Our Professional Learning Model

Elementary School

GEMS-Net currently supports elementary educators in implementing the FOSS curriculum through ongoing grade-specific professional learning sessions focusing on individual units and lessons. All new educators or grade changers participate in initial professional learning sessions focusing on grade-specific science units. After the initial workshops, educators participate in advanced professional learning sessions to dive deeper into the courses every other year to continue to grow their practice.

Fifth-grade teachers investigate in “student hat,” determining the differences in plants growing in and out of the sunlight.

Teachers from GEMS-Net partnering districts work together during a plant investigation in a fifth-grade workshop.

Teachers in partnering school districts receive ongoing instructional coaching and support in the practical implementation of lessons in the classroom. Administrators and school leaders also participate in professional learning in order to support their teachers with implementing the science curriculum.

GEMS-Net is currently reviewing high-quality curriculum for science at the elementary level and is piloting OpenSciEd in K-5. During advanced workshops, elementary teachers are being introduced to the OpenSciEd curriculum, practicing pedagogical shifts and experiencing lessons in “student hat.”

Middle School

As a certified OpenSciEd Professional Learning Provider, GEMS-Net supports the implementation of the OpenSciEd curriculum through professional learning workshops and ongoing coaching for all teachers in our fifteen partnered school districts.

8th-grade teachers collaborate to sort the storyline model of OpenSciEd.

Teachers attend a Curriculum Launch Workshop for Unit 1 and also participate in Deeper Dive professional learning workshops for each subsequent OpenSciEd unit. During these workshops, educators advance their understanding of the OpenSciEd approach by focusing on specific topics and pedagogical shifts as they prepare to teach each unit.

GEMS-Net also provides professional learning to administrators to help them support the implementation of OpenSciEd.