How do Kira's courses align with state standards?

Kira Learning's middle school and high school courses were developed in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) and the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) to meet the new Tennessee computer science standards. They fully align with the new state standards approved in 2022.

What Tennessee course codes do Kira's courses match up with?

Kira's "Introduction to Computational Thinking and Programming" course fully aligns with "G25X40: Computer Science Middle School" in the Tennessee course catalog. This is the only course code that currently meets the CS requirement for middle schools.

There are 14 courses in high school that will meet the new CS requirement. Kira's "Introduction to Computer Science with Python" high school course was developed to align with the general "G10H06: Computer Science" course.

However, the curriculum is flexible enough to support other courses. It can be used to support the first course in Tennessee's CTE Information Technology pathways, "C10H11: Computer Science Foundations," and "C10H14: Coding I" in the Coding pathway. It has also been approved to qualify students to take the PCEP (Python) industry certification.

Our AP Computer Science Principles in Python course was recently endorsed by the College Board and can be used to meet "G02H44: AP Computer Science Principles," which is another course that meets the state's CS requirement for high schools.

How long will Kira be free?

Kira Learning has been contracted to provide free access to its middle school and high school Tennessee courses through the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Additional funding beyond that year is based on TSIN’s budget allocation from the state, which is currently being debated at the state legislature. For additional questions on the funding horizon for our courses, you can reach out to Brandi Stroecker, Network Director at TSIN stroecker@battelle.org.

How does Kira compare to other platforms?

How do you compare to other platforms? Kira Learning was the chosen vendor by the state to develop Tennessee-specific curricula to meet the new state requirements. In addition to fully-meeting the requirements, our courses offer:

• high-quality, short-form video content with a human instructor;
• AI-supported features, like an AI tutor for students and AI-assisted grading for teachers;
• a platform-embedded code editor, so no additional programs are required;
• and the ability to create your own course from scratch.

We are also working to release our IDE this fall, and its feature set is expected to exceed those of other coding platforms.

Which grade should I introduce this to in my middle school?

An amendment was passed in the Tennessee General Assembly in April 2024 that clarifies that the middle school requirement accountability begins with the lowest grade in a middle school beginning school year 2024-25. The specific grade where the course is offered is left to the discretion of each district. Something to keep in mind, however, is that 8th graders will be required to meet the high school requirement when they enter high school, so giving them exposure to the middle school computer science course would help set them up for success down the road.

Can a teacher modify how they implement the course in the class?

Kira’s courses were designed to be taught by teachers with little to no CS experience all the way up to teachers who are CS experts. While our courses offer a fully-fleshed out curriculum along with a robust set of teacher and student resources, we understand that not all teachers will need to use all of our content and resources throughout their implementation of the course. We do not impose any timeline or chronological progress restrictions on our courses, so teachers are able to take the content they need and teach at the pace and time that is right for them and their students.

How does your course compare to CSEP? Does CSEP train teachers to use the Kira platform for their classes?

The Computer Science Endorsement Pathway (CSEP) was developed by TSIN and the TDOE and is hosted by Kira Learning. Previous to the summer 2024 cohort, the platform on which it was hosted was a different one from the main Kira platform, so it differed significantly in both curriculum and UI experience. Starting with the summer 2024 CSEP cohort, the course is hosted on the same Kira platform as our other courses. This means that while the curriculum will still differ from our company-created courses, the student experience will more closely align with the experience your students will have. As part of the CSEP experience, you will also receive some exposure to the middle school and high school Kira courses. However, it is important to note that you are not required to go through CSEP in order to teach Kira’s courses.

What professional development opportunities does Kira offer to help teachers put this into practice?

Kira Learning offers a variety of free virtual and in-person professional development opportunities throughout the year. You can find a link to our latest PD and webinar calendars by visiting our Tennessee Educator Hub: kira-learning.com/tennessee.

This summer, our main in-person training will be offered through TSIN’s CS Accelerator Week program in Murfreesboro, TN from July 8-11, 2024. Kira will be offering three in-person workshops, each lasting several days:

• Middle School (grades 6-8) - Mon-Wed, July 8-10: Training on our Introduction to Computational Thinking and Programming course.
• High School (grades 9-12) - Mon-Thur, July 8-11: Training on our Introduction to Computer Science with Python course.
• AP CS Principles (grades 9-12) - Mon-Thur, July 8-11: Training on our College Board-endorsed AP Computer Science Principles (APCSP) with Python course.

You can register for them here: computersciencetn.org/cs-accelerator.

We will also be offering a virtual, asynchronous training on both the middle school and high school courses open to all teachers across the state. You can sign up here for more information.

We are also working with individual districts to arrange for district- and regional-specific PD trainings, so if you are interested in scheduling a dedicated PD session for your teachers, please reach out to us at tn@kira-learning.com. We are working to accommodate as many of these as possible as timing permits.

Lastly, for ongoing support and tips from educators across the state, Kira has created a Facebook professional group for teachers who use our platform. Once you create an account, you can request to join here: facebook.com/groups/kirateachers.

What LMS/SIS platforms does Kira integrate with?

Kira currently offers integration with Canvas and Schoology and single sign-on through Google. For the 2024-25 school year, we will also have ClassLink, Clever, and Google Classroom integrations ready. If you require an integration with an LMS or SIS not listed here, please let us know, as our aim is to enable all districts across the state to be able to implement our courses starting this fall.

When can I test out the Kira courses and platform?

You can test out the Kira platform and courses today! All Tennessee educators can request a free account at: kira-learning.org/register. You will be approved within 1 business day.

How can I contact Kira for more information?

If you have any further questions or would like support in rolling out the Kira platform in your school or district, please don’t hesitate to reach out at tn@kira-learning.com.