Special Interest Groups
Pam Moore
Eastern Michigan University
SIG CS Director
734-487-1063  
Barry Webster
Detroit Country Day
SIG CS Asst. Director
248-766-6582  
Zenia Bahorski
Eastern Michigan University
SIG CS Communications Officer
734-487-1063  

MACUL_SigCS   Become a Member of SIG CS!    It's FREE to join!

SIGCS, the Special Interest Group for Computer Science, provides a forum for MACUL members interested in computer programing. Through the listserv and two to three workshops per year, members discuss and experience computer science topics. The SIG also plays a role in the development of requirements for computer science teachers. A special topic for SIGCS is the Advanced Placement test in Computer Science. Members regularly share information about course content and AP workshops. 

Join the MACUL  SIG_CS Group:

  • From our our Google Group, we can share information about events, job postings, and hold meaningful discussions with like-minded individuals.  Let's start the dialog!!!  To subscribe to the group, send a requesting E-Mail message to: Zenia Bahorski at zbahorski@gmail.com and Zenia will send you the link to the group.
  • Once you have successfully subscribed, you will gain access to the postings and discussions.

Upcoming Events (MACUL SIG CS):

for 2013/2014 School Year:  (See Descriptions Below) 


  • Event Planning - We are now requesting input from our SIG CS members for suggested topics and events for the coming fiscal year. If you have any ideas, please forward them to Pamela Moore at sheltiePam@earthlink.org
  • SIG CS / EMU Fifth Annual Programming Competition - Date yet to be announced.
  • MACUL Conference  - Wednesday, March 12 through March 14, 2014, DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI
  • MACUL Pre-Conference Sessions  - TBA.
  • SIG CS Annual Meeting - TBA - We hope to see you there!

 2013 - SIG CS / EMU - H.S. Programming Competition:

Fifth Annual Programming Competition (Presented by SIGCS and The Department of Computer Science at Eastern Michigan University)

Last year, over 150 students from across Michigan attended the event.

For a tense three hours, between the hours of 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM, teams of students will compete by attempting to find successful solutions to six problems. The final programs will be judged based on accuracy and speed. After the competition, the students will be invited to a luncheon and attended an award ceremony at 2:00 PM. The top 10 teams will be recognized, with the top five teams receiving ribbons.

The goals for this competition are to increase interest in computer science as a viable career path and to help support high school teachers who are also hoping to attain that goal. We also hope to inspire current and future teachers to consider adding computer science as a teaching endorsement.

Description for the Competition:

Students will be given experience of competing with other high schools in Michigan. This is an open competition where all high school students are invited to participate: In previous years, we have had BOTH first year programmers and second year programmers who have benefitted from the competition.
Teams compete in groups of two to three members. Each team is given a set of programs to complete in a three-hour time period. 

DATE of Competition: Yet to be announced. 
TIME:  9:00 AM for checking in and networking! (Be in rooms by 9:40 to test the equipment. Competition will start promptly at 10:00 AM)
PLACE: Eastern Michigan University. Contact Pamela Moore for exact location.

COST per team: FREE per team if preregistered by 11:59 PM on <TBA>, OR $10.00 per team if pre-registered by <TBA>. ALL Teams must be pre-registered.  We may need to close registration early if the number of teams registered exceeds space. We will not be able to register teams at the door as space is limited.

General Information to keep in mind for the competition:

  • Each high school can bring any number of teams. Maximum of 3 students per team.
  • Each team will have one computer and some workspace
  • There will be 6 problems to solve of increasing difficulty
  • Students may bring/use paper reference materials. (Personal electronic equipment may not be used.)
  • Accuracy of results and time to finish will determine scoring
  • Students will have 3 hours to complete as many problems as possible.
  • We will have 5 placements with ribbons and certificates of participation for all.
  • Lunch will be provided.

CONTACT: Pamela Moore at Pamela.Moore@emich.edu for more information about the competition.

2014 - MACUL - Preconference Workshops:

Sessions  - DeVos Place, GrandRapids

Presenters: This will depend on the topics.

Description: We already have a few ideas. Let us know what you would like to see at next year's conference!


SIGCS Goals and Vision:

SIGCS Goals:

  1. Support teachers in their teaching of computer languages including those used in robotics
  2. Provide workshops and events at sites across the state
  3. Continue a dialogue on the computer science curriculum across grade levels, from K - higher education
  4. Maintain a good working relationship with MiCSTA - the Michigan chapter of CSTA (Computer Science Teachers Association)
  5. Make an effort to provide workshops for programming in Java, to support our colleagues' need to shift their teaching to Java for the Advance Placement exam
  6. Increase student interest in computer science
  7. Share project ideas and methods for teaching computer science
  8. Initiate a dialog with state government to support and advance computer science teaching in Michigan

SIGCS Will Support:

  • educators who are interested or involved in teaching what is referred to as Computer Science (e.g.: computer programming, hardware technology, system or software maintenance and upgrading, software design, et cetera).

SIGCS Will Specifically:

  1. collect and disseminate information through publications and available electronic communications networks.
  2. sponsor meetings, conferences, and workshops.
  3. organize working groups for research, study, and the development of Computer Science projects to meet the needs of SigCS’s membership.
  4. encourage the adoption and use of a set or sets of standards of good practice, emulating such standards as are adopted in the industry and the collegiate academic community

Join the MACUL  SIG_CS Group:

  • From our our Google Group, we can share information about events, job postings, and hold meaningful discussions with like-minded individuals.  Let's start the dialog!!!  To subscribe to the group, send an E-Mail message to:  SIG_CS subscribe@googlegroups.com
  • Once you have successfully subscribed, you will gain access to the postings and discussions.