If you combine built-in relevance, self-paced instruction and affordability, what do you get? PEI’s Asynchronous Course, an online opportunity for educators to explore aspects of FieldSTEM’s integrated learning model, gain an understanding of the impact outdoor experiences have on student growth and health, and reinforce the value of multi-subject integration.
Through the six-week virtual course, participants identify a content area and study unit from their classroom curriculum and embark on a self-paced journey through the components of the FieldSTEM model. Each learning module invites them to reflect on their current teaching practices and consider where they might integrate more FieldSTEM into their instruction. At the end of the course, they synthesize their practice by developing a draft FieldSTEM implementation plan, which serves as an action plan for educators ready to translate their learning into practice.
“This course is hyper-relevant for educators because they have to bring their own content and modify it into a FieldSTEM unit,” says PEI’s Associate Director Megan Rivard.
The course is designed for educators new to FieldSTEM rather than those who have taken multiple PEI courses. It’s a simple – and, at $60 (plus, unfortunately, thanks to new statewide regulations, tax) affordable – entry point for teachers who may have heard colleagues discussing FieldSTEM but didn’t know how to get started.
“This course is hyper-relevant for educators because they have to bring their own content and modify it into a FieldSTEM unit.”
— PEI Associate Director Megan Rivard
Participants appreciated both the self-paced nature of the course and its reflective component. Their response was overwhelmingly positive, according to PEI’s Lower Columbia FieldSTEM Coordinator Emily Newman. “The experience provided scaffolded planning time,” one participant shared. “I appreciated the time for reflection that was built in after every module.” One PE teacher reported, “I absolutely love the format of this class. It helped me develop an outstanding lesson implementing a FieldSTEM project into PE, which also includes a Math Component, a Biking Component, Science, and outdoor Recreation. I didn’t realize just what I was building until about halfway through. It was awesome!”
As a result of participant feedback, PEI will be making changes to subsequent courses. “We thoughtfully considered the first round of course evaluation responses when making modifications to optimize the experiences for future participants,” says Eastern Washington FieldSTEM Coordinator Amy Dawley. “We greatly appreciate educators taking that extra time to provide feedback so that we can improve our professional learning offerings.”
Those changes include opening new courses on a monthly, rolling basis. Those who sign up before the second Monday of the month will be in a new cohort that month, while those who enroll after that date will begin the course the following month. “This will allow us to have the course open to more participants and for participants to take the course at a time that works best for them,” Newman explains.
Upon request, PEI will also be adding Spanish-language resources, questions for administrators as well as teachers, and opportunities for educators to meet and share ideas with others in their cohort or who have already completed the course. “We’ll be creating a space for participants to add their contact information, what subject, grade, and where they are located and whether or not they are open to being contacted,” says Newman. “Also, they can indicate if they are interested in mentoring or looking for a mentor so that teachers who have taken this course can connect after completing the course and with others who may have been in a different cohort.”
Future asynchronous course topics may include English Language Arts (ELA) and math performance tasks and how to write them. “We’d like to develop a catalog of these courses,” says Rivard. “Ultimately, we want teachers to have access to high-quality professional learning and resources at a very reasonable price.”
The next course begins in January. Registration is now open.
