On May 29, 2020, 31 teachers and five IslandWood educators wrapped up a virtual four-part course focused on science teaching and learning–from your own home! Using STEM Teaching Tools and an impressive collection of participant expertise, the group explored NGSS-aligned, phenomena-based resources that could be implemented by students in their own homes or backyards, with a particular emphasis on equity.
The course consisted of an introductory big group session, two small group sessions that facilitated workshopping space and learning communities, and a final big group session where each participant, either independently or in their small group, shared a new or adapted resource for at-home science learning. Teachers concluded the course ready to implement some great ideas, and with a rejuvenated sense of what it means to be an educator in the time of COVID.
