Professional Development
CeMaST offers a variety of STEM professional development opportunities for in-service teachers, informal educators, and college/university instructors. We charge a modest fee to cover materials, travel to your site, and the facilitator's time. Discounted rates are provided according to the Illinois State Board of Education's Evidence-Based Funding (EBF) categorization. EBF Tier 2 districts are automatically provided a 10% discount, while Tier 3 and 4 districts are automatically provided a 50% discount. Currently, we are prepared to offer the following workshops. We can also create a customized experience to meet your allotted time and specific needs. We are able to arrange for participants to receive continuing education units for their participation. Please complete the Professional Development Request if you are interested in CeMaST coordinating a STEM professional development for your organization!
Avoiding Burnout: Using Self-Determination Theory to Foster Well-being in Both Ourselves and Our Students
Workshop description: Participants learn theoretical concepts related to human motivation and mindfulness. We engage in several activities to cultivate these for ourselves and then work to apply them to our STEM classrooms. There are two versions of this workshop. The half-day version involves a simple brainstorm of how these ideas can be applied in STEM classrooms, while the week-long version includes structured redesign of some aspect of the STEM learning environment, identified by each participant, to foster mindfulness and movitation in students. Required time: 3 hours or 3 full days. Intended participants: STEM educators at any level. Leaders: Dr. Rebekka Darner (Director, CeMaST) and Dr. Ashley Waring-Sparks (STEM Programs Coordinator, CeMaST)
More Movement in the Classroom!
Workshop description: This workshop describes the development of motor skills and milestones across childhood, from infancy to adolescence, and connects this development to cognitive changes. How does motor movement influence a child's ability to learn? Is it possible to enhance learning using movement? The lecture and activities will demonstrate how instructors can channel a child's predisposition for wiggling into fuel for learning and curiosity towards subject matter. We will examine the development of the nervous system and the current research on incorporating movement activities into the academic day. Required time: customizable from 3 hours to 5 full days. Intended participants: preK-12 STEM educators, informal educators. Leader: Dr. Julie Campbell (Psychology faculty)
Concrete Day!
Workshop description: In this one-day hands-on workshop, participants will get to know about fundamentals of cement and concrete. Specifically, participants will learn how to prepare concrete mixtures and specimens (both cylinders and beams). Further, participants will learn how to test concrete mixtures for air content and specimens for compressive and flexural strength using hand-operated as well as computer operated hydraulic testing machine. Required time: 1 full day. Intended participants: middle-level and high school STEM educators. Leader: Dr. Pranshoo Solanki (Technology faculty)