Educator Cohort - The DoSeum

The DoSeum is a convener of educators, a laboratory for research, and a leader in informal education. In 2016, our first-ever cohort—made up of 23 educators from nine school districts—engaged in the program and brought new methods and curriculum to their classrooms while building a strong collegial environment.

The DoSeum Educator Cohort

Now, The DoSeum is opening the application for its fifth annual DoSeum Educator Cohort class. The DoSeum Educator Cohort is a year-long professional development opportunity for educators like no other in San Antonio. Cohort members receive 100+ CPE hours, research-based curriculum resources from leading institutions, and new methods for teaching STEM, the arts, and literacy in each educator’s unique setting.

The highly acclaimed Engineering is Elementary® curriculum—developed by the Boston Museum of Science—serves as the framework for the program, with strong emphasis on arts and literacy embedded throughout. The cohort learns through: a series of on-site workshops at The DoSeum; a hands-on, two-week practicum at The DoSeum; during the summer; and by ongoing engagement with the museum’s education staff and a cohort of peers from across the San Antonio area. By the end of the experience, these select teachers are able to apply the new curriculum and pedagogy to students in their local learning environments.

How It Works

The DoSeum will create in-depth learning experiences for the selected educators that are focused on constructivist teaching methods. Serving as a framework for the program is the multidisciplinary nationally recognized curriculum, Engineering is Elementary, with the arts and literacy embedded throughout:

Engage in a series of instructional sessions on-site at TheDoSeum;
Receive classroom materials that support state-mandated content in science and math;
Receive training and modeling of the Engineering is Elementary curriculum;
Participate in a two-week long summer practicum at TheDoSeum; and
Implement instructional materials to personal classroom or compatible group.

Timeline

2019

November – December: Submit application here starting October 7.

2020

January 7: Applications due
January 14: Selected applicants notified
April – May: Professional development workshop series with a focus on Engineering is Elementary (EiE) curriculum; STEM, arts, and literacy education; instructional strategies and methods; museum visits; and optional participation in other DoSeum educator workshops at a reduced rate
June – July: Participation in a two-week long summer museum camp practicum (dates flexible to each teacher’s summer schedule), and planning seminars
August - December: Monthly professional development sessions; Engineering is Elementary classroom implementation; and building level project for a specific grade(s) level, whole school, or district

Requirements for Applicants

Must teach third, fourth, or fifth grade students;
Must be able to participate in each of the meetings and two-week summer practicum;
Have support of campus administration (and/or district administration) to implement the cohort-based curriculum; and
Must attend monthly in-person meetings at The DoSeum on the following dates in 2020:

April 28 (5:30pm – 7:30pm)
May 19 (5:30pm – 7:30pm)
Two weeks between June 01 and July 31
August 18 (5:30pm – 7:30pm)
September 08 (5:30pm – 7:30pm)
September 29 (5:30pm – 7:30pm)
October 20 (5:30pm – 7:30pm)
November 10 (5:30pm – 7:30pm)
December 08 (3:00pm – 3:30pm)

Program Cost

Individual participant fee of $400 includes includes:

100+ hours of professional development that can be logged as Texas Education Agency CPE for renewing of standard certificates;
Teacher Guides, Materials Kits, and Storybooks for Engineering is Elementary curriculum units (valued at $1500)
Research-based resources
Ongoing coaching and support, both in-person and online, from The DoSeum’s education team;
On-site practicum at The DoSeum to implement research-based instructional materials in both a classroom and informal educational setting;
In-depth study and exploration of elementary instructional materials to be implemented in the teachers’ classrooms during the fall of 2020;
Scaffolding lessons that integrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and
Museum visits that involve teachers’ observations, exploration, and alignment to the program’s curriculum and students’ engagement that connects classroom learning to museum exploration.