Professional Development

Explore CESTEM's hands-on and engaging STEM Education Professional Development Opportunities.

Hands-on workshops
PK-12 STEM Education Conference
Informal Training & One-on-One Consultations
Sandbox Sessions
Design Your Own PD
Team Meeting Space

Want to be notified of upcoming PD opportunities?

ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH STANDARDS-ALIGNED CODE TO LEARN ACTIVITIES

Grades: K-12

Date & Time: Tuesday, July 8, 9 am – 12 pm

As students are learning to code, they are engaged and can even learn about curricular content. Come try out some of the coding devices available to borrow from CESTEM's TLP and discover ways that with a little creativity, you can integrate the technology into your classroom instruction to support your content.

Location: CESTEM Makerspace

Credit: 0.3 CEUs

Fee: $15.00 [non-refundable after 7/7 @ 12 PM]

Register by July 7 @ 12 pm: bit.ly/cestem001-26

PROMPTED TO LEARN: CREATING AI-ENHANCED TASKS FOR K–12 CLASSROOMS

Grades: K-12

Date & Time: Wednesday, July 9, 1 - 4 pm

Ready to bring AI into your classroom in a purposeful way? This hands-on workshop is designed for K–12 educators who want to create engaging, curriculum-aligned assignments that allow students to interact with AI platforms that are safe for your students to use. You will walk away with how to design safe, grade-appropriate assignments using AI, a resource of already created lesson AI-powered ideas, and most importantly, the confidence to use AI in a way that enhances — not replaces — student learning.

Location: Sayed Hall

Credit: 0.3 CEUs

Fee: $15.00 [non-refundable after 7/7 @ 12 PM]

Register by July 7 @ 12 pm: bit.ly/cestem002-26

WEATHER WISE ft. SCIENCE ALLIANCE OF NORTH CAROLINA

Grades: K-8

Date & Time: Tuesday, August 5, 9 am – 12 pm

Conduct a temperature experiment to practice using scientific tools and making predictions. Explore evaporation, condensation, and precipitation with fun, hands-on activities. Discover what causes wind and make a tornado in a bottle. Investigate using the Vernier weather data collection tools available through CESTEM’s Technology Loan Program. Consider various ways to uncover and address students’ misconceptions. Access weather resources that are engaging for students.

Location: CESTEM Makerspace

Credit: 0.3 CEUs

Fee: $15.00 [non-refundable after 7/29 @ 12 PM]

Register by July 29 @ 12 pm: bit.ly/cestem003-26

CREATING ART THROUGH CODING

Grades: K-12

Date & Time: Thursday, August 7, 1 - 4 pm

This is where Fun meets fundamentals. Consider using robots as a way for students to create unique art projects. Discover ways to program some of CESTEM's robots to produce original works of art. As students use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to write code, they begin to make connections with patterns, sequences, and much more.

Location: CESTEM Makerspace

Credit: 0.3 CEUs

Fee: $15.00 [non-refundable after 8/6 @ 12 PM]

Register by August 6 @ 12 pm: bit.ly/cestem004-26

CODE TO LEARN THE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PRACTICES

Grades: 3-12

Date & Time: Tuesday, August 12, 1 - 4 pm

Come explore the micro:bit as a vehicle for introducing students to problem-solving using real-world content. Experience lessons using the micro:bit and the Forward Education Climate Action kit. Both are available to borrow from CESTEM. Discover how the hands-on activities allow students to apply the Science and Engineering Practices (SEPs). Consider ways to include code to learn lessons into your content area to increase your students' understanding.

Location: CESTEM Makerspace

Credit: 0.3 CEUs

Fee: FREE [supported by Friends of UNCW grant]

Register by August 11 @ 12 pm: bit.ly/cestem005-26

STARLAB

Grades: K-12

Date & Time: Thursday, August 14, 5 - 8 pm

Teachers will learn to operate CESTEM's Cylinder Based StarLab Planetarium. This training is required to borrow the StarLab from CESTEM.

Location: Sayed Hall

Credit: 0.3 CEUs

Fee: $15.00 [non-refundable after 8/13 @ 12 PM]

Register by August 13 @ 12 pm: bit.ly/cestem006-26

SEAPERCH: NEW COACHES

Grades: 6-12

Date & Time: Friday & Saturday, September 26 & 27, F: 5:30 - 8:30 pm & S: 8:30 am – 1 pm

Teachers will work with other new coaches to build a SeaPerch ROV from start to finish just like they will do with their new teams in grades 6-12. While supplies last, schools new to SeaPerch with a representative that completes the training will receive one ROV kit to build with their new team. (Limit one kit per school.)

Location: CESTEM Makerspace

Credit: 1.0 CEUs

Fee: FREE

Register by September 25 @ 12 pm: bit.ly/cestem007-26

Sandbox Sessions

CESTEM Sandbox Sessions

Schedule a CESTEM Sandbox Sessions to get acquainted with the items in CESTEM's Technology Loan Program. We can accommodate a group of 8-12 teachers from your school for a 3-hour session of learning and fun.

Participants will:

Tour the CESTEM storeroom.
Pull some items of interest off the shelf and learn to use them.
Explore connections to curriculum standards.

If you would like to integrate more technology into your instruction, this session will allow you to see what is available to borrow for free.

Contact Michelle Hafey at hafeym@uncw.edu for more information about scheduling a CESTEM Sandbox Session.

Design Your Own PD

Design Your Own PD!

Let CESTEM help you design a Team Based Workshop. Here is your chance to participate in a session that is relevant for you and your entire team.

Do you want to learn how to operate a specific technology offered through CESTEM's Technology Loan Program?
Do you want to explore ways to integrate more student-centered activities?
Do you want to develop connections with your team as you work through STEM Challenges?

Contact Michelle Hafey (hafeym@uncw.edu) for more details about this unique workshop opportunity.

Team Meeting Space

Consider Having Your Team Meeting at CESTEM!

As you begin the school year, consider spending a few hours at CESTEM while you start planning activities for the new year.

Take time to browse the Technology Loan Program inventory, try out some of the devices you plan to use, ask questions about technology integration, and reserve items early.

For more details or to secure a meeting time, contact Michelle Hafey at hafeym@uncw.edu.