Professional Development

STEM Symposium
Think, Tinker, Teach!
STEM Supper Club

 

The ECU Center for STEM Education is dedicated to offering quality, low-cost professional development opportunities for educators in Eastern NC.

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STEM Symposium

A collaboration between the College of Engineering and Technology and the Center for STEM Education, the STEM Symposium brings together K–12, postsecondary, and workforce partners to strengthen connections across the STEM ecosystem. The 2026 STEM Symposium will take place on Wednesday, July 29. Participants will also have the opportunity to add individually-priced two-hour deep dive workshops or industry tours on Tuesday, July 28.

All attendees will receive perks such as:

  • Hands-on sessions
  • Networking with industry leaders
  • Vendor & resource expo access
  • Sponsored lunch & refreshments on Wednesday
  • Giveaways

Register for STEM Symposium

We are currently accepting proposals! If you have a 60-minute session idea anchored in one of the four STEM Schools of Distinction professional learning focus standards, we would love to hear it! Proposal submissions are due Friday, April 17, and applicants should expect to hear back by May 6.

Submit a Proposal

Graphic with the words ‘Think, Tinker, Teach!’ in purple and black text, and the subtitle ‘Inquiry Learning Series’ underneath on a white background

Think, Tinker, Teach!

Starting in spring 2026, we began our Think, Tinker, Teach series, designed to allow educators to choose the PD opportunity that best fits their needs. All sessions are free, capped at 20 participants, and feature guest speakers covering topics from math manipulatives to 3D printing. Click below to view all of our offerings. Refreshments, swag, and door prizes are provided!

View Think, Tinker, Teach sessions and register

Two adults seated at a table in a classroom with math manipulatives. A tall structure made of yellow plastic blocks stands on the table, with notebooks, rulers, water bottles, and a whiteboard with math notes visible in the background.
Adults seated around tables in a workshop setting holding green Foldscope Instruments microscopes bags. Instructional materials, small tools, and printed handouts are spread across the tables.

Circular purple-and-white logo with the words ‘STEM Supper Club’ in large purple text. Icons around the text include two magnifying glasses, a laboratory flask, math symbols, a gear, a calculator, a fork, and a knife, representing science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and food.

STEM Supper Club

The STEM Supper Club is a cohort-based professional development series lasting one school year. Join a community of educators in eastern NC as we explore explore new technologies for classroom use. Supper Club participants register in the fall and meet monthly at the ECU Center for STEM Education. Previous sessions have focused on Beaverbot, Makey Makey, Carolina Biological, and more! All technologies are available in the STEM Education Research Library for free checkout after the event. In addition to enriching STEM education, participants receive access to in-person raffles for classroom materials and swag. Perhaps the best part of STEM Supper Club is that each session includes a free dinner sponsored by a local restaurant, community partner, or business!

For notification when 2026-2027 registration opens, join our mailing list.

Two adults seated at a table assembling small wheeled models using craft materials. Instruction sheets, tape, and building components are arranged on the table in a classroom setting.
Small group working at a table with science kits, wearing protective goggles. Instruction manuals, small containers, trays, and science materials are spread across the table during a hands-on experiment

Questions?

Contact us at cstem@ecu.edu or call us at (252) 328-6885.