Computer Science

A man smiles within a crowd of people sitting at tables in front of laptops

Jan 14, 2026

Educators Work to Advance CS in Elementary Education at Statewide Convening at the Friday Institute

Computer science may be thought of as an advanced subject, but elementary school teachers are already teaching computer science (CS) standards; they just don’t realize it. For example, beginning-of-the-day routines…

A group of students pose together in a purple room with the words "Creative Computing" in the background

Oct 22, 2025

2024-2025 Catalyst Grant Symposium Contributes to “Act of Hope”

Since 2018, the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and the NC State College of Education have provided funding for more than 25 research projects through Catalyst Grants. Catalyst Grants support…

Two girls work on a circuit in a purple illuminated room

Apr 24, 2025

Catalyst Grant Empowers Rural Students, Enhances Computational Thinking Through STEAM Club

West Middle School sixth grader Olive Cleckler discovered an unexpected way to complete her interactive project—by turning her braces into part of a functioning circuit. Using a custom-designed platform called…

Jul 22, 2025

Callie Edwards and Friday Institute’s PEER Team to Evaluate Expanding Computing Education Pathways with New Grant

The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation’s Program Evaluation and Education Research (PEER) Group, under the direction of Callie Edwards, was awarded a $354,720 5-year U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) grant…

Jan 31, 2025

The State of Computer Science in North Carolina

The Friday Institute has been a computer science education leader in North Carolina for almost ten years. We have trained hundreds of educators in kindergarten through twelfth grade curriculum, participated…

Oct 3, 2024

2024-2025 Catalyst Grant Winners Announced

RALEIGH, N.C. — The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation and the NC State College of Education have awarded three Catalyst Grants that are designed to increase research collaborations between faculty…

Jul 19, 2024

North Carolina CS Requirement: A Benefit for Students and Our State

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction adopted the High School Computer Science Graduation Requirement at the beginning of 2024. This policy mandates that beginning this fall, incoming high school…

Jun 12, 2024

Empowering North Carolina Educators: Embrace Computer Science Training for a Brighter Future

In an era where technology influences nearly every aspect of our lives, the importance of computer science (CS) education cannot be overstated. Recognizing this, North Carolina has taken significant steps…

Apr 9, 2024

Unlocking the Future: Why Educators Should Dive into Computer Science Training

In today’s digital age, the significance of computer science education cannot be overstated. From powering our smartphones to driving innovation in every sector, computer science is the backbone of modern…

A group of educators sit around a table talking

Dec 6, 2023