Through a chemistry graduate class at SDSU in 2017, I met Ryan Johnson (CO - @RyTriGuy), who introduced me to the ChemEd Twitter community (#chemed). From there, I came to learn about Chem Ed2019, in Naperville, IL, where 700+ chemistry teachers gathered from around the world to network and explore pedagogy, content, and resources. While we eagerly await in-person events, professional development online affords teachers the opportunity to bolster pedagogy and content ahead of the 2021-2022 school year.
Below are some virtual opportunities to engage in professional development in chemistry education. Some programs have a registration fee; it is recommended that you ask your district or school for financial assistance to cover all or part of the cost. Additionally, for future years, it is worth noting that the ACS Hach Grant awards teachers $1,500 for professional development, graduate school, or classroom projects.
AACT - “Best of ChemEd 2021”
Together ChemEd 2023 and 2025 committees are organizing the “Best of ChemEd” virtual symposium with the help of AACT. Engaging sessions each day along with social events will highlight what ChemEd is all about – a community of chemistry teachers sharing ideas, resources and successes. Sessions include AP Chemistry Symposia, modeling in chemistry, making CER, chemistry on the microscale, kinesthetic chemistry, PhET, flipped classroom, gamification, assessment and more!
July 27-29 (register for sessions on 1, 2, or 3 days)
Cost: Free
POGIL (Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning) Summer Workshops
POGIL is an acronym for Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning. It is a student-centered, group-learning instructional strategy and philosophy developed through research on how students learn best.
Introductory Workshops: Learn the essential elements of POGIL pedagogy and philosophy. Observe classroom facilitation strategies that can be used in person or virtually. Incorporate the development of key process skills into POGIL lessons. Explore the structure of POGIL activities.
July 12-13
August 4-5
Cost: $175
Advanced Workshops: “Classroom Facilitation” (July 19-22) and “Activity Writing” (July 26-30)
Cost: $300
Pivot Interactives Summer Webinar Series
Pivot Interactives allows teachers to use active lab learning any time with any science subject. Students analyze real events, making their own measurements and observations. Each content webinar will focus on teaching the WHOLE unit with Pivot Interactives. Sessions are geared for high school students in introductory and advanced algebra-based high school courses, such as Introductory Chemistry and AP Chemistry; however, advanced topics will also be discussed if requested.
July 6: Reaction Kinetics, 11am-1pm
July 12: Thermodynamics, 11am-1pm
July 20: Equilibrium, 11am-1pm
July 22: Acids and Bases, 11am-1pm
Cost: Free
American Modeling Teachers Association
Designed to train teachers in the modeling method, particularly within chemistry education. Sessions for Chemistry Modeling I and Chemistry Modeling II are offered several times during the window of July 5 - Aug 6, 2021.
Cost: $750-$775
inquiryHub - Chemistry
Engage with resources and routines involved in teaching Unit 1 of inquiryHub Chemistry “How Should We Search for Life Beyond Earth?” Explore assessment, student questions, equitability, phenomena, and investigations. The inquiryHub is a Research Practice Partnership (RPP) that engages in research and development of materials and processes to promote equitable student learning of mathematics and science.
July 6-9
July 27-30
Cost: $449
OpenSciEd
This four day workshop immerses you in teaching and learning driven by students making sense of phenomena and developing solutions to problems. This professional learning session will also support educators to dig into one of the following units: 6.1 Light & Matter, 7.1 Chemical Reactions & Matter, or 8.1 Contact Forces.
July 26, 27, 29, 30, 11am-6pm
Cost: $1,000