What are Summer Professional Development Institutes?
We offer unique professional development courses each summer that connect K-12 teachers with hands-on, minds-on, inquiry-based activities that increase their STEM content knowledge. We create collaborations between classroom educators and leading regional science organizations, including museums, nature centers, wildlife sanctuaries, research facilities, businesses, technology centers, and higher education institutions. Through our Summer Professional Development Institutes, educators connect with field trip opportunities, science expertise, and increase their toolkit of hands-on, minds-on activities to excite students for STEM!
Partner With Us
We are dedicated to strengthening the quality of hands-on, minds-on, inquiry-based science education by bringing together and expanding relationships between leaders in the informal education field and K-12 Teachers. During the institutes, you will have the chance to showcase your K-12 programs and share your STEM expertise. Interact with teachers face-to-face as you engage them in indoor and outdoor inquiry-based activities, introduce them to your resource center, lead behind-the-scenes tours, and more.
When you collaborate with us, you will increase your confidence using the Science and Engineering Practices and implementing hands-on, minds-on, inquiry-based activities. We will help you become more familiar with the 2016 MA Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework and current trends in the Massachusetts educational landscape. By partnering with us, your organization will gain valuable insights into school-based learning practices, and extend science literacy to students through teacher engagement.
Sharpen Your Skills
Another way to connect to K-12 teachers is to put yourself in their shoes by signing up as a participant for a Summer Professional Development Institute. Enhance your own STEM content knowledge through hands-on, minds-on learning, and tap the expertise of both classroom educators and our regional partners.
If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a partner organization for a Summer Professional Development Institute, please contact Executive Director Sandra Ryack-Bell at 617-328-1515 or sryackbell@wadeinstitutema.org.