UC Professional Development Institute (UCPDI)

Supported by Sally Ride Science (SRS) and part of the University of California Professional Development Institute (UCPDI) at UC San Diego, the Sally Ride Educator Academy (SREA) is committed to providing opportunities for applied research, teaching and service for practitioners of science education across PK-20. In so doing, SREA offers resources and trainings dedicated to innovative and holistic pedagogical approaches to STEAM education, incorporating Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and building upon the SRS model.
 
As a hub for educational transformation, SREA serves as a center for partnerships with institutions across the globe and as an accessible clearinghouse for best practices as developed and curated by science educators. The Academy also supports Sally Ride fellows and scholars engaged in work around STEAM education for diverse learners and related professional development couched within the SRS framework.
 
In collaboration with the Department of Education and Behavioral Sciences (DEBS) at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies, SREA offers series of seminars, courses and certificates based in SRS and aligned with local and state standards. These courses carry salary scale applicable academic credit for K-12 teachers and may meet requirements for licensure renewal and/or certification.
 
The Academy plans to launch two online courses in fall quarter, 2018. These courses (Ignite Student Interest in STEAM for Upper Elementary Educators and Ignite Student Interest in STEAM for Middle School Educators) are designed to engage students cognitively and affectively through authentic connections and experiences, viewed through the lens of careers in STEAM. Best practices and challenges are explored in depth, providing a solid foundation for future work with STEAM content. These courses will be followed by others focusing on lesson design, differentiation and assessment, as well as student support.
 
Dates for the first two courses will be announced soon, and ultimately available through the Educator Academy site https://sallyridescience.ucsd.edu/educator and the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies website.

Email inquires to: srseducator@ucsd.edu

Applied Research

Through a network of scholars, practitioners and fellows, UCPDI conducts applied research in diverse professional settings. This research takes on a variety of forms, including:

• Evaluations, environmental analyses and assessments
• Articles and presentations
• Practitioner-focused thematic research
• White papers, working papers and policy briefs
• Consultancies and case studies
• Resources and advisement for media and government entities
• Clearinghouse on the 21st Century workplace
• Speakers bureau
• Op-ed pieces

Teaching and Learning

In support of its education and outreach missions, UCPDI offers facilitated and self-paced courses, seminars, sessions and programs on campus, onsite and online. These offerings, focused on the 21st-century workplace experience, include:

• Professional development seminars and workshops

• Coursework offered in traditional and online formats, including Adult Learning and Social Capital in the workplace

• Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC)

• Mentor training in traditional and online formats

• Trainings for instructional staff

Mentoring and Service

UCPDI is committed to serving its constituencies and communities in providing opportunities for meaningful engagement within and across organizations, guided by experienced professionals. This work incorporates the following elements:

• Collaborative network of fellows and scholars

• Mentorship opportunities that include training

• Other service opportunities

The Key to Career Success can be found at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies

We invite you to unlock your professional potential through a new series available online exclusively through Coursera and UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. Four month-long courses move beyond traditional approaches to make you more competitive in starting a new career or moving ahead at your current place of employment.

During the first course, Achieving Your Optimal Performance, you will engage in self-reflective activities to define and develop optimal workplace performance in a variety of environmental circumstances. Course available at https://coursera.org/learn/achieving-your-optimal-performance

In the second course, Converting Challenges into Opportunities, you will tackle problem solving abilities, environmental understanding and analytic skills, demonstrating value to a current or potential employer in measurable ways. Course available at https://coursera.org/learn/converting-challenges-into-opportunities

In Leveraging the Power of Professional Communities, you will enhance your ability to create and leverage calue in new and existing professional communities, and in the process create new networks and career opportunities. https://coursera.org/learn/leveraging-the-power-of-professional-communities

Finally, in Showcasing Your Professional Potential, you will create an electronic portfolio to share with both potential and current employers. The E-portfolio features curated examples of optimal performance in workplace problem solving, networking and community building. This course is offered through the Education Department at UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies twice per academic quarter and includes transcriptable academic credit. Please see Education Programs for additional details.

Participants completing all four courses in the series will recieve an award of completion from UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies.

For more information or questions about the series, please contaact the UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies Education Department at 858-534-9286 or by email at unexeduc@ucsd.edu.