Pitsco Education | Rigorous Professional Developme

Our Professional Development Programs Set the Bar High

All on-site and virtual professional development programs delivered by a Pitsco trainer are designed directly with the implementing school or district. This enables us to create a solution that is uniquely tailored to our customers’ needs based on the set of outcomes they would like to achieve.

Our quality sessions are intensely hands on and follow the 13 indicators of highly effective professional development. The result: participants’ increased confidence with the new curriculum, hardware, and instructional methodologies they will be implementing.

Our on-site and virtual professional development sessions correspond with our integrated STEM programs and products we support. Also available is a series of professional e-learning courses for educators who prefer to continue their learning on their own time, at their own pace, and in their own place.

STEM Units

A one-day session includes curricular materials and details the thematic units purchased. Participants are introduced to three tools that Pitsco believes are critical to teaching STEM concepts, all of which can be implemented in your classroom instruction. Pitsco facilitators assist in the setup of the materials, provide organizational strategies, and consult with teachers about best methods for implementation based on the classroom environment.

Grades 3-5 STREAM Missions

During this one-day seminar, facilitators work with participants to review the Missions framework, define program elements, explain student and teacher roles, describe curriculum components, develop strategies for using the digital learning platform, and orient teachers to resources and organizational tools. Facilitators present and discuss management and organizational strategies and review the teacher portal and resources within the learning content management system.

Grades 6-9 STEM Expeditions

During this two-day seminar, facilitators work with participants to review the Expeditions framework, define program elements, explain student roles, describe curriculum components, develop strategies for using the digital learning platform, and orient teachers to resources and organizational tools. The second day focuses on the Microburst Learning EmployABILITY Soft Skills program, which provides critical skills every student needs to be successful. A variety of instructional methodologies are used, including audiovisual tutorials, presentation, and discussion.

Robotics

During this one-day seminar, professional development facilitators work with participants to introduce and review the history of the Pitsco Education TETRIX^® robotics platform. This workshop is highly hands on with attendees diving right in, creating remote-controlled and programmable robots. Our facilitators share building tips and tricks and classroom management ideas and review the curriculum and resources available for setting your classroom up for success.

Custom STEM PD

Your teachers and students are unique. Your school is different and your professional development can be too. Our custom workshops are tailor-made to meet the complex and diverse needs that are faced in the classroom. The number of days for this option varies depending upon the content covered.

FAA Drone Certification

Upon successful completion of your professional development session, participants will know how to operate drones safely in their school, what the FAA says about regulations, how to maintain a safe program, and, most of all, what it means to become an aviator.

E-learning Courses

Learning never stops, even when you’re the teacher. Our series of professional e-learning courses have been created by former educators and are designed to empower participants with knowledge and implementation strategies that will have them experiencing instant success. Now, you can learn on your own time, at your own pace, and from any place.

Global Learning Outcomes

All professional development facilitators are former educators who have been involved with the development of the programs. These facilitators build relationships with participants and coach participants in the various aspects of the programs to encourage professional learning communities and promote student success by following our established set of global learning objectives.

EXPLORE SESSION OUTCOMES

Experience Instant Success

Upon successful completion of any Pitsco professional development session, participants gain a certificate stating contact hours of instruction. More importantly, they receive knowledge and enthusiasm to implement an unparalleled STEM program that will excite and engage their students and ultimately set them up for future success.

Pitsco Education - Vitally important to our success

Vital to Our Success

Dothan City Schools is a district that serves more than 9,000 students and has four middle schools, two of which are magnet programs. Girard and Honeysuckle Middle Schools, the non-magnets, were outfitted with STEM labs, curriculum, and activities from Pitsco Education in summer 2016.

While many district officials, including Superintendent Chuck Ledbetter, have played roles in setting up and facilitating the STEM labs at the two schools, Girard Middle School Principal Darius McKay and Director of Federal Programs and School Instructional Specialist Lee Jacobs have been immersed in the process. Read more from McKay and Jacobs on the role Pitsco services played in setting the schools up for long-term success.

Read Success Story

“I love the planning tools. I also loved how it was broken down into very small pieces. It also did not take an overwhelming amount of time. The videos were to the point and the activities were useful. I felt like my time was put to good use.”

– Amanda Wood, STEM coordinator, Atlanta Middle School, Atlanta, Texas

“Everything fell into place with the STEM PD. I’ve been astounded by the creativity and the innovative ideas that our teachers have come up with in doing the design challenges that they’ve been given by the Pitsco facilitators.”

– Nicole Murray, district STEM coordinator, Duplin County, North Carolina

“The best part is they’re getting the hands-on, practical experience of doing the activity and working through all the logistics and the questions of how it would work. It’s not just a bunch of theory and ideas. They’re actually doing the activity, which is going to be valuable for them to take into the classroom because they will know what to expect.”

– Joseph Santos, principal, Vista View Middle School, Fountain Valley, California

Preparing Educators for Success