Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific

Engage with Hands-On Biology! Flinn Scientific presents a variety of easy to perform and exciting intro and Advanced Biology demonstrations. Come see Flinn’s new demonstrations and some of your old favorites—all guaranteed to make your science classroom come alive. Handouts provided for all.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Cambron, M.S.

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Explore the world of forensic science with these fun and exciting escape room activities! Try forensic blood detection and agarose gel electrophoresis experiments, decipher clues, and solve puzzles. Learn to design your own escape room to have students unravel the evidence and free the innocent.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD, Tom Cynkar

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

We'll explore using BioInteractive's free Model Builder tool to assist students in understanding system models. Choose from a library of models or create your own.

SPEAKERS:
Steven Rogg, Joseph Evans

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Decode concealed clues and unveil invisible evidence using spectroscopy! This demonstration will cover how students can use the Go Direct® SpectroVis® Plus Spectrophotometer and Vernier Spectral Analysis® app to capture and identify the spectra for invisible ink in a note left at a crime scene.

SPEAKERS:
Nüsret Hisim, Colleen McDaniel

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Unleash the power of gene editing with your students using REAL CRISPR-Cas technology to knock out colorful genes in E. coli. Identify successful knockout based on the cell color. Experiment by switching RNA templates and analyzing results, letting your students prove the specificity of CRISPR!

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD, Tom Cynkar

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Use Biointeractive resources to help students explain the relationship between climate change and coral bleaching by analyzing real world data on heat-stress mortality trends.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Norton, Chi Klein

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Wondering how to get started with Vernier technology? Explore three of our most common sensors for chemistry, biology, and physics and learn about resources and support available to you from Vernier. Walk away with data collection tips and best practices to incorporate in your classes.

SPEAKERS:
David Carter, Josh Ence

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Support students in using data to construct explanations! Join us as we utilize free BioInteractive resources to explore factors driving evolution among Galapagos finches.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Eberhard, Robin Bulleri

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Dive into modeling the movement of ions and nutrients across membranes. Help your students connect theory with the results from popular homeostasis labs.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson, Kris Herman

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Investigate transcription and translation without culturing cells! In this inquiry-based lab, RNA glows green and protein glows red, so you can see gene expression happen in a test tube. Use experimental data to test hypotheses about variables that affect transcription and translation.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Nishitani, PhD

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Explore patterns of inheritance in stickleback fish using free BioInteractive resources! We'll also model how to have students use data to support their evidence-based claims.

SPEAKERS:
Tanea Hibler, Lee Ferguson

Sponsoring Company: Dean Vaughn

Dean Vaughn's Medical Terminology by Body Systems course is a one of kind tool that helps students with their memorization and pronunciation of complex Greek and Latin words. Med Term is a foundational piece for all Health Science careers, and our tool ensures it will stick the first time!

SPEAKERS:
Gregory Newcomb

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

You’ve planned the experiment and collected data, now let’s discuss the best way to analyze it. In this workshop, we’ll use PCR and ELISA to bring quantitative data analysis and statistics to the lab. Mastery of these skills is crucial to prepare students for careers in biotechnology and STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD, Tom Cynkar

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Experience an easy-to-implement genetic engineering lab with simple teacher prep - no starter cultures or incubator required! This robust lab allows students to visualize the transformation of bacteria from white to bright blue using a protocol that can be completed in a 45-minute class period.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hennessy-McDonald, PhD

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Unlock biology's mysteries with model organisms! Join our workshop to learn how to culture and study C. elegans in your classroom laboratory. Explore heavy metal effects using a simple locomotion assay. Integrate STEM concepts, data collection, and statistics for an enriching learning experience.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD, Tom Cynkar

Many graduate programs include a requirement to write an article for publication. This roundtable will offer Q+A for graduate students with two professors who specialize in helping their students get published.

TAKEAWAYS:
Instructions and tips for graduate students hoping to publish in NSTA journals.

SPEAKERS:
Brooke Whitworth, Colby Tofel-Grehl, Peter Lindeman

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Students can become crime scene investigators analyzing and defusing a “bomb” using their knowledge of half-lives! Attendees will use the Vernier Go Direct® SpectroVis® Plus Spectrophotometer to gather decay data and apply mathematical thinking to determine when the device was set to detonate.

SPEAKERS:
Nüsret Hisim, Colleen McDaniel

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Students often struggle with visualizing photosynthesis across biological scales. Join us as we use BioInteractive resources to explore how photosynthesis models make student thinking visible.

