The Science Education Department of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics is very active in researching into and developing high quality professional development experiences for educators. This page is a portal to PD programs and resources developed by the SED and its education partners.
A Private Universe and Minds of Our Own
Why donÝt even the brightest students truly grasp basic science concepts? A Private Universe is an award-winning program traces the problem through interviews with Harvard graduates and their professors, as well as with a bright ninth-grader who has some confused ideas about the orbits of the planets. Minds of Our Own picks up on the questions asked in Private Universe, showing that many of the things we assume about how children learn are simply not true.
- See a video documentary on education research for grade 5-12 educators using A Private Universe
- See a video documentary on education and learning for K-12 educators and parents using Minds of Our Own
Beyond the Solar System (Expanding the Universe in the Classroom)
Many new astronomy learners, students and adults alike, are unfamiliar with the universe beyond the solar system. The Beyond the Solar System Professional Development Project offers opportunities for deepening content knowledge and exploring strategies for teaching and learning about current scientific models and evidence for the origin and evolution of our universe of galaxies. Learn More...
Annenberg Channel Professional Development Workshops
From 1996 through 2008 the Science Media Group operated the Annenberg Channel, a free satellite channel broadcasting award-winning educational programming. The following workshops have been developed by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in association with the Annenberg Channel. The workshops below and other educational programs are now available on the Web. Learn More...
- Looking at Learning…Again. An eight-part interactive workshop series for K-12 math and science educators.
- Looking at Learning…Again, Part 2. A sequel to Looking at Learning…Again. Through personal interviews, teacher discussions, and classroom footage, the workshops will explore ideas about teaching and learning.
- Assessment in Math & Science: What’s the Point? Interactive workshop series.
- Principles for Principals. A free series of 8 professional development workshops for K-12 principals.
- Science in Focus: Energy. Professional development workshops for K-6 teachers, presenting science concepts in energy.
- Science in Focus: Force & Motion. Professional development workshops for K-8 teachers,presenting science concepts in force and motion.
- Shedding Light on Science. An elementary science content series.
- The Science of Teaching Science. Motivation, encouragement, a variety of models, and support for K-12 teachers who want to explore ways of changing how they teach science.
- Case Studies in Science Education. A video library for K-8 science teachers; 25 half-hour video programs and guides.
- Essential Science for Teachers: Earth and Space. Exploring topics that range from soil to the solar system, this series provides participants the opportunity to increase their science content knowledge and develop new understandings of how this content connects to K - 6 classrooms.
- Essential Science for Teachers: Physical Science. Exploring topics that range from the essential properties of aluminum foil to the plasma that makes up the sun, this series provides participants with enhanced understanding of content and how it connects to the elementary school classroom.
- Essential Science for Teachers: Life Science. How would you answer the question: –What is life? This series focuses on helping teachers build understandings of fundamental science concepts.
- Private Universe Project in Mathematics. This series explores how mathematics teaching can be structured to resonate with children's sophisticated thinking.
- Mathematics: What’s the Big Idea? Interactive Workshop Series.
SEDNet is a nationwide educational leadership program to introduce physical and space science curricula into schools. The SED works with a consortium of Challenger Learning Centers across the nation, offering workshops to elementary and middle school teachers. Learn More...