{"id":221041,"date":"2026-05-05T19:55:56","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T19:55:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/221041\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T19:55:56","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T19:55:56","slug":"preparing-the-next-generation-of-teachers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/221041\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing the Next Generation of Teachers"},"content":{"rendered":"

On April 28, Brooklyn College and CUNY came together for \u201cCITE Day\u201d as educators and students convened to showcase how computing, digital literacy, and ethical technology use are being integrated into New York City classrooms.<\/p>\n

Hosted in partnership with CUNY\u2019s Computing Integrated Teacher Education (CITE) initiative, the event highlighted the work of the college\u2019s Department of Childhood, Bilingual, and Special Education (CBSE) and the students, faculty, and staff who are at the forefront of preparing teachers to navigate and shape an increasingly digital learning landscape. The event also underscored Brooklyn College\u2019s role in a university-wide strategy to ensure that all future teachers, not only computer science specialists, are equipped to help K\u201312 students develop computational thinking and digital fluency.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt Brooklyn College, our students reflect the extraordinary diversity of our borough and our city, and they are preparing to serve Brooklyn\u2019s communities and beyond,\u201d said Brooklyn College President Michelle J. Anderson. \u201cThrough our School of Education and the CITE initiative, we are ensuring that future educators are not only comfortable using technology, but are prepared to think critically about how, when, and why technology and data should be used in educational settings\u2014always centering student learning, equity, and well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"(Left<\/p>\n

(Left to right) Sara Vogel, Director of Programs and Research for Computing Integrated Teacher Education (CITE) at the City University of New York (CUNY); Ashleigh Thompson, CUNY Dean of Education; Mar\u00eda R. Scharr\u00f3n del R\u00edo, Dean of the School of Education at Brooklyn College; Michelle Anderson, President of Brooklyn College; Laura Ascenzi-Moreno, Professor of Bilingual Education & Bilingual Program Coordinator at Brooklyn College; and Hanna Haydar, Chair of the Childhood, Bilingual, and Special Education Department.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren growing up today need a foundation in computational thinking and digital literacy just as much as they need reading and math,\u201d said\u00a0CITE\u00a0Research\u00a0Director Sara Vogel, who welcomed attendees. \u201cThese skills give young people agency\u00a0across all careers, industries, and areas of civic life.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to research shared at the briefing, 92%\u00a0of jobs now require digital skills, spanning every sector of the economy. New York State has responded by adopting K\u201312 standards for computer science and digital fluency, while New York City Public Schools has advanced its CS4All\u00a0(Computer Science for All)\u00a0initiative since 2015. At the same time, the rapid rise of generative artificial intelligence has brought both opportunities and new challenges into classrooms.<\/p>\n

\u201cAI is just the latest technology our students will encounter,\u201d Vogel said. \u201cWhat matters is preparing teachers who can help children use these tools responsibly, understand their risks, protect their privacy, and advocate for their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Model for Teacher Preparation\u00a0<\/p>\n

Brooklyn College has been engaged in this work since 2021, making it one of the most advanced campuses participating in CITE\u2019s citywide effort. The Childhood, Bilingual, and Special Education (CBSE) Department has redesigned its curriculum from the ground up, weaving computing and digital literacy throughout undergraduate and graduate coursework, from early foundations to clinical practice, making it a model for computing-integrated, equity-centered teacher preparation at the college.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur faculty have done an exceptional job reimagining the curriculum by integrating computing skills and digital literacy across courses, in alignment with our School of Education\u2019s conceptual framework,\u201d said Mar\u00eda Scharr\u00f3n-del R\u00edo, Dean of the School of Education at Brooklyn College. \u201cThis framework centers on collaboration, critical self-reflection, reflective practice, diversity, and social justice,\u201d \u201cThe work presented by our students demonstrates not only their mastery of course content but also their commitment to the values at the heart of our mission. As many of our graduates are from Brooklyn and remain in the borough to work, they bring this cutting-edge knowledge directly back to their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Rather than treating technology as an add-on, faculty have reimagined teacher preparation to reflect how digital tools shape every aspect of teaching: lesson planning, data analysis, family engagement, and classroom instruction.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis work has revitalized our entire department,\u201d said Professor Laura\u00a0Ascenzi-Moreno, a faculty leader in the initiative. \u201cDigital\u00a0literacies\u00a0and computing are now integrated across every subject area, from the very beginning of the program to the end.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0preparing teachers who are analytical, reflective, and able to pivot as education continues to change.\u201d<\/p>\n

Department Chair Hanna Haydar emphasized that the transformation has been both intentional and organic, growing out of faculty participation in CUNY-wide professional learning through\u00a0CITE.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis gave us the structure and support to truly rethink our curriculum,\u201d Haydar said. \u201cWhat we developed at the undergraduate level is now shaping our graduate programs as well. Our students graduate with confidence\u2014not only in using technology, but in their teaching practice and content knowledge overall.\u201d<\/p>\n

The grant has also supported essential faculty development, providing opportunities for intellectual engagement that has strengthened collegiality, fueled research and ensured collaboration across full- and part-time faculty.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Students Learning by Doing\u00a0<\/p>\n

CITE Day was an opportunity for students, faculty, and visitors to engage with CBSE students\u2019 presentations during Undergraduate and Student Teaching Showcases. The CBSE Department also hosted \u201cFaculty Hour,\u201d an opportunity for faculty from other SOE Departments and CUNY Colleges to hear from CBSE professors about their curricular design and research emerging from the CITE Grant.<\/p>\n

During two showcases, visitors met Brooklyn College undergraduate and graduate students who are currently student teaching in local schools. Their work demonstrated how computing and digital literacy enhance learning across subject areas.<\/p>\n

Student projects included:<\/p>\n

Programming with Ozobots across the content areas
\nDevelopment of podcasts about multilingualism
\nProgramming with Scratch to develop autobiographical portraits
\nExaming social media use and comparing digital and traditional reading
\nEthical uses of AI chatbots to support lesson planning<\/p>\n

Games, animations, and digital stories designed to bring math instruction to life<\/p>\n

Professional digital portfolios that strengthen career readiness and classroom reflection<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are not isolated experiences,\u201d\u00a0Ascenzi-Moreno\u00a0noted. \u201cOur students have built skills over time.\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0learning to use technology thoughtfully, creatively, and responsibly\u2014and to model those habits for their future students.\u201d<\/p>\n

Citywide and National Impact\u00a0<\/p>\n

Brooklyn College\u2019s efforts are part of a broader CUNY commitment to preparing New York City\u2019s teaching workforce. CUNY enrolls approximately 15,000 teacher candidates each year, more than any other institution in the city. Through\u00a0CITE, the university is working with more than 1,000 faculty across 15 campuses, with the goal of reaching 12,000 pre-service teachers annually by 2028.<\/p>\n

The initiative is closely aligned with and supported by New York City Public Schools, plus a network of external partners and funders, including Google, Gotham Gives, Robin Hood, and the Siegel Family Endowment, as well as advocacy organizations such as the Center for an Urban Future.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe take our responsibility as the city\u2019s largest preparer of teachers seriously,\u201d Vogel said. \u201cBrooklyn College is helping create the next generation of educators\u2014teachers who can use technology without being used by it, and who can ensure all children, regardless of background or school, are prepared for the digital age.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the briefing, guests visited classrooms to observe student teachers in action, offering a firsthand look at how Brooklyn College is shaping the future of inclusive, technology-informed education.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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