Browse a diverse group of Professional Development Resources from science institutions, professional associations, academic institutions and non-profit organizations. Receive materials to take back to your classrooms, earn CPDUs, and become a more confident and knowledgeable science educator.
- Educator Energizer
- Adler Planetarium Professional Development
- New Masters Program at Brookfield Zoo
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources
- NEED Workshops in Your Area
- Fall Teacher Programs at Chicago Botanic Garden
- Inquiry and the Aquarium
- Classroom Habits
- Great Lakes in My World
- Learning to See: Scientific Sketching and Journaling
- Inquiry in Action: Worm Compost Bins
- Special Professional Development Workshops
- K-8 Teacher Workshops
- Free Teacher Membership
- Earth Partnership for Schools
- Science Endorsement at IIT for Middle School Teachers
- The Modeling Methodology of Physics Teaching
- Summer and Fall Teacher Classes at Brookfield Zoo
- Wildlife in the Classroom
- Chicago Foundation for Education Workshop
- ENTICE Workshop Registration
- Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant
- High School Physics Teacher Grant
Educator Energizer
Educator Energizers are designed to offer ideas and opportunities that will help educators bring imagination and inquiry to their classrooms. Educator Energizers are FREE events offered for all educators by the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Mathematics and Science
Partners: IMSA
Date(s): October 7, 2009 and October 21, 2009
Location: IMSA's Metro East Field Office and IMSA's Chicago Field Office
More information: http://www.imsa.edu
Adler Planetarium Professional Development
Museum Resources, GEMS (Great Explorations in Math and Science) Space Science Sequence, GEMS Oobleck, Beyond the Solar System. To Regiater for any of these workshops, visit www.adlerplanetarium.org/education/pd . Contact learn@adlerplanetarium or 312-322-0302 with any questions.
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Astronomy and Science
Partners: Adler Planetarium
Date(s): Ongoing
More information: http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/education/pd
New Masters Program at Brookfield Zoo
The Chicago Zoological Society at the Brookfield Zoo and Project Dragonfly at Miami University of Ohio are partnering to bring an exciting new Master's degree program to the Chicagoland area. The program begins Summer 2010.
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Zoology and Biological Sciences
Partners: Brookfield Zoo
Date(s): Summer 2010
More information: http://www.CZS.org/AIP
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Wonderful resources for Educators and Youth Group leaders. Incorporate nature programs into your classroom and after school activities. Grants and workshops include: Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant Program and Rain Garden Initiative.
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Environment
Partners: IDNR
Date(s): Ongoing
More information: http://dnr.state.il.us/education/CLASSRM/grants.htm
NEED Workshop in Your Area!
The NEED program includes teacher-tested educational materials, evaluation techniques and tools, recognition of student achievement and professional development for educators. NEED materials and training programs provide comprehensive, objective information about the scientific concepts of energy and the sources of energy - their use and their impact on the environment, the economy and society. These workshops are offered at no cost thanks to ComEd.
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Energy and Science
Partners: NEED, ComEd
Date(s): Various
Location: Various - visit weblink below
More information: http://www.need.org
Fall Teacher Programs at the Chicago Botanic Garden
Register for a fall program at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. From fossil study to pre-school programs. Visit the teacher programs portion of the website for a complete list and registration information.
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Plants and Science
Partners: Chicago Botanic Garden, Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield Zoo
Date(s): Various
Location: Various - visit weblink below
More information: http://www.chicagobotanic.org/teacherprograms
Inquiry and the Aquarium
Learn how you can utilize the natural curiosity and wonder of children to practice doing science. Discuss the nature of science, and practice several very simple hands-on activities that use critical science skills.
Audience: Educators (Pre-K to 3)
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Biology/Animal Science
Partners: Shedd Aquarium
Date(s): Available year-round (must be scheduled three weeks in advance)
Location: Shedd Aquarium or at your school
Telephone: (312)692-3165
More information: http://www.sheddaquarium.org/teacherprogram_listings.html
Classroom Habitats
Gain the basic skills needed to set up a classroom habitat, and discover several ways that live animal encounters can increase students' comfort with science. We will also look at animal behavior and how to use animal observation for inquiry and science fair projects.
