Australian Science Teachers’ Association (ASTA) STEM Teacher Professional Development Tour
Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego
1 OCTOBER – 12 OCTOBER 2018
This remarkable teacher STEM professional development tour, on the West Coast of the USA, is designed to provide credits for your PD requirements. Covering the gamut of STEM activities, the tour includes teacher workshops at some extraordinary locations including a high tech high school, Exploratorium’s Teacher Institute, University of Southern California (subject to availability), California Science Centre and more. Suitable for both primary and secondary teachers, there is something for everyone. Following the tour, you will have a plethora of ideas for classroom STEM activities. You may even want to take your students on an experiential learning tour of their own!
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Visit a high tech high school to observe classes and participate in teacher workshops
- Take a tour of Boeing with a STEM workshop to follow
- Spend the day on Puget Sound taking measurements on an Eco-Science vessel
- Go behind the scenes at the California Academy of Sciences
- Take workshops at the Teacher Institute, run by the Exploratorium
- Observe a class undertaking a simulated space mission
- See the Space Shuttle Endeavour
- Visit NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory for a guided tour
- Exceptional opportunity for STEM teachers to take professional development workshops at some amazing sites
From Microchip to Spaceship
This remarkable teacher STEM professional development tour, on the West Coast of the USA, is designed to provide credits for your Professional Development requirements.
Covering the gamut of STEM activities, the tour includes teacher workshops at some extraordinary locations including a high tech high school, Exploratorium’s Teacher Institute, University of Southern California (subject to availability), California Science Centre and more.
Suitable for both primary and secondary teachers, there is something for everyone. Following the tour, you will have a plethora of ideas for classroom STEM activities. You may even want to take your students on an experiential learning tour of their own!
In addition to the above workshops, you will visit California Academy of Sciences for a “Behind the Scenes” tour, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Boeing for a factory tour and STEAM aligned workshop, Autodesk and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for some engaging student Science experiments.
Subject to availability, your group will also visit Planet Labs, a new satellite company, not forgetting your chance to either undertake a simulated space mission or observe a class of students doing just that! Include a day on Puget Sound on an Eco-Science vessel undertaking sound studies and explorations, a visit to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and both hands on activities and professional learning at California Science Centre and you have a full STEM program for your professional development.
You also have the option to stay on after the tour and add in one or two days at Disney, observing a student level Science workshop each morning, with the rest of the day free. Another addition that could be considered is Universal Studios, including a STEM based guided tour – Special Effects or WaterWorld Technical – with the balance of the day free. You are welcome to add on any additional free days as you wish and fly home when it suits. Optional extra days are not included in the price.
Each day of the tour includes hand on experiences aligned to the curriculum, giving you an exceptional opportunity to increase your knowledge of STEM and expand your teaching practice.
This is a ground-breaking tour full of teacher workshops, STEM activities and all that you will need to create engaging STEM lessons for your own classes.
TOUR COST
Approximately $5,000 + flights per ASTA member twin share. Non-ASTA members $5,300 + flights approx. Tour price may vary based on the number of participants and prevailing exchange rates. Single supplement of around $1,350 applies. Additional cost for optional additional days.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
- Carefully crafted, curriculum linked itinerary specifically designed in conjunction with ASTA for Teacher PD
- Escorted by a dedicated Tour Director and highly qualified, award winning STEM teacher
- Teacher experiential learning activities, workshops and professional learning at a university and two teacher institutes plus student class and workshop observation all add to your professional development
- Safe, well located accommodation and modern coaches
- Support provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while on tour
- Full itinerary available upon deposit and registration
- Pre-departure briefing for participating teachers
- Adult group insurance product available, providing excellent cover and saving you money (Please note that travel insurance is mandatory)
TOUR ITINERARY
Day 1
Depart Australia. Fly from Sydney to Seattle. Arrive and visit Microsoft Visitor Centre before checking into your hotel
Day 2
Boeing tour and STEAM aligned education program. Take a guided tour of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Day 3
Spend the morning on Puget Sound on an Eco-Science vessel undertaking sound explorations and measurements, then fly to San Francisco
Day 4
This morning visit California Academy of Sciences for a comprehensive “Behind the Scenes” tour. Afternoon sightseeing of San Francisco, including Lombard Street, Cable Cars, Golden Gate Bridge and much more
Day 5
Subject to availability, visit Planet Labs, a new satellite company. This is followed by time in the Exploratorium checking out the student hands on activities, following by professional learning at the Exploratorium’s Teacher Institute. Later visit Autodesk, a 3D design company, to discover the future of making things.
