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UC Davis Center for Integrated Computing and STEM Education (C-STEM) --- Research and Outreach
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Curriculum

“The UC Davis C-STEM curriculum is a godsend to me. I used to spend hours trying to develop just one coding lesson for my mathematics students, but now I have a ready-made curriculum and I am free to teach coding to my heart’s content, while also providing my students the opportunity to interweave algebra, computer coding, and robotics.”  — Doug Obrigawitch, Math Teacher and Department Chair, Manteca High School, California

“Unlocking a well hidden truth: Math can be a wonderfully creative and useful tool, not only in school but in your everyday life. Using Ch as a medium allows students to be the artists and algebra to be the paintbrush.“
– Chris Schlesselman, Lead CTE Teacher, Technology & Engineering Design Academy, Hiram W Johnson High School

Higher Education Conceptualized, Industry Motivated, Teacher Validated

The C-STEM Math-ICT Curriculum and C-STEM ICT Pathway provide K-12 students with  13 years of hands-on integrated math  and computer science education,  in compliance with both Common Core Math and CS Standards, with coding in Blockly and Ch/C/C++ using Barobo Linkbot, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi. Our curriculum, specially Common Core compliant  Math 7, Math 8, and Algebra 1 and Integrated Math I, have been increasingly adopted by schools nationwide.

The C-STEM Math-ICT formal curriculum complements C-STEM Afterschool and Summer Robotics Camps for Accelerated Math Learning and C-STEM GIRL/GIRL+ Summer Camps with project-based learning.

Focused on integrating computing and robotics into regular STEM classroom with hands-on project-based learning, the C-STEM Center has developed innovative computing and robotics technologies with C-STEM Studio.

C-STEM curriculum includes teaching strategies, textbooks, and courseware with:

  • Lesson Plans
  • PowerPoint Lessons
  • Video Lessons
  • Group Computing Activities
  • Optional Robotics Activities

A-G courses fulfill subject requirements for freshman admission to the University of California and California State University systems. C-STEM has UCOP A-G Status.  UCOP A-G Approved C-STEM courses can be readily added in a high school’s A-G course list.

The C-STEM curriculum can be used in multiple ways such as:

  1. Four Weeks as Supplementary Materials for STEM Courses
  2. One Semester Course
  3. Full-Year Course in Formal Curriculum
  4. Multi-Year Career Pathways or Academies
  5. 13-Year C-STEM ICT Pathway
  6. Afterschool Programs
  7. Youth Camps in Both Academic Year and Summer in School Campuses and Colleges.

Information on materials needed to implement each of the C-STEM courses can be found on our Course Materials handout as well as the Program Support Page.

RoboBlocky allows teachers without any prior coding, robotics, and Arduino experience to get started quickly. The RoboBlocky supplementary curriculum includes student self-guided Coding, Robotics, Math Activities, and theme-based Projects. The teacher-lead 1st to 9th grade specific Math Activities are Common Core State Standards -Mathematics compliant.

C-STEM provides teachers with professional development opportunities to learn how to implement our rigorous curriculum in their teaching. No prior computer programming and robotics experience is necessary to integrate and implement our curriculum.

You may check the credential requirements for middle school teachers and high school teachers for teaching C-STEM courses.

 

Why learn C Programming?

  1. C is the most commonly used programming languages in industry. 90% of desktop applications including Word and PPT are developed in C, or its closed relative C++.  All games and robots are developed in C/C++.
  2. C is one of the foundations for modern information technology and computer science.
  3. C is a standardized programming language with international standards.
  4. Writing computer programs is essential to solving complex science and engineering problems.
  5. Computer programming is becoming a necessary skill for many professions.
  6. Computer programming can develop your critical thinking capabilities.
  7. C is one of the most commonly used programming languages in colleges and universities.
  8. C is the language of choice for programming embedded and mechatronic systems with hardware interface. All robot control software is programmed in C/C++.
  9. C excels as a model programming language. All other new languages follow the design of C.
  10. Once you have learned C, you can pick up other languages without much difficulty by yourself because all other modern languages borrowed heavily from C.
  11. ( more information from experts about why learn C )

Programming Language Rankings by IEEE Spectrum

IEEE Spectrum ranked C as the Number 1 of Top Programming Languages in 2016

 

 

“The C-STEM curriculum will benefit students by providing them with the necessary critical thinking and problem solving skills that the job market requires. I feel that in our current curriculum ideas and facts are stressed more than strategies and analytic skills. In my opinion, by stressing the strategies and skills needed to solve problems, rather than focusing on all the individual problems themselves, our students will be fully equipped to tackle any obstacle. The C-STEM curriculum will provide such skills.”
– Ryan Mangan, Engineering Teacher, School of Engineering and Sciences

“I used the C-STEM Algebra curriculum last year. The material provided students with real-world skills proving math to be both applicable and enjoyable. Standards-aligned and user-friendly computing activities are an exceptional addition to my Algebra I curriculum because it helps make abstract ideas concrete and allow students to apply mathematical concepts to the real world.”
– Francesca DeFazio, Math Teacher and MA, Westmore Oaks Elementary School