- First-Year Professional Development Plan (2026–2027)
As a beginning secondary STEM teacher in British Columbia, my professional development plan focuses on three areas:
Effective STEM pedagogy
Digital learning
Inclusive practices, with Indigenous perspective
These areas align with my future role as a mathematics and science educator and support student-centered learning.
1. BC Association of Mathematics Teachers (BCAMT) Fall Conference
Date: October 23, 2026
https://www.bcamt.ca/professional-learning/conferences/
The BCAMT Fall Conference provides professional learning opportunities for mathematics educators across BC. The conference includes presentations by mathematics education researchers and classroom practitioners.
As a new mathematics teacher, this conference would provide practical classroom strategies and opportunities to network with experienced teachers.
2. BC Science Teachers’ Association (BCScTA)
https://bcscta.com/
BCScTA supports science educators through workshops, conferences, and professional networking opportunities. They focus on inquiry-based science learning, lab safety, and scientific literacy.
This organization would help strengthen my science teaching practice and provide access to current STEM teaching resources.
3. BC Digital Learning Symposium (BCEDL)
https://www.bcedl.ca/
The BC Digital Learning Symposium explores effective uses of educational technology. It describes positive use of AI in education, student engagement, and blended learning practices, among others.
As technology becomes increasingly important in STEM classrooms, this symposium would help me integrate digital tools effectively and responsibly.
Additional Qualification: Google Certified Educator Level 1
https://edu.google.com/intl/ALL_ca/learning-center/certifications/
This certification focuses on Google Classroom, Google Forms, and Digital collaboration and assessment tools.
This certification would strengthen my ability to manage digital learning environments and support student collaboration.
Full-Day Professional Development Conference
I would like to build my Pro-D conference around the theme “Building Engaging and Sustainable STEM Classrooms in British Columbia”
The aimed audience would be:
- Secondary math teachers
- Secondary science teachers
- Newly certified educators
Full-Day Schedule
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Registration & Networking Breakfast
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Keynote address by a certified math educator, focused on building Thinking Classrooms in Math and Science, with focus on student engagement, and classroom culture.
9:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Session 1: Inquiry-Based STEM Learning
Focused on designing inquiry labs and student-led investigations
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Session 2: Indigenous Perspectives in STEM Education
Presented by the local Indigenous Education Coordinator
Focused on BC First Peoples principles of learning, land-based STEM learning, and respectful integration of Indigenous knowledge.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch & Resource Fair
Representatives from:
- BCAMT
- BCScTA
- BCEDL
- Local school districts
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM
Session 3: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Tools in STEM
Presented by a BCEDL Digital Learning Specialist
Focused on AI-assisted lesson planning, ethical AI use, and Interactive STEM technologies.
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Session 4: Supporting Student Well-Being in STEM Classrooms
Presented by the secondary school counsellor
Focused on student anxiety, growth mindset, and teacher wellness strategies
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Reflection & Action Planning
Participants will create one instructional goal, one technology goal, one wellness goal, and one collaboration goal for implementation during the upcoming semester.
Rationale
This Pro-D day combines STEM pedagogy, Indigenous education, technology, and teacher wellness. The sessions address current challenges faced by BC secondary STEM educators while providing practical classroom strategies. The conference is designed to support both beginning and experienced teachers in creating engaging and inclusive STEM learning environments.