K-12 Professional Development Opportunities
This resource is the brain child of the NGSS-ESS Working Group, which is a collaboration between the National Earth Science Teachers Association (NESTA), the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT), and the American Geosciences Institute (AGI). The mission of this collaboration is to support Earth and space science educators in all aspects of NGSS-ESS implementation.
Use the interface below to search through professional development opportunities available for K-12 teachers across a variety of topical areas, grade levels, and formats. The webpages will be updated regularly as new opportunities come up, and old opportunities are retired. If you are associated with a professional development opportunity that should be included in the collection, use the submission form to tell us about it. Please contact Aida Awad, Missy Holzer, or Ed Robeck if you have questions.
Content Area
Grade Level
Cost
- Free 48 matches There is no fee to apply or to take the course.
- Cost to enroll 22 matches There is a fee to apply and/or to take the course.
- Optional cost 2 matches If the course is "free to enroll" but there is optional additional payment (e.g., for credit/CEUs that the participant has the option of having documented.)
- Stipend paid 5 matches Some amount of money is paid to participants for their time.
- Expenses paid 7 matches Some amount of money is provided to offset travel, supplies, and/or other costs.
Professional Development Format
Results 1 - 10 of 71 matches
EPI Yellowstone Winter Teacher Fellowship
This unique professional development opportunity allows participating teachers to experience the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in winter, a time of solitude and beauty that you can't find during the crowded and bustling summer months. Each day, you'll head into the snowy landscape to explore thermal features or collect data about wildlife movements and behavior. EPI's instructors will introduce you to our unique model for creating positive learning environments in the field and applying field science at home.COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:- Observe wild wolves in the world-famous Lamar Valley- Collect data on ungulate species with the National Park Service- Experience Yellowstone's geothermal wonders under snow cover- 40 hours of professional development coursework with a focus on conservation biology, wildlands management, and scientific process.
Grade Level: Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
PD Timing: January to May
Cost: Cost to enroll, Expenses paid
Professional Development Format: In-Person only
STEM Teacher Leadership Academy
Join our second cohort of accomplished STEM educators as they take on deep inquiry and informal learning connections alongside engineers, researchers, and museum specialists. Be a part of a community of leaders who wish to expand upon their practice, engage in reimagined engineering challenges, and return to the classroom feeling energized and empowered.This program is designed for K-12 teachers in the National Capital Region who wish to infuse science, technology, engineering, and math into their lessons and explore interdisciplinary project design. Participants in this program will receive a ,000 stipend, educational resources for the classroom, and 40 continuing education credits. All programming occurs at the National Air and Space Museum July 29-August 2, 2024.
Grade Level: Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Free, Stipend paid
Professional Development Format: In-Person only
MOSAIC Expedition Teacher Workshop: A Changing Arctic Ecosystem
Register for this FREE 2-day teacher workshop Today!Workshop dates: July 12-13, 8 am - 12 pm PT/9 am - 1 pm MT/10 am - 2 pm CT/11 am - 3 pm ET each dayIn this FREE teacher workshop, you'll hear from MOSAiC scientists and the curriculum developers as they lead you through "A Changing Arctic Ecosystem", a MS/HS curriculum tied to NGSS Life Science standards in which students trace the flow of carbon through the Arctic food web to predict how declining sea ice might impact the Arctic food web. Engage with 360° virtual expeditions, authentic Arctic datasets, ArcGIS Storymaps, and more in this 2-day online teacher workshop.For additional information about the workshop, please refer to the course syllabus.WHO: Middle and High School Science TeachersWHAT: Virtual Teacher Professional Development Course for content and curriculum connected to NGSS Life Science standards.WHEN: Wednesday, July 12th AND Thursday, July 13th from 8 am - 12 pm PT/9 am - 1 pm MT/10 am - 2 pm CT/11 am - 3 pm ET each dayWHY: The goal of this course is to introduce educators to NGSS Life Science standards in the context of the MOSAiC-related curriculum, "A Changing Arctic Ecosystem". At the end of the course, participants will be able to effectively facilitate each lesson, connecting concepts and standards back to the anchoring phenomenon, "How might the decline in sea ice affect Arctic organisms large and small?"HOW: This interactive workshop will be conducted virtually via Zoom. Facilitators will lead participants through each lesson of the curriculum following the approach below: Utilize the main Zoom meeting room for lesson instructions. Participants engage with lesson resources either individually or in small groups via Zoom breakout rooms.Everyone returns to the main Zoom room to wrap up and reflect on the lesson.Different organisms and living things in the ArcticAdditional Details:Continuing Education: Certificate for 10 hours of professional development (Free)Graduate Credit: Option to purchase 1 graduate credit from the University of Colorado Boulder ()Contact: jonathan.griffith@colorado.edu
Cost: Free
Professional Development Format: Online only
Atmospheric Rivers: What's up with them?