SPEAKERS:
Amit Morris, Katherine Ward

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

See our newest Interactive Anatomy & Physiology curriculum where we'll demonstrate its latest lessons, simulations and interactions. Correlated to standards with LMS compatibility and free resources make this edition the most effective, interesting and engaging for instructors and students alike.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Goodman

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Find out how you can set up simple circuits in a safe, effective way! We’ll walk you through guided-inquiry simple circuit lessons, with attention to both the student experience and the teacher’s view. You’ll be able to customize the lessons to feature the sensors and software you already have!

SPEAKERS:
Josh Ence, David Carter

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Explore Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR in our hands-on electrophoresis workshop! This powerful biotechnology breakthrough is making dramatic changes to human health RIGHT NOW. Dive into CRISPR biology with quick experiments modeling cures for genetic diseases like Sickle Cell Anemia and Cystic Fibrosis.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD, Tom Cynkar

This project is to create a synchronous online instructional model that integrates academic coaching to enhance the learning experience of future elementary teachers regarding diverse cultures.

TAKEAWAYS:
This project is to create a synchronous online instructional model that integrates academic coaching to enhance the learning experience of future elementary teachers regarding diverse cultures.

SPEAKERS:
Jiyoon Yoon

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Taxonomy in action: use visual cues and biotechnology techniques to sort bumblebees into separate species. Experience how PCR, sequencing, and bioinformatics help scientists distinguish bee species.

SPEAKERS:
Damon Tighe

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Join us as we explore the relationship between environmental changes and wildfires using free BioInteractive resources that feature authentic phenomena and data analysis.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Dinerman, Beth Cates

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Can your students save the Giant Pandas? See how your students tackle topics like homeostatic regulation, effect of reproductive hormones, immunological responses and ecosystem balance as they engineer a hormone detection system that can be utilized for Giant Panda population conservation efforts.

SPEAKERS:
Damon Tighe

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Students can be change-makers! We’ll model using BioInteractive resources including Wild Hope, a new film series, to engage students in developing solutions for restoring biodiversity.

SPEAKERS:
Paul Strode, Ann Brokaw

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Wildlife conservators often return captive-bred animals to their native habitats to rewild the area. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore the use of RFLP analysis and phylogenetics in conservation biology to analyze the DNA samples of two lions. Can we return them to their ancestral home?

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD, Tom Cynkar

Using a nation-wide college student dataset, this study examines the gender disparities in academic self-concept for undergraduate students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors and investigates college experiences affecting academic self-concept in this population.

TAKEAWAYS:
Findings show that overall college satisfaction is the strongest positive predictor of academic self-concept for STEM college students, and that institutions and their members should strive to facilitate satisfactory and educationally meaningful college experiences for these students.

SPEAKERS:
Cameron Conn

This poster will specifically discuss the implementation of information literacy into an upper-division inorganic chemistry lab and the strategies employed to improve students’ information literacy in the laboratory courses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Strategies to develop information literacy practices in STEM classrooms need to be explicitly taught. These explicit activities need to familiarize students with concepts, as well as provide specific scaffolding to support its implementation.

SPEAKERS:
Matilynn Lam, Katy Miller

Participants engaged in experiential learning with an avatar-based virtual platform to facilitate guardian-teacher conferences. During this poster, curriculum examples from the professional learning experience will be shared, along with character development and participant reflections.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take away recommendations for leveraging technology such as Mursion in teacher education.

SPEAKERS:
Chelsea McClure

Gaining meaningful access to a discipline requires students to engage with multiple literacies. Here we report on a study investigating postsecondary faculties interpretations, implementations, and assessment of information literacy in university classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Embedding information literacy (IL) practices in postsecondary chemistry classrooms will require significant curriculum and professional development to support faculty to implement IL practices in their classroom, given faculty temporal and capability restrictions.

SPEAKERS:
Matilynn Lam

This scholarship of teaching and learning study parallels Aranda et al. (2021) by having students author two Scientist Spotlights assignments in a community college biology course and assessing the impact of the intervention on the students’ stereotypes of scientists and relatability to science.

TAKEAWAYS:
The main takeaway is to understand if authoring Scientist Spotlight assignments influences student relatability to scientists and/or shifts stereotypes of scientists from negative stereotypes to positive stereotypes, and nonstereotypical descriptions in a community college intro biology course.

SPEAKERS:
Heidi Tarus

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Models help make student thinking visible. Join us as we engage with different methods and scaffolds to model ecological phenomena using free HHMI BioInteractive resources.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Johnson, Brian Mason

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Discover how modeling with interactive, collaborative tools can help your students learn about this new gene editing technology. Hear how the treatment has helped people.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Herman, Kris Herman

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Two out of three drug overdoses are due to opioids. Understanding the environmental & genetic links to drug dependency can reduce risk when opioids are prescribed to high-risk patients. Discover how math, genetics, & personalized medicine can determine the likelihood of addiction.

