Professional Development

The professional development programs at Mystic Seaport provide teachers with behind-the-scenes tours and thematic workshops that correlate the Museum’s vast collections with classroom curriculum. Workshops show teachers how to utilize the Museum and its collections in their classrooms through active participation and interaction with a variety of experts, primary documents, and exhibition objects. Mystic Seaport is an accredited provider of Connecticut Continuing Education Units and teachers receive professional development points for their participation.

School-Year Professional Development Programs

Mystic Seaport provides workshops for primary and secondary school teachers. Sessions may occur at your school or at the Museum. Workshops focus on utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to illuminate history. Topics include maritime history, use of primary documents in the classroom, and how to use a museum as a teaching resource. Two- to four-hour programs are available with .2 to .4 CEUs. Museum teachers are also available to do short presentations at meetings.

The Planetarium offers workshops for primary and secondary school teachers in astronomy and math. Workshops use an interdisciplinary approach to integrate your current science program to include reading, writing, social studies, and math. Programs may be tailored to meet your school system’s curriculum development needs. Hands-on and Planetarium programs are included for each workshop. Two- to four-hour programs are available with .2 to .4 CEUs.

Summer Professional Development Programs

The Frank C. Munson Institute of American Maritime Studies at Mystic Seaport offers dynamic and challenging graduate-level courses in American maritime history. During a six-week summer session, students may take two out of three possible courses for graduate credit or CEUs. Course selections include a Maritime History Survey, a Maritime Studies Seminar and Independent Research. Mystic Seaport serves as the unique campus for the courses, and students will also attend field seminars in New London, Stonington, and Newport. Anyone with a strong personal and academic interest in the sea may apply. For more information, call 860.572.0711, ext. 5089.

Teacher Recognition

Each year, Mystic Seaport honors one or more teachers with the Orion Award for their commitment to utilizing the Museum’s collections, programs, and learning resources to create meaningful and innovative learning experiences for their students.