Empowering Professional Development in STEM

Welcome to the Northern NJ CS HUB

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Educate. Innovate. Empower.

Montclair State University has rich and extensive traditions in education. We saw an opportunity to pair this history with our more recent commitments to Computer Science. This has brought the Department of Teaching and Learning in the College for Education and Engaged Learning and Department of Computer Science in the College of Science and Mathematics into a partnership. They will research computer science education and professional development of K-12 teachers focusing on the emerging Computer Science standards. The State of New Jersey and the NSF are supporting these projects.

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📸 Scenes from Last Night’s Lending Library Playdate! 🎉

We kicked off our first-ever Lending Library Playdate! A special event where educators had the chance to explore everything our CS Lending Library has to offer for K–12 classrooms!

Teachers browsed, tested, and played with hands-on tools designed to bring computer science to life. The event was timed perfectly to help educators plan for the 2025–2026 school year.

🔍 Our full collection was on display, including:
🛠️ Arduinos
💻 Pipers & Piper Makes
🛸 Drones
🎮 Makey Makey
📡 Microbits
🤖 Kibobots, Spheros, Dashbots & Ozobots
🔌 Snap Circuits
📚 Storybooks for all grade bands
📘 AP & computing teacher resources
...and so much more!

We were also thrilled to be joined by our friends from Civil Air Patrol (CAP), who shared curriculum resources like CyberPatriot and info on how teachers can access kits by affiliating with CAP.

Thank you to everyone who made the night a success! We loved seeing teachers explore, collaborate, and get inspired!

#CSEd #K12Computing #STEMinSchools #MontclairState #CSLendingLibrary #CyberPatriot #CAP #TeacherPD #STEMResources #CSHUB #ComputerScience #STEMEducation #CSForAll #TeacherPD #ComputationalThinking #EquityInCS #montclairk12csed #montclairstateuniversity #njdoe #northernnjcshub #compscinj

🚀 Big thanks to our friends from Civil Air Patrol (CAP) who joined us to share how they support educators with free curriculum resources including the CyberPatriot cybersecurity program and classroom kits available to teachers affiliated with CAP.

We loved learning how CAP can enhance computer science and STEM instruction! 👩‍🏫💻✈️

#compscinj #CyberPatriot #CivilAirPatrol #STEMeducation #CSEd #TeacherResources #CS4All #CSHUB #ComputerScience #STEMEducation #CSForAll #TeacherPD #ComputationalThinking #EquityInCS #montclairk12csed #montclairstateuniversity #njdoe #northernnjcshub #compscinj

Register here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdv6jNWKw7sop6FVvRDO3tDI8TwL8N73ZO7_-lQOF4YjkGacg/viewform?usp=header

🎉 Inaugural Presidential Awards Spotlight 🎉
We are proud to honor two outstanding leaders of PRISM whose work continues to uplift educators, students, and communities across New Jersey! 🌟

🏅 Colette Killian – Unsung Hero Award
For her unwavering commitment, behind-the-scenes dedication, and daily impact empowering teachers and learners through PRISM.

🏅 Dr. Katherine G. Herbert – Civic & Community Engagement Award
For her visionary leadership in building inclusive, sustainable educational partnerships that make a real difference.

👏 Let’s celebrate these inspiring changemakers and their remarkable contributions to education and community!

#PresidentialAwards #PRISMAwards #STEMLeadership #EducationalEquity #UnsungHero #CommunityEngagement #WomenInSTEM #EducationMatters #NJLeaders #PRISMSpotlight

🎉 ✨Teacher Spotlight: Esther Douglass & Alaina Cannella✨ 🎉

We’re celebrating two incredible educators who are making STEAM come alive in the classroom! 💡🔬✨

Esther Douglass and Alaina Cannella led a powerful STEAM project that introduced students to the engineering design process and computational thinking — all while addressing a real-world environmental crisis in New Jersey: the spotted lanternfly invasion. 🪰🌿

Their students didn’t just learn science and engineering — they became problem solvers, environmental advocates, and active citizens. Through creative design and research, they explored innovative solutions to help eradicate this invasive species and protect local ecosystems.

