For K-12 Teachers: Free STEM Content and Professional Development Courses

 August 2, 2010 

NASA and Georgia Tech are offering free online courses this fall for K-12 teachers in need of STEM-based instructional content. The courses can also help teachers improve their instructional skills and meet professional development goals. 

Here are some of the courses: 

Observations, Experiments & Two Variable Data: The target audience is high school mathematics teachers without AP statistics backgrounds. This course aims to help teachers implement the Common Core high school math standards on statistics. Teachers examine two-variable data relationships using scatter plots, time series, and two-way tables. Attention is given to measuring the strength of association, modeling of associations, and explaining variability.

Using Robotics to Enhance STEM Learning: Teachers learn how to program the so-called LEGO NXT Mindstorms robot. By becoming familiar with LEGO vocabulary, as well as parts of the LEGO Mindstorms kit, teachers build structural components of a robot and use mathematics, science, and engineering principles to then test and operate the robots. 

Project Based Inquiry Learning: Middle and high school science teachers can develop understanding and skill in using problem-based inquiry learning (PBIL) to enhance conceptual understanding, critical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving.

Don’t Just Show Me The Numbers; Make Sense of The Information: This "Show Me the Numbers: Active Problem Solving with Statistics Certificate Course" requires the use of graphing calculators.

Instructional Technology Integration: This course will address issues of distance learning, including simulations, virtual worlds, games, video field trips, and podcasts.  

To apply, go to http://www.nasaepdn.gatech.edu/nasaepdn_application.php  

Source: SpaceRef.com (July 22, 2010)