Professional Development for Teachers

Primary school learners are naturally curious. Our Curious Minds CPD training helps teachers nurture this curiosity, empowering students to be the innovators of tomorrow.

About Curious Minds CPD

Our free CPD training is for all primary school teachers, regardless of their own level of science training. Our training aims to empower teachers and guide them on how inquiry-based learning can be applied to any STEM topic in their classroom to develop the critical thinking skills of their learners.

Workshop participants can expect:

hands-on workshops based around classroom learning
to gain access to hundreds of activities and classroom ideas
support in effective and engaging science teaching
to learn how new science activities link to the school curriculum
to gain access to Discover Centres that offer science and maths tours to schools
valuable and accredited professional development
to confidently apply learnings as part of the Curious Minds Awards

School training

Schools can register for whole-staff workshops.

We need at least 10 teachers to attend these sessions. If your school has fewer than 10 teachers, you can partner with other schools. Whole-staff workshops can be organised as part of your school’s ‘Croke Park’ hours.

Training can be done in-person at your school or online via Zoom.

We deliver training over three, two-hour workshops. We offer a choice of the following workshop topics:

Workshop 1 Biodiversity or Mighty Materials (choose one topic)
Workshop 2 Insulation and Materials or Gravity and Air Resistance (choose one topic)
Workshop 3 Journey into Space

Places will be allocated on first come, first served basis to schools who can commit to the requirements outlined in our registration form. We will contact successful schools to arrange the date of the first workshop. This will take place in the autumn term.

We will also assign one of our Curious Minds facilitators to your school. The dates for your second and third workshops can be arranged with your facilitator.

Individual teacher training

Research Ireland and ESERO Ireland are offering a free workshop to individual teachers wishing to build their confidence in teaching STEM subjects. This webinar is a bite-sized introduction to our Curious Minds teacher CPD programme. We share how STEM can be accessibly taught to all primary school ages and be applied across a wide range of subjects in a practical, hands-on, enjoyable and interactive way. No prior science training or expensive equipment is required, just curious minds!

Last year we offered a varied selection of summer courses with partners including ESERO Ireland, MTU Blackrock Castle Observatory and The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Those courses took place over July and August. Check back here for upcoming CPD Summer Courses.

Teacher Testimonials:

“100% of principals said our CPD training increased school confidence in teaching science.”

“77% of teachers said our CPD training positively changed the way they teach science.”

Participant Testimonials:

“The workshops have provided an abundance of ideas for exciting lessons.”

“This programme really brings STEM to life.”

Get updates on Curious Minds news and events

curiousminds@researchireland.ie