Audience: Educators (Pre-K to 12)
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Biology/Animal Science
Partners: Shedd Aquarium
Date(s): Available year-round (must be scheduled three weeks in advance)
Location: Shedd Aquarium or at your school
Telephone: (312)692-3165
More information: http://www.sheddaquarium.org/teacherprogram_listings.html
Great Lakes in My World
Shedd educators will bring out one or more of our Great Lakes in My World Discovery Boxes and coach teachers in how to use it. Explore ways to connect students to the local environment and meet standards at the same time.
Audience: Educators (Pre-K to 12)
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Biology/Animal Science
Partners: Shedd Aquarium
Date(s): Available year-round (must be scheduled three weeks in advance)
Location: Shedd Aquarium or at your school
Telephone: (312)692-3165
More information: http://www.sheddaquarium.org/teacherprogram_listings.html
Learning to See: Scientific Sketching and Journaling
Practice the techniques used by Charles Darwin, Leonardo de Vinci, and the crew of the HMS Challanger to record the natural world. See how scientific sketching can improve student observation skills and help students to ask more thoughtful questions.
Audience: Educators (Pre-K to 12)
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Biology/Animal Science
Partners: Shedd Aquarium
Date(s): Available year-round (must be scheduled three weeks in advance)
Location: Shedd Aquarium or at your school
Telephone: (312)692-3165
More information: http://www.sheddaquarium.org/teacherprogram_listings.html
Inquiry in Action: Worm Compost Bins
A worm bin is a great way to introduce conversation and waste reduction, but did you know it can also be an incredibly useful science inquiry tool? Create a worm bin for your class and learn strategies for maintaining it and using it for science investigation.
Audience: Educators (Pre-K to 12)
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Biology/Animal Science
Partners: Shedd Aquarium
Date(s): Available year-round (must be scheduled three weeks in advance)
Location: Shedd Aquarium or at your school
Telephone: (312)692-3165
More information: http://www.sheddaquarium.org/teacherprogram_listings.html
Special Professional Development Workshops
Looking to build on your science education services and initiatives? Fermilab offers professional development workshops for schools, districts and intermediate service agencies. Staff will work closely with your organization to customize a workshop that suits your unique need, whether it's curriculum analysis or inquiry and examinations.
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: All Ages
Partner: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Location: Various locations
K-8 Teacher Workshops
Are you looking for new and creative ways to spice up your classroom science teachings? Fermilab offers a variety of workshops to enhance your K-8 lesson plans and get your students excited about science class. Each workshop will focus on specific topics such as insects, electricity and magnetism, schoolyard habitats and more.
Audience: Teachers
Age Appropriateness: All Ages
Partner: Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
Free Teacher Membership
All certified teachers are invited to sign up for a FREE TEACHER MEMBERSHIP. Just go to www.scitechmuseum.org/teachermember.htm to register. With this memberhsip, you can visit ScieTech all year at no charge, receive invitations to special events & promotions, and discounts in our gift shops and special programs. You may also visit hundreds of ASTC-participating museums across the US for free or half-priced admission.
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Science Topic: Ecology, environmental science, engineering, architecture
Partner: SciTech Hands-On Museum
When: All Year
Location: 18 W. Benton St., Aurora IL, 60506
Telephone: 630-859-3434
More information: www.scitechmuseum.org
Earth Partnership for Schools (EPS)
The Chicago Botanic Garden, the Forest Preserve District of Dupage, and the Lake County Forest Preserves would like to invite you to apply for the 2009 Earth Partnership for Schools (EPS) Summer Institute. Please click on the link below to receive information about this summer teaching training workshop and download an application.
