Sustainability: Outreach

Teacher Professional Development Programs

Michigan Tech's Division of Teacher Education offers numerous professional development courses for K-12 teachers interested in strengthening their content knowledge, making connections with scientific advances, and improving their skills in inquiry-based instruction. These summer institutes and online courses are particularly designed for science teachers and feature environmental themes. All courses can be applied to the requirements for the graduate degree in Applied Science Education.

Full information on teacher programs is available from the Teacher Professional Development Coordinator, Lori Witting.

Graduate Programs for Science Teachers

The university offers a M. S. degree in Applied Science Education, with three tracks:

  • Applied Science and Mathematics Education
  • Earth System Science
  • Peace Corps Master's Program in Science Edcuation

Western Upper Peninsula Center for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education

The Center offers a wide variety of programs focused on enhancing the teaching and learning of science and mathematics in the 21 school districts of the five western counties of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Teacher professional development programs help teachers to implement state and national standards and to actively engage their students in learning. In addition, Center staff provide support to schools districts as they align their curriculum to state curriculum standards.

Professional Development (K-12 teachers and non-formal educators)

Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum

The center is a partnership of Michigan Tech and both the Copper Country and Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School Districts. With an award, funded by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the Western U.P. Center is working to develop three curriculum units: energy and resources, ecosystems, and water quality. The development of each curriculum unit will be guided by an eight-member team, comprised of Michigan Tech faculty, faculty from other universities, resource professionals, and educators from throughout Michigan.

Center for Science & Environmental Outreach

The GEM Center for Science and Environmental Outreach is a nonprofit team of professionals and volunteers who provide educational programs, technical expertise, and information to schools, organizations, governments, and individuals to promote awareness and informed personal actions and public policy concerning regional environmental issues.

Community Decision Maker Outreach Programs for Houghton and Keweenaw Counties

Community programs at the GEM Center for Science and Environmental Outreach focus on helping communities, organizations, and individuals make informed decisions that either directly benefit or minimize negative impacts on health and environmental quality.

Educational Opportunity: Outreach & Multi-Ethnic Programs

Outreach & Multi-Ethnic Programs (OME) in Michigan Technological University's Educational Opportunity Department, promotes diversity that benefits students of all nationalities and orientations. OME is committed to strengthening and providing academic, interactive, and cultural experiences to enhance and foster a shared sense of community on the campus of Michigan Technological University.

Educational Opportunity: Youth Programs

Michigan Tech Youth Programs provides on campus and field educational opportunities for over 1500 diverse precollege students each summer and during the academic year. These one day to multiple week programs are designed to increase students' knowledge and problem solving skills, introduce participants to the University's programs and campus, and increase awareness of academic and career opportunities. Sustainability themed activities are components of many of the programs and are often made possible through collaboration with faculty on externally funded proposals. Past examples of activities are the week-long Extreme-Green Makeover green building summer youth program exploration, an alternative power hands-on windmill building activity during Get WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) day, Women in Engineering hands-on environmental projects, and the Earth and Hydro-Science Outreach (EH-SO) High School Enterprise, where high school students work with undergraduates on water reclamation projects such as rain gardens. Faculty, staff, and students who wish to become involved in Youth Programs are invited to contact Karla Korpela at (906) 487-2219.