👏 Let’s hear it for Ms. Douglass and Ms. Cannella, who are showing students that learning is about making a difference in their communities!

#TeacherSpotlight #STEAMEducation #EnvironmentalAwareness #EngineeringDesignProcess #ComputationalThinking #SpottedLanternfly #NJTeachers #CivicEngagement #InvasiveSpecies #STEMforGood #StudentChangemakers #montclairstateuniversity #montclairstate #montclairschoolofcomputing #teachers #compscinj #compsci #northernnjcshub #csed #css4nj#montclairstatesuniversityk12csed

#montclairstateuniversity #computerscience #compscinj #northernnjcshub #cs4nj #montclairk12csed #leandinglibrary #impactsofcomputing #northernnjcshub

🌟Teacher Spotlight!🌟Danielle Curry🌟

We’re celebrating one of our incredible educators who’s been making big waves in #STEM and #CS education!

👩‍🏫 She was recently featured in Kinderlab’s article for her innovative work bringing robotics to young learners using KIBO!

🤖 She also mentored her students in NJIT’s STEM Challenge using Microbits — and they crushed it! Garfield School brought home 3rd Place in Design and 3rd Place Overall!

Huge thanks to the #njdoe and Montclair State University K-12 Northern NJ Computer Science Education Hub at PRISM for providing the equipment and knowledge to help make this happen!

Check out Danielle Curry in this article https://www.eschoolnews.com/steam/2024/10/28/success-introducing-robotics-young-learners/

📸 Check out the photos of their amazing journey and well-earned success!
#CS4NJ #Microbit #KIBO #Robotics #NJSTEM #TeacherSuccess #StudentInnovation #csed #montclairschoolofcomputing #Computerscience #Compsci #compscinj #impactsofcomputing #montclairk12csed

Congratulations to our incredible intern graduates Amber and Leigh! 🎓 Your hard work, dedication, and passion have brought you both to this moment, and we couldn’t be prouder. Wishing you success in all your future endeavors! #InternGraduates #ClassOf2025 #MontclairStateUniversity #computerscience #northernnjcshub

#teacherappreciationweek #northernnjcshub #montclairstateuniversity #teachers

📚✨ Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! 🍎✏️

To all the incredible educators who inspire curiosity, spark creativity, and shape the future—thank you. Your patience, passion, and dedication leave a lasting mark on every student you teach.

Let’s give a standing ovation to the heroes in classrooms everywhere! 👏💛

#ThankATeacher #TeacherAppreciationWeek #GratefulForEducators #EducationMatters #montclairstateuniversity #compscinj #teachersofinstagram #computerscience #northernnjcshub

📚✨ Teacher Appreciation Week | May 5–9 ✨📚
Let’s take a moment to honor the incredible dedication, passion, and impact of our educators. Teachers shape the minds and hearts of future leaders every single day—and for that, we are truly grateful.
Thank you, teachers! 🍎💛

#montclairschoolofcomputing #computerscience #newjerseydoe #montclairk12csed #teachers #montclairschoolofcomputing #compscinj #compsci #northernnjcshub

Every month, we come together—both online and in person—with administrators from partner school districts come to network with each other and discuss computer science education issues in districts.💡 We have been working on AI policies, funding concerns, K-12 CS Ed curriculum, school trips and a whole suite of services. If you or your district are interested in joining the conversation, feel free to email us at k12csed@montclair.edu. Let’s build the future of CS education together! #montclairstateuniversity #northernnjcshub #montclairk12csed #impactsofcomputing #computerscience #compsci #newjerseydoe #newjerseydepartmentofeducation

🎓 We’re excited to celebrate our very own Dr. Herbert from Montclair State University, who delivered the 2025 Charles Franke Memorial Lecture at Seton Hall University! 🧪🎤

Her inspiring talk, "STEM Communication and the Scientific Workforce," emphasized the crucial role of clear, inclusive communication in shaping the next generation of scientists. 👩‍🔬👨‍🔬

👏 Congratulations, Dr. Herbert, on this prestigious recognition!

