Multi-Tiered System of Educator Professional Development

By Kristin Brynteson, NIU STEAM Director

Over the past year we’ve reimagined and reinvented our educator professional development – and we’re excited to share our newest PD offerings! Our goal was to closely align with the NIU STEAM Framework – which has three Differentiated Tiers of Impact.

We often talk about our programs for students and families in terms of where they fit on the three tiers. Now we’re more intentionally fitting our educator PD into the three tiers as well. We hope that helps you, as an educator, navigate your individual journey of professional development to follow your interests and get from where you are now to where you want to go. We hope you also take this journey together with your colleagues by attending training sessions together or booking a custom training for your whole team.

Our Tiers of Impact

Our tiers represent different levels of engagement that can either inspire your interest and curiosity in STEAM education, amplify your skills and knowledge, or totally transform a learner (you) or learning environment (your classroom or maker space).

Here is a quick look at our new PD programs and how they fit within the tiers.

Inspire – Are you looking for a spark of inspiration or a new idea that is easily implemented in any classroom? If inspiration is what you’re looking for, then check out our STEAM Learning Series mini-modules and the NIU Engaged Learning Conference.

• The STEAM Learning Series are short, self-paced learning modules that provide STEAM tips and classroom ideas for any learning environment. Each one should take no more than an hour to complete but are packed with great information. Our first one in the series is STEAM Starter, perfect for informal or classroom educators who are ready to start their STEAM learning journey. Additional topics will be released early in 2025.
• The NIU Engaged Learning Conference, hosted in partnership with the Illinois MTSS Network, is a one day interdisciplinary conference filled with informative breakout sessions. This conference is offered twice a year in two different locations. In January, we’ll be in Bloomington/Normal and in June, we’ll be in Naperville. Each conference will offer new and exciting ideas and tips for making the most of engaged learning strategies. Registration for the January conference is open now. Take advantage of early bird pricing until November 22, 2024.

Amplify – Tier 2 is focused on amplifying your STEAM efforts by building organizational capacity and skills through deeper engagement with NIU STEAM strategies. We will help you amplify your STEAM efforts through our new STEAM Learning Networks.

A learning network is a virtual community of practice led by one of our experienced STEAM educators. When you join a learning network, you’ll participate in monthly interactive sessions on a variety of different topics focused on a central theme.

• Starting in December, we’re launching the five session STEAM Stories Learning Network, where you can explore the connections between STEAM and literacy.
• In February, we’ll start two additional Learning Networks that will meet for four sessions: Growing STEAM and Sustainable STEAM.
• Become part of a supportive community as you build your STEAM toolbox from the comfort of your own space. But don’t forget to meet up with your community in person at one of the Engaged Learning Conferences! 

Transform – The third tier of impact centers on sustained support for cultivating systemic change across your organization. At this tier, we are goal focused. We’ll work with you and your organization to set up a system of support to help you meet your specific goals. We can mix and match services to provide you with a customize plan of action.

We have a full catalog of support services including, but not limited to: 

• On site, hands-on teacher workshops – NIU STEAM experts come to your location to facilitate half-day, full-day or multi-day workshops. All workshops are hands on, interactive and high energy. They could be focused on general STEAM Framework concepts or targeted to specific program implementation such as STEAM Stories or After School programming.
• Virtual coaching – Online collaboration or planning sessions with teachers and NIU STEAM Educator(s).
• Onsite Coaching and/or Co-Teaching – A STEAM Educator will work with an individual teacher or team of teachers to plan and co-deliver the materials with students and reflect on the process.

You can also include modules from our STEAM Learning Series, enrollment in a Learning Network, or registration at one or both of the Engaged Learning Conferences. The goal is to work with you and your leadership to set up a system of supports to help you as you work towards your STEAM goals.

Our team of STEAM instructors have decades of classroom experience and are ready to help you get started no matter where you are on you STEAM journey. 

I hope you’ll take just a minute to fill out our online form so we can call you for a consultation.