STEM in Special Education:

Quick Courses: Online, Self-Paced Content Delivered in Two Formats

All Model Teaching Quick Courses provide content via both video and text formats for your convenience. Teachers may watch a self-paced video presentation or download and print a self-contained article of the content. Our multi-format delivery allows for personalized individual learning or group learning for on-campus PLCs or other on-campus staff development.

Professional Development Credits

At the conclusion of the course, you will receive a certificate for 1 Professional Development Hours (Clock Hours, CPEs).

Model Teaching Professional Development Courses are pre-approved in many states.

If you are a teacher seeking license renewal and wish to verify acceptance of our Professional Development Courses, please view our PD STATE REQUIREMENTS PAGE to learn more about your state’s requirements.

Also, consider taking our UNIVERSITY-PARTNERED, ACADEMIC CREDIT COURSES to earn regionally accredited units or credits, accepted by most states for teacher re-licensing and salary advancement.

Approval Information About This Course for Teaching License Renewal & Continuing Education

Model Teaching has helped thousands of teachers across the country meet their relicensing requirements.

This course is Pre-Approved in the following states for License Renewal and Continuing education:

• Texas – CPE’s, TEA-Approved
• New York CTLE’s – NYSED-Approved
• Pennsylvania DOE – ACT 48-Approved
• Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) – Approved
• Nevada DOE
• Tennessee
• Other States As Well

If you do not see your state listed here, this course may be pre-approved in your state as well. Chat with us or leave a ticket for our recommendations.

For More Information About Your Specific State Requirements, Please View Your State Requirements

Please confirm your specific district or state requirements for license renewal prior to registering, and feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have about our courses.

Detailed Course Description:

This course is designed to integrate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) into special education, focusing on how STEM activities can support Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals for students with disabilities. This course is not a guide for classroom accommodations or aligning STEM objectives with existing curricula but professional development training to incorporate STEM activities into your curriculum to enhance your students’ engagement while allowing them to expand on higher-level concepts and activities.

STEM education in special education is crucial because students with disabilities often lack access to STEM resources, which can limit their future career opportunities and creative engagement with the world. The course emphasizes that STEM and special education can coexist, providing a well-rounded education that prepares students for success beyond school. STEM activities promote higher-order thinking, problem-solving, creativity, teamwork, and communication skills, which are essential for personal and professional development.

STEM is not a single subject but an integration of multiple disciplines that support problem-based learning and higher-order thinking. The course also touches on STEAM, which includes the arts, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to education. Each component of STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—plays a role in developing essential skills that students will use in school, work, and life.

The course introduces the STEM Framework for Essential STEM Skills, which helps educators view STEM-related skills as essential rather than supplementary. These skills focus on applying knowledge rather than simple recall, and they can be integrated into classroom activities to support IEP goals. The framework encourages educators to design high-quality STEM activities that promote higher-order thinking, even if the IEP goals themselves do not.

To effectively plan STEM activities, educators should consider students’ interests and create a list of topics or questions that can be explored through STEM. This approach allows for a wide range of activities that are not necessarily tied to specific classroom standards but are engaging and relevant to students’ lives.

The course also highlights the importance of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in STEM education. UDL is an instructional approach that ensures all students, regardless of ability, can access and learn the information presented in the classroom. By incorporating UDL principles, educators can create STEM activities that are accessible to all students, supporting their IEP goals and promoting success in school.

This course will provide a framework for integrating STEM into special education, emphasizing the importance of STEM activities in supporting IEP goals and preparing students for future success. By focusing on essential skills and using UDL principles, educators can create engaging and inclusive learning experiences that benefit all students.

This Course will Cover These Essential Topics:

• STEM in Special Education
• The Benefits of STEM in Special Education
• What is STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
• STEM in Improving Student Outcomes: Reading and Writing IEP Goals
• STEM in Improving Student Outcomes: Social-Emotional IEP Goals
• The STEM Framework as a Means to Build Essential STEM Skills
• Addressing IEP Goals: Math, Reading, Behavioral and More
• The 5 Essential Features of a STEM Activity
• The DIG Method: Planning for STEM
• Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Methods in STEM

Register for the course STEM in Special Education: Addressing IEP Goals in STEM-Based Activities now.