Contact Center for Science Teaching and Learning
If you have questions or would like to support our efforts please contact us.
Interested in becoming a STEM Focus School? Apply for the 2021 STEM Focus Schools cohort today!
Professional Development & STEM Engagement
NAU helps STEM educators improve instruction.
CSTL’s Professional Development (PD) team helps current STEM educators improve their teaching practices through customized support sessions. The team provides a deep and lasting impact through systemic improvement of science educators based on research and evidence-based practice methods. They promote high quality STEM education across Arizona, United States, and the world to engage learners in in-depth STEM learning.
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STEM Focus Schools Tab Open
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Induction Tab Closed
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Broader Impact Support Tab Closed
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Current & Past Partners Tab Closed
STEM Focus Schools Accordion Open
- A professional learning program designed for K-8 schools who are interested in integrating STEM learning school-wide
- Designed to assist Arizona public schools to develop a more STEM-literate workforce by building school capacity to design and implement effective STEM instruction
This program is made available through APS and Phoenix Suns Charities.
Now recruiting three schools from the APS Service territory and three schools in Phoenix to join this fully-funded program to begin their journey to become STEM Focused.
Application deadline for both groups is Feb 26, 2021 by 5:00pm MST
For schools in APS Service territory: Apply for the APS STEM Focus Schools for the Future
For schools in Phoenix: Apply for the Phoenix Suns Charities STEM Focus Schools for the Future
Induction Accordion Closed
CSTL supports new secondary science and math teachers through Induction courses
- Supports first and second year science and math teachers in secondary classrooms
- Begins with teachers participating in 2-day face-to-face summer meetings
- Course continues online, meeting once per month throughout the school year
- Provides 40-45 hours for professional development
More info on Induction here.
Broader Impact Support Accordion Closed
NAU’s CSTL supports the broader impact of STEM research
- STEM outreach and education
- Professional development of STEM educators
- Reaching underserved audiences
- A series of 1-2 week summer institutes
- A series of weekend institutes throughout the academic year
- 1-3 day workshops
- Web-based professional support
- Short courses, presentations, and workshops at conferences
- Mentoring, coaching
- We design and implement professional learning that incorporates research-based strategies and materials that support the vision of A Framework for K-12 Science Education
Current & Past Partners Accordion Closed
- Community organizations and non-profits
- School districts/local education agencies
- Governmental organizations
- Informal education organizations
- Business/industry
- Higher education
- K-12 teachers
- Students
- Families
- Educational researchers
- Administrators
- Citizen scientists
- Grand Canyon Trust
- Arboretum
Through these programs our team guides schools to provide experiences which encourage students to use an interdisciplinary STEM approach to:
- solve real world issues,
- develop critical 21st century skills, and
- become better prepared for living in a complex global society.
Partnerships
Current Projects
Developed from partnerships, The CSTL PD team is involved with several exciting projects
- APS STEM Focus Schools for the Future
- Planetary Learning that Advances the Nexus of Engineering, Technology, & Science (PLANETS).
– Provides pilot, research and learning opportunities
– Partners: NASA, Museum of Science, Boston, US Geological Survey Astrogeology - Phoenix Suns Charities STEM Focus Schools for the Future
- Power of Data (POD) – Enables secondary teachers to utilize geospatial technologies (GST) within authentic STEM projects to increase 6-12 grade students’ 21st century skills, GST and STEM career awareness.
– Partners: Horizon Research, Inc, GISetc, NAU Geology, Geography, Planning and Recreation, Esri
– Advisors: WestEd (MSPs), Making Sense of Science (MSS) - iCREATE – iCREATE helps foster a passion for STEM while providing a technology-rich experience to develop students’ skills.
- FEWSION for Community Resilience (F4R) – Community outreach to map and to dialogue Energy, Food, and Water Systems (FEWS).
- Engineering Is Elementary (EIE) – Professional learning sessions prepare you to facilitate immersive EIE professional development workshops for teachers in your school, district, or state.
- Making Sense of Science (MSS) – Workshops to delve into Systems as a cross-cutting concept as outlined in the Framework for K-12 Science Education and more fully understand forces, motion, and how the two are related.
- Place4FEWS
- and many more…