Web Seminar Series

This web seminar series, scheduled on September 3, 10, 17, and 24 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Eastern Time, offers an opportunity to develop or deepen your understanding of how phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional teaching and learning form the foundation of meaningful STEM opportunities for students.

In web seminars 1 through 4, participants will gain and/or deepen their understanding of the relationship between sensemaking and meaningful STEM through

• immersions in high-quality instructional materials,
• analysis of classroom videos and vignettes,
• evaluating lessons for sensemaking/meaningful STEM using the NSTA Sensemaking Tool, and
• guided reflection on science instructional shifts needed to achieve the vision for science/STEM education for all students as described in A Framework for K-12 Science Education.

Facilitators model instructional strategies and use of curricular materials aligned with the innovations outlined in A Framework for K–12 Science Education.

Learning Targets:

• Build an understanding of what three-dimensional teaching and 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 the “knowers” in the classroom.
• Gain strategies to leverage students’ assets (experiences, prior learning, curiosity, etc.) to learn STEM
• Be able to apply the webinar experience to identify, revise, and create high-quality instructional materials with respect to sensemaking and meaningful STEM.

Program dates and times:

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

• September 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2025.

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 Making Sense of Meaningful STEM: Topic Study for K-12 STEM Educators!  

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 Flavio Mendez 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.