STEMAZing Systems Thinking is embedding the Habits and tools of systems thinking into high-quality STEM lessons. From existing resources using the Habits and tools of systems thinking to new resources designed to specifically to help students make sense of the world using systems thinking, STEMAZing Systems Thinking professional development will help teachers bring these powerful learning opportunities to all our students.
Sign up for our STEMAZing Newsletter to be the first to know about upcoming STEMAZing Systems Thinking professional learning opportunities and more!
2023-2024 Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking Cohort
(Joining a STEMAZing cohort for the first time!)
Last chance to get in! Bootcamp option on December 9th.
Worried about preparing our students to take on jobs which don't yet exist when they become adults? A systems thinking teacher doesn't have to worry. Their students are developing the Habits and learning the tools of systems thinking which will allow them to do any kind of sensemaking, problem-solving, and critical thinking needed to be successful regardless of the career path they pursue. Let us prove it to you!
Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking Cohorts will support teachers from around the state of Arizona as they learn the Habits and tools of systems thinking and how to integrate systems thinking into 3-dimensional science instruction, technology explorations, engineering design projects, and mathematical adventures. Cohorts will be located in Tucson, West Valley (Phoenix), and Flagstaff (a hybrid combined with STEMAZing Systems Thinking Sophomore teachers). Explore the Habits of a Systems Thinker here: https://thinkingtoolsstudio.waterscenterst.org/cards
Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking teachers who participate fully in this professional development will learn and apply the Habits of a Systems Thinker to their professional practice. They will also learn how to use the tools of systems thinking - behavior-over-time graphs, connection circles, stock-flow maps, feedback loops, and the ladder of inference - in STEM lessons and beyond.
A teacher who participates in all cohort meetings and two individual coaching sessions will earn 30 hours of professional development with 21 in-person hours at three full-day workshops spread throughout the school year. This meets the ASU ASAP stipulation of at least 20 of the 30 hours of required PD for the ASAP Fellowship occurring in-person.
Who: ASU ASAP Fellows and Other PreK-12 Arizona Educators New to Systems Thinking
Cost: $25 for current or past ASAP Fellows, $100 for non-ASAP Fellows (If you have asked your school/district to cover the $100 fee and they said no, reach out to DaNel Hogan via email button above to request $25 fee if you are paying out of your own pocket.)
For first time Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinker participants. If you are a second year Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinker because you participated with us last year, keep scrolling to find your registration.
Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting Schedule
For those choosing the bootcamp option to join this cohort, you must attend the bootcamp meeting AND one of the options for Meetings 3-7. Put your meeting selections on your calendar now!
Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking Virtual Bootcamp
Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 8:00 am to 11:00 am on Zoom
(This bootcamp will cover the basics from Meetings 1 and 2. Please look over all the meeting options for Meetings 3-7 and be sure you can attend ONE of the options provided for each of the remaining meetings - two full-day in-person meetings and three online Zoom meetings.)
Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting 3 (Must attend ONE in-person.) – (7:30 check-in) 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
3A - Flagstaff - Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Northern Arizona University – Science Annex Room 225
or
3B - West Valley (Phoenix) - Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at Bret R. Tarver Leadership Academy (4308 N 51st Avenue Suite 102)
or
3C - Tucson - Friday, January 26, 2024 at CATALYST Creative Collective inside the Tucson Mall
Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting 4 (Must attend ONE on Zoom.)
4A - Tuesday, February 6, 2024 from 4:00-6:00 pm on Zoom
or
4B - Thursday, February 9, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm on Zoom
or
4C - Saturday, February 11, 2024 from 8:00-10:00 am on Zoom
Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting 5 (Must attend ONE in-person.) – (7:30 check-in) 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
5A - West Valley (Phoenix) - Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at Bret R. Tarver Leadership Academy (4308 N 51st Avenue Suite 102)
or
5B - Flagstaff - Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Northern Arizona University – Science Annex Room 225
or
5C - Tucson - Saturday, March 9, 2024 at CATALYST Creative Collective inside the Tucson Mall
Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting 6 (Must attend ONE on Zoom.)
