MITS
Museum Institute for Teaching Science
Professional Development
Professional Development Seminars (PDS) for Informal Educators
Interactions in the Sciences: Observe, Investigate, Explain
Click here for detailed information. - Keep up-to-date on pedagogy, national initiatives, and scientific content.
- Enhance your programs and exhibits.
- Network with other cultural institutions across the Northeast.
Summer Institutes for K-8 Teachers
Participate in the MITS Summer Institutes and learn how to teach STEM subjects using an inquiry-based, hands-on, minds-on approach. 
- Engage in activities that reflect both process and content.
- Learn from educational resources at museums, nature centers, aquariums, zoos, and conservancies.
- Become more familiar with the process of asking questions and communicating ideas.
- Learn to incorporate inquiry-based, hands-on activities into your current lessons.
- Collaborate with other teachers from your area.
- Receive teaching materials from the site educators.
Activities are linked to State Science, Math, Social Sciences, and Literacy Curriculum Frameworks.
Southeast Region Institute Registration Fee Waived. This region has been selected as a
MA Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education Professional Development Institute.
Academic Year Professional Development
In November and January, MITS partnered with MIT Sea Grant, the Office of Naval Research, National Defense Education Program and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers to offer
SeaPerch:
Connecting students, scientists and oceans around the world through underwater robotics
In these 2 day workshops, middle and high school classroom teachers and informal educators built their own ROVs from scratch and learned how to use them in the classroom and in the field. Check for more information on future SeaPerch opportunities with MITS. Read more and watch a video here.
Participants experienced the SeaPerch program through building their own ROV and then exploring how this ROV can be used in the classroom and field. Over 50 educators received a kit to use in the classroom along with the SeaPerch curriculum guide. More information on the ROV's available here.
The SeaPerch program trains teachers, mentors and potential trainers how to build the remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), which are made with PVC pipe. With a marine engineering theme this project teaches basic underwater design skills and encourages the exploration of marine science and ocean engineering concepts and careers.
Workshops were funded by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers through grants from the US Office of Naval Research and the National Defense Education Program.