#STEM #ScienceCommunication #MontclairState #SetonHall #CharlesFrankeLecture #HigherEd #STEMLeaders#montclairstateuniversity #montclairk12csed #northernnjcshub #njdoe

🚀 Wrapping Up an Incredible PLC Year! 🚀
Our CS HUB PLC meetings this year were filled with innovation, collaboration, and future-focused planning! 🎉 Educators explored exciting opportunities to design and implement CS events in their schools—bringing Computer Science to life in their classrooms!
💡 Throughout the year, participants had direct access to CS and education experts to enhance their curriculum in:
🔹 Data & Networks
🔹 Software Design & Cybersecurity
🔹 Computational Thinking & STEM Education
🔹 Inclusive Education & Equity
🔹 Educational Leadership & Assessment …and more!
A huge shoutout to our dedicated educators for their passion and commitment to advancing CS education! 🚀👏 We can’t wait to see the incredible CS events you bring to your schools!
#CSHUB #ComputerScience #STEMEducation #CSForAll #TeacherPD #ComputationalThinking #EquityInCS #montclairk12csed #montclairstateuniversity #njdoe #northernnjcshub #compscinj

🕶️✨ Virtual Reality Took Over The HUB! ✨🕶️
Last night, The HUB hosted an incredible Virtual Reality Workshop, where participants stepped into the future of technology! 🚀
🎮 First, they explored commercial VR apps, getting a taste of what’s possible in immersive digital worlds.
💡 Then, they got creative—designing and coding their very own VR experiences using visual coding.
It was a night full of exploration, innovation, and hands-on learning. Stay tuned for more exciting workshops at The HUB!
#TeacherResources #Education #ComputerScience #STEMEducation #HandsOnLearning #CreativeTeaching #ProfessionalDevelopment #FutureofEducation #CollaborativeLearning #MontclairK12csed #CompSciNJ #NJDOE #MontclairCsam #Montclairschoolofcomputing #VirtualReality #VRWorkshop #FutureTech #CodingForAll #thehub #montclairstateuniversity #newjerseydepartmentofeducation #compsci #northernnjcshub

🚀 What a busy week at The HUB! We had 3 incredible events, and here’s a peek at one of them! 🎉

🎮 Montclair State University Computer Science HUB: A Day of Computing! 💻

We invited 4th to 8th graders to explore the exciting world of tech! 🌐✨ Students had the chance to:

🔹 Dive into hands-on activities like coding, robotics, and game design!
🔹 Enjoy interactive demos that showcased the latest tech innovations.
🔹 Meet college students and professors passionate about computing.
🔹 Discover exciting career possibilities in the world of tech!

It was a day filled with curiosity, creativity, and new friendships.
🌟 Stay tuned for more photos from this awesome event!🌟

#MSU #HUBEvents #TechExploration #DayOfComputing #FutureTechLeaders #STEMEducation #Coding #Robotics #MontclairStateUniversity #NJDOE #montclairk12csed

