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‘Making STEM Easy’ workshop for teachers at Knoxville Zoo, supported by Alcoa Foundation and Friends of the Smokies

September 17, 2014

STEM workshop for teachers

by Julie Dodd

STEM workshop for teachers at Knoxville Zoo
Teachers participate in hands-on activities during a “Making STEM Easy” workshop.

Middle school and high school teachers in the Knoxville area can attend a free teacher workshop “Making STEM Easy” on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Knoxville Zoo.

The workshop is part of Friends of the Smokies program “Educating Teachers in Science and Technology.” The program is designed to offer training for teachers and to promote teachers bringing their students on a field trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Focus on science, technology, engineering & math

The “Making STEM Easy” workshop focuses on concepts in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) that will help middle school and high school teachers be more effective in their teaching.

The workshop includes demonstrations by subject area experts on how to teach some of the more difficult parts of STEM, including engineering, chemistry and geography/GIS (geographic information systems — a visualization mapping system). Teachers also will learn about technology software and apps that can the resources in the classroom.

The workshop is from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and includes lunch, take-home resources, and free materials.

Teachers should wear comfortable clothes with layers. They will be both inside and outside during the workshop — sitting at desks and doing hands-on activities.

Flexible in-service hours for teachers

Flexible in-service hours will be offered. Teachers must have their in-service hours approved by their own schools.

Funding for “Making STEM Easy” is provided by a grant from the Alcoa Foundation through Friends of the Smokies. A requirement of the grant is that participating teachers must bring their students on a free field trip to Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the 2014-2015 school year.

Rangers will work with teachers to make the field trip activities coordinate with curriculum goals. Funds are available to pay for bus stipends for the field trip.

To participate in the workshop, teachers must register by Tuesday, Sept. 23. Teachers can register for the workshop or ask question by contacting Emily Guss at 865-436-1713 or Emily_Guss@nps.gov.

If you know teachers in the Knoxville area who might be interested in attending the workshop, please relay this information to them.