Oak Ridge School District Educator Participates In Exclusive Professional Development Event From Discovery Education Focused on Supporting STEM/STEAM Education
–STEMmersion 2018 Provided Participants New Ideas and Resources for Creating a Culture of STEM Education in Local School System–
Silver Spring, Md. (July 10, 2018) – Chris Layton, an educator in Oak Ridge School District, recently joined more than 50 fellow educators from around the country and world for the STEMmersion 2018, an immersive, five-day professional development experience focused on supporting STEM/STEAM education worldwide. Discovery Educator Network (DEN) supported this event. A global community of education professionals supported by Discovery Education, the DEN connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences, and in-person events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing, and inspiration. This professional learning experience occurred from June 26-30 at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC.
The Discovery Educator Network selected participants in STEMmersion 2018 through a competitive application process, immersing practitioners in a variety of experiences that added valuable new resources and skills to their STEM/STEAM toolkits. In addition, STEMmersion provided an opportunity for participants to connect, collaborate, and share resources, ideas and strategies for integrating the latest technologies and digital content into STEM/STEAM instruction.
“We are very proud that Mr. Chris Layton was selected to participate in STEMmersion 2018, and the Oak Ridge Schools is inspired by his commitment to embracing the latest technologies and digital content to build STEM experiences that engage all our students,” said Dr. Bruce Borchers, Superintendent, Oak Ridge Schools.
In addition to learning from a variety of STEM/STEAM education experts, Layton participated in a series of interactive workshops led by the Discovery Education professional development team and his peers. During these informative workshops, participants learned about topics such as how to incorporate the 21st century skills of collaboration, creativity, critical thinking and communication into STEM/STEAM education and about how to create a vibrant culture of STEM/STEAM teaching and learning in their school system. Layton also collaborated with fellow educators on a variety of STEM/STEAM projects, and shared ideas and best practices with his peers.
“Chris’s participation in STEMmersion 2018 demonstrates his outstanding leadership and commitment to using the latest technologies and innovative teaching strategies and techniques to improve STEM/STEAM education and student achievement,” said Cindy Moss, Vice President of Global STEM Education for Discovery Education. “His participation in STEMmersion 2018 will help improve student engagement across Oak Ridge School District and support the district’s effort to prepare all learners with the critical skills they need to succeed beyond the classroom.”
After participating in STEMmersion 2018 Layton will return to Oak Ridge School District equipped with new strategies and techniques for transforming STEM/STEAM teaching and learning that he can share with his peers across the district. In this way, Layton will continue to have an impact on STEM/STEAM education that reaches far beyond his participation in STEMmersion 2018.
To learn more about Discovery Education’s efforts to support STEM/STEAM education across the country and around the world, or to learn more about the DEN and this Discovery Education services and initiatives, visit www.discoveryeducation.com
About Discovery Education
As the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional learning, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries around the globe. Inspired by the global media company Discovery Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.
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