📊✨ Exploring the Pillars of Computer Science: Data & Data Analysis Workshop ✨📊
We had the incredible honor of hosting Dr. Jongho Moon, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, for a full-day deep dive into the world of Data and Data Analysis! 🙌
👩‍🏫 Teachers explored how data shapes their everyday lives, learning how to analyze and visualize information to better understand the world around them. 🌍
💡 A key highlight: Teachers experienced how movement and hands-on activities enhance learning — comparing three different lesson designs to see how physical movement impacts engagement, focus, and learning outcomes. 🏃‍♂️📊
🚶‍♀️ In today’s lesson development, teachers created a New Jersey Historical Tour using three unique approaches:
📍 1️⃣ Online Tools Only — Designing a digital map-based tour.
🎨 2️⃣ Ozobots and Art Supplies — Creating a physical map with an Ozobot to navigate.
🔎 3️⃣ Anything in the Room — Building a tour using only found objects (no computers or Ozobots allowed!).
This innovative workshop empowered educators to think critically about how data, technology, and creativity intersect, sparking fresh ideas for real-world problem-solving through data-driven lessons! 🔥
#ComputerScience #DataAnalysis #STEMEducation #HandsOnLearning #CreativeTeaching #ProfessionalDevelopment #FutureofEducation #CollaborativeLearning #MontclairK12csed #CompSciNJ #NJDOE #MontclairCsam #Montclairschoolofcomputing #DataDrivenInstruction #FutureReady

Stay connected with us everywhere! Follow us on all our social media platforms for the latest updates, exclusive content, and more. Don’t miss out!

Thank you, @NJECC, for giving us the opportunity to share insights about our professional development opportunities at the Montclair Hub. Collaboration and growth are key!

#NJDOE #NJECC #montclairstateuniversity #montclairk12csed #collaboration #growth #professionaldevelopment #collaboration #growth

🚀✨ What an incredible day of learning and exploration! 🌐

In our day-long workshop, we:
📖 Discussed the basic topics of Networks and the Internet.
📏 Unpacked the key standards that make it all work.
🎯 Explored fun hands-on lesson activities ready to use in classrooms!

Thank you to everyone who joined us—it was amazing to see such enthusiasm, collaboration, and curiosity in action. 🌟

Stay tuned for more opportunities to connect, learn, and grow!

#NetworkingWorkshop #InternetBasics #ProfessionalDevelopment #LearningInAction #montclairk12csed

📅 In Today’s Workshop: We’ve got a fun-filled, hands-on day planned for educators! We’ll explore the basics of Networks and the Internet, break down standards, and share exciting, interactive activities to make these concepts come alive in your classroom.

Get ready to learn, connect, and leave inspired! Let’s celebrate how far we’ve come—and spark the curiosity of the next generation of tech leaders. 🚀

#TechEvolution #ConnectedWorld #EdTechWorkshop #montclairstateuniversity #Montclairk12csed #CompSciNJ

⭐ Happy New Year ⭐ Wishing everyone health, happiness and success this year ⭐

✨ ❄️Happy Holidays! ❄️✨
As the year comes to a close, we extend our warmest wishes for a joyous holiday season. May the upcoming year be filled with happiness, success and endless opportunities.

Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!

#HappyHolidays #SeasonOfJoy #NewYearWishes

💻🔍Reflecting on a Successful Workshop: Keeping Our Kids Safe Online with the FBI 🔍💻

The Montclair State University Computer Science Hub hosted an impactful professional development session, "Keeping Our Kids Safe Online," with the FBI. Educators from across NJ came together to address the critical challenges kids face in today’s digital age. From navigating an internet-based life starting at birth to understanding the risks of social media, gaming platforms, and cyber threats like bullying and online predators, the session was both eye-opening and empowering. We discussed the alarming statistic that 40% of child pornography is generated by minors and explored practical strategies to promote safer online practices. 💻

A huge thank you to the FBI for their expertise and to all the dedicated educators who participated. Together, we’re taking meaningful steps to protect our students in an ever-connected world!

🔍 The FBI is partnering with the Northern NJ Computer Science Ed Hub to do workshops for students, teachers and parents in districts. Join our mailing list at k12csed@montclair.edu with your school email address to request information. 🔍

#CyberSafety #ProfessionalDevelopment #EducationMatters #FBIWorkshop #TeacherPower #MontclairStateUniversity #EdTech #ProfessionalDevelopment #FutureofEducation #CollaborativeLearning #MontclairK12csed #CompSciNJ #NJDOE #MontclairCsam #Montclairschoolofcomputing #MontclairStateUniversity #EdTech #ProfessionalDevelopment #newjerseydepartmentofeducation #MontclairK12csed #CompSciNJ #MontclairCsam #Montclaircee