SPEAKERS:
Tamica Stubbs

Are you a preservice teachers’ instructor? Learn how NSTA's digital resources, web seminars, and online community can help students become the BEST teachers they can be. We will discuss what’s available at NSTA and how to easily access it from your own Class Landing Page. Membership is included.

TAKEAWAYS:
Instructors using NSTA as their Textbook (or as a supplement) have students who create a library of resources, grow their network of professional colleagues, and enhance their content and pedagogical knowledge of science. Membership is included.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

PTC tasting is a classic way to link genotype and phenotype. Use PCR and gel electrophoresis to determine if students have taster or non-taster alleles for bitter perception. Learn about our all-new curriculum and see how easy it can be to bring molecular genetics to your class!

SPEAKERS:
Sebastian Kraves

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Dig deeper into CRISPR-Cas9 with a hands-on modeling activity and an online BioInteractive resource that demystify how this biotechnology expands the field of genetic medicine.

SPEAKERS:
Valerie May, Karen Lucci

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Experience CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing experiments designed for your students' learning! In this hands-on workshop edit a chromosomal gene, complete with essential experimental controls, using the same cut-and-repair technology used in medicinal and agricultural applications.

SPEAKERS:
Damon Tighe

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Explore genetic wonders with your students and discover the intricacies of Mendelian and non-Mendelian inheritance through dynamic modeling and Punnett Square construction.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson, Kris Herman

Inviting all Preservice Teachers, University-Level Teacher Education Faculty, and Faculty Advisors attending the conference to learn about NSTA’s Preservice Teacher Chapter Program with National and Local Preservice Teacher Chapter options.

TAKEAWAYS:
Preservice Teachers, University Teacher Educators, and Faculty Advisors will walk away informed about how to participate in NSTA’s Preservice Teacher Chapter Program.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez, Debi Hanuscin, Morgan Glann, Jim McDonald, Eli Vincent, Emma Patrus, Lauren Rupe

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Come practice hands-on, authentic CRISPR/Cas learning activities. From using Cas9 to target DNA in a test tube, to knocking out a gene in bacteria, our labs will put real CRISPR/Cas in your students’ hands. Free educational resources like CRISPR/Cas paper models will also be demonstrated.

SPEAKERS:
Sebastian Kraves

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Take motion studies to the next level! Use updated Vernier Video Analysis® tools to capture position, velocity, and acceleration data on student devices. Foster a deeper understanding of physics through learner-driven experiments using data from sample and student-recorded videos.

SPEAKERS:
Josh Ence, David Carter

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Discover the role of Scenedesmus obliquus in biotechnology, from biofuels to wastewater treatment and microplastics detection. This hands-on workshop includes a powerful teaching lab for photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and allows students to engage in structured and open inquiry.

SPEAKERS:
Damon Tighe

Place-based science instruction leverages students’ previous experiences, illuminates their natural world, and provides opportunities for students to learn beyond the confines of their computers. We share strategies for online course development to optimize active learning and local landscape.

TAKEAWAYS:
Place-based online science instruction promotes active learning, supports student investigations in their local environments, and builds a community of online learners as students share their experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Athena Nagel, Renee Clary

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

How can we use forensics to track elephant poaching? Join us as we explore BioInteractive resources related to elephant poaching, species conservation, and DNA profiling.

SPEAKERS:
Diana Siliezar-Shields, Jennifer Barnes

This study aims to enhance the understanding of future science teachers in the field of transportation and to create an innovative teaching approach that integrates the diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds of students into the instruction of transportation engineering.

TAKEAWAYS:
This study aims to enhance the understanding of future science teachers in the field of transportation and to create an innovative teaching approach that integrates the diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds of students into the instruction of transportation engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Jiyoon Yoon

Institutes of Higher Education are integral in developing pre-service teachers environmental literacy (ELit). The HEEL fellowship focuses on building faculty capacity of ELit application to teacher education. This presentation will share curriculum examples, self-reported reflections, and artifacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Recommendations for environmental literacy practices, curriculum, and resources for fostering environmental literacy in Higher Education faculty and pre-service teacher education.

SPEAKERS:
Chelsea McClure

This session describes a program funded by an NSF grant that gives pre-service science teachers the opportunity to spend a summer working in a science research laboratory gaining hands-on research experience as they apply the NGSS SEPs, CCCs, and Nature of Science standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Effective implementation of the NGSS requires science content knowledge as well as knowing how to incorporate SEPs, CCCs, and NOS into instruction. An NSF-sponsored grant supports pre-service teachers as they employ the NGSS during a summer research placement with a research team.

