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 40 matches There is no fee to apply or to take the course.
- Cost to enroll 20 matches There is a fee to apply and/or to take the course.
- Optional cost 1 match 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 4 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.
Results 1 - 10 of 62 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: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: January to May
Cost: Expenses paid, Cost to enroll
PD Format: Face-to-face only
G-Camp
G-Camp is a 14-day field camp for 5th - 12th grade science teachers that provides first-hand experience with the principles of geology in the field, helps you develop new curriculum and virtual fieldtrips for your classroom, and makes learning fun and exciting out-of-doors. This field experience puts you on the outcrops through Texas, New Mexico, and Colorado. G-Camp is only run face-to-face. CEU's are currently being developed by the Texas A&M Education department. Applications are due near the end of April and only 30 teachers will be selected to attend G-Camp, see the website for more information about the registration process, daily activities, etc.
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Expenses paid, Stipend paid, Free, Optional cost
PD Format: Face-to-face only
Summer Institute for Climate Change Education
Climate Generation's Summer Institute for Climate Change Education is a three day climate change education conference structured to allow time for learning and networking. During the first two virtual days hosted by Climate Generation, educators can select from keynote presentations and concurrent workshops. During the third day, educators will attend a cohort workshop facilitated and hosted by a regional cohort leader to focus on place-based climate change education and the need for ongoing support throughout the year. Cohort days may be in-person or online, depending on educator and cohort leader needs in that region. Each group of 20-50 educators will explore local impacts, actionable solutions, connections to local experts, and planning and networking. DetailsDates: July 17 & 18, 2022, plus one day on July 19th, 20th, or 21stTimes: 10am CT to 6pm CT on July 17 & 18, times T.B.D. for cohort daysLocation: Virtual Registration: 0Scholarships Available20 hours of Continuing Education CreditsGraduate Credit Optional, offered through Hamline UniversityRegistration for the Institute Includes:Attendance to the Summer Institute20 Hours of Continuing EducationAutomatic enrollment in Climate Generation's Teach Climate Network; includes ongoing support throughout the year through teaching tips, resources, training, and online community networking with educatorsAccess to the Teach Climate Network Hub, an online platform for members to connect
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8), Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Expenses paid, Cost to enroll
PD Format: Virtual Only
Data Puzzle Virtual Teacher Workshop - Megafires
Join us on Tuesday, July 18th from 8 - am - 12 pm PT, 9 am - 1 pm MT, 10 am - 2 pm CT, 11 am -3 pm ET as developer Jon Griffith describes the latest Data Puzzle, "Megafires: Rare Occurrences or the New Normal?", a 2-day MS/HS resource in which students analyze megafire frequency data to explain how and why the number of megafires has changed over time.About Data PuzzlesInspired by our friends at Data Nuggets, Data Puzzles combine classroom-friendly scientific datasets with the research-backed pedagogical practices of Ambitious Science Teaching to give your students the ultimate inquiry-based learning experience.Megafires: Rare Occurrences or the New Normal? overview"Megafire" is a term that is used frequently by the media but can have many different meanings to describe wildfires. You may be surprised to learn there is no one accepted definition of the term. Scientists who study megafires are developing their own definition of a megafire that typically describes extreme fire events characterized by their intensity, speed, duration, impact, and size. In considering the size of megafires, Dr. Natasha Stavros of the Earth Lab Analytics Hub at the University of Colorado, Boulder, describes megafires as wildfires that are larger than 95% of all of the fire events being studied in a 1984-2019 dataset. Using these parameters, megafires are larger than 20,000 football fields in size! In this Data Puzzle, students will engage with an interactive reading before analyzing authentic datasets to discover how and why the number of megafires has changed over time.Details:WHO: 7-12 science teachersWHAT: Webinar focused on the latest Data Puzzle resource, "Megafires: Rare Occurrences or the New Normal?"WHEN: Tuesday, July 18th from 8 - am - 12 pm PT, 9 am - 1 pm MT, 10 am - 2 pm CT, 11 am -3 pm ETWHY: Engage with the Data Puzzle framework in the context of contemporary research!HOW: Register for the teacher workshop to receive an invitation and Zoom link for the event.
