As the last bell rings to signify that summer break has arrived, kids make plans to spend time at the pool or hang with friends until classes resume in the fall. For teachers, it is also a time to get much-deserved relaxation. However, summer is also a great time for teachers to take advantage of the time away from the classroom and explore ways to improve for the upcoming school year. The need for students to be inspired to pursue careers in the STEM fields continues to grow, and ORAU is committed to providing the support necessary to improve education, research and innovation, and that starts with empowering our teachers. Here are four reasons K-12 teachers should attend our summer professional development programs:
- Designed with STEM Teachers in Mind
ORAU understands the value of educators. They put in their heart, sweat, and tears to everything that happens in the classroom, from lesson planning to creating memories for each of their students. Oftentimes, this involves pitching in extra time and money for supplies. The good news about our professional development programs is that you will take away valuable lessons, as each program is designed with teachers at the front of mind!
- Both In-person and Virtual Options
For East Tennessee teachers, we offer a variety of professional development programs at our main campus in Oak Ridge. If you are not local to Oak Ridge, there are also plenty of virtual programs that are just as fun and educational! The in-person sessions come with a couple of added perks, including the opportunity to “shop” our inventory of free books, posters, and other resources. In addition, door prizes are awarded at the end of all in-person sessions.
- Variety of Topics Offered
No matter what you are looking to take away from summer workshops, we have classes for a wide array of topics. These programs are ideal for strengthening lesson plans, learning new tips for student engagement, as well as learning about new technologies for K-12 classrooms. This summer, we are offering classes that include all sorts of amazing technology, such as 3D printers, robotics kits, Minecraft education, Kira Learning, and much more.
- Chance to Interact with Peers
As teachers know, lesson plans are great to have! However, much of the learning done in the classroom happens when students can build relationships and collaborate with each other. The same can be said about our professional development programs. These events bring together teachers from across the state, and even the country, which translates into a great brainstorming session for teachers to talk about the things that work best in their classrooms, specifically related to new types of technology.
Are you ready to make your summer plans? All our programs are offered free of charge, so register now as spots will fill up fast! Check out our full 2025 summer workshops calendar (.PDF), and we can’t wait to see you this summer!