6A - Tuesday, April 16, 2024 from 4:00-6:00 pm on Zoom
or
6B - Thursday, April 18, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm on Zoom
or
6C - Saturday, April 20, 2024 from 8:00-10:00 am on Zoom
Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting 7 (Must attend ONE on Zoom.)
7A - Tuesday, May 14, 2024 from 4:00-6:00 pm on Zoom
or
7B - Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm on Zoom
or
7C - Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 8:00-10:00 am on Zoom
For first time Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinker participants. If you are a second year Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinker because you participated with us last year, keep scrolling to find your registration.
2023-2024 Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinking Cohort
(Continuing your STEMAZing Systems Thinking journey!)
Last chance to get in! Bootcamp option on December 16th.
Were you in our STEMAZing Systems Thinking Cohorts last year and are you excited about continuing to develop yourself and your students as systems thinkers? Worried about preparing our students to take on jobs which don't yet exist when they become adults? You know a systems thinking teacher doesn't have to worry. Their students are developing the Habits and learning the tools of systems thinking which will allow them to do any kind of sensemaking, problem-solving, and critical thinking needed to be successful regardless of the career path they pursue. Let's continue to share everyone how powerful systems thinking is together!
Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinking Cohorts will support teachers from around the state of Arizona who are well on their way to using the Habits and tools of systems thinking in their classrooms. Cohorts will be located in Tucson and Flagstaff (a hybrid combined with Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking teachers).
Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinking teachers who participate fully in this professional development will further their professional practice using and integrating the Habits and tools of systems thinking into their instruction. They will also be given time to collaborate with other participants during the in-person meetings on lesson plan ideas and development.
A teacher who participates in all cohort meetings and two individual coaching sessions will earn 30 hours of professional development with 21 in-person hours at three full-day workshops spread throughout the school year. This meets the ASU ASAP stipulation of at least 20 of the 30 hours of required PD for the ASAP Fellowship occurring in-person.
Who: Current/Past ASU ASAP Fellows and Other PreK-12 Arizona Educators who were involved in a STEMAZing Systems Thinking Cohort last school year and attended more than 60% of the meetings. (Reach out to DaNel Hogan if you need to check your eligibility.)
Cost: $25 for current/past ASAP Fellows, $100 for non-ASAP Fellows (If you have asked your school/district to cover the $100 fee and they said no, reach out to DaNel Hogan via email button above to request $25 fee if you are paying out of your own pocket.)
For year two Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinker participants. If you are a first year Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinker because you did not participate with us last year, scroll back up to find your registration.
Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting Schedule
For those choosing the bootcamp option to join this cohort, you must attend the bootcamp meeting AND one of the options for Meetings 3-7. Put your meeting selections on your calendar now!
Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinking Virtual Bootcamp
Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 8:00 am to 11:00 am on Zoom
(This bootcamp will cover the basics from Meeting 1. Please look over all the meeting options for Meetings 3-7 and be sure you can attend ONE of the options provided for each of the remaining meetings - two full-day in-person meetings and three online Zoom meetings.) Bonus if you can also attend one of the Meeting 2 options this week.
Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting 2 (Must attend ONE on Zoom.)
PAST - 2A - Tuesday, November 28, 2023 from 4:00-6:00 pm on Zoom
or
2B - Thursday, November 30, 2023 from 6:00-8:00 pm on Zoom
or
2C - Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 8:00-10:00 am on Zoom
Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting 3 (Must attend ONE in-person.) – (7:30 check-in) 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
3A - Flagstaff - Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Northern Arizona University – Science Annex Room 225
or
3B - Tucson - Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at CATALYST Creative Collective inside the Tucson Mall
or
3C - Tucson - Friday, January 19, 2024 at CATALYST Creative Collective inside the Tucson Mall
Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting 4 (Must attend ONE on Zoom.)
