Upcoming TASAA Professional Development Opportunities 2023-24
We are excited to launch our next TASAA professional development courses on sensors and data this fall. These hands-on, STEM courses will give you resources and skills to use sensors and data in your classroom.
Why sensors? Empower your students to design their own experiments and build the tools to learn about their local area. For example, use a light sensor to assess the appropriate amount of light for a garden. Or combine multiple sensors to gather other environmental information like temperature and pH. The applications are endless!
Why data? The ability to analyze and interpret data is an important life and career skill. It is also embedded throughout the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Course #1: Introduction to Sensors with Micro:bits (November 2023)
The Introduction to Sensors with Micro:bits course teaches the basics of using sensors to collect data and is geared towards teachers who want to learn how to use sensors with their students to collect and analyze data. All materials to build the sensor will be provided by TASAA. Read the course overview here.
Who: Any grade-level or subject area.
Prerequisites: None. No electronics or coding experience is required. You will learn how to block code and build circuits using a breadboard in this course.
Time Commitment: Approximately 15 hours to complete.
Online required meeting dates: November 1st, 15th, 29th at 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET
Course #2: Multi-sensors and Data Loggers Using Public Sensors Kits (January-February 2024)
In this course, you will learn how to build a multi-sensor to measure temperature, light and distance, with an option to add in a data logger using the Public Sensors Kit. You will learn how to create circuits using a breadboard and run Python code to collect data from the sensors. All materials to build the sensors will be provided by TASAA. This course will be co-taught with Sasha Seroy, PhD, a lecturer in Biological Oceanography at the University of Washington. Read the course overview here.
Who: This course is geared towards teachers at the upper elementary to college level.
Prerequisites: An understanding of simple circuits and basic knowledge of coding.
Time Commitment: Approximately 15 hours to complete.
Online required meeting dates: Jan 17th, Jan 24th, Jan 31st, and Feb 7th at 4:30pm PT / 7:30pm ET.
Courses #3 & 4: Project ROVe
We will be offering our Introduction to ROVs online course starting in January 2024 and the Design and Build course in the summer of 2024 in partnership with the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The in-person workshop will be located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. Stay tuned for more information on how to get involved.
