OSU Precollege Programs launches a series of FREE virtual professional development and learning experiences for K-12 educators. A series of virtual lessons will provide college connections and cover STEM content based on curricular materials developed by Precollege Programs in collaboration with researchers and partners. 

As a response to targeted COVID-19 pandemic initiatives, our first professional development series aligns with the Oregon Department of Education’s Extended School Closure Guidance - Distance Learning for All: Ensuring Care, Connection and Continuity of Learning. Continued series in the coming months will align with ODE's new 20-21 Comprehensive Distance Learning Guidance

 

JOIN us in a series of virtual professional development sessions for educators. Gather helpful resources for teaching our lessons to your students online!

For Who? K-12 Educators

When? Tuesdays, April 14th - June 9th, 2020  10:00-11:00am PST

             *One additional session - Exploring Food Science, Safety, and Nutrition - Thursday, June 4th, 2020  12:00-1:00pm PST

Where? Zoom Meeting - information on how to connect to Zoom will be sent to you after registration and prior to the meeting.

 

Virtual Professional Development Series Spring 2020

Innovation and Household Items Distance Learning Webinar for Educators

 

Audience: Middle School Educators

In this lesson, learners will explore the influences of science, engineering, and technology on society and the natural world through the lens of Innovation and materials created by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Outreach and Education Team https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/outreach-and-education

Lesson's Learning Resources

Human Centered Design: Masks & Backpacks Distance Learning Webinar for Educators

 

Audience: Elementary, Middle and High School Educators

In this lesson, learners will utilize Human Centered Design (HCD) to make personal protective masks. Lesson activities will guide learners to first design a mask for themselves as "users" and then design a mask with focus on the needs/wants of someone else (e.g. friend, neighbor, classmate). Learners will document their thinking while using HCD, and demonstrate how HCD informed solutions.

Lesson's Learning Resources

Ocean Engineering Challenge: Save the Soup Learning Webinar For Educators

 

Audience: Lesson Designed for Elementary School Educators (Adaptable to all Levels)

In this lesson, learners will explore engineering and design ideas to construct a personal flotation device (PFD) for a can of soup using available supplies. Part of the learning challenge is designing a device that can be put on the can of soup by one person in less than 20 seconds, allowing it to float for more than one minute. Learners will design, revise, and redesign their PFD, evaluating design solutions.

Lesson's Learning Resources

Using Systems Thinking "Harvest" Learning Webinar For Educators

 

Audience: Middle and High School Educators

This lesson provides learners with an introduction into systems thinking through the classic systems archetype of “The Tragedy of the Commons.” This archetype describes a situation where a shared resource is used by various individuals who act only to fulfill their own self-interest, eventually destroying the shared resource. Through the system's modeling and a focus on relationships within the system, learners will explore the importance of understanding interactions in a system as crucial to understanding its behavior.

Lesson's Learning Resources

Bloom in a Bottle Learning Webinar For Educators

 

Audience: Middle and High School Educators

Bloom in a bottle is an experimental activity that provides learners with an opportunity to observe and highlight the pivotal role of microorganisms in the carbon cycle. Learners will explore the process of biological carbon pump, and how microbes in the ocean impact the carbon cycle and convert atmospheric carbon into biomass.

Lesson's Learning Resources

Food Illness: Outbreak Prevention & Detection Learning Webinar For Educators

 

In this lesson, learners will take the role of a Foodborn Illness Investigator (FBII) to examine a foodborne illness outbreak. Using a game simulation, learners will determine the type of foodborne illness through the riboprinting of patients and potential contamination sources. They will investigate, identify a food of their interest, and create a safety protocol to prevent potential contaminants.


Lesson's Learning Resources

Fact Checking in an Era of Fake News Learning Webinar for Educators

 

Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High School Educators

In this session we will share a lesson developed for learners to evaluate the credibility of a variety of web-based informational sources. Learners will "read laterally", meaning they do not become an expert in the content of a source, but assess it for its credibility to determine whether they should invest time in reading it for content. Learners will be able to practice the skills to curate the large amount of digital media they encounter on a daily basis.

Lesson's Learning Resources

Alien Genetics Learning Webinar For Educators

 

Audience: Middle and High School Educators

In this lesson, learners will loosely mimic the heredity process to determine the genotype and phenotype of a baby alien. They will learn how genes are connected to traits and how traits can determine how organisms, in this case aliens, appear.

Lesson's Learning Resources