For our 2026 Science and Engineering Program for Teachers, we will be opening the application process to a new cohort for an on-campus event from Sunday, July 5th through Friday, July 10th. If you have any questions about the program please reach out to sept@mit.edu.
More information about our program:
For one week each summer, teachers from around the world are meeting each other at MIT for the annual Science and Engineering Program for Teachers (SEPT)!
Since 1989, over 2,000 middle and high school teachers have been selected to participate in SEPT – all recognized as innovative, creative, and dedicated leaders in their schools and communities. Each year, SEPT teachers attend lectures from top scientists, try out the latest technology developed on campus, and talk shop with an outstanding group of passionate educators – professors, students, researchers, and teachers at sessions together all week long!
SEPT Class of 2024. Thank you for joining us for our week-long Professional Development on campus!
Science and Engineering Program for Teachers (SEPT) at MIT 2025:
A Week of Innovation, Collaboration, and Community at MIT
From July 6–11, 2025, we were thrilled to host this year’s Science and Engineering Program for Teachers (SEPT) on MIT’s campus. This professional development program brought together middle and high school STEM educators from across the globe—including participants from throughout the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Hong Kong, and China.
The week began on Sunday evening with a welcoming catered dinner, giving participants the chance to connect and build community with their cohort.
On Monday, the program officially opened with a campus tour and inspiring talk from John Ochsendorf, MIT Professor of Architecture and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Teachers also heard from Nergis Mavalvala, Dean of the MIT School of Science, and Leslie Pack-Kaebling, MIT Panasonic Professor of Computer Science and Engineering. In the afternoons, participants began their track sessions:
Games and Simulations in the Classroom with Rik Eberhardt
This track informed teachers in the use and design of games and simulations as powerful tools for classrooms—supporting both systems learning and computational literacy. Afternoon sessions included introductions to existing and in-development tools, simulations, and games, as well as hands-on workshops in game design and programming. (Prior knowledge of programming or computer science was not required.)
Applying Hands-On Design and Making in the Classroom, a brand-new track designed to give teachers strategies and tools to integrate design, making, and prototyping into their own teaching. Educators explored approaches for scaffolding design skills, fostering creativity, customizing projects for different classroom environments, and building pathways from simple prototyping to advanced digital fabrication—all with no prior experience required.
On Tuesday, the group heard from Eric Klopfer, Director of the Scheller Teacher Education Program (STEP) at MIT, followed by a dynamic session on workforce development through learning games with Sajan Saini (MIT) and Ira Fay (STEP Lab).
Wednesday featured a rich lineup of speakers, including Alan Lightman (MIT Professor of the Practice of the Humanities), Ilana Schoenfeld (Learning Designer and Researcher, STEP Lab), Jonathan Bloom (MIT Senior Lecturer in Mathematics), and Caroline Ross (MIT Professor of Materials Science). That evening, participants toured Boston’s Museum of Science and enjoyed a private reception and design-engineering session in a room overlooking the Charles River—an evening filled with creativity, conversation, and fun.
On Thursday, the group engaged with STEP Lab’s Collaborative AI for Learning (CAIL) team, followed by a talk from Seth Mnookin, Director of MIT’s Comparative Media Studies/Writing program.
The program concluded on Friday with final presentations. Teachers from the Design and Making track shared their project work, while the Games and Simulations track offered participants the chance to play the games they created.
Beyond the formal sessions, one of the most memorable aspects of SEPT 2025 was the sense of community that emerged throughout the week. Teachers shared experiences late into the night in the dorms, playing games, reflecting on their practice, and building friendships that will last long beyond the program.
This year’s SEPT cohort was truly inspiring, and we are grateful for the energy, passion, and creativity they brought to MIT. Together, we learned, built, and celebrated the power of STEM education to transform classrooms and communities worldwide.