Wade Institute for Science Education
2023–2024 Approved Courses for the MA DESE OAPL Program

Building the Storyline Using Culturally Relevant Phenomena in Your Classroom

A Two-Day Professional Learning Opportunity for Grades 9–12 Educators

Do you want to explore how to use storyline routines and anchoring phenomena to shift your curriculum to student-centered science learning as you delve into the relationship between humans, climate, and the natural environment? In this workshop, explore how real-world phenomena can be used to investigate the effects of climate on the ecosystem. Using problem-based issues, engage in  investigations from the unit as a learner, including the anchoring phenomenon routine and student-driven inquiry investigations, then reflect on those experiences as a teacher. Learn how to construct a storyline unit, incorporate relevant phenomena, and utilize best practices for DEI in the STEM classroom, including establishing classroom norms and processes that value all student resources. Take back to your classroom an outline of a storyline unit, inquiry investigations, and resources for developing your own storyline unit using culturally relevant phenomena.

Registration Information

Collaborating Partner: Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center
Dates: Thursday, November 30th and Friday, December 1st, 2023 (8:30 AM–3:30 PM ET)
Location: Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center, Milton, MA
Cost: FREE for eligible MA educators that qualify through MA DESE’s OAPL program and includes $300 substitute pay. Registration cost is $250 per educator from non-qualifying schools.
PDPs and Optional Graduate Credit: 14 PDPs available without graduate credit. 22.5 PDPs and 1 graduate credit available from Cambridge College for $75. Graduate credit requires additional work.

Engaging Students in the Engineering Design Process Using Sensors

A Two-Day Professional Learning Opportunity for Grades 6–12 Educators

Are you a middle or high school teacher who is interested in incorporating digital technology and computational thinking into engineering design portions of their curriculum, but feel that you lack the skills or confidence to get started on your own? Explore coding and electronics through fun, engaging, hands-on projects using the Arduino Open Source Electronics Platform! 

Engage in a variety of investigations that explore using Arduino Sensors for student-led, project-based learning. Build various models using sensors, create a device of your own choosing with guidance from our instructors, and then collaborate with peers to design a challenge you would like to incorporate into your curriculum. Connect your learning to the real world applications of the technology in our daily lives and in scientific studies. Receive an Arduino kit to start using these materials and investigations in your classroom!

Registration Information

Dates: Thursday, March 14th and Friday, March 15th, 2024 (8:30 AM–3:30 PM ET)
Location: Springfield Museum, Springfield, MA
Cost: FREE for eligible MA educators that qualify through MA DESE’s OAPL program and includes $300 substitute pay. Registration cost is $300 per educator from non-qualifying schools.
PDPs and Optional Graduate Credit: 14 PDPs available without graduate credit. 22.5 PDPs and 1 graduate credit available from Cambridge College for $75. Graduate credit requires additional work.

Engaging Students in the Engineering Design Process Using Sensors: Part 2

A Two-Day Professional Learning Opportunity for Grades 6–12 Educators

Join us for a more advanced workshop focused on using Arduino technology to create and program robotic devices. Build and program a robot capable of carrying a variety of data collecting sensors to bring back to your classroom. Explore engineering designs that can be used to identify and solve problems in the community.

Registration Information

Dates: Thursday, April 4th and Friday, April 5th, 2024 (8:30 AM–3:30 PM ET)
Location: Massasoit Community College Canton Campus, Canton, MA
Cost: FREE for eligible MA educators that qualify through MA DESE’s OAPL program and includes $300 substitute pay. Registration cost is $350 per educator from non-qualifying schools.
PDPs and Optional Graduate Credit: 14 PDPs available without graduate credit. 22.5 PDPs and 1 graduate credit available from Cambridge College for $75. Graduate credit requires additional work.

Exploring Instructional Strategies That Promote Student Sensemaking and Student Discourse

A Two-Day Professional Learning Opportunity for Grades 9–12 Educators  

Explore instructional strategies that promote student sensemaking, including phenomena-based instruction, using a Driving Question Board, and student discourse. The learning experiences will use science and/or engineering content relevant to the OpenSciEd high school units under development and being released in 2024. Gain insight into phenomena-based instruction and consider its power for promoting students’ deep understanding of Disciplinary Core Ideas, further develop your skills in using the Science and Engineering Practices, and strengthen your use of the Crosscutting Concepts of science and engineering. Get an introduction to the use of storylines to build instructional units that foster students’ sensemaking by starting with students’ questions and having students develop and engage in inquiry-based investigations, develop explanations, and use evidence to support their claims.

Registration Information

Collaborating Partner: TBD
Dates: Thursday, April 25th and Friday, April 26th, 2024 (8:30 AM–3:30 PM ET)
Location: Pioneer Valley/Springfield, MA
Cost: FREE for eligible MA educators that qualify through MA DESE’s OAPL program and includes $300 substitute pay. Registration cost is $250 per educator from non-qualifying schools.
PDPs and Optional Graduate Credit: 14 PDPs available without graduate credit. 22.5 PDPs and 1 graduate credit available from Cambridge College for $75. Graduate credit requires additional work.

Visit www.wadeinstitutema.org for more information and to register!