Professional Learning Opportunities

OFFSITE: HAMILTON HEIGHTS

Ecosystems are everywhere, ecosystem interactions happen all around us. There are a variety of green spaces in our city, and we will visit three in Hamilton Heights: some tree beds that are part of the NYC Parks’ Street Tree Habitats community science project, Maggie's Garden - a community garden, and the Broadway Mall Association's Pollinator Habitat between 150th and 151st Streets in the Broadway Mall. We will explore ecosystem concepts, community and place-based science and its student engagement potential, and ideas of habitat stewardship in our city.

Museum facilitator: Jay Holmes

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IN PERSON AT THE MUSEUM

Museum visits in the early years are deeply impactful. But, how do you make it meaningful? During this session, we will test a variety of techniques for early childhood engagement in a museum. Participants will walk away with a toolkit for bringing preschool - 2nd grade learners on inquiry-based museum visits. 

Museum facilitators: Margaret Hoffman, Bridget Hidalgo, and Sonia Bueno

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IN PERSON AT THE MUSEUM

Participants will receive a $100 stipend for completion of this workshop and will walk away with: 

✅ Classroom-ready AI tools to enhance teaching and learning
✅ A practical framework for evaluating AI tools for education
✅ Hands-on experience in designing and auditing AI tools
✅ A stronger AI vocabulary—understand terms like “large language models” and “machine learning” with confidence
✅ Confidence to navigate AI’s ethical and pedagogical challenges

AI is already transforming education, but how can teachers use it effectively and responsibly? This workshop is designed to help educators engage with AI tools—not just as users, but as informed decision-makers. You’ll explore AI-powered technologies, their impact on education, and how to critically assess and integrate them into your teaching practice.

Through hands-on activities, participants will:

• Explore how AI tools generate text, images, and ideas—and how to use them effectively.
• Evaluate AI technologies through an educator’s lens, considering their benefits, risks, and ethical concerns.
• Prototype AI-powered learning experiences tailored to classroom needs.

This workshop is perfect for middle and high school educators who want to confidently use, assess, and integrate AI tools in their teaching—no prior AI or coding experience needed.  Check out this website to get a flavor of this workshop: https://mitmedialab.github.io/GenAI-Lab/

Museum facilitator:  Mark Weckel

Teacher facilitator: Dr. Safinah Ali, Assistant Professor of Educational Communication and Technology

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^{This workshop is funded by NSF Project # 2049022  in celebration of the 75th birthday of the National Science Foundation}

IN PERSON AT THE MUSEUM

Participants will receive a $100 stipend for completion of this workshop and will walk away with: 

✅ A clear understanding of how AI works—beyond just using AI tools
✅ Three hands-on, ready-made classroom activities to introduce AI concepts in Science, Math, or English
✅ A Google Folder with 45-minute lessons and materials to implement right away
✅ Confidence to lead engaging discussions on AI’s role in society and its ethical implications

AI is everywhere—but how does it actually work? This workshop is designed for educators who want to teach AI literacy in an engaging and accessible way. Instead of focusing on how to use AI tools, this session will demystify AI concepts through playful, hands-on activities that bring AI learning directly to students.

Led by a team of NYC educators, museum educators, and AI education researchers, participants will:

• Break down AI fundamentals in a way that students can easily grasp.
• Teach AI concepts through structured, interactive activities in Science, Math, or English.
• Guide discussions on AI ethics, bias, and decision-making with students.

This workshop is ideal for middle and high school educators—regardless of subject area—who want a ready-to-go toolkit to introduce AI literacy in their classrooms. No prior AI or computing experience needed! Check out this website to get a flavor of this workshop: https://everyday-ai.org/

Museum facilitator: Mark Weckel

Teacher facilitator: Dr. Kate Moore, Research Scientist at the MIT STEP Lab / Education Arcade

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^{This workshops is funded by NSF Project # 2049022  in celebration of the 75th birthday of the National Science Foundation}