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.

Don’t miss the upcoming Minnesota STEM Convening on October 26th. It is chalked full of great learning and networking opportunities! To learn more about that event and more- make sure to check out our events page.

Ongoing professional development helps educators refine their use of formative assessments—tools and techniques that provide real-time feedback on student learning. This personalized approach to learning ensures that students receive the support they need when they need it! We believe pedagogy and professional development should advance innovation and improve learning outcomes. 

Over the past year through our partnership grant program, we have taken an active role supporting formal educator professional development. In cooperation with the Minnesota State Centers of Excellence and the Minnesota Service Cooperatives, our educator externship program has served over 30 middle and high school teachers over the summer helping them bring industry into the classroom. 

Learn more about our most recent Cohort.

The Foundation of Professional Development

Advance Innovation Support ALL Learners 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 We need to ensure that the content is not outdated but reflects the most recent developments and trends.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.

Supporting Diverse Learners: STEM educators work with students who have varying levels of ability, background knowledge, and learning styles. Professional development in pedagogy equips educators with the skills to differentiate instruction, provide inclusive learning environments, and meet the needs of all students.

Engaging Under-resourced Groups: Professional development can focus on strategies for engaging under resourced groups, such as introducing role models, connecting STEM content to real-world issues that resonate with these students, and creating opportunities for them to see themselves as future scientists, engineers, and technologists. This can also include developing partnerships with community organizations that support underrepresented students in STEM.

Enhanced Content Knowledge for Educators: One of the primary ways that professional development improves student outcomes is by deepening educators’ content knowledge. When teachers have a strong understanding of the subjects they teach, they are better able to explain concepts clearly, answer student questions confidently, and provide deeper insights into the material. This depth of knowledge allows educators to move beyond surface-level instruction and challenge students to think critically, analyze data, and apply their learning to real-world problems. As a result, students develop a more robust understanding of STEM concepts, which leads to higher achievement levels and better preparation for future studies and careers.

Supporting Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: One of the key outcomes of STEM education is the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Professional development equips educators with strategies to challenge students to think critically, analyze data, and approach problems systematically. For example, educators can learn how to design open-ended questions, facilitate classroom discussions, and create problem-based learning scenarios that require students to apply their knowledge in new and complex ways.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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