NYU Tandon Offers Free STEM Workshop for Teachers

DRK12 Robotics website

This summer, New York University's Tandon School of Engineering is offering a free workshop for local middle school teachers on developing STEM lessons in the life sciences, physical sciences and mathematics. The two-day DRK12 Robotics program will focus on the use of robotics and engineering design practices in hands-on lessons that align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and 5E Instructional Model.

Workshop content has been developed by New York City teachers who worked with NYU Tandon instructors to incorporate robotics into their classrooms, and who are experienced in LEGO EV3 coding and creating three-dimensional NGSS lessons, according to information on the program website. Lessons and activities were created under the National Science Foundation's Discovery Research PreK-12 (DRK12) project, a program seeking to "significantly enhance the learning and teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer science (STEM) by preK-12 students and teachers, through research and development of STEM education innovations and approaches."

Goals for the workshop include:

  • "Developing and refining curricula that promote project-based, hands-on, instruction to help students learn, understand, and apply underlying science and math content while doing age-appropriate robotics activities";
  • "Deepening teachers' technical, pedagogical, and content knowledge, contextualized in and reinforced through robotics design experiences";
  • "Fostering teachers' skills and attitudes for integrating robotics-based learning in the required science and math classes";
  • "Enabling teachers to use their students' interest in robotics to engage them to learn the required science and math content"; and
  • "Using robotics as a means to expose teachers to tools, techniques, and models of authentic engineering design."

Participants will also receive ongoing support from a professional learning community of their peers.

The workshop is available in two sessions: July 23-24 and July 30-31. To be eligible, applicants must be a science, math or CTE middle school teacher working in New York City and neighboring areas; previous experience with the LEGO EV3 kits is preferred. For more information, visit the NYU Tandon site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • stylized illustration of a portfolio divided into sections for career training

    St. Cloud State University Adds Four Tech Bootcamps via Upright Partnership

    To meet the growing demand for tech professionals in the state, Minnesota's St. Cloud State University is partnering with Upright to launch four career-focused bootcamps that will provide in-demand skills in software development, UX/UI design, data analytics, and digital marketing.

  • consultant and educator sitting at a modern desk with a laptop and tablet, surrounded by abstract icons of online learning in a bright, minimalist setting

    Quality Matters Launches Advisory and Consulting Service

    A new service from Quality Matters, the nonprofit focused on quality assurance in online and innovative digital teaching and learning environments, is designed to help colleges and universities develop a sustainable online learning strategy.

  • Two shadowy figures sit at computers with glowing screens, surrounded by floating digital codes in a dark, high-tech environment

    Reports Note Increasing Threat of Nation-State-Sponsored Cyber Attacks

    A bevy of new cybersecurity reports point to the continuing problem of nation-state-sponsored threat actors. The primary culprits have long been Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, which all show up in recently published reports from Microsoft, IBM, Tenable, and Fortinet.

  • MathGPT

    MathGPT AI Tutor Now Out of Beta

    Ed tech provider GotIt! Education has announced the general availability of MathGPT, an AI tutor and teaching assistant for foundational math support.