Professional Learning

Our professional development offerings are designed and taught by the same people who have developed the most innovative science and math curricula and methods available today.

We offer a variety of outstanding inquiry-based science and mathematics professional development options that exemplify sound teaching strategies and are researched to address the needs of all learners. We connect with over 20,000 teachers annually—regionally, nationally, and even internationally through our collaborations with our partner sites, publishers, school districts from NYC to LA, and partners as distant as Japan and Jordan.

Over half a million educators have participated in a professional learning program from The Lawrence.

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Beyond the walls of our science center, our work reaches over 12M young people per year.

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Vanessa Lujan, Ph.D. 

Director, Center for K-12 Science

Our Programs & Resources

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The Amplify Science Instructional Leaders Community of Practice

The Amplify Science Instructional Leaders Community of Practice (ILCP) is a place for Amplify Science instructional coaches and science coordinators from districts across the country to connect with each other through zero-cost and primarily virtual events.

The Argumentation Toolkit

The Argumentation Toolkit

The Argumentation Toolkit is a collection of resources designed to help teachers understand and teach scientific argumentation. The Argumentation Toolkit website includes videos and other resources to support teachers in successfully integrating argumentation into science lessons.

Sunstones at The Lawrence

ASCEND K-5: Accelerating K-5 Science Education through Networks and Design

The ASCEND K–5 project, based out of the Lawrence Hall of Science’s Center for K–12 Science, is committed to addressing the persistent challenges facing science teaching and learning in elementary schools. ASCEND K–5 brings together researchers, education leaders, and practitioners who are dedicated to taking tangible actions to prioritize equitable access to K–5 science in their systems.

Children playing on the DNA sculpture at the Lawrence

Bay Area Mathematics Project (BAMP)

Since 1983, BAMP has offered inspiring professional learning opportunities for K-12 mathematics teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators in Alameda, Contra Costa,, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Solano, and Sonoma counties.

Two children and a staff member are working together during a science activity.

Bay Area Science Project (BASP)

As part of the statewide California Science Project network, BASP provides high-quality professional learning for K-12 educators in the greater San Francisco Bay Area, to support and improve their teaching and their students’ learning science.

The Lawrence Hall of Science

BaySci: a partnership for Bay Area education

Focused on district capacity-building, BaySci is committed to improving science education through the development of systems for professional learning, distributed leadership, supportive policies, and giving explicit attention to equitable science teaching and learning.

Children playing on Pheena the Whale

Better Environmental Education Teaching, Learning, Expertise and Sharing (BEETLES)

Residential environmental education (EE) programs provide highly memorable, immersive learning experiences for students to improve their understanding of the natural world. The BEETLES project has created a series of professional development modules and videos for EE staff, as well as effective student activities and resources.

Two students light up a light bulb during a science project.

Full Option Science System (FOSS®) 

The FOSS (Full Option Science System) project offers a variety of professional learning opportunities for FOSS users. Upcoming events are listed on the FOSS Professional Learning calendar. Please email foss@berkeley.edu with any questions.

A group of teachers meet together during a professional learning session

Improving Practice Together

Welcome to Improving Practice Together – Resources for elementary science argumentation through professional learning, teacher leadership, and research. The IPT project was a six-year research practice partnership to build the capacity of teachers to teach scientific argumentation by developing sustainable teacher leadership.

Students in front of The Lawrence

LocalizingHQIM: Promoting Equity Through Localization and High-Quality Instructional Materials

This project, hosted by the Lawrence Hall of Science’s Center for K–12 Science, will host a series of experts and emerging stakeholders interested in the relationship and tension between localization and high-quality instructional materials (HQIMs) as two important elements in the pursuit of equitable learning outcomes in K-12 science. 

A young person looks through a telescope of the view at The Lawrence.

Marine Activities, Resources, and Education (MARE)

Do you want your students to learn more about the influence of the ocean on them and to explore how they themselves influence the ocean? Are you looking for a school-wide event that will bring faculty, students, and families together, using the ocean as the context for celebrating, learning, and connecting?

A child looks through a telescope.

Reflecting on Practice™ (RoP)

RoP is a professional learning program designed for adoption by informal science learning environments so that all educators in an organization can participate and learn together. The trademarked program immerses all types of educators—veteran and beginning, full-time and part-time, career and seasonal—in discussions about, reflections on, and applications of research and theory on learning and teaching science.

A child and an adult work together on a science project at an exhibit at The Lawrence.

Transforming STEM Teaching Faculty Learning Program (FLP)

The FLP is a professional learning program devised to assist both university and college instructors of STEM courses. The FLP is designed to improve STEM faculties’ instructional practice to support effective student learning.

Two young people explore an exhibit at The Lawrence.

Working Towards Racial Equity Series

Working Towards Racial Equity Series Building Capacity to Institutionalize Equity in Outdoor and Environmental Science Education Working Towards Racial Equity…

Get In Touch

We partner with school districts to support science learning and offer district-wide elementary, middle, and high school programs. If your district is interested in partnering with us, we’d love to speak to you.

Vanessa Lujan, Ph.D. 

Director, Center for K-12 Science