Telling Your Story

The Telling Your Story program aims to form collaborations resulting in classroom visits where STEM professionals will “tell the story” of how they became inspired to pursue a STEM career, and what their research and life is like now. Teachers and STEM professionals work together to craft a visit that will encourage younger students to further study science, technology, engineering and math, and provide them with strong scientific role models.  You’ll network with scientists and engineers who want to talk to your students, and you’ll help them hone their story so that it will be engaging for your classes. You’ll also help them brainstorm ideas for visuals and hands-on activities. Meanwhile, you’ll learn about their cutting-edge research, and receive ideas and checklists to help you create a rewarding classroom visit.

To learn more and register for this free program, go to: https://sites.google.com/site/tellyourstoryworkshopmit/ (applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. We have room for 25 High School teachers and 25 STEM researchers and engineers.)

The program is facilitated by Jessica Garrett, MIT Edgerton Center’s Education Outreach Coordinator and a former public school teacher, and Carolyn Zeiner, a Harvard graduate student in Environmental Microbiology. Telling Your Story is sponsored by the HHMI Drennan Ed Lab at MIT, HHMI Education Group (Graham Walker) at MIT, the MIT Edgerton Center , Cambridge Science Festival and the Harvard ESE Grad Student Association.) It was originally developed by TERC for the Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence - New England.

 “This was the best workshop I did all year.”  - High School biology teacher

“The impact of having a “real scientist” visit the classroom simply cannot be underestimated. My 4th grade students were inspired, energized, and continue to talk about the first visit to this day.”  - 4th grade teacher

"This was a wonderful experience. I can't wait to bring the scientist into my classroom! I learned how to better interact with a scientist, I [feel] have more in common with them." – TYS Teacher attendee

 For more information, contact:

Jessica Garrett
MIT Edgerton Center K-12 Education Outreach Coordinator
77 Massachusetts Avenue, Room 4-405, Cambridge, MA 02139
jessg@mit.edu | 617-253-2865  | 617-253-1535 (fax)
http://web.mit.edu/outreach | http://web.mit.edu/edgerton/outreach | mindandhand.mit.edu