STEM Professional Learning Opportunities

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STEM Excellence Pathway

These professional learning opportunities are complementary to the STEM Excellence Pathway.

The Riverside County Office of Education's STEM support is dedicated to helping our school administrators and teachers implement an engaging STEM curriculum and lessons in the classroom that will prepare students with 21st Century Skills:

Communication
Collaboration
Critical Thinking
Creativity + Compassion

The Content Modules listed here are designed to deepen the understanding and pedagogy of the practices for innovative and engaging classroom environments for K-12th grade classrooms and schools.

The RCOE supports a robust STEM Ecosystem by providing a series of workshops for teachers and administrators to deepen the understanding and pedagogy of the practices for innovative and engaging classroom environments. These workshops complement the Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway partners to augment and deepen their school site journey. These workshops can also be used independently to inspire teachers toward STEM continuous improvement.

There are four workshops available:

Module #1: Inquiry: Identifying questions and problems in real-world situations

Target Audience: Grades K-12 Teachers and Administrators

Description: Through the power of inquiry, students are encouraged to explore material in a question-centered learning environment. In this module, participants learn simple classroom strategies to turn existing lessons and activities into ones driven by student curiosity that give students the opportunity to practice and develop their STEM skills.

What to expect:

In-depth discussion of true inquiry in the classroom: how to make it grade-level and content-area specific.
Experience hands-on inquiry-based learning.
Design and modify lessons for classroom use that fit the 5E model of inquiry.

Module #2: Curriculum Integration: Utilizing a STEM Lesson tool

Target Audience: Grades K-12 Teachers and Administrators

Description: STEM education is much more than a focus on science, technology, engineering, and math. Discover curriculum integration and its place within the STEM-verse. Instead of focusing on any one specific content area, participants will learn how 21st Century skills and competencies can be integrated into any subject or lesson regardless of the discipline.

What to expect:

Model a collaborative interdisciplinary approach to lesson planning and share resources.
Explore STEM integration by reviewing and discussing a STEM lesson tool.
Use the STEM lesson tool to brainstorm ways to incorporate STEM learning into a lesson and/or integrate content areas.

Module #3: STEM Project-Based Learning (PBL)

Target Audience: Grades K-12 Teachers and Administrators

Description: Regardless of content area, project-based learning (PBL) is sure to inspire and excite students about STEM. Use your expertise to develop STEM projects that engage students in real-world problem solving and create relevancy for their learning. Project resources, group work strategies, and collaborative opportunities are also included in this module.

What to expect:

Review the components of project-based learning through discussion and identify examples of cross-curricular projects.
Discuss PBL and STEM projects/ideas that have been successfully facilitated in classrooms.
Design projects that are relevant to teachers’ instructional areas and grade levels.

Module #4: Career Connections: Exploring STEM Identity

Target Audience: Grades K-12 Teachers and Administrators

Description: STEM identity plays a major role in the education of K-12 students because it creates ways to promote genuine interest and excitement in STEM careers. Facilitating these positive experiences promotes engagement and experiential learning. In this module, participants learn how STEM identity is fostered as well as identify potential barriers.

What to expect:

Review best practices for fostering STEM identity.
Identify barriers and inequities in STEM education and the pursuit of STEM careers.
Develop a plan for creating opportunities for students to learn about various STEM careers.

For more information about the STEM Professional Learning Workshops, please contact Kelley Ambriz at kambriz@rcoe.us.

Riverside County Office of Education

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STEM Professional Learning Opportunities

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