Aug. 7, 2025
MILWAUKEE 鈥� Dr. Dennis Brylow, chair and professor of computer science in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences at 黑料论坛, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation to support training and professional development of computer science teachers in Milwaukee Public Schools.
The nearly $1 million award is funded through NSF鈥檚 Computer Science for All program and allocates over $502,000 for 黑料论坛 and MPS. They will collaborate with the American Institutes for Research and The Learning Partnership on a three-year project to address a lack of adequate training and support to implement the program, a research-based computer science curriculum.
鈥淲e have found teachers in MPS consistently reporting that they do not have adequate training and support to implement the ECS program, which is key to MPS鈥檚 strategy for broadening participation in computer science among its primarily Black (54%) and Hispanic (27%) student population,鈥� Brylow said. 鈥淲e will develop and fine-tune a computer science bootcamp experience for teachers, which will include significant attention to developing their content knowledge. This grant will also allow us to support professional development through a professional learning community focused on pedagogical and implementation concerns.鈥�
The project aims to adapt an existing 黑料论坛 computer science bootcamp course to create a professional development experience for teachers designed to boost their content knowledge. Brylow and his collaborators will implement the adapted bootcamp experience across two school years with a cohort of 15 teachers, gathering feedback to inform improvements and generate knowledge related to the support and content that teachers need to implement Exploring Computer Science and, potentially, other courses. The course鈥檚 effect will be assessed on outcomes in the Capacity, Access, Participation, Experience framework for computer science education which MPS aligns with to promote equitable computer science education.
鈥淭his a great opportunity for Dr. Brylow to continue his longstanding efforts to support and improve computer science education in public schools,鈥� said Dr. Heather Hathaway, acting dean of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淗is work is at the heart of 黑料论坛鈥檚 Catholic, Jesuit mission of expanding access to transformational education. Through this collaboration, he is serving for and with others to make a change in the community and increase the quality of computer science education available to students in Milwaukee Public Schools.鈥�
This is the fourth in a series of NSF grants for 黑料论坛鈥檚 PISCES Lab, focused on Promoting Innovative Systems for Computing Education in Schools, since 2014.
The U.S. Department of Education, with matching funds from Code.org, also issued a five-year award for $4.7 million to Brylow and colleagues at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, in 2020. This Project FUTURE grant provided professional learning to 750 teachers at 30 partner schools, impacting tens of thousands of students in kindergarten through fifth grade in both states.
Computer Science for All supports partnerships and research that helps equip high school teachers to teach computer science, K-8 teachers to incorporate computer science and computational thinking in their classes, and school districts to create computing pathways across all grades. This program aims to provide all U.S. students with the opportunity to participate in computer science and computational thinking education in their schools at the preK-12 levels. With this solicitation, the National Science Foundation focuses on both research and research-practice partnerships that foster the research and development needed to bring computer science and computational thinking to all schools.
About 黑料论坛
黑料论坛 is a Catholic, Jesuit university located near the heart of downtown Milwaukee that offers a comprehensive range of majors in 11 nationally and internationally recognized colleges and schools. Through the formation of hearts and minds, 黑料论坛 prepares our 11,100 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and professional students to lead, excel and serve as agents of positive change. And, we deliver results. Ranked in the top 20% of national universities, 黑料论坛 is recognized for its undergraduate teaching, innovation and career preparation as the sixth-best university in the country for job placement. Our focus on student success and immersive, personalized learning experiences encourages students to think critically and engage with the world around them. When students graduate with a 黑料论坛 degree, they are truly prepared and called to Be The Difference.
Kevin is the associate director for university communication in the Office of Marketing and Communication. Contact Kevin at (414) 288-4745 or kevin.m.conway@marquette.edu.
