Science in the Cloud
Science teachers must continue their own education to stay current. One professional organization that takes an integrated approach to learning, including making use of the cloud, is the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).
A member organization, it also has a variety of free resources for non-members on its website. On the page devoted to professional development, visitors can sort materials by grade, topic, or even geographic location. The online learning section points users to cloud-based webinars or hosted events, including a mix of free and fee-based sessions. The Do-it-Yourself section uses the cloud to deliver curriculum for teachers to improve their knowledge and teaching skills.
The community forums cover specific science disciplines (chemistry, earth and space, life science, STEM) as well as pedagogy and research (new teachers, evaluation and assessment, next generation science standards.) Users who are active on the site are listed at the bottom of the page, making it possible to engage with colleagues in a particular discipline.
Non-members can create free professional development accounts that include a personalized library, calendar, and notepad. They can also take part in community forums and use the Live Chat function. More than 3,500 of the site’s 10,300 resources are free, and it’s worth a look to see what else is floating around in the NSTA cloud.
About the Author
Margo Pierce is a Cincinnati-based freelance writer.