind’s AI Creator, a new tool designed to help teachers generate classroom-ready content in seconds using a prompt, PDF, or Google link. As teachers continue to balance planning, instruction, assessment, and differentiation, JuiceMind's AI Creator provides a faster way to create teaching materials while still giving teachers control over the final content.

The session will include an overview of how teachers can use AI Creator to generate assignments, lessons, reviews, assessments, and JuiceMind Quizzes. We’ll also walk through how teachers can create content aligned with state-specific standards. The goal of the session is for teachers to understand how AI Creator can help save time, support classroom instruction, and make it easier to create engaging learning materials for students.

Discover empowering digital tools and activities for elementary students to learn more about people’s relationship to the natural environment and ways to work toward a healthy planet. Raise environmental literacy and hone STEM skills while participating in simulations on natural resource use, wildlife habitats and more. Receive resources aligned with New Jersey Student Standards for Science, Mathematics, Social Studies and Computer Science.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming how we collect, analyze, and act on data—but how do we translate this into meaningful classroom experiences?

In this interactive session, participants will explore practical strategies for integrating AI into Data Science instruction using real-world datasets and accessible classroom tools. Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming how we collect, analyze, and act on data—but how do we translate this into meaningful classroom experiences?

In this interactive session, participants will explore practical strategies for integrating AI into Data Science instruction using real-world datasets and accessible classroom tools. Drawing from my immersive experience at the University of New Mexico, diving into Data Science + AI with Bootstrap as the sponsor (June 22nd-27th, 2026), this session highlights how educators can move beyond theory and empower students to:
1. Analyze real datasets using AI-supported tools
2. Identify patterns, trends, and anomalies
3. Make ethical, data-driven decisions
4. Understand bias, limitations, and responsible AI use
5. Participants will leave with ready-to-use lesson ideas, student project frameworks, and tools that support equitable and engaging AI learning experiences aligned to CSTA standards.

In this breakout session, participants will explore how GASHA GO! World, an interactive suite of K–2 games, videos, and classroom resources from Georgia Public Broadcasting and the Georgia Department of Education, introduces young learners to the foundations of computational thinking through play. This session highlights how storytelling and literacy connections make computer science concepts accessible and engaging for early elementary students. Attendees will receive free resources, classroom integration ideas, and strategies to support creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

This beginner friendly PD introduces Canva’s AI coding tools for creating interactive classroom experiences. Learn how to use simple text prompts to design engaging activities, add elements of gamification, and bring creativity into your lessons no coding required.

In this beginner friendly session, I will introduce educators to Canva’s AI coding tools and how they can be used to create interactive and engaging classroom experiences without any prior coding knowledge. This session is designed to help teachers feel comfortable exploring AI in a way that is approachable, creative, and directly connected to their classroom needs.

We will begin by exploring what Canva’s AI tools can do and how simple text prompts can be used to generate interactive learning activities. I will model how to create classroom ready materials such as interactive lessons, simple apps, and engaging visual content that can be used across grade levels and subject areas.

Throughout the session, teachers will actively participate in hands on exploration, using Canva to design their own interactive activities. We will focus on creating experiences that promote student engagement, creativity, and participation, while also looking at ways to incorporate elements of gamification to make learning more fun and meaningful.

I will also share strategies for integrating these tools into existing lessons so that AI enhances instruction rather than feeling like an added task. Teachers will have time to think about how these tools can support their current curriculum and meet the needs of their students.

By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical examples, classroom-ready ideas, and the confidence to begin using Canva’s AI tools to create interactive, student-centered learning experiences.

This interactive keynote (90 min.) explores the intersection of AI and our values as educators.

Pushing against narratives of AI's "speed," "efficiency," and "optimization," in the classroom, this session creates space for participants to slow down, reflect, and discuss the values that truly drive our teaching. Engaging with the Analog Inspiration card deck, participants will explore how to center human values, skills, and concerns when integrating AI, preventing its misuse, and navigating difficult AI-related scenarios. The session will provide practical strategies for building trust with students, disincentivizing academic misconduct, and designing AI-integrated assignments that put learning at the center.

💻CSPDWeek NJ 2026: Virtual Wrap-Up & Celebration! 🎊

Don’t sign off just yet! Stick around immediately following Carter Moulton’s Keynote for our official virtual grand finale. We’re closing out our sixth annual NJ CSPDWeek by celebrating the incredible "AI-ready" foundations you’ve built all week long.

What to Expect:
The Victory Lap: A high-energy recap of our best moments and breakthroughs from across the Garden State.
Next Steps: Quick, clear instructions on how to access your 2026-27 PD resources and stay connected with your new CS network.
Stipend Essentials: You will receive a post-conference survey via email. Please note that this survey must be completed to qualify for your $900 stipend!
The Launch: We’ll send you off inspired and ready to bring inclusive, cutting-edge CS to your students this fall.

Let’s end the week on a high note together—see you in the main virtual room!