Cost: Free
PD Format: Virtual Only
EPI Hawaii Educator Course
This onsite Professional Development program takes place in Maui, Hawaii. From the summit of Haleakalā to Maui's colorful coral reefs, the Valley Isle has so much to teach us about endemic species, biodiversity, and our shared connection to the land. Learn to design inquiry-driven, interactive lesson plans for your students as you assist our Hawaiian partners with ongoing research and conservation projects. Come away with a better understanding of environmental literacy and the tools to foster the next generation of environmental stewards.COURSE HIGHLIGHTS:- Camp on Maui's North or West shores- Contribute to ongoing research on fish & reef health- Help restore a traditional Hawaiian village or harvest taroInterested participants can receive 4 graduate credits through the University of Montana for participating in this course. Separate registration and tuition fee are required.
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Cost to enroll
PD Format: Face-to-face only
Discover Iceland – Fire and Ice on a Mid-Ocean Ridge
This 7-day (6 night) field trip to Iceland highlights the amazing geology of this Mid-Ocean Ridge country. We will walk across a plate boundary, see recent active volcanism, climb amazing craters, walk to glaciers and so much more. Each and every turn of the road has amazing sites, waterfalls and the greenest landscapes imaginable.Iceland is an amazing place to learn about Plate Tectonics and glacial landforms.
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8), Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Cost to enroll
PD Format: Face-to-face 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: High School (9-12), Primary (K-2), Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Free
PD Format: Face-to-face only
STEM Teacher Leadership Academy 2023
Join this inaugural 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 teacher 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 and educational resources for their classroom.The Academy will take place on-site in Washington, D.C., and Chantilly, Virginia from Monday, July 31 - Friday, August 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Applications are due by March 15, 2023.
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Middle (6-8), Intermediate (3-5), Primary (K-2)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Stipend paid
PD Format: Face-to-face only
The Teacher Institute for Watershed Education and Conservation
Join The Ecology School in Maine this July for an engaging and inspiring professional development opportunity. Teachers will be challenged to explore water's connection to human systems and its impacts on the environment. Immersed in field-based ecology lessons, attendees will have opportunities to network and collaborate with colleagues from schools around the country to reimagine their teaching to include outdoor learning, place-based experiences, and community partners. This opportunity is designed for K-8 classroom educators, but others may apply as well (e.g. high school teachers, school administration, non-profit educators, etc.)Offered in two cohorts: attendees will attend either July 17 - 20 or July 27 - 30, 2023. **The Institute is free for teachers, and attendees will receive a 0 stipend and be reimbursed for most travel. Event participation is face-to-face only. Attendees will receive 30 contact hours for participating, and are eligible to receive university credit and an additional 0 stipend for post-Institute implementation. Attendees may also apply for scholarships to cover additional expenses accrued during the training.** "Some of the best PD I've attended and it was right in my own state, I highly recommend!" ~D. Allen"I've been in this profession for 25 years, and this was the most impactful opportunity I've had professionally. And personally!" ~ B. Hallowell
Grade Level: Primary (K-2), Middle (6-8), Intermediate (3-5)
PD Timing: June to August
Cost: Expenses paid, Free, Stipend paid
PD Format: Face-to-face only
Our Glacial Heritage – New England
Have you ever wondered what tangible evidence you can find for the ice ages in our area? Have you thought about how you might be able to use that evidence in your classroom? Have you considered what activities you could use with your students to explain how glacial features form?Then come and join an enthusiastic group of Earth Science and Geography teachers as we learn how glaciers shaped our landscape, examine evidence, and go through some classroom activities.
Grade Level: High School (9-12), Intermediate (3-5), Middle (6-8)
PD Timing: January to May
Cost: Cost to enroll
PD Format: Face-to-face only