imagi’s Creative Coding Curriculum Receives CSTA’s Stamp of Approval
imagi is proud to announce that our Professional Development program, “Creative Coding in Python with imagi,” has been accredited by the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) as a high-quality PD offering for K-12 educators. This prestigious recognition places imagi’s program among a select list of PD opportunities vetted by CSTA’s independent committee of experts.
What is CSTA Accreditation
In short, CSTA’s accreditation is a mark of quality and credibility. CSTA evaluates PD programs using a rigorous rubric aligned to proven indicators of effective professional learning – including active engagement of teachers, strategies for diversity and inclusion, differentiated support, and evidence of positive impact. Only programs that meet these standards earn a spot on CSTA’s recommended list each quarter.
CSTA’s review process ensures that accredited PD programs are closely tied to quality CS curricula. In our case, imagi’s year-long Python curriculum – with its focus on creative, project-based learning through pixel art – was part of the review. Educators can be confident that our PD and curriculum go hand-in-hand to provide an engaging learning experience for students.
Why This Matters for Schools and Districts
For school leaders and PD coordinators, choosing an accredited PD provider is a smart investment. CSTA’s endorsement of imagi’s program serves as a third-party validation of its impact. It indicates that our program has undergone careful evaluation and meets the bar for improving CS teaching practice. In practical terms, an imagi workshop can help your teachers:
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Build confidence to teach text-based coding (Python) even if they don’t have prior programming experience.
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Learn innovative methods to integrate coding across subjects (art, math, etc.), which is especially useful for implementing state CS education mandates.
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Increase student engagement in CS classes – teachers who trained with imagi report higher enthusiasm and creativity in their coding units, a key factor CSTA looks for in quality programs.
“imagi gave a great PD to our district’s computer science teachers that was informative, engaging, and really fun! The resources that they provide teachers are excellent and make it really easy to introduce coding with Python with the imagiCharms immediately.” – Daniel M., Instructional Technology Teacher (Springfield Public Schools, MA)
CSTA accreditation matters because it tells educators: this program works. It’s a vote of confidence from the nationwide CS teacher community, and it pushes us to continue delivering PD that truly helps teachers succeed.
Moreover, by selecting a CSTA-accredited PD, schools demonstrate a commitment to teacher professional growth that aligns with national standards of excellence. It’s an opportunity to leverage a proven program to strengthen your computer science offerings.
What Educators Gain from a CSTA-Accredited imagi Workshop
1. Confidence in Quality: CSTA accreditation signals that imagi’s PD aligns with best practices in teacher training. Educators who join our workshops experience active, hands-on learning and research-based pedagogy, echoing the qualities CSTA expects from top-tier PD.
2. Standards Alignment: Our professional development and curriculum are built around national CS standards. Teachers learn how to integrate the CSTA K-12 CS Standards and other frameworks (ISTE, state standards) into their teaching, ensuring their instruction is both current and comprehensive.
3. Inclusive & Engaging Techniques: A core focus of the accreditation rubric is reaching diverse learners. imagi’s program equips teachers with strategies to engage all students – especially those historically underrepresented in tech. Attendees practice techniques for creating inclusive classroom environments and culturally responsive lessons. Our emphasis on creative coding (using the imagiCharm and visual projects) helps teachers discover new ways to spark student interest in computing.
4. Classroom-Ready Resources: Each participant leaves our PD with a suite of ready-to-use resources: a full coding lesson sequence, project ideas, teaching slide decks, and access to the imagi Edu platform. CSTA noted that high-quality PD should connect directly to classroom practice, and imagi delivers on this by providing materials that teachers can implement immediately.
5. Ongoing Support & Community: Quality PD doesn’t end when the workshop does. Through our online educator community and ambassador network, imagi offers ongoing support. Teachers can share experiences, ask questions, and continue learning together. This commitment to sustained support reflects CSTA’s view that effective PD fosters continuous growth, not one-off training.
Learn More and Get Involved
If you’re interested in bringing imagi’s training to your school or district, now is the perfect time! Our newly accredited “Creative Coding in Python with imagi” workshop is available for booking in upcoming teacher PD days and summer institutes. Book a demo or contact us to learn how we can tailor a professional learning experience for your educators.
For more details, check out CSTA’s official list of accredited PD programs, where you can explore our program alongside other accredited offerings. We encourage curious teachers to visit that page or reach out to us directly to learn what makes our workshop uniquely effective.
imagi is excited to continue empowering teachers with the knowledge, resources, and inspiration to teach computer science in a fun and inclusive way. This CSTA accreditation reinforces our dedication to excellence in CS education. We look forward to training many more educators – and in turn, inspiring thousands of students – as we expand our professional development offerings. 🚀
