Check Out Our CSEL Schedule!

CSEL PD Series:  Creative Coding for Curious Classrooms (K-12)

Creative Coding for Curious Classrooms is a hands-on professional learning series that is structured to support educators in integrating creative coding and computational thinking into meaningful classroom learning experiences—for multilingual learners, regardless of grade level, content area, or previous coding experience.

Please note: no coding experience required–just curiosity!

The series kicks off September 19, 2026 at the IRC headquarters in Arlington Heights with an in-person workshop. Participants will experience computational thinking as learners, explore the creative possibilities of ScratchJr, and begin designing a classroom-ready learning experience aligned to their own curriculum. Through collaboration, reflection, and peer feedback, educators gain practical tools and the confidence to integrate creative coding into their classrooms.

Following the in-person kickoff, participants are invited to continue their learning through two virtual sessions designed for practice, reflection, and growth. Educators will have time to try new ideas in their classrooms, return to a supportive community to share what they learned, gain fresh ideas from colleagues, and continue strengthening their creative coding practice.

Unable to attend the in-person workshop? You’re still welcome to join the follow-up virtual sessions and continue exploring creative coding with fellow educators.

Sept September 19, 2026

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Free In-Person Workshop

Description:

In this four-hour session, participants will experience computational thinking as learners, explore ScratchJr, and begin designing a classroom-ready learning experience for their students. Through collaboration, reflection, and peer feedback, educators gain practical tools and develop a playful mindset by tinkering, experimenting, iterating, and reflecting as they build the confidence to integrate creative coding into meaningful teaching and learning experiences.

4 PD Hours

Open to all teachers (Space is Limited)

Presenter: Diana Silvas and Susan Garr

October 15, 2026

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Virtual Workshop

Description:

In this interactive virtual session, participants will take part in a fun ScratchJr design challenge, enjoy dedicated tinkering time to experiment with new features and ideas, and hear from classroom teachers who have experimented with integrating creative coding into their content-area teaching and learning.
Join us to continue your creative coding journey by connecting with fellow educators to explore, create, and learn together. Whether you’ve already tried your lesson or are still planning your first implementation, you’ll leave with fresh ideas, renewed confidence, and inspiration.

2 PD Hours

Open to all teachers

Presenter: Diana Silvas and Susan Garr

November 19, 2026

4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Virtual Workshop

Description:

Participants will continue their creative coding journey through another playful tinkering session with ScratchJr. Working collaboratively, educators will experiment with new ideas, respond to a creative design challenge, and create classroom-ready projects inspired by a shared prompt. Participants will showcase their creations, reflect on their design process, and learn from one another’s ideas. Along the way, educators will hear classroom success stories, exchange implementation strategies, and leave with new inspiration and practical ideas for integrating creative coding and computational thinking into meaningful teaching and learning experiences.

Additional sessions may be offered in the second semester for educators who want to keep tinkering, sharing, and growing together.

2 PD Hours

Open to all teachers

Presenter: Diana Silvas and Susan Garr