What's up with these Atmospheric Rivers we keep hearing about? Join the Cooperative Institute of Research in Environmental Sciences, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Sierra Nevada Avanalche Center in this special webinar on Atmospheric Rivers, learn all about what they are, how we measure them, and the impact this environmental phenomenon has had on the U.S. This virtual webinar will be 60 minutes with 20 minutes of presentation by the experts followed by 30 minutes of live Q&A. We invite students and families to ask questions live and on camera to experts during the Q&A session. If you want to bring your classroom on screen to speak with our experts directly, please email daniela.pennycook@colorado.edu (6 spots available!) Register on Eventbrite!About our speakers: Dr. Mimi Hughes got her B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Mathematics from Penn State University, and her M.S. and PhD in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles. After her PhD, she began working at NOAA's Earth Science Research Laboratory (ESRL), Physical Sciences Division, which is now the Physical Sciences Laboratory. She began working in PSL as a National Research Council Postdoctoral fellow, continued as a CIRES research scientist, and is currently a NOAA Research Meteorologist in the Hydrology Applications Division. Mimi's current research focuses on improving understanding and model representation of hydrometeorological events that result in droughts and floods, especially in the contiguous United States. She diagnoses the ability of high-resolution models to properly represent physical processes key to hydrometeorological event simulation, working toward understanding the sensitivity of these processes to model configuration. She also focuses on improving our understanding of future projections of hydroclimate, especially in the mountainous western United States.
Professional Development Format: Online only
EPI Baja Teacher Fellowship
The EPI Baja Teacher Fellowship provides a unique opportunity to assist with international conservation efforts in the Gulf of California, a World Heritage Site that's home to 39% of the world's marine mammal species.COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:- Complete 40 hours of professional development coursework with a focus on marine biology, desert ecology, and conservation- Snorkel with sea lions, tropical fish & whale sharks- Explore marine diversity in the Gulf of California
Grade Level: Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
PD Timing: January to May
Cost: Cost to enroll, Expenses paid
Professional Development Format: In-Person only
EPI Galapagos Islands Educator Course
This intensive 10-day professional development program will give you the opportunity to work with some of the world's most fascinating wildlife. Through EPI's partnership with the Ecuadorian nonprofit ECOS, you'll leave the touristic sites behind to collect meaningful data and contribute to broad conservation efforts. Engage with astonishing phenomena and collaborate with other educators to develop lessons that drive student inquiry. Come away from the course equipped to connect your students to the wonders that inspired Darwin through your own storylines and insights. COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:- Monitor giant Galapagos tortoises- Explore 3-dimensional learning- Join a community of science professionals
Grade Level: Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Cost to enroll
Professional Development Format: In-Person only
National Summer Teacher Institute on Innovation, STEM and Intellectual Property
The USPTO's National Summer Teacher Institute on Innovation, STEM and Intellectual Property (NSTI) is an excellent opportunity for K-12 educators to learn techniques that foster and unleash the innovator in every student through invention education. The program has no fee for participants, and applications are accepted until March 31 for the summer session from July 16-21 in St. Louis. Intellectual property touches nearly every sector of daily life, so the concepts in the NSTI program are applicable across all educational fields, and the value goes beyond the classroom. At NSTI, educators will build the skills needed to incorporate key intellectual property and STEM topics into their curricula, develop strategies to help students understand and appreciate the importance of innovation and creativity, and commercialize their own inventive works. Participants will work with USPTO experts to explore patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets, and have access to several "maker spaces" focused on various technologies. Educators will also receive valuable resources to take back to their classrooms, including teaching materials, lesson plans, and activities aligned with national standards. By participating in NSTI, educators will gain valuable knowledge and skills and become part of a network of educators committed to making a positive impact on their students.