🌟 What an Incredible Turnout! 🌟

The Montclair State University Computer Science Hub's Buddy Programming Workshop was a huge success! 🎉

Montclair CS Ed Hub kicked off their celebrations for CS Ed Week with the Buddy Programming Workshop, bringing an extraordinary group of K-8 teachers, students, and parents together for an evening of learning and collaboration.
Teachers engaged in hands-on professional development before teaming up with their students to explore the basics of computer science through both plugged and unplugged paired programming activities. 💻

The room buzzed with energy and teamwork as educators, students, and parents united to create meaningful learning experiences.

It was truly inspiring to see such enthusiasm and dedication in action! 👏

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us—your passion made this event truly remarkable.

A special thanks to our presenters Sumi Hagiwara, Elliot Hu-Au, Weitian Wang and Jesse Ha

Stay tuned for more opportunities to connect, learn, and grow with us. We can't wait to see you at our next event! 🚀

#montclaircrosslab #csweek #TeacherPower #MontclairStateUniversity #EdTech #ProfessionalDevelopment #FutureofEducation #CollaborativeLearning #MontclairK12csed #CompSciNJ #NJDOE #MontclairCsam #Montclairschoolofcomputing#MontclairStateUniversity #EdTech #ProfessionalDevelopment #CollaborativeLearning #MontclairK12csed #CompSciNJ #NJDOE #MontclairCsam #Montclairceel

🚀 Programming and Algorithms 🚀

We had a fun and insightful day with educators exploring the world of Programming, Algorithms, and the relationship between coding and software design! 💻✨

While many associate Computer Science with coding, our workshop delved deeper into the foundational aspects of programming—demonstrating that coding is just one piece of the puzzle. We explored how algorithms drive software solutions and how they are central to programming logic.

Our hands-on sessions included both unplugged and plugged activities, offering creative ways to teach these concepts in the classroom and beyond. Whether you're an educator, student, or just a curious learner, the day was filled with engaging methods to better understand programming principles!

A big thank you to everyone who joined us for this enriching experience! Stay tuned for more opportunities as we continue to explore the exciting world of Computer Science. 🔍👩‍💻👨‍💻

#Programming #Algorithms #ComputerScience #WorkshopRecap #Coding #TechEducation #LearnToCode #STEM #Educators #EdTech #montclairstateuniversity #montclairschoolofcomputing #NJDOE #montclairceel #montclaircsam

Thank you to Pavlo Lushyn from Montclair Education Foundations for talking at our Pillars of Computer Science workshop about his experience with computing in the Ukraine during wartime. 🇺🇦

#MontclairStateUniversity #EdTech #ProfessionalDevelopment #CollaborativeLearning #MontclairK12csed #CompSciNJ #NJDOE #MontclairCsam #Montclairschoolofcomputing #Montclairceel

🚀 What a fantastic day at the Infuse-AI Hack-a-thon! 🚀

We spent an exciting day at Montclair State University, diving deep into how Artificial Intelligence can enhance our K-12 lessons and transform the learning experience for students. 🌟

🔍 Key Moments:

AI for Educators: Led by AI expert Leslie Fisher, we learned how to use AI as an assistive tool to streamline lesson planning, provide personalized learning experiences, and engage students in new, innovative ways.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Collaboration at its best: Teams worked together to enhance real lesson plans with AI-powered tools—from chatbots to feedback tools to AI-generated visuals, we explored endless possibilities.
💡 Hands-on Learning: Educators were able to apply AI to real-world scenarios, creating dynamic, tech-driven lessons that will empower students to think critically, collaborate, and be more creative.
🎓 Future-focused: We also got a sneak peek into Montclair State’s K-12 Computer Science Education Graduate Programs, offering educators the chance to deepen their expertise in AI and computer science.
🌱 The takeaway: AI isn't here to replace us—it's here to empower us! By embracing AI responsibly, we can create more personalized, engaging, and effective learning environments.

