Upgrade your classroom, Attend SuperQuest
A Narrative Reflection by Michelle Laskowski
Back in the summer of 2017 during my first grad school class, I learned how to do the coolest thing ever, I learned how to program an Arduino board and light up an LED lightbulb. This moment was so impactful, I purchased and mailed Arduino kits to my grade school-aged nephews, in efforts to share my enthusiasm and increase their access to the world of programmable electronics at as early of an age as possible.
Flash forward to 2020-I acquired a new teaching position which came with 18 full Raspberry Pi kits! I was ecstatic to revive my quest to bring creative and physical Arduino computing to young people but I never had enough time to relearn the wiring, the breadboards and the programming, let alone know how to teach a room full of 30+ students how to correctly do so. And so, as many teachers can probably relate, these engaging resources collected dust for five additional years. That is, until I attended Oregon’s SuperQuest in summer 2025.
Every year Oregon’s CSTA chapter holds two weeks worth of summer PD sessions (dubbed SuperQuest) that anyone, including nonchapter members, can sign up to attend, for free. Luckily last year, and once again this year, SuperQuest is virtual, meaning I can attend quality and relevant PD from my kitchen table.
In the summer of 2025, I attended a “Virtual Arduino’s” workshop hosted by Katy Greer, a CS/Engineering high school teacher, a role similar to my own. This session gave me content knowledge, pedagogical strategies, and actual lessons and resources to bring back to my own classroom. Because of this two hour session, I was able to upgrade my robotics class’s standardized curriculum to include six additional weeks of open ended, creative circuit projects, with many student projects ending up in the district art show.
This year SuperQuest is holding 2 sessions each day from Aug 3-12. After registering, you may sign up for any session that you find of value, there is no pressure to attend more than you are interested in! Each session is hosted by actual teachers sharing insights and strategies–no one during these PD’s are trying to sell you a product. I highly recommend attending a session or two from this year’s SuperQuest and hopefully you too can upgrade your own classes!
Quality CS education has never been more important for our young people and our world.
Register and sign up for sessions for OCSTA’s Superquest here:
SuperQuest Registration Link
