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Summer is here! With the warmer weather and longer days, educators get a long break from classroom instruction. This is a great time to work on professional development! In this article, we have compiled a list of STEAM professional development ideas and resources you can take advantage of this summer.
Before you dive right into your summertime professional development, make sure you set yourself up for success. After all, you don’t want to waste your summer working on professional development projects that will not benefit you in the long run! Here are a few key things to consider when planning your summertime professional development.
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Set realistic goals. Don’t overextend yourself during your summer break. Educators need time during the summer to relax and reset after a long school year. If you want to sharpen your skills and prepare for the next school year, choose professional development opportunities that you can complete without overworking yourself!
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Reflect and prioritize. Honestly reflect on areas you need to improve as a STEAM educator. After you’ve assessed and focused on what areas you want to strengthen, prioritize professional development opportunities that will help you reach your goals. Don’t get distracted by summer professional development that seems flashy and fun when they don’t ultimately help you improve in the areas you identified.
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Find an accountability partner. Link up with a fellow educator who can help keep you on track while working toward your goals.
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5 Summer STEAM Professional Development Ideas
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1. Listen to podcasts
One of the easiest ways teachers can get professional development done over summer break is to spend a little time each week listening to relevant podcasts. This can be done while you drive around to run errands, go for evening walks, or even get in a quick workout. Here are a few podcasts that can help you learn more about teaching STEAM topics to students.
2. Use Social Media for STEAM
Another easy way to grow your STEAM knowledge this summer is by following STEAM and STEM related hashtags on social media. This can help you stay up to date on what’s trending in STEM/STEAM education. Hashtags are a great way to find STEAM accounts and related resources. Some helpful hashtags include:
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#STEAMeducation
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#STEMeducation t
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#steamlearning
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#stemlearning
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#steamedu
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#stemedu
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#steamactivities
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#stemactivities
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#steamteacher
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#stemteacher
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#engineeringdesignprocess
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#stemeducationforkids
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#makerspace
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#makereducation
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In addition to hashtags, you can follow STEAM/STEM educators and experts on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Pinterest. Without much effort on your part, you can get project ideas, teaching tips, and more. For free resources and ideas, follow TinkRworks on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn!
3. Trial a STEAM project!
Use your spare time in the summer to trial STEAM products and projects designed for educators! This gives educators the opportunity to work through projects before leading a class through them. A practice run can show you what challenges your students may encounter when working on a project. Then, you can prepare your instructions to make the learning experience more seamless.
We offer a number of STEAM products for a variety of age groups. Help your students sharpen their skills while creatively expressing themselves with fun, engaging projects. By the end, your students will have built something they are proud to show to their classmates. Learn more and request a quote for any of our products here. If you don’t know which project you want to start with, we recommend you trial the TinkRworks LaunchPad project!
4. Download STEAM Resources
The Internet is chock-full of resources for educators of all grade levels and subject areas. Take advantage of all the downloadable content available online. TinkRworks also has a variety of downloadable free STEAM printables. Grab them now!
5. Participate in Online STEAM Courses and Webinars
Another great way to learn more about teaching STEAM skills and leading classes through STEAM projects is by participating in online webinars and courses. Below is a list of websites that offer free or discounted resources for STEAM educators.
STEM Quick Wins On-Demand Webinar
This workshop shares quick-and-easy ways to implement STEM projects into your class schedule or after school program.
National Science Teaching Association Professional Learning Courses
Earn a certificate with bite-sized, self-paced courses designed for educators.
PBS Teaching NGSS Engineering and Design Through Media
This collection of resources and activities are designed to help deepen your understanding of Next Generation Science Standards.
National Geographic Online Courses for Educators
Explore a variety of mini courses and full-length courses that help you learn about project-based learning (PBL), data collection, experimentation, and more.
Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM
Find useful podcasts, guides, apps, and webinars that share techniques and methods for teaching STEAM topics to students of all ages.
Code.org Self-Paced Professional Learning For Educators
Create a free account to get unlimited access to modules and webinars for STEAM and STEM educators.
In Conclusion
Make the most of your summer and set yourself up for success next year with these STEAM professional development ideas! With just a little bit of time and effort each week, you can sharpen your skills to ensure that your students will have their best year of STEAM learning next year. There is no shortage of free resources to help you along the way, so don’t be afraid to dive right into summer professional development. Don’t forget to follow our social media accounts for STEAM resources and tips all summer. Lastly, check out our projects and request a trial so you are ready for STEAM learning in the fall!