💻 Exciting next steps: Stay tuned as we share the AI-enhanced lessons and resources created during the event. Let’s continue to transform education, one AI-powered lesson at a time! 📚✨

#InfuseAI #AIinEducation #EdTechInnovation #TeacherPower #AIForTeachers #MontclairStateUniversity #EdTech #ProfessionalDevelopment #Hackathon #FutureofEducation #CollaborativeLearning #MontclairK12csed #CompSciNJ #NJDOE #MontclairCsam #Montclairschoolofcomputing #Montclairceel

For #CSEdWeek, @kearnyschooldistrict Garfield Elementary School students received an introduction to computer programming where they got to review and reflect on Engineering Design Thinking as part of their Fairy Tale STEM unit. They experimented with unplugged activities using human robot game cards as well as blocks and @KinderLabRobot Kibo robots #CompSciNJ #montclairk12csed #ImpactsofComputing

For #CSEdWeek JFK HS students @paterson_public_schools_nj had an opportunity to work in groups and use a screwdriver to dissect a computer while learning to label and identify the different parts #CompSciNJ #montclairk12csed #ImpactsofComputing

For #CSEdWeek @gordonparksacademyeo students learnt about creating algorithms, starting with one student acting as a robot and the other a programmer. Then they solved mazes and turned their solutions into algorithms! #CompSciNJ #montclairk12csed #ImpactsofComputing

For #CSEdWeek at Meadowbrook School in Hillsdale, NJ, Mrs. Harvey's 2nd grade art classes created balloon animals in the style of artist, Jeff Koons. Then, working with Mrs. Wicklund's Media classes, they coded their @kinderlabrobot Kibo Robots to walk the balloons through a parade in NYC. #CompSciNJ #montclairk12csed #ImpactsofComputing

During #CSEdWeek, music students at Paterson STEAM HS used @microbit_edu to create digital music boxes. The A, B, and A+B buttons created different “tunes.” They also coded instructions to shake the device and stop the sounds. #CompSciNJ #montclairk12csed #ImpactsofComputing

We were thrilled to welcome grhsridgers high school students to campus during #CSEdWeek where they spent Tuesday at @montclair_csam exploring hands-on activities in robotics and VR plus a discussion and hack-a-thon focused on monitoring the Japanese Knotweed on the Passaic River. #CompSciNJ #montclairk12csed #ImpactsofComputing

Got to see some really cool artwork being made using @iroboteducation Roots during Buddy Programming last night as part of our celebration of #CSEdWeek. p.s. We think you all rock too! #CompSciNJ #montclairk12csed #ImpactsofComputing

We're kicking off #CSEdWeek at the Montclair State Computer Science Hub this evening with our first ever Buddy Programming night. Listen to this fun tune being demonstrated with a little help from our @makeymakey kit, some paper, pencils and paper clips! 🎹 💻 #CompSciNJ #montclairk12csed #ImpactsofComputing

Our PLC members got a hands on look at the future of education. Special thanks to @ehuau for bringing the Oculus and demonstrating potential applications of VR in the K-12 space. #CompSciNj #montclairk12sced

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NSF Research Experience

for Teachers

The National Science Foundation Research Experience for Teachers (NSF RET) is a joint NSF proposal between Montclair State University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

Learn More

Interested in Professional Development?

The University already offers programs relevant to Computer Science Education for K-12 teachers. We will establish Professional Development Opportunities through our CS Education Hub and our CS for Everyone Everywhere Program. We are also happy to announce two funded NSF programs to help K-12 teachers bring cutting-edge data sciences in solar flare research into their classrooms. Express interest via the form below or learn more about the events!

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Videos & Lesson Plans

Looking for videos? Look no further!

Dive into our curated selection of dynamic video presentations designed specifically for New Jersey computer science educators. Or browse all of our additional resources, from lesson plans to primers and slide decks, on our resources page!

Videos

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