Strategic Planning Institute

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to host an in-person Strategic Planning Institute at this time. Please check out our free, virtual, Action Planning Institute instead.

The SSEC traditionally holds its annual flagship institute every summer in Washington, DC.

Are you looking to transform your science education program but don't know where to begin? At this intensive week-long Institute, you and your team of dedicated educators, administrators, and stakeholders will take the first steps towards implementing change through the guided development of a strategic plan for your program.

Teams will utilize the LASER model, a research-tested approach to systemic change in your school system, to structure their plan. Content-driven sessions and activities, facilitated by a range of experienced professionals in the field, are balanced with opportunities to plan strategically as a team while collaborating with other experienced professionals in the room.

By the end of this week, teams are equipped to put their strategic plan in place, knowing that it is rooted in a shared vision, informed by the insights gained during the week, and equipped with the LASER framework.
 

Over the course of the week participants will:

• Review the implications of research and new standards to the learning and teaching of science and to the implementation of a new Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) program.
• Construct a vision for inquiry-based, hands-on STEM education that supports a scientifically literate, career-ready citizenry.
• Develop a five-year strategic plan for improving K-12 STEM education programs by addressing the five elements of the Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) systemic reform model - curriculum, professional development, materials support, community and administrative support, and assessment and evaluation.
   
• Exchange knowledge with other professionals committed to improving education for all students.
   

Attending an SPI enables teams to grow their professional network by providing time for planning within their team and community. Individuals and teams also have opportunities to connect with others from different regions that are facing similar challenges in implementing their science education programs. Additionally, this work depends on the support of faculty presenters dedicated to spending the week with participating leadership teams. Faculty members are former participants themselves and are handpicked for their ability to share their own expertise and lessons learned.

For more details about the week’s agenda, check out an overview of our last institute below:

The Leadership and Assistance for Science Education Reform (LASER) systemic reform model describes an infrastructure for transforming science education. This model is at the core of all of the Smithsonian Science Education Center’s work. A five year study analyzed the impact of the LASER Model on students and teachers in 3 U.S. states. The results demonstrated clearly the LASER model’s efficacy in systemically transforming science education.

There are 5 components to the LASER model:

• Research-based, inquiry-driven curriculum
• Differentiated professional development
• Materials support
• Community and administrative support
• Assessment and evaluation