Professional Development:

Additional Workshops

MITS works closely with the MA DESE Office of Literacy and the Office of Science and Technology Education to improve the teaching of STEM disciplines and the DESE’s Science Through Literacy initiative. Our efforts include co-teaching the science component of state-wide and system-wide Science Through Literacy workshops and providing inquiry-based STEM workshops for school systems throughout the academic year.
During the Science and Literacy workshops, teachers investigate reading materials and literacy-based activities that use science as an integrating context. They learn about the methods they can use to introduce the literacy skills required and then launch into inquiry-based, hands-on activities that further investigate the science concepts introduced during the literacy lessons. For example, using the Seeds of Science/Roots of Reading program based out of the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkley, CA, teachers use a reading series provided by the program and then a series of science lessons on beaches and sand, soil and ocean animals. Activities include: investigating sand from different kinds of beaches, learning to sort mineral types, creating models of sea creatures that highlight adaptations, and other hands-on investigations.


• Sea Perch Workshops
MITS partners with the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME), the Office of Naval Research, National Defense Education Program and MIT Sea Grant to provide SeaPerch workshops for middle and high school educators.
The SeaPerch program trains teachers, mentors and potential trainers how to build working models of remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). This marine engineering themed project teaches basic underwater design skills and encourages the exploration of marine science, ocean engineering concepts and marine related careers.
In these 2 day workshops, classroom teachers and informal educators build their own SeaPerch and explore how this ROV can be used in the classroom and field. As part of the workshop, educators receive their own kit to use in the classroom along with the SeaPerch curriculum guide. Workshops are funded by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers through grants from the U.S. Office of Naval Research and the National Defense Education Program.


• School-based In-Service Programs
MITS also works with individual schools, school departments, regional collaboratives and other educational organizations to develop customized, inquiry-based methodology workshops for their teachers to support and improve inquiry-based STEM education. To arrange workshops for your school(s) contact the MITS office at 617-328-1515.