Nearly 200 Coastal NWFL Teachers Participate in Professional Learning Courses from FCR-STEM

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Center for Research in STEM (FCR-STEM) is leading the workforce and educational development FSU’s InSPIRE (Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education) project. In June, the FCR-STEM staff conducted eight week-long professional learning courses throughout Coastal Northwest Florida. All the courses focused on AI and robotics and were provided free of charge as part of InSPIRE at FSU, a program funded by Triumph Gulf Coast.

Nearly 200 educators attended the professional learning courses over the four-week span. The three courses led by the FCR-STEM team were "Engaging Elementary Students Using AI-Powered Storytelling," "Engaging Secondary Students Using AI-Powered Instruction" and "Introduction to Robotics in the Classroom." Teachers from eight counties were offered the opportunity to enroll in the free professional learning courses. 

"As I've travelled across the region speaking at these teacher training events, there's a lot of excitement and a lot of commitment from the teachers here," said InSPIRE Executive Director Drew Allen. "They could be off doing their own thing on their off time, but instead, they're spending time with us. Not only to advance themselves but also to make themselves better teachers and instructors. That's very encouraging and many educators have been wildly receptive to evolving their skills and curriculum to align with tomorrow’s workforce demands."

Carrie Meyers and Jim Reynolds, co-directors of STEM Outreach at FCR-STEM, are leading the Learning Systems Institute’s (LSI) work on the InSPIRE project. Meyers and Reynolds, along with their team, are developing the coursework and conducting the professional learning courses. This is the second summer they have organized and executed large-scale sessions for educators in Coastal NWFL.

"It is clear to me that Jim and Carrie and the LSI crew are the experts and have the capability and expertise required to develop a workforce," said Allen. "They clearly are the conduit through which we are going to accomplish our workforce goals to transform the NWFL region. They're doing a great job of getting teachers to think about more high-tech things - understanding what AI is and what robotics really means - and how they can incorporate these into their individual classrooms. It's been incredibly encouraging."

The "Introduction to Robotics in the Classroom" introductory professional learning course equipped educators from eight Coastal NWFL counties with the foundational knowledge and hands-on experience needed to integrate robotics, AI and pre-engineering concepts into their classrooms. 

"I thoroughly enjoyed my week with InSPIRE," said Tricia Coady of Gulf Breeze Middle School. "I had previously tried some robotics with my students, but through the program, I gained a much deeper understanding of how robotics works. I'm so excited to bring what I learned back to my middle school gifted students and give them more in-depth, hands-on experience to inspire the next generation of STEM-ists."

The two AI courses were offered to educators in all eight Coastal NWFL counties, covering the fundamentals of generative AI and prompt engineering, natural language processing and machine learning foundations, bias and ethical implications of AI and the integration of literacy and STEM best practices. One course was designed for elementary teachers and the other for secondary educators. 

"Professional learning through InSPIRE gave me a chance to grow as an educator while also supporting others in developing the confidence to explore AI with their students," said Anna Prindle of Holley-Navarre Intermediate School. "We weren't just facilitating the learning about technology. We were modeling the mindset of curiosity, flexibility and resilience that we want our students to carry into the future."

The educational outreach program is a significant component of InSPIRE. The initiative is launching new workforce training and education programs with a focus on advanced aerospace and manufacturing sectors. These programs are designed to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to InSPIRE their students to be ready for high-demand jobs in these growing industries, ensuring a lasting impact on the community's economic and educational landscape.

"I'm helping spark a movement," said Samantha Woltz of East Milton Elementary. "By empowering educators to bring curiosity, AI and real-world engineering into the classrooms using familiar tools like PowerPoint, we're bridging the gap between learning and careers in vital industries."

LSI strives to lead the way in creating innovative educational solutions that seamlessly connect theory with practice. Through advanced research, we develop industry-leading methods and implementation strategies to enhance systematic learning at all levels and in all environments. For more than five decades, LSI has been committed to driving measurable improvements in the performance of both individuals and organizations.