Friday, April 12, 2019

For Immediate Release

Special Seminar Guest Speaker to Present:
Science on the Brain

Quincy, MA – On Thursday, April 25, 2019, the Wade Institute for Science Education will hold a special full-day seminar on the cognitive science behind learning. Guest presenter, Robert Payo, Teacher Professional Development Coordinator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, will share teaching strategies and educational tools that are based in research about how the brain works.

Educators who attend the seminar will gain a better understanding of how children and adults learn. Participants will take an in-depth look at the anatomy of a human brain, how each part functions, and how our minds develop with time. Through hands-on, minds-on activities, educators will refine their love of learning by investigating how people process information, emotionally connect with content, and become motivated to learn. Educators will even explore their own minds to discover the ways in which they learn best! By attending this seminar, educators will become more equipped to develop STEM programs and exhibits based in cognitive science, educational psychology, and neuroscience. Come and discover ways to adapt your teaching methods to a variety of learning styles.

As Teacher Professional Development Coordinator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Robert is on a mission to translate neuroscience to educators in ways that are meaningful to them. In all his professional development workshops, he strives to connect teachers to information that inspires their practice and resources that are relevant to their classrooms. Robert is currently focused on finding ways to help educators design engaging curriculum for all types of learners by presenting research-based brain science and inquiry-based pedagogy through a six-year partnership with the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).

“The litmus test that I use in my workshops is for educators to determine how they will use the information that I present in their teaching practice.” – Robert

Robert’s career in education began after his college sent a letter to students stating a national need for science teachers. He quickly responded by changing his major from pre-medicine to acquiring a secondary level science teaching certification. This led him to work in a variety of settings and with a large demographic of people. Robert has shared his unceasing passion for science with learners of all ages through classroom teaching, outdoor environmental education, as well as museum exhibit design and interpretation.

When an opportunity arose to work on the National Science Digital Library, a 12-year National Science Foundation initiative, Robert’s career skyrocketed. He worked alongside educators and educational researchers from around the country to develop and promote an online database of high quality STEM education resources. It was through this collaborative project that Robert discovered new ways to help educators connect to content, build capacity, and more effectively support each other.

“The biggest take away was that I got to meet some really amazing people. That helped to open up my world.” – Robert

Part of the 2019 Professional Development Seminar Series, “Minds On Brains: Making the Connection,” is a one-day professional learning opportunity designed for informal educators who are seeking ways to enhance their educational programs and exhibits with more inquiry-based activities as well as science, technology and engineering content. Participants strengthen their STEM content knowledge and leave with the skills and tools to develop compelling, hands-on, minds-on science lessons that will engage learners of all ages. For more information about, “Minds On Brains: Making the Connection,” and the full 2019 Professional Development Seminar Series, visit www.wadeinstitutema.org.

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The Wade Institute for Science Education specializes in providing Inquiry-based, hands-on, minds-on, science, technology and engineering professional development for K-12 teachers and informal educators.  For more information, visit www.wadeinstitutema.org or call 617-328-1515.