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.
Throughout the year Griffin MSI’s education team runs programming to support teachers in the classroom through continuing education.
Foundations of NGSS
Dig into the Next Generation Science Standards and enhance your understanding of what they require from educators and learners.
Intro to Next Generation Science Standards
In this workshop, you’ll learn everything you always wanted to know about the NGSS, but were afraid to ask. Whether you’ve been teaching the standards since their release or you are new to science teaching, we break down the NGSS, share why they were created, and explain how they should be used in classrooms.
Field Trip Flip
Change the way you think about field trips! During this workshop you will learn how to maximize learning opportunities at any cultural institution by connecting to student learning in the classroom in meaningful ways.
Activate the 4CS
Communication, Collaboration, Creative and Critical Thinking skills are essential for student success. Griffin MSI Senior Educators will show you how to enhance your daily instruction by activating these skills with simple instructional adjustments.
Student Motivation and Engagement: The Secret Sauce
Learn how to cultivate the seeds of motivation and engagement that exist within all your students.
1/5
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.
Science Leadership Initiative
Applications for the next cohort coming April 2026!
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.
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.