Web Seminar Series

Join us for a four-part webinar series, scheduled on September 10, 17, 24 and October 1, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM ET, to deepen your understanding of STEM learning experiences that build durable skills.

This web seminar series offers an opportunity to develop or deepen your understanding of how real-world, phenomenon-driven STEM learning can support students in building durable skills for school, work, and life. Participants will consider how STEM experiences that are meaningful to students can position students as active thinkers and problem solvers. Across the series, participants will explore the relationship between sensemaking, three-dimensional teaching and learning, and durable skills, such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and problem solving. 

In web seminars 1 through 4, participants will gain and/or deepen their understanding of how STEM learning can support durable skills through:

• Immersions in high-quality instructional materials
• Analysis of classroom videos and vignettes
• Guided reflection on instructional shifts needed to support students as evidence-based thinkers, collaborators, and problem solvers.

Facilitators will model instructional strategies and the use of curricular materials aligned with the innovations outlined in A Framework for K-12 Science Education. Participants will walk away with practical strategies for planning, selecting, or adapting STEM learning experiences that help students make sense of science ideas while recognizing and strengthening the durable skills they need for future workforce success.

Learning Targets

• Build an understanding of what interdisciplinary STEM learning looks like, feels like, and sounds like in the classroom.
• Be able to foster a community of evidence-based thinkers and position students as “knowers” in the classroom.
• Gain strategies to leverage students’ assets (experiences, prior learning, curiosity, etc.) to engage with STEM learning.
• Identify the features of STEM learning experiences that create opportunities for students to recognize and develop durable skills.

Who Should Attend:

This web seminar series is particularly relevant for:

• K-12 science and STEM educators
• Instructional coaches and STEM specialists
• School and district leaders supporting STEM instruction
• Educators who design, select, or adapt STEM learning experiences

Program Dates and Times:

The four live web seminars are scheduled on Thursdays, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Eastern time. Specific program dates are below:  

• September 10, 17, 24, and October 1, 2026.

During the Topic Study Participants Have Access to:

• Digital resources and all NSTA online community tools (My Library, My Profile, Community Forums)
• All archive versions of the web seminars to watch on-demand.

Program Certificates:

Participants will receive a certificate from NSTA after each live web seminar for attending the live program AND completing the post-program survey. No certificates will be awarded for watching the recorded version of the program.

Groups of Teachers:

Science Leaders Can Sponsor Groups of Educators!  Are you a state, district, or school leader working to enhance your teachers' professional learning?  Please consider sponsoring a cohort of teachers to participate in the Learning that Lasts: Meaningful STEM Experiences that Build Durable Skills Topic Study!  

Cost to Groups:

• $1,500 flat fee per cohort of 25 participants, regardless of their NSTA membership status. Additional participants (beyond 25) will be charged $60 per person.

If you are interested in sponsoring a group of at least 25 individuals, please contact Zoe Evans via email ([email protected]) for a quote.

Send your questions about the program to ([email protected]).

Final note: The rates below are for individual registration only and include all four web seminars in the series.