Innovative Educator Workshops

The TN STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) and the Middle TN STEM Innovation Hub, hosted at the TN STEM Education Center (TSEC), continue their long-standing collaboration to bring exciting professional development credit opportunities to educators all over the mid-state through the annual Innovative Educator Workshop series.

These professional development opportunities provide teachers with the resources and skills they need to expand STEM learning both inside and outside of the classroom.  The day-long workshops offer catered lunch, mileage reimbursement, and PD credit alongside the expert knowledge offered by local educators. These speakers, leaders in their fields, guide middle TN k-12 teachers through many different challenges they may face, from school STEM designations to implementing experiential learning.

Upcoming Workshops

Data Science Teacher Ambassador Program – 2^nd meeting

[February 28, 2023] Presented by Dr. Ryan Otter
A continuation of the November meeting.  No new registrants, please.

• Middle / High School Educator focus
• Mileage & Reimbursement for Substitute Teacher provided
• Lunch & Refreshments 

Combined Hub Meeting and Innovative Educator Workshops

[June 8, 2023] 
Programming to be announced.

• Middle / High School Educator focus
• TBA
• Lunch & Refreshments

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Past Workshops

Data Science Teacher Ambassador Program – 1st meeting

[November 7, 2022] Presented by Dr. Ryan Otter
Have you ever wondered, “What is data science and why should I care?” Join us in learning about its relevancy and real-world applications within the classroom. 

• Middle Educator / High School Educator focus
• Mileage & Reimbursement for Substitute Teacher provided
• Lunch & Refreshments 

Middle TN STEM Innovation Hub Meeting and Innovative Educator Workshops for Elementary Educators

[November 2, 2022] 
Attend four separate one-hour workshops on topics including problem-based learning, coding, inquiry-based learning, engineering design in elementary school, and integrating STEM throughout the day. 

• Elementary Educator focus
• Mileage & Reimbursement for Substitute Teacher provided
• Lunch & Refreshments

The Journey of STEM or STEAM Designation

[June 23, 2022] Presented by Lea Bartch
Whether you have started the process, just beginning, continuing, or thinking about reapplying to become a Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) STEM/STEAM School, this session is designed for participants to collaborate with fellow colleagues who are traveling the same journey. In this session, individuals or groups will be guided to explore big ideas and details in a STEM/STEAM culture, answer individual questions to build or solidify the school’s STEM/STEAM vision, and consider key aspects for staying organized along the way.  As a result of this PD and the utilization of thinking forms, discussions, and critical thinking, individual questions will be answered, and your “next steps” will be clearer, regardless of where your place in the process. The Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN) STEM Designation Rubric will be the guide for learning and planning.

Incorporating Biotechnology in the Classroom

[June 16, 2022] Presented by Melissa Bunch
Join us for a day of fun and learning in the lab at Oakland High School. In this workshop, teachers will explore ways to incorporate biotechnology in the classroom as well as discuss setting up a biotechnology program at their school. Participants will engage in hands-on laboratory activities and learn basic microbiology techniques, how to perform Gram stains, and how to make, load and run an agarose gel using a Huntington Disease activity as a model. 

Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL)

[June 14, 2022] Presented by Dr. Amy Phelps
In this workshop teachers will be introduced to Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL), and they will explore the benefits of active learning in the classroom. Participants will engage in POGIL-based learning, explore how POGIL activities are structured, discuss group formation, and wrestle with challenges of implementation related to bringing POGIL to a classroom. POGIL can be used with any STEM discipline.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Kevin Ragland, TSEC Associate Director, at midtnstem@mtsu.edu.