In response to a statewide requirement for schools to offer computer science curricula by the 2024-2025 school year, the mississippi children's museum will launch a pilot program for 4TH grade…

The Mississippi Children's Museum was awarded a $353,380 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the Museums for America federal grant program (CFDA 45.301). The grant will support the launch of a pilot program to develop and deliver professional development to 4th grade STEAM teachers on coding and robotics. Key products and services include coding kits containing equipment, lesson plans, and digital resources for classroom use; two regional coding challenges for students; and the design and implementation of pre- and post-evaluation instruments by an external evaluator. Resources will also be made available through an online database. The collaborative educational model aims to lay a foundation for increased digital literacy among Mississippi students and better prepare the state's future workforce by the 2024-2025 academic year, in alignment with the stated goals of the Museums for America program.

In response to a statewide requirement for schools to offer computer science curricula by the 2024-2025 school year, the mississippi children's museum will launch a pilot program for 4TH grade students and their steam teachers to learn about coding and robotics. Project activities will include developing and delivering professional development to 4TH grade steam teachers, creating coding kits, and offering two regional coding challenges. The coding kits will include equipment, lesson plans, and other digital resources for teachers to use in their classrooms. An external evaluator will design and implement pre- and post-project evaluation instruments and the museum will make resources available online to educators through a comprehensive database of digital literacy resources. The collaborative educational model will help prepare the state's future workforce by laying a foundation for increased digital literacy.