Other Professional Development

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES (non-Science Center)

Click on any of the following items for further information:

ONGOING:

Exploring the Arnold Arboretum for Educators: first Saturday of each month

New England Aquarium : Professional development workshops

FALL:

Tufts University Teacher Engineering Education Program
The Teacher Engineering Education Program (TEEP) is an online certificate program that issues 4 credits a course over 4 courses. Courses cover both content and pedagogy in the classroom and are affordable at only $1,000 a course (+$100 lab fee for content courses). This program is online and flexible for a busy teacher's schedule. Registration is now open.

JANUARY:

Arnold Arboretum: Inside and Outside Trees (January 11, 9-11:30am)
This month we will go on a bark walk to appreciate the various types and functions of tree bark. Afterwards, we will make models of the inside of a tree using everyday materials to learn about phloem and xylem. Teachers will discuss ways that students can make models to enhance learning.

FEBRUARY:

Arnold Arboretum: Conifer Adaptations (February 1, 9-11:30am)
What special adaptations allow these trees cope during the winter? How can one begin to identify conifers by their needles and cones? A walking tour of the Conifer Collection will help us understand the importance and use of these magnificent trees. After the walk, participants will engage in hands-on activities to examine specific evergreen adaptations and discuss ways to enhance science teaching through nature.

Museum of Science: School Garden Symposium. (Feb. 8 9am-3pm)
Join local school garden organizations and Museum educators in learning methods to maintain or develop your school garden and explore hands-on strategies using the garden to teach science standards.

Museum of Science: Supporting Student Understanding of Natural Selection and Adaptation (Feb. 29 8:30am-2pm)

MARCH:

Arnold Arboretum: Is It Spring Yet?(March 7, 9-11:30am)
This month we will search the grounds for signs of spring! What are all the little clues provided by nature that lets us know that spring is near? What are all the questions that come up during such a search with children? Teachers will learn to take these wonders and help children turn them into testable questions that can be used to conduct science experiments.

Museum of Science: Five Senses Science Early Childhood Education Workshop (March 14, for Pre-2 educators and directors)

Museum of Science: Modeling as Meaning Making Teacher Workshop (March 21, 8:30-2)
Join Museum and fellow classroom educators in creating two-dimensional and three-dimensional models, both individually and collaboratively, to engage in modeling about everyday science phenomena.

APRIL:

National Science Teaching Association: National Conference on Science Education (April 2-5 in Boston)
Volunteer by February 15, 2020 and receive reduced registration!

JULY:

National Energy Education Development (NEED) Projects's 2020 National Energy Conference for Educators (July 19-23 in Albuquerque, New Mexico)
NEED leaders at the conference help participants develop specialized units with NEED lessons that integrate energy curriculum into classrooms at any grade level and with students of all learning styles, while focusing on the successful achievement of state and national education goals by using correlations of NEED materials to the Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core standards and state science standards.

ORGANIZATIONS:

Wade Institute (formerly MITS: Museum Institute for Teaching Science)

Wade's Science by Connections website: searchable PD opportunities

Museum of Science Workshops

NSTA: Science Matters in Massachusetts

Project Learning Tree Workshops

WPI STEM Education Center