Supporting Educators
Professional development and pedagogy support the delivery of high-quality STEM education. The Minnesota STEM Ecosystem regularly collaborates with our learning partners to provide professional development to educators and STEM learning providers.
The Minnesota State Centers of Excellence regularly offer professional development for educators that includes hands-on, industry-connected professional learning for STEM educators, including curriculum training, externships, NSF-funded institutes, and conferences.
Many opportunities include stipends, equipment, CEUs, or no-cost participation, all focused on connecting classroom learning to real-world careers and Minnesota workforce needs. All programs are coordinated or supported by Minnesota’s Centers of Excellence to strengthen career-connected learning and educator capacity statewide.
Upcoming Summer of 2026 at a glance:
Engineering & CAD: Siemens Engineering Design Teacher Training
Career & Industry Connections: Trades in Every Classroom Educator Externships
Advanced Manufacturing & Semiconductors: Microelectronics Mini-Externships & Curriculum Training
Agriculture, Robotics & Automation: ARAT (NSF-funded ATE project) and Small Gas Engine BriefCASE
Transportation & Vehicle Technologies: Midwest Teachers of Transportation & Industrial Areas (MTTIA) Conference
Ongoing professional development helps educators refine their use of formative assessments—tools and techniques that provide real-time feedback on student learning. When teachers use formative assessments effectively, they can identify areas where students are struggling and adjust their instruction accordingly. This personalized approach to teaching ensures that students receive the support they need when they need it, preventing small misunderstandings from becoming larger gaps in knowledge. We believe pedagogy and professional development should advance innovation, support all learners and improve student outcomes.
Fostering Innovation and Creativity: Staying current with advancements also helps educators foster innovation and creativity in their students. By exposing students to the latest developments in fields like biotechnology, robotics, or environmental science, educators can inspire them to think creatively about how they might contribute to these fields. Professional development programs often include opportunities for educators to engage with cutting-edge research, participate in industry partnerships, and explore innovative teaching strategies that encourage students to develop their own ideas and solutions.
Keeping Curriculum Relevant and Integrating New Technologies: As STEM fields evolve, so too must the education. We need to ensure that the content is not outdated but reflects the most recent developments and trends. Incorporating new technologies can make complex STEM concepts more accessible and engaging for students. For example, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy systems, and quantum computing are transforming industries. Professional development provides training on how to effectively integrate these tools into the classroom, ensuring that educators can leverage technology to enhance learning experiences.
Past Events Hosted by the STEM Ecosystem
STEM JOY
The Minnesota STEM Ecosystem, Southeast Service Cooperative, the Northern Lights Collaborative and Ignite Afterschool partnered with the Science Museum of Minnesota to pilot the equity-centered STEM JOY training to reframe STEM learning to be more inclusive and socially relevant. STEM JOY is based off of the STEM Justice program. It emphasizes inclusivity and addresses potential barriers to participation.
AI SUMMIT
The Minnesota STEM Ecosystem and the Minnesota State Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence, hosted the AI Education Summit at Bemidji State University. With a focus on equipping educators and STEM program providers with the knowledge and tools necessary to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into their curricula, the Summit was designed to prepare students for success in an increasingly digital and AI-driven economy.
Learn more about our professional development partners at the Minnesota State Centers of Excellence.
The Engineering Center of Excellence facilitates relationships by engaging academic institutions with industry and inspiring interest in STEM. The Center provides STEM Educator Workshops and hosts a variety of educator resources.
Energy workshops allow teachers to get hands on with energy experts from across the state. These events are designed to prepare teachers to lead classrooms in energy concepts, labs, and answer real questions about careers in energy. development.
In today’s world, information technology is the backbone of nearly every industry. Minnesota State I.T. Center Of Excellence provides low or no- cost resources that teach relevant, high- demand, and applicable I.T. workforce skills.
The Advanced Manufacturing Center of Excellence has resources designed to support manufacturers, educators, and students alike. From insightful guides and informative videos to practical templates and more!
The Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence drives workforce innovation through education and industry collaboration. The Resource Center is a collaborative effort and curated by educators.
HealthForce Minnesota collaborates with state agencies, healthcare industry leaders and educators from K12 schools, colleges and universities to support the very important work of our educators. They have a variety of resources available for educators.
AgCentric brings together community college, secondary school faculty, and industry to develop and implement a curriculum and professional development initiatives in agriculture, robotics, automation and technology.
The Southern Agricultural Center serves to promote and establish agricultural education excellence in Minnesota across the industry. The resources have been curated by educators, are free for educators to browse and use.
