COURSES

The three graduate courses from MSSEF’s Curious Minds Initiative (CMI) make up the new STEM Certificate in Inquiry program from Framingham State University.

Teaching Science through the Inquiry Process (TSIP)

About TSIP

Provides teachers with practical strategies to infuse more inquiry into their teaching practice and existing curricula. TSIP is a hands-on course, and science teachers bring 2-3 of their existing labs or classroom activities that they will adapt in order to make greater use of inquiry-based techniques.

TSIP Benefits

• New ways to integrate inquiry into your curriculum: Revise 2-3 of your lesson plans or lab activities to include inquiry techniques 
• Experience the exciting inquiry process as a learner yourself
• Connect inquiry classroom activities with Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks
• Motivate your students with the "real-world" research and discovery process!
• Optional low-cost graduate credit - $300 for 3 graduate credits, and PDPs (free)

TSIP – A Practical Way to Learn About the Inquiry Model of Teaching!

Through investigations, discussions, presentations, activities, and analysis of lessons and samples of student work, teachers will learn ways to Connect inquiry classroom activities with Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks Help students to experience the key steps in "real-world" scientific research and engineering invention, including how to:

• Develop an appropriate experimental question
• Conduct and design a valid experiment
• Record and analyze data
• Draw conclusion(s) and present results

Fees, Credits and More 

Please note that registration fees & graduate credit costs are non-refundable.

TSIP was developed by the Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair (MSSEF) in collaboration with the Education Development Center (EDC)

Project-based Classroom Science (PCS)

About PCS

Enables science teachers to develop effective project-based units for targeted science concepts, and also provides an introduction to guiding students who work on independent research projects.

PCS Benefits

Your students & teaching practice:

• Learn new and effective ways to integrate project-based learning into your curriculum.
• Design a Project-Based Science (PBS) activity for your own classroom!
• Connect project-based science activities with the Massachusetts state science standards.

 Your career & teamwork with colleagues:

• Optional low-cost graduate credit - $200 for 2 graduate credits, and PDPs (free).Tuition Scholarships A limited number of partial and full tuition scholarships available.
• PCS is part of a new STEM CERTIFICATE in INQUIRY - a collaboration of Framingham State University & MSSEF.  Earn 2 of the graduate credits towards this Certificate!
• Teams of teachers get priority acceptance: Be part of a supportive team to enable your success back in the school and classroom.

Fees, Credits and More 

Please note that registration fees & graduate credit costs are non-refundable.

PCS was developed by the Massachusetts State Science & Engineering Fair (MSSEF) in collaboration with the Education Development Center (EDC)

Organizing a Science & Engineering Fair (OSEF)

About OSEF

Provides a framework and guidance for best practices in the logistics of managing a classroom with students working on independent research on different topics, and running a science fair program and building district-based support for it.

OSEF Benefits

OSEF provides a framework of best practices in:

• How to manage a classroom with students working on different independent research projects
• Logistics of running a science fair program and building district-based support for it."How to" steps and support materials, including timelines, required forms, strategies and policies, and ways to attract and retain a strong base of judges and sponsors.
• Help Your Students Discover the  Excitement of Real-World Science & Engineering Research!

Help Your Students Discover the  Excitement of Real-World Science & Engineering Research!

Science Fairs enable students to explore their natural curiosity about the world in the same way that "real" scientists and inventors do. Science fair programs also help students develop essential 21st-century life & career skills: reading, math, writing, critical thinking, ethics, communication and graphic arts.

CMI Educator Day @ MIT! May 3, 2013

Free with CMI Course Registration
Earn PDPs! Apply for Matching Support for Substitute Teacher!

A special free conference held on Friday during the MA State Science & Engineering Fair for high school students @ MIT. Highlights include:

• exploring the Exhibition Hall with 300 “best of the best” high school student science fair projects in Massachusetts;
• a seat in the Judge Orientation Program (with ~300 judges from academia and industry);
• a tour of a local biotech company’s labs and lunch with guest speaker;
• discussion about student research projects & science fairs as part of your teaching practice; and
• breakfast and lunch!
   

Fees, Credits and More 

Please note that registration fees & graduate credit costs are non-refundable.