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
More information: http://www.chicagobotanic.org/explorations/restore
Contact: Eva Dubey, edubey@chicagobotanic.org
Science Endorsement at IIT
Illinois Institute of Technology has created an endorsement program for elementary and middle school teachers who want to teach middle grades science. Teachers are encouraged to take the entire sequence of courses, but will have the option to tale individual courses that fit their needs. To secure your science endoresement you will take 24 graduate credit hourd: 15 credit hours in science, 3 credit hours in methods of teaching middle school science, and 6 credit hours in adolescent psychology and middle school curriculum. IIT's program results in a middle grade endorsement in science, not an academic degree.
Enrollment, Course Descriptions and General Information:
Illinois Institute of Technology
Mathematics and Science Education Department
3424 South State Street Room 4007
Chicago, IL 60616
312-567-3660 phone
312-567-3659 fax
The Modeling Methodology of Physics Teaching
UIC is offering a summer workshop on the Modeling Method of Physics Instruction, taught by Jim Stankevitz. This is a very well regarded program taught by an expert teacher, and is highly recommended for all CPS physics teachers.
This workshop can be taken for graduate credit or non-credit (requires a material fee). See registration links below.
Link: http://www.oce.uic.edu/oce/ocepublic/courses/description.asp?CourseID=1213
Summer and Fall Teacher Classes at Brookfield Zoo
Register today for summer and fall teacher classes at Brookfield Zoo. Classes include T.A.G.!, Taxanomy, Adaptations and Genetics; The Cycle of Inquiry; Exploring With Children; Do Penguins Have Knees? And Other Intriguing Questions!; and A Dinosaur Encounter for Educators and Friends. Many classes will carry Lane CPS credit!
To Register or for more information contact Lanis Petrik at 708-688-8372
Wildlife in the Classroom
Has a students ever brought an animal to your classroom and asked you to keep it? Have you ever seen a feather or a bird's nest and wanted to use it to supplement you lessons? Has anyone donated an empty hornets' nest to your school? Do you know the Illinois and federal laws that apply to these situations? Teachers often come into contact with wildlife or wildlife remains, willingly or not. It is important for you to know what to do before you are places in these situations. The IDNR Dividion of Education has developed a document that, while not all-encompassing, will provide you with some general guidelines. You can access the Wildlife in the Classroom file at the following Web addess: http://www.dnr.state.il.us/education/CLASSRM/wildlifeintheclassrm041409.pdf
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Partner: Deopartment of Natural Resources
When: Ongoing
Chicago Foundation for Education
This annual Workshop is a teacher symposium that highlights more than 50 of CFE's most exemplary grant-winning teachers, showcasing the innovative projects that they have implemented in their classrooms via small-group presentations. This event enables teachers to network and share best practices with hundreds of their CPS colleagues, while also earning Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs). Attendees receive ideas and tips on how to incorporate innovative teaching strategies and curricular projects into their classrooms.
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Partner: Chicago Foundation for Education
When: Saturday, October 3rd, Whitney Young High school, 8:00 a.m. to 12:35 p.m.
ENTICE Workshop Registration
Registration will close soon for some ENTICE (Environment and Nature Training Institute for Conservation Education) educator workshops from the IDNR. Visit https://www.enticeworkshops.com and enroll now! You won't want to miss the background information, supplemental resources, networking with other educators and opportunity to work with natural resources professionals. Continuing Professional Development Units are available to all ENTICE participants.
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Partner: Environment and Nature Training Institite
When: Various, Ongoing
Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant
Are you helping your students become shareholders in the Natural World? The Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant program can assist you! Dunds of up to $600 per educator are available through this competetive grant program. Butterfly gardens, prairie plots, wetlands and other wildlife habitat areas can be implemented. Teachers and youth group leaders are eligible to apply. For more information go to: http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/CLASSRM/grants.htm
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Partner: Department of Natural Resources
When: Deadline for Application: November 30, 2009
High School Physics Teacher Grant
The High School Physics Teacher GRant(s) are given each year to AAPT member teachers whose proposal proves to result in better teaching practice, student understanding and interest, and/or increased enrollment. Dealine for proposals is December 1, 2009. For more information and an application visit http://www.aapt.org/Grants/hsgrant/cfm
Audience: Educators
Age Appropriateness: Adults
Partner: AAPT
When: Deadline for Application: December 1, 2009
