Teacher In-Service Training
Twice a year, STARS presents professional development on the UTSW campus that emphasize hands-on, inquiry-based lessons for use in the classroom. These professional development opportunities are available for all secondary science and related CTE teachers. Teachers that attend will receive a certificate with professional development hours and lessons to take back to their classroom.
Upcoming Professional Development for 2026-27
12/5/2026: "GLP-1s" Presented by BioRad for Middle and High School Science Teachers, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
2/6/2027: "Vaping" Presented by BioRad for Middle and High School Science Teachers, 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Professional Developments offered in 2026
Biotechnology
Teachers participating in this session practiced some of the technologies currently used in research laboratories such as gel electrophoresis, DNA extraction, bacterial transformation, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Teachers received lesson plans to take back to their campus, discussed common student errors and tips on how to best prepare these labs.
Using Living Organisms in the Classroom
Teachers participating in this session did 4 hands-on labs using model organisms that can be used in the 6-12th grade classrooms, including making yeast spheres to track enzyme reaction rates, algae spheres to visualize/test the rate of photosynthesis, a design your own experiment using pill bugs and choice chambers, and using brine shrimp to visual biomagnification. Teachers received lesson plans to take back to their campus and insight on how to use these organisms to build student confidence in experimental design.
Looking to host a professional development for your campus or district?
We can do that too! The professional development can be designed to meet the needs of your teachers and is no cost to you. Interested in having STARS present to your teachers? Please reach out to Julia Drake at Email to schedule a call.