4A - Tuesday, February 20, 2024 from 4:00-6:00 pm on Zoom
or
4B - Thursday, February 22, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm on Zoom
or
4C - Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 8:00-10:00 am on Zoom
Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting 5 (Must attend ONE in-person.) – (7:30 check-in) 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
5A - Flagstaff - Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Northern Arizona University – Science Annex Room 225
or
5B - Tucson - Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at CATALYST Creative Collective inside the Tucson Mall
or
5C - Tucson - Friday, March 29, 2024 at CATALYST Creative Collective inside the Tucson Mall
Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting 6 (Must attend ONE on Zoom.)
6A - Tuesday, April 23, 2024 from 4:00-6:00 pm on Zoom
or
6B - Thursday, April 25, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm on Zoom
or
6C - Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 8:00-10:00 am on Zoom
Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinking Meeting 7 (Must attend ONE on Zoom.)
7A - Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 4:00-6:00 pm on Zoom
or
7B - Thursday, May 23, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm on Zoom
or
7C - Saturday, May 25, 2024 from 8:00-10:00 am on Zoom
For year two Sophomore STEMAZing Systems Thinker participants. If you are a first year Freshman STEMAZing Systems Thinker because you did not participate with us last year, scroll back up to find your registration.
Click here for more details and to apply!
The Using Ninja Life Hacks in Elementary Program, is a transformative educational program tailored to elevate academic achievement and foster resilience in elementary students. Through harnessing the dynamic potential of Ninja Life Hack Books and Curriculum, this innovative initiative weaves engaging pedagogy with the benefits of nurturing important life skills. By concentrating on five fundamental competencies—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making—educators will be empowered to help students develop their life skills. Supported by compelling research demonstrating the direct correlation between resilience and academic achievement, this program has the potential of shaping the academic success of students.
Benefits of Participation in Using Ninja Life Hacks in Elementary Program
-
Professional learning from experienced elementary STEMAZing Teacher Leaders, Julie Bradshaw and Martha Bishop, who have been using the Ninja Life Hacks books with their students for years.
-
Two sets of the Ninja Life Hacks books for your school (almost 200 books) and the Ninja Life Hacks Lesson Plans valued at more than $2,000.
-
Teacher stipends ($250 each) for successfully completing the program.
-
Time to share ideas with your peers about how they are using the books and curriculum in classrooms around the state.
-
10 professional development hours
Using Ninja Life Hacks in Elementary Workshop Schedule
Teacher teams will attend one full-day workshop in January/February 2024, listed below, along with a 2-hour virtual workshop at the end of this school year.
Option 1: Friday, January 19, 2024 from 8:00am-4:00pm at CATALYST Creative Collective inside the Tucson Mall
Option 2: Saturday, January 20, 2024 from 8:00am-4:00pm at CATALYST Creative Collective inside the Tucson Mall
Option 3: Friday, February 9, 2024 from 8:00am-4:00pm at Bret R. Tarver Leadership Academy (4308 N 51st Avenue Suite 102) in West Valley Phoenix
Option 4: Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 8:00am-4:00pm at Bret R. Tarver Leadership Academy (4308 N 51st Avenue Suite 102) in West Valley Phoenix
Option 5: Saturday, February 17, 2024 from 8:00am-4:00pm at Mary Elizabeth Post Elementary School in Yuma
Option 6: Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 8:00am-4:00pm at 1904 Courthouse in Nogales
Ready, Set, Total Eclipse!
A STEMAZing Webinar focused the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
Join Dr. Sanlyn Buxner, Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, and DaNel Hogan, the Chief Learning Officer at the Waters Center for Systems Thinking, for this webinar focused on the spectacular total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2023. The eclipse can be observed comes across the entire state of Arizona with 50-70% obscurity of the sun. Students can make observations during this incredible astronomical event and you can join Sanlyn online with NASA as they track the path of totality of the eclipse passing over the United States from Texas to Maine. If you miss this one, you will have to wait until 2045 to see another total solar eclipse in the continental United States. Loads of resources for engaging scientists of all ages before, during, and after the eclipse will be shared.
When: Tuesday, February 13, 2023 from 4:00-5:30 pm
Where: Virtual Webinar on Zoom
Who: Formal Classroom Teachers and Informal Educators from all levels from anywhere in the world
Cost: FREE!