Educator Workshops

INSPIRE Research Institute for Pre-College Engineering offers engineering and integrated STEM education workshops and professional development to formal (classroom and homeschool) and informal educators. In addition to the workshops we lead, we also present and exhibit at a wide range of workshops and conferences hosted all over the world. See below to find an upcoming event near you.

INSPIRE Led Educator Workshops

INSPIRE 2018 Summer Professional Development

Our summer professional development is designed to provide Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade formal (traditional and homeschool) and informal educators with the skills, resources and understanding to help integrate science, engineering, mathematics, computational thinking, and literacy to better prepare children for real-world problem solving situations. 

INSPIRE will host two one-day professional development opportunities:

  • Integrated STEM: Identifying and transforming lessons
    • Description: STEM learning is a buzzword today in education, which makes it all the more confusing to sort out which educational materials teach STEM concepts - particularly engineering. Learn about what STEM integration is. Use research based tools to learn how to identify high quality engineering and STEM lessons and transform lessons to be fully integrated.
    • Location: Purdue University – West Lafayette, IN
    • Date: Monday, June 4th, 2018
    • Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Computational Thinking: Low and high tech solutions
    • Description: Computational thinking activities are a great way to connect STEM, literacy, and computer science ideas easily in your classroom. Gain a better understanding of what computational thinking is and what it looks like for K-2 students. Low and high tech solutions that tie to the state standards will be shared.
    • Location: Purdue University – West Lafayette, IN
    • Date: Tuesday, June 5th, 2018
    • Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Educators can choose to attend one or both PD opportunities and will earn six professional growth points for each PD they complete. Certificates will be awarded at the end of each day.

Additional information:

  • Lunch and snacks will be provided.
  • There are a limited number of seats.
  • The application deadline is Monday, May 21st at noon EST.

Apply to summer professional development: http://bit.ly/INSPIRE2018PD 

For additional information, please email M. Terri Sanger at mtsanger@purdue.edu.

Presentations At Workshops And Conferences

ASEE Workshop on PreK-12 Engineering Education

PreK-12 teachers, administrators and engineering educators from across the country are invited for an informative day of professional development. Learn about how to integrate the “E” in STEM into learning and engage your students in authentic practices.

Theme: Inspiring the Next Generation to Take Flight with PreK-12 Engineering Education
Location: Greater Columbus Convention Center - Columbus, OH
Date: Saturday, June 24, 2017
Presentations:

  • PictureSTEM: Integrating STEM, Computational Thinking, and Literacy in Meaningful Ways (K-2nd grade educators)
  • Sounds like STEM in your Elementary Classroom (PreK-2nd grade educators)

Exhibit Table: Our table will feature PictureSTEM curriculum, the Purdue University Engineering Gift Guide, and the Make an Engineer Activity. Additional handouts and information about other projects will also be available.

Additional presentation and exhibit information will be posted once we hear back from organizers.

The Think Tank & Conference brings together national leaders in K12 education for girls and young women, university K-12 outreach coordinators and researchers, STEM university faculty, girls’ informal educators, and members of industry to provide a space for discussion and learning around the best ideas in girls’ education.

 

Theme: Cultivating Your Network: Growing Sustained STEM
Location: The Harpeth Hall School – Nashville, TN
Date: July 12-14, 2017
Presentations:

  • PictureSTEM: Integrating STEM, Computational Thinking, and Literacy in Meaningful Ways (K-2nd grade educators)
  • Sounds like STEM in your Elementary Classroom (PreK-2nd grade educators)

Exhibit Table: Our table will feature PictureSTEM curriculum, the Purdue University Engineering Gift Guide, and the Make an Engineer Activity. Additional handouts and information about other projects will also be available.

Additional presentation and exhibit information will be posted once we hear back from organizers.