Professional Learning ยป

Teacher Pathway

Mi-STAR is not just a curriculum: it is also a professional learning pathway and a community designed to support you in implementing Mi-STAR and MSS in your middle school classroom.

New Teacher Enrollment in Mi-STAR
Interested in using Mi-STAR in your classroom? Mi-STAR teachers enroll through a Mi-STAR Professional Learning Facilitator. See pricing information here.

Find a Professional Learning Facilitator and Enroll!
View this page to contact a certified Mi-STAR Professional Learning Facilitator in your region to register.
 
Summer Phase 1 Virtual Training for New Teachers
We will be offering a staff-led Phase 1 Introduction to the Curriculum training in August. This training will combine asynchronous Canvas coursework with synchronous PLC meetings via Zoom. PLFs can register new teachers for the training by emailing Chris Geerer, cmgeerer@mtu.edu. 

Synchronous training dates:
Orientation, July 21
PLC #1, August 4
PLC #2, August 11
PLC #3, August 18
 
Returning Teachers: Subscribe each school year in order to retain unit access and access additional units and new curriculum resources as they are released.

Teacher Pathway Overview
The activities for this pathway are listed in sequential order below:

Prerequisite: Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

Prior professional learning experience with the Next Generation Science Standards and Three Dimensional Learning such as the online asynchronous Canvas course Mi-STAR Academy: Introduction to NGSS, the face-to-face NGSX program, or similar experience.

Phase 1

Introduction to the Mi-STAR Curriculum - Canvas Course

Teachers complete an online asynchronous Canvas course providing an overview of the Mi-STAR Curriculum using materials from Unit 6.1: Water on the Move. This course takes about six hours to complete.

Introduction to the Mi-STAR Curriculum - PLC Meetings

Teachers will participate in three (2 hr) sessions conducted by Mi-STAR staff or a Mi-STAR Professional Learning Facilitator. These sessions can be held virtually or face-to-face and will be held at regular intervals as teachers complete their Canvas course.

Topics of the PLCs will be:

  • Instructional model at the unit level
  • Instructional model at the lesson level
  • Implementing Mi-STAR 3D assessment tools

Upon completion of Phase 1, teachers will be prepared to teach Unit 6.1 and will be able to request access to other Mi-STAR units.

Phase 2

Mi-STAR Unit Primer Canvas Courses

Through 2020-2021, teachers complete an online asynchronous “Unit Primer” course in Canvas for each unit and are encouraged to participate in online discussion forums with other members of the Mi-STAR community. Unit primers take approximately two hours to complete.

Starting in 2021-2022, teachers will complete two unit primers as part of their Phase 2 training, and are strongly encouraged to complete unit primers for all units that they may teach.

Curriculum Study Session(s)

Teachers complete a total of six hours of professional learning to reflect on their experience implementing the Mi-STAR curriculum. This learning is completed by the end of the first year of implementation.  The new format will include virtual options, and may be completed throughout the school year. Curriculum study sessions may be offered by a local Professional Learning Facilitator, and will be offered synchronously and asynchronously by Mi-STAR staff.

Phase 3

Continued Professional Learning and Support

Teachers receive ongoing support through their PLF or Mi-STAR coach, the Mi-STAR Curriculum Helpline, and community forums. As teachers implement Mi-STAR in the classroom, they are encouraged to participate in regular PLC meetings led by a Professional Learning Facilitator (PLF) or by Mi-STAR staff.

Teachers are also encouraged to attend the virtual Mi-STAR Learning Series and to participate in further Curriculum Study Sessions.

Copyright © 2021 Mi-STAR - Michigan Science Teaching and Assessment Reform
Mi-STAR was founded in 2015 through generous support provided by the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation. Mi-STAR has also received substantial support from the National Science Foundation, the MiSTEM Advisory Council through the Michigan Department of Education, and Michigan Technological University.
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