Rock CS 2025 | Rocky Mountain Computer Science Conference for P-12 Educators: Full Schedule

Rock CS is a professional development event designed by Adams 12 Five Star Schools and St. Vrain Valley School District.

Please note, log in instructions will be sent upon registration. Click here for registration information.

8:30am MDT

Students & AI: A Collaboration Guide

Sunday June 8, 2025 8:30am - 10:40am MDT

Peak 14

Ready to unlock student potential with AI? This interactive workshop explores practical strategies and AI tools that empower students to take charge of their learning journey, and be ready for 21st century collaboration!

Speakers

Andrew Gitner

Sunday June 8, 2025 8:30am - 10:40am MDT
Peak 14 1st Floor

2-hour workshop

Intended Audience 3-5 teachers, 6-8 teachers, 9-12 teachers, P-2 teachers
Topic Artificial Intelligence (AI) including Machine Learning

10:50am MDT

Learning AI through Self-Driving Cars

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:50am - 11:50am MDT

Peak 14

In this workshop you will experience our innovative unit, Self Driving Cars. Incorporate AI, computer science, and a compelling social issue into your computer science or STEM classroom. The unit uses research-based teaching routines proven to promote equity, engage students and increase student agency in the classroom. During the workshop you will participate in hands-on unit activities as well as review this freely available curriculum. The unit includes advanced programming with MakeCode, an exploration of AI classifiers and much more. You will leave ready to implement our high quality unit with your students allowing them to develop expertise in AI. You will also have authentic student assessments to accompany the unit.

Speakers

Jeffrey Bush

Asst. Research Professor, University of Colorado Boulder

Jeff is an assistant research professor at the University of Colorado's Institute of Cognitive Sciences (ICS). Jeff's research focuses on the intersection of technology, STEM teacher learning and professional development with sub-topics of mathematics education, computational thinking... Read More →

Gregory Benedis-Grab

Director of K-12 Computing and AI intiatives, University of Colorado Boulder

Greg is the director of K-12 Computing & AI Initiatives at the Institute of Cognitive Science at University of Colorado Boulder. He is leading the scaleup of K-12 Computing and AI curriculum and professional development nationally. Previously, Greg worked in schools as a teacher and... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 10:50am - 11:50am MDT
Peak 14 1st Floor

1-hour presentation

Intended Audience 6-8 teachers, 9-12 teachers, Administrators
Skill Level BEGINNER: Limited or no experience or prior topic knowledge; no prerequisite skills required.
Topic Artificial Intelligence (AI) including Machine Learning, Computational Thinking, STEM Integration
Device Compatibility Chromebook, Mac Computer, Windows Computer

1:10pm MDT

Using AI for engagement, support and balance

Sunday June 8, 2025 1:10pm - 3:20pm MDT

Peak 14

In this session teachers will learn 3 key ways to engage their students, support their students, and have better balance as a teacher utilizing AI tools. We will look at how to use AI for research by first doing a practice task as a group, then I will provided an example of how I use it with students and finally teachers will have a chance to dive through additional resources and examples to come up with ways they can incorporate it into their own classrooms. Next we will look at ways that AI can support differentiation in the classroom. First we will do a practice case study, then I will provide an example of how I use it in the classroom and then teachers will have the chance to dive deeper into resources and examples to determine their own personal usage of the tools. Finally we will look at how to incorporate choice into the classroom using AI. We will experience a SchoolAI space, then I will showcase how I use it with students and from the teacher perspective. And then teachers will have time to dive deeper into additional tools and examples and determine how they want to use it in their own classrooms.

Speakers

Katelynn Ryan

I am a secondary social studies teacher for a fully virtual and synchronous K-12 school. I have presented at the Colorado Council for Social Studies Conference on this topic as well as for Rocky Mountain Junior Achievement/Economic Literacy Colorado professional development on the... Read More →

Sunday June 8, 2025 1:10pm - 3:20pm MDT
Peak 14 1st Floor

2-hour workshop

Intended Audience 3-5 teachers, 6-8 teachers, 9-12 teachers
Skill Level BEGINNER: Limited or no experience or prior topic knowledge; no prerequisite skills required.
Topic Artificial Intelligence (AI) including Machine Learning, Cross-curricular Integration/CS Integration in non-CS Classes, Classroom Practice / Pedagogy / Instructional Strategies
Device Compatibility Android Device, Chromebook, iOS Device, Mac Computer, Windows Computer