About Endeavor

Build STEM capacity in your district with short and long-term STEM Professional Development

• Allow your staff to build their credentials by sponsoring Endeavor Fellows.
• Select members of your staff to create your own mini-Cohort.
• Let your teachers train alongside NASA Endeavor Fellows.
• Leverage the expertise of your Endeavor Fellows to benefit your instructional staff.

What is the Endeavor Project?

The NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project awards highly competitive one-year fellowships to over 40 current and prospective teachers across the Nation. Funding authorization for the Project is provided through the NASA Endeavor Teacher Fellowship Trust Fund as a tribute to the dedicated crew of the Space Shuttle Challenger. The Project is sponsored by NASA and administered by U.S. Satellite Laboratory, Inc.

Endeavor Fellows take five graduate courses in an innovative, live (online) format from the comfort of their home or school. They learn to apply research-based pedagogical strategies and cutting-edge STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) content to their classroom contexts while becoming a part of an esteemed network of like-minded educators across the Nation forming an online community of practice. NASA Endeavor Fellows will be awarded a Certificate in STEM education from Teachers College, Columbia University. The Certificate is one of completion; all graduate credit is awarded by regionally-accredited higher education partners.

The blended synchronous and asynchronous model for the online courses, which integrates content from each of NASA's Mission Directorates, gives participants the best of both worlds: working with challenging science and education content along with expert instructors and scientists in the laboratory and in the field, and studying independently with coursework tailored to individual needs. Each course includes take-away materials proven for the classroom.

Collectively, fellows engage students of varying grades, levels of ability, and English proficiency through diverse teaching and learning styles. The courses blend content with pedagogical content knowledge. Incorporating authentic data and using technology as a tool for learning provide a springboard for cultivating problem solving skills and inspiring student research projects.

In addition to course work, Endeavor Fellows may design and earn a special Leadership Distinction designation for projects that scale-up and spread their learning across schools or school districts.

Qualified educators may be sponsored by school districts or other organizations to participate alongside NASA Endeavor Fellows.

What do Fellows get?

STEM Endeavor Fellow sponsorship provides course fees and graduate credit from regionally accredited college partners, course materials, and the NASA Endeavor Certificate in STEM Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Fellows receive ongoing support and network with like-minded educators and Endeavor Alumni from across the Nation.

What is the Time Commitment?

Full-time teachers register for one or perhaps two classes per semester. Courses are offered during Spring, Summer, and Fall Semesters. Teachers who take sabbatical from the classroom may register for three classes for the Fast-Trak Option. For each course, participants must attend the associated live meetings online (4-6 sessions, depending on the course). The self-paced work may be derived from classroom practice or implementation, or it may include a combination of other content and education-based assignments. It is expected that full-time teachers will complete 5 courses in approximately 18 months to earn their Certificate in STEM Education.

What else should I know?

Endeavor courses prepare educators to effectively integrate and teach STEM content and achieve results with their students. Each will implement their own Action Research study to examine the effectiveness of materials and strategies. The ultimate goal of the Endeavor Project is for educators to become highly qualified teachers using STEM content and to enact change in their classroom, school, and school district. The special Endeavor Online Community is a meaningful and interactive vehicle from which participants will gain insights and knowledge over many years. The project will contribute to the literature and be on the forefront of research and the most practical ways for educators to be successful with integrated STEM learning in their classrooms.

Click here to see course titles and descriptions.

Click here to learn about U.S. Satellite Laboratory.