Last week, I was “nervited.”
At e4usa, that is what we call the combination of nervous and excited. It perfectly describes how I felt before participating in e4usa +Making Professional Development.
I have been with e4usa for more than two years. I have presented on the program, written about it, advocated for it, and talked with teachers and school leaders across the country about joining us. But I had never really experienced the curriculum or professional development from a teacher’s perspective.
Stacy Klein-Gardner, our Executive Director, and I thought it would help me speak more authentically about e4usa if I went through the experience myself.
I had heard others call professional development e4usa’s “secret sauce,” and I had even used the phrase myself. But until last week, I had never actually tasted it.
Like an episode of Hot Ones with Sean Evans, it was finally my turn. And like Paul Rudd, I came away thinking, “Look at us.”
Our professional development really is the secret sauce.
The people make the experience
Our +Making PD was led by three remarkable educators: e4usa Director of Professional Learning Dr. Jennifer “Jenny” Kouo; Marla Rudnick, a recently retired Montgomery County Public Schools (MD) teacher; and Christine Zito, a teacher at the Miller School of Albemarle (VA).
Wow. They were amazing.
I was impressed by their professionalism, patience, and expertise, not only in e4usa, but in teaching. They did much more than walk us through lessons and resources. They explained how they teach the course, how they prepare, where teachers might run into challenges, and how they adapt activities for their students. They shared their experiences honestly and thoughtfully.
Jenny brought an incredible amount of energy to every session. She was waking up at 3 or 4 in the morning so she could be online and preparing by 6 a.m. Even with that schedule, her excitement and enthusiasm never dropped.
Marla was calm, thoughtful, and reassuring. You could see her years of classroom experience in the way she coached teachers. She has actually taught this material, worked through the challenges, and learned what students need. That experience came through every time she spoke.
Together, they created an environment where people felt comfortable asking questions, trying new things, and occasionally getting stuck.
That is not easy, especially with an online group.
Online PD that actually works
Online professional development is something e4usa has become very good at.
That story goes back to e4usa's earliest years. We launched the teaching of e4usa during the 2019-202 academic year, after holding two in-person professional development sessions in summer 2019. We then brought teachers together again for Winter PD in January 2020.
A few months later, COVID changed everything. The team had to move the summer 2020 professional development online for both new and returning teachers. It was a major pivot, and everyone had to quickly learn how to create a meaningful, hands-on experience in a virtual environment.
Six years later, that work has clearly paid off. What began as a necessary response has become an area of real strength for e4usa.
We started by getting to know each other through icebreakers and conversations. We explored MyDesign®, the e4usa Hub, and the e4usa +Making curriculum. We also participated in some of the same lessons and activities that teachers will soon use with their students.
There is a lot to take in. At times, I am sure teachers feel like they are drinking from a fire hose.
The facilitators know that. They have refined the experience over the years so that each lesson, resource, and platform is introduced at the right time and with the right amount of detail. They understand when to push ahead and when to slow down.
Learning by making
I got a real taste of what students experience in an e4usa classroom.
I completed the robotic arm activity, reverse-engineered my electric shaver, designed a rain shelter, and made a wallet.
My eight-year-old son was home sick from camp during the robotic arm activity, so he joined me. He absolutely loved it. Watching him participate was a great reminder that engineering can invite curiosity from anyone, even someone who just happened to be home from camp that day.
I also enjoyed the breakout rooms. The groups intentionally changed throughout the week, which gave me a chance to meet and work with different teachers.
That part was especially meaningful for me. I had recruited many of these teachers and talked with them throughout the year about how great e4usa is. In some cases, we had been talking about this moment for nearly a year. Now I could watch them experience PD, learn more about their stories, and participate alongside them.
My first CAD prototype
On the final day, Christine introduced us to CAD.
e4usa +Making is CAD-agnostic. Teachers can use the CAD program available at their school, and they can also teach the course without CAD. Still, the professional learning team wanted everyone to see what was possible.
Christine’s facilitation was masterful.
She was patient, calm, and completely unflappable. She demonstrated the platform, answered questions, helped people troubleshoot, and somehow kept the whole group moving forward.
I was a particular problem child on Zoom.
I had never done anything remotely like CAD. I got stuck. I shared my screen. Christine patiently coached me through it.
And you know what? I did it.
I created a prototype in Onshape. The platform was more approachable than I expected, and Christine made the process feel possible for a complete beginner like me. I went from having no idea what I was doing to actually making something.
That feeling matters because it is what we want students to experience too.
I get it now
By the end of the week, you could feel the camaraderie within the group. You could feel the excitement for the coming academic year and the appreciation everyone had for Jenny, Marla, and Christine.
They led an impressive week of professional development, and the experience made me want to write this blog to thank them.
I also understand the “secret sauce” differently now.
It is the curriculum, but it is also the people. It is the patience and preparation of the facilitators. It is the way they model excellent teaching while helping teachers become comfortable with something new. It is the community that forms during PD and continues throughout the school year.
This experience rejuvenated me. It gave me a chance to step back and remember why we do this work.
I am ready to support the teachers who completed PD this year. I am even more excited to grow e4usa and continue making engineering education available to all students in a way that recognizes and values what makes every student unique.
I finally tasted the secret sauce.
Believe the hype.
Let’s go.