About STAGE

What is a Short-course^TM?

STAGE is a program of exciting online courses for K-12 Science Educators. Proven classroom activities combined with interactive teacher training, allow a teacher to teach traditional science concepts with compelling science content.

Short-courses^TM include:

• Four real-time, online sessions where participants talk with expert instructors, prominent scientists in the field, and other educators across the country
  
  
• Cutting-edge science content
  
  
• Proven, standards-based activities ready-to-use in the K-12 classroom
  
  
• Independent activities tailored to participants’ needs, whether content or pedagogy-focused

The courses offer participants the best of both worlds: the live instruction and the guidance of a knowledgeable, experienced instructor from the comfort of their home. Participants receive immediate feedback, share best practices, and build relationships. Each Short-course^TM includes research scientists from such prestigious institutions as NASA (Goddard, AMES, Langley, and Kennedy), the University of Arizona, NOAA, Stanford University, and more. With the help of these scientists, participants learn cutting-edge science content straight from the field. This content blends with pedagogical methods, including cooperative learning, constructivism, test-taking skills, and the infusion of technology and inquiry-based instruction with real-time data. Participants receive proven classroom materials that can be easily and immediately used with K-12 students to help them become successful, scientifically literate competitors in our increasingly technological world.

After the online sessions, courses become asynchronous and self-paced. Participants select and complete assignments tailored to their needs. Assignments are both science and pedagogy-focused and include options such as writing unit plans, completing inquiry-based research projects using NASA or other authentic data, and implementing Short-course^TM activities in the K-12 classroom and assessing the impact on student learning.

Teachers who take a series of courses can earn a 15 or 30 graduate credit certificate in STEM Education, demonstrating their proficiency in giving technology a meaningful role in instruction.