Professional Development Workshops for Alabama Teachers
McWane Science Center can help you infuse your teaching with innovative ideas and strategies to engage students in science learning. These in-depth, interactive workshops may be held at your school or McWane Science Center. We also have a “teacher’s day in” field trip experience for pre-service teachers. Browse our currently available subjects and programs below!
Professional Development
McWane Science Center’s Education Team is excited to offer professional development workshops for local teachers and educators working in PreK to 8th grade. These 1.5-hour workshops are hosted at your school or organization facilitated by a McWane Educator. McWane Science Center is an AMSTI affiliate, and PowerSchool credit is given for all workshops. Registration for each workshop is $150. Scholarships may be available for teachers in Title 1 schools.
Storybook STEM: Accessing STEM through Storytime
Step into a world of imagination with Storybook STEM. From rescuing the Little Blue Truck to crafting a structure to withstand the big bad hairdryer, storytime can present an accessible entry into STEM exploration. This hands-on workshop introduces techniques that empower educators to expand and approach storytime with intentionality. Leave with a framework to develop your own STEM activities that enrich your lessons and encourage early exploration of science, technology, engineering, and math.
McWane Summer Science Institute
Get ready to spark curiosity, ignite creativity, and amplify STEM opportunities in your classroom with our multi-day professional development workshop. Join McWane’s team of educators and subject-matter experts to explore techniques for incorporating STEM into your curriculum with standards-based activities, challenges, and more.
Design Challenge in the Classroom
The Engineering Design Process is an essential skill for creative problem-solving. In this workshop, we will discuss how to run successful and relatable Design Challenges in your classroom—activities that use the engineering process to guide students through how to critically approach solutions to real-world problems.
Tech Talks: Navigating Classroom Conversations about Future Technology
Embrace the uncertainty of our ever-changing technological landscape with Tech Talks. In this workshop, participants engage in dynamic activities to navigate the complexities and the impact of evolving technologies. Through gameplay, reflection, and discussion, educators will grapple with ethical dilemmas, examine diverse values and perspectives, and build the confidence to guide classroom conversations about technology and our future.
STEM Kits
Chemistry and Conservation of Mass
This kit includes enough chemicals, laboratory equipment, and other materials to accommodate one class of 32. There are 3 activities in total. One demonstrating the Law of Conservation of Mass for physical changes (takes up to 30 minutes to complete) and two demonstrating the Law of Conservation of Mass for chemical changes (each takes up to 45 minutes to complete).
This kit includes prisms, lenses, color filters, turning forks, and other materials for 6 lessons, each taking between 30 and 60 minutes to complete.
Water Testing
This kit includes laboratory plasticware, refractometers, pH/nitrate testing strips, dissolved oxygen testing kits, household chemicals, and working to accommodate 30 students. There are materials for 5 activities, each taking approximately 60 minutes to complete.
Natural Selection
This kit provides enough materials for a class containing 32 students. This will include seeds, worksheets, forceps, and artificial fur. There are four different activities, covering the heredity of traits and natural selection, which will take approximately three hours to complete.
