Professional Development

In addition to the state-required training to be certified to teach Engineering Mathematics, we strongly encourage teachers to attend our week-long AIM Summer Training.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

When and where is the training held?

Summer training sessions can be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. We'll send our veteran trainer directly to your school district, so that you can save money on travel expenses. In the event that we have a large demand for summer training sessions, we may opt to have one large training (usually in Waco, TX) for multiple districts' teachers.  AIM Summer Training will be held in the summer of 2017, with dates and location to be determined. The cost does not include breakfast, dinner, your hotel, or other travel costs necessary to attend the training. Please visit our Contact page to inquire about AIM training.

What's the difference between AIM training and the state-based training?

The state-required training for Engineering Mathematics teaches the core mathematics, science, and engineering topics from the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) for the course. The AIM Summer Training Institute focuses on our unique turnkey solution to meeting the requirements for Engineering Mathematics by immersing the teachers in the usage of robotics, teaching project-based learning by utilizing design challenges, and familiarizing teachers with the online curriculum and associated management features.

What is included in the week-long AIM Summer Training Institute?

  • Deep immersion in AIM course materials from a veteran Engineering Mathematics instructor.
  • Learnmate LMS - Teachers are trained on how to use the Learnmate Learning Management System. They will learn how to manage class rosters, author and manage assessments, generate reports, and navigate through course content.
  • Robotics - Teachers are familiarized with the large array of robotics parts included with our VEX robots. They learn to assemble, program, operate, and configure the robotics system.
  • Programming - Teachers are taught how to use the visual programming language EasyC and how to upload new programs from the PC to the robot's 'brain' - the microcontroller.
  • Design Challenges - Each of the six AIM units culminates in a design challenge. The teachers are trained on how to modify and configure the robots to meet the requirements of the challenge. 
Credentials needed to teach AIM

TEA sets the following requirements for credentials to teach Engineering Mathematics.

  • "Any secondary mathematics certificate
  • Any Technology Education, Industrial Technology, or Industrial Arts certificate
  • Master Mathematics Teacher (Grades 8-12)
  • Mathematics: Grades 8-12
  • Mathematics/Physical Science/Engineering: Grades 8-12
  • Physics/Mathematics: Grades 8-12
  • *All teachers assigned to this course shall participate in Texas Education Agency (TEA)-approved training prior to teaching this course effective with the 2014-2015 school year. Teachers assigned to this course in the 2010-2011 and/or 2011-2012 school year will have 12 months from the date the training is first offered to complete the TEA-approved training requirement."

Source:Texas Administrative Code, part 7, chapter 231, rule §231.1, p. 72.   See original source

The TEA-required training is delivered through Texas Gateway.