Griffin MSI offers programming that supports educators and administrators inside the classroom and beyond.
Educator Workshops
Gain knowledge and instructional strategies that will support your professional growth regardless of the subject or grade level you teach. Our educator workshops apply best practices in adult learning and teach research-based instructional strategies to help reduce barriers for students. Participants engage with materials as their students would, reflect on their learning and how to apply it, and collaborate with colleagues from across the Chicagoland area – all with the support of Griffin MSI’s dedicated Senior Educators.
Advanced Teacher Courses
Beyond workshops, Griffin Museum of Science and Industry has been offering advanced teacher courses through our Institute for Quality Science Teaching since 2007. Its mission is to strengthen teacher self-efficacy toward equitable and effective three-dimensional science instruction through transformative professional development. These courses involve a long-term partnership with teachers over the course of the school year, with cohorts meeting initially during the summer and continuing to meet every 4-6 weeks through the spring.
- Advanced course for SY 2026-27: AIR: The Atmosphere Inside and Outside Your Classroom
Science Leadership Initiative
The Science Leadership Initiative at Griffin MSI supports teams within local K-12 schools as they engage in a multi-year process of science-centered school improvement that includes:
- Auditing the school’s foundation for science education across eight Essential Elements
- Developing a long-term School-Wide Outcome and yearly Action Plans with an emphasis on distributed leadership
- Reflecting on outcomes and iterating on plans to strengthen the Essential Elements over a multi-year timeline, extending beyond the 3-year formal partnership
This rigorous three-year partner program involves an application, an initial Commitment Year, and a re-application to enter into the Partnership Years. With Museum support over time, school teams enact changes that lead to the prioritization of effective science education and its associated instructional practices in their buildings.
Lester Crown Distinguished Teachers
The Lester Crown Griffin MSI Distinguished Teacher award is given to exemplary educators who have completed at least two workshops or training programs provided by Griffin MSI’s Professional Learning staff, and who demonstrate the application of their learning in their school or classroom in a way that promotes the success of students and schools in STEAM subjects. Teacher honorees receive a certificate and a personal $1,000 award, as well as a $1,000 award for their school. These teachers are honored at an annual dinner ceremony at the Museum.
Alumni resources
Teachers who have previously been enrolled in one of the Museum’s professional development courses can access the digital materials below:
Research and Evaluation
The goal of our Research and Evaluation department is to measure the Museum’s impact on program participants, guests and our community. Our interdisciplinary team of researchers and evaluators apply the best practices from a wide variety of social science fields to get to the core of the guest experience in a way that is meaningful to the Museum and the community of which we are a part.
Contact Us
For more information on professional learning at Griffin MSI, contact our Professional Learning team or sign up to join our mailing list.