As an educator, one of the challenges you face is the problem of how to make math and science concepts interesting to students. Before now there have been few lesson plans that demonstrated the real-world correlation to the math and science principles being taught in your classrooms.
MDOT offers training for teachers who want to bring STEM education into their classrooms. Teachers who complete training can purchase CEU credits through Itawamba Community College.
The Roadways Into Developing Elementary Students, or RIDES, program is designed to improve science, technology, engineering and math skills, and prepare students in grades K-8 for the workforce of the future. Training focuses on teaching you, the educator, on how to implement the program in your classroom. The program contains ready-to-use lesson plans and a trunk of resources containing all the materials you will need to conduct these hands-on activities.
You will attend two days of high energy training conducted, at no cost to the teacher or school, by National Board Certified instructors. Once training is completed, teachers receive a RIDES trunk with over 150 ready-to-use lesson plans, complete with all resources needed to perform the different activities.
MDOT is also partnering with Mississippi universities to offer RIDES training to education students who are approaching graduation. Once these pre-service teachers complete the training, they will receive their RIDES resource trunks when they provide documentation that they have taken a teaching job at a Mississippi school.
Download Our RIDES Training Application
Training is offered at three different times throughout the summer at different locations around the state to help accommodate your schedule. Training sessions are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Once all training sessions are filled, teachers who were not able to make a training session will be put on a waiting list and be offered first priority for the following year’s trainings.
Download our RIDES Conference Application
An additional RIDES Conference is offered every summer to teachers who have gone through initial RIDES training and would like to receive a refresher. The RIDES Conference is a one-day training session held in Jackson.
TRAC training is designed to introduce you to ModelSmart 3D and Bentley MicroStation PowerDraft, the software programs your students will be using to design and test bridges. By receiving training on these programs, you will be able to answer most questions your students have as they work through how to design a bridge.
This training is a one-day training conducted by National Board Certified instructors who have had teams in the state and national Bridge Building Competition and is mandatory if you plan on entering a team into the competition. Once training is completed, you will receive your TRAC resource trunk with the software and materials for your students to begin building their bridges.
Training is offered at three different times during the year in different areas of the state. Training sessions are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Once all training sessions are filled, teachers who were not able to make a training session will be put on a waiting list and be offered first priority for the following year’s trainings.
Download Our TRAC Training Application
TRAC Training Application (Updated TRAC Training Application will be available Spring 2016)