Bridging Pedagogy and Practice: UF CS Everyone Center Shines at CSforAtlanta InnovateCS Summit

Jun 24, 2025

Panel discussion scene: three people in business attire are seated—left participant in a wheelchair, center speaker holding a microphone on a patterned sofa, and right participant in a light-blue suit—around a small table with flowers and a water bottle; behind them a screen reads “Florida K‑12 AI Education Task Force: The Power and Challenges of AI in the Classroom.”

The UF CS Everyone Center recently made a significant impact at the CSforAtlanta InnovateCS Summit, an event dedicated to advancing computer science education pedagogical practices in the metro-Atlanta area. Our team led a highly successful workshop, “Pedagogical Practices to Support All Learners with CS and CT,” offered across both days of the summit. Participants gained hands-on experience in preparing UDL-aligned lesson plans, understanding its critical role in supporting all learners, including those with disabilities. The workshop was met with enthusiastic engagement, with teachers sharing valuable insights, affirming the session’s success.

Beyond presenting, team members Nykema Lindsey and Dr. Michael J. Johnson also embraced the spirit of learning, attending various workshops and professional development sessions. Highlights included exploring physical computing with micro:bits and discovering online resources for teaching data science—a promising field for engaging students. A key takeaway was the strong sense of community among educators committed to staying abreast of the latest trends and best practices. As one team member aptly put it, the summit allowed them to wear both “teacher and learner hats,” walking away with new knowledge and ideas, particularly on how to make instruction engaging for everyone.

The summit underscored the vibrant support network within the CS education community, reinforcing our commitment to fostering welcoming and effective computer science learning environments.

Photos from the event

A woman grins and holds her hands up as everyone around her cheers.
CS Everyone team members Michael Johnson, Carla Strickland, and Nykema Lindsey pose for the camera.
A man looks at his phone screen which captures a ball he is placing on the table in front of him.
CS Everyone team member Michael Johnson stands among teachers seated at tables around him working on laptops.
Educators sit around tables in front of a wall emblazoned with Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners and a circuit diagram logo.
Group photo of several dozen people posing on a balcony on a building ordained with the T-Mobile logo.

About the Florida K-12 AI Education Task Force: 

The Florida K-12 AI Task Force is dedicated to empowering educators, students, and families by exploring and promoting the responsible integration of AI in K-12 classrooms. The task force prioritizes safety, privacy, access, and fairness, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to benefit from AI-driven educational advancements. 

About the EDSAFE AI Alliance Policy Labs:

As AI transforms education, school districts and states face urgent questions around ethics, safety, fairness, and implementation. The EDSAFE AI Alliance Policy Lab supports districts and states in developing responsible AI guidance through collaboration, shared resources, and expert networks. The EDSAFE AI Alliance is a coalition led by 30 leading education organizations.