Day 6
This morning will be spent at a unique National Laboratory where they discovered two elements added to the Elemental Table. You will spen time observing a wide range of brilliant student level Science experiments. This afternoon, fly to Los Angeles
Day 7
Depending on the availability at the site, you will either take part in a realistic, highly educative space mission simulation. Alternatively, if the site is booked, you will have the joy of observing a student class undertaking the mission themselves. This is a really enjoyable day, however you cut it.
observe a class or take part yourselves,
depending on availability
Day 8
Subject to availability, this morning the group will visit the School of Engineering at a well known university for a robotics program. The afternoon is at California Science Centre for professional learning and a visit to Space Shuttle Endeavour. Explore, experience or learn one of the following: the Three-Dimensional learning approach, the significance of Crosscutting Concepts for student learning, Science & Engineering Practices or an introduction to the Engineering Design Standards and Science notebooking across content areas.
Day 9
Drive to San Diego for the day at a high tech high school, including professional development workshops at their Graduate Institution and observation of STEM classes. Return to Los Angeles
Day 10
This morning you will have a tour of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory then fly home in the afternoon (unless you choose to stay for any optional days)
Day 11
Cross the International Date Line and lose one day
Day 12
Arrive home ( unless you have stayed on for optional days)
OPTIONAL EXTRA DAYS
Day 11
Optional day at Disney for observing student Science workshop and free time
Day 12
Optional second day at Disney for observing student Science workshop and free time
Day 13
Optional day at Universal Studios with technical tour – Special Effects tour or WaterWorld Technical tour and free time or choose to fly home after the morning tour and some time at Universal Studios. If you fly home tonight you will arrive home on DAY 15
Day 14
Fly home today following your Universal Studios day yesterday. If you fly home today, you will arrive home on Day 16
IF YOU WISH TO STAY LONGER, THE CHOICE IS YOURS. JUST ADVISE US AT THE TIME OF BOOKING
OPEN THEIR EYES TO A WORLD OF POSSIBILITY
We’re committed to helping teachers and their students bring the Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to life, by creating memorable and unique experiences. We can add in the Arts for STEAM experiential learning.
And remember – if you are not located in Australia, we can develop an itinerary for your curriculum too
STEM CURRICULUM SUBJECTS
Australian Curriculum Senior Secondary Subjects
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth and Environmental Science
- Physics
State Curricula Senior Secondary Subjects
- Senior Science
- Environmental Science
- Psychology
- Agricultural Science/Agriculture/Agriculture and Horticulture Studies
- Earth Science
- Marine Science
- Science 21
- Aerospace studies
International Baccalaureate DP
- Biology SL/HL
- Chemistry SL/HL
- Computer Science SL/HL
- Environmental systems and societies SL
- Physics SL/HL
Sports, exercise and health science SL
Australian Curriculum F-10
- Science
International Baccalaureate MYP
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Integrated Sciences
Australian Curriculum Senior Secondary Subjects
- Design and Technologies
- Digital Technologies
State Curricula Senior Secondary Subjects
- Computing- Informatics- Software Development
- Design and Technology
- Food and Technology
- Food Technology
- Graphics
- Industrial Technology
- Information Processes and Technology
- Information Processing and Technology
- Systems Engineering
- Technology Studies
Textiles and Design
International Baccalaureate DP
- Design technology SL/HL
Australian Curriculum F-10 subjects
- Design and Technologies
- Digital Technologies
International Baccalaureate MYP
- Product Design
- Digital Design
- Combined digital and product design
Australian Curriculum Senior Secondary Subjects
- Essential Mathematics
- General Mathematics
- Mathematical Methods
- Specialist Mathematics
International Baccalaureate DP
- Further mathematics HL
- Mathematical studies SL
- Mathematics SL/HL
Australian Curriculum F-10 subjects
- Mathematics – Number and Algebra, Measurement and geometry,
- Statistics and Probability
International Baccalaureate MYP
- Mathematics and Extended Mathematics
INTERESTED IN SCIENCE OR STEM TOURS?
Contact us to discuss your unique requirements.