Grade Level: Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Free
Professional Development Format: In-Person only
Online Earth Science Teacher Education Content & Demonstrations
This intensive, online course will provide basic content material for teachers concerning geology, astronomy, oceanography, and meteorology. Topics include the origin of the universe and the life cycle of stars; the origin of the solar system and its components; the composition and structure of the Earth; plate tectonics; the rock cycle and water cycle, energy resources; the atmosphere, weather, and climate; and Earth's oceans. Participants will receive 6.0 CEUs for 60 clock hours. There is no cost for educators to register for this class--contact our office in order for the registration fee to be waived! cepetroleumtraining@midland.edu or 432-683-2832
Grade Level: Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
PD Timing: January to May, September to December
Cost: Free
Professional Development Format: Online only
Project Ice
Project Ice is an online and in-residence teacher professional development course with a one-week residence experience offered by the American Meteorological Society's Education Program in partnership with COLDEX and Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest). This course is specifically designed for K-12 teachers who desire to include climate content in their curriculum.
Grade Level: Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8), High School (9-12)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Cost to enroll
Professional Development Format: Hybrid
Teacher Workshop - The Future of Forests
Register for this FREE 2-day teacher workshop Today! Workshop dates: June 7-8, 8 am - 12 pm PT/9 am - 1 pm MT/10 am - 2 pm CT/11 am - 3 pm ET each dayAs wildfires continue to ravage the west, burning more and more of the landscape, many are left wondering, how will these fire-affected forests will recover? In this FREE teacher workshop, University of Colorado Boulder curriculum developers lead participants through "The Future of Forests", a MS/HS curriculum connected to NGSS life science standards that explores patterns of post-fire recovery (or lack thereof) across the west and inspires classrooms to engage in citizen science using NASA's GLOBE Observer land cover app. Participants will engage with online interactives from the National Forest Service, authentic datasets, and App-based labs in this 2-day online teacher workshop.For additional information about the workshop, please refer to the course syllabusWHO: Middle and High School Science TeachersWHAT: Virtual Teacher Professional Development Course for content and curriculum connected to NGSS Life Science standards.WHEN: Wednesday, June 7th AND Thursday, June 8th from 8 am - 12 pm PT/9 am - 1 pm MT/10 am - 2 pm CT/11 am - 3 pm ET each dayWHY: The goal of this course is to introduce educators to NGSS Life Science standards in the context of the NASA-supported curriculum, "The Future of Forests". At the end of the course, participants will be able to effectively facilitate each lesson, connecting concepts and standards back to the unit driving question, "How do landscapes recover after a wildfire?"HOW: This interactive workshop will be conducted virtually via Zoom. Facilitators will lead participants through each lesson of the curriculum following the approach below: Utilize the main Zoom meeting room for lesson instructions. Participants engage with lesson resources either individually or in small groups via Zoom breakout rooms.Everyone returns to the main Zoom room to wrap up and reflect on the lesson.Additional Details:Continuing Education: Certificate for 10 hours of professional development (Free)Graduate Credit: Option to purchase 1 graduate credit from the University of Colorado Boulder ()Contact: jonathan.griffith@colorado.edu
Professional Development Format: Online only
