Introduction

NASA STEM BOOT CAMP for Middle School Teachers

NASA STEM BOOT CAMP for Middle School Teachers

2016-06-30 10.49.16-1[1]
Students from the STEM Program stand with, Dr. Thomasenia Adams from UF on the far left, and the one of the instructors who directed the boot camp, Ms. Pam Minnifield, on the far right.
Santa Fe College’s Office of Community Outreach and East Gainesville Instruction held its first summer professional development STEM boot camp for nine newly hired middle school teachers in Alachua and Bradford County during the week of June 20-24, 2016. Recruited teachers came from schools that generally serve students that are historically underrepresented and underserved in STEM related fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

The week long summer STEM boot camp held in East Gainesville , gave teachers real world experiences in STEM education through inquiry learning, hands on STEM teaching, development and design of STEM projects and tips on STEM teaching pedagogy in an effort to reach and motivate students in STEM education. All teachers received: free stem Teacher Resources, curricular plans, technology support, feedback from UF STEM consultants , a STEM educational tool kit and a web network of new professional STEM colleagues to share STEM information and resources for life. The long term impact of their STEM training will directly impact hundreds of middle school youth in the Alachua and Bradford County schools.