STEM

U Denver To Launch STEM Professional Development for Teachers

• By Michael Hart
• 05/04/16

The University of Denver's Center for Professional Development is partnering with the Denver-based Silicon STEM Academy to launch "STEM for Grown-Ups," a new curriculum of interactive courses involving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) that teachers and others can take for continuing education unit (CEU) credit.

The Silicon STEM Academy, which provides training programs in technology for both children and adults, will offer six courses at its facility in Denver while the University of Denver will offer the credentialing that could lead to both CEU credit and academic credit.

"STEM for GrownUps" is a suite of immersive STEM education programs intended to give professionals interdisciplinary, collaborative training in critical thinking. Participants can choose from workshops to short courses to certificates in robotics, computer programming, electronics, mobile app development and digital media.

The goal of "STEM for Grown-Ups" is to give teachers and other interested professionals the knowledge and resource they need to integrate 21^st century subject matter and critical thinking skills into their classrooms.

"'STEM for Grown-Ups' offers everyone the opportunity to come back to school and learn the latest in the STEM sciences," said Kim Gorgens, associate professor and executive director of the Center for Professional Development at the University of Denver. "The program will equip professionals with the tools to thrive in an ever more STEM-focused world."

Along with the CEU and college credit, students can earn a specialty certificate by completing a sequence of any three Silicon STEM Academy intensive courses.

An introductory five-hour immersive course will be held June 18 that will give participants a taste of robotics, coding and electronics. Participants in the course, which will cost $100, will receive 0.5 CEU at its completion.