Middle & High School Chemistry

Professional Development

Effective professional development opportunities involve collaboration with members of the greater educational and scientific communities. Professional networking can be accomplished in meetings and workshops, or via online communications. These are some opportunities to consider.

  • , which includes webinars (twoÌýto four per month during the school year; free forÌýgeneral public, archive available to members only)Ìýand discounts to some science teacher meetingsÌýand workshops.
  • Biennial Conference on Chemical Education (BCCE) (summer in even years)
  • ChemEd (summer in odd years)
  • Regional ACS meetings (throughout the year; check meeting programs for details)

Teachers can be overwhelmed with day-to-day activities and find themselves unable to take advantage of additionalÌýopportunities, no matter how worthy or needed. Therefore,Ìýschool administrators and districts should provide teachersÌýwith release time during their workday or with stipends forÌýopportunities to make professional development activitiesÌýtruly available to teachers.

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Professional Organizations and Resources

Membership and active participation in professionalÌýorganizations can provide chemistry teachers with aÌýhost of opportunities to network with other educationÌýprofessionals on multiple levels.

These organizationsÌýprovide continued learning, classroom resources,Ìýworkshops, articles, grant announcements, and onlineÌýcourses. They provide teachers with ideas and activitiesÌýfor their classes as well as ways to improve their ownÌýpedagogy and content knowledge. Being an activeÌýmember, using online resources, and attending local,Ìýstate, or national conferences associated with suchÌýprofessional organizations are great ways to stay currentÌýin the profession.

Specifically for chemistry teachers, makes availableÌýa number of resources for the classroom, and the program provides partnership with a chemist,Ìý which can include content and practice.

In addition to ACS, here are some select nationalÌýassociations and professional development organizations,Ìýthat provide a variety of support materials andÌýopportunities for chemistry teachers at all levels:

ACS has local sections, which may have an associatedÌýteacher group. There are also regional science orÌýchemistry education groups that teachers can find in theirÌýarea. NSTA has some local sections that sponsor chemistryÌýteacher organizations, and some areas have independentÌýorganizations. Often, areas with a local college orÌýuniversity may offer on-campus science education presentations and workshops for teachers, which may provide networking opportunities.

Search more funding and award opportunities on the ACS Funding and Awards web page.Ìý