SPEAKERS:
Linda Padwa

Horses allow infinite applied learning experiences in equine education but owning them is challenging. Learn about the challenges schools are facing and strategies to overcome those challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Financial, liability, and curricular obstacles prevent schools from using horses for applied learning in modern agricultural education at community colleges. Strategic partnerships and robust procedures can help institutions justify owning horses.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Slater, Lindsey Freeman

Many students struggle to become effective science communicators through writing. Our research study reveals why some life science instructors are no longer assigning traditional lab reports. Strategies to help your students with science writing are provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
A surprisingly large number of college faculty have stopped assigning traditional lab reports in introductory life science courses. Our research study reveals several barriers, some of which are quite surprising. We provide a list of classroom-ready strategies to improve students’ science writing.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Slater, Kristy Palmer

What could possibly make an experience working with 100,000+ stinging insects even better? Let's document it and put it on social media! In this session, you will learn how a small liberal arts college has made a commitment to pollinator education, curriculum integration, and experiential learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Innovation is change that unlocks new value; simple to say, yet very hard to do. Establishing an apiary, a new company, embracing entrepreneurship, and developing curriculum represent innovation and the future of higher education. It requires that we push creative boundaries and take risks.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Krantz

Through collaborative teacher education teams, lesson plans were developed to promote the integration of social justice and environmental awareness to the secondary science through Cli-fi. Curriculum examples of the YAL text Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet will be shared in this session.

TAKEAWAYS:
Recommended practices and resources for fostering environmental awareness and social justice through Cli-fi.

SPEAKERS:
Chelsea McClure

Since COVID-19 hit, students seem to have lost the valuable social skills of empathy and effective communication needed for success in college. This session broadly outlines student incivility and provides action-oriented strategies to build more effective and equitable learning environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Strategies exist to meet students where they are in a post-pandemic world, to help students develop the soft skills required for academic success. Strategize how to get students out of a competitive and isolated "survival mode" and help them join a learning community in academia.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Slater, Michelle Mason

Scientific caricatures (SCs) serve as unique instructional and assessment tools to engage students in online classrooms and promote critical thinking. Learn how to incorporate SCs in YOUR classrooms! Resources provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
In online science classrooms, scientific caricatures (SCs) offer an innovative and creative assessment tool for students to imaginatively apply science content, optimize their critical thinking skills, and engage their online peers.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Clary

Pacific Alliance Against COVID-19 curricula provided teachers with historical contexts and student inquiry lessons to mitigate COVID-19. Major findings: teachers seek roles as public health educators and PD to address mental health, disinformation, and reduce impacts on vulnerable NH-PI populations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teacher leaders can provide timely, trusted information during times of uncertainty. Professional development providing current COVID-19 information, istudent-centered inquiry lessons, and access to networks of community partners supported teacher leadership and agency as public health educators.

SPEAKERS:
Pauline Chinn

Join our interactive roundtable of preservice, beginning, and veteran science teachers to discuss their experiences with planning and implementing interdisciplinary, advocacy-focused science lessons. We will be sharing tips, resources, and exemplar lesson plans. Hear their stories and ask questions!

TAKEAWAYS:
Science teachers attending this session will gain research-based instructional practices that will enable them to cultivate an advocacy-focused, equitable, and inclusive learning environment for their students by integrating social justice science issues into their science curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez, Morgan Glann, Jaclyn Murray, Jim McDonald, Andrea Henrie, Emma Patrus, Lauren Rupe, Charlotte Graham, Helena Spigner, SOPHIA JEONG, Erika Reeves, Eli Vincent, Jenna Cahn, Cesar Palacios, Emma Bishop

Important differences exist in attitudes toward writing lab reports for undergraduate life science majors who identify as female and male. We use survey data to determine how to help students improve upon the lab report. Action-oriented science writing strategies will be provided to help students.

TAKEAWAYS:
For those interested in gender differences, equity, and post-secondary science writing, this session provides an overview of perceptions and attitudes of writing lab reports for life science majors identifying as female and those identifying as male.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Slater, Kristy Palmer

By cultivating positive relationships among science educators and leaders, including the state department of education, district science leaders, college professors, and vendor partners, the SC Science Education Leadership Association has actively advocated for K-12 science in South Carolina.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn what makes SCSELA a successful state science leadership organization and how to implement community-building practices within their own science leadership communities in order to grow a network that advocates for successful science education.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Sullivan, Edwin Emmer

The Story Behind the Story engaged college students of diverse identities with an often-untold history of mineral exploration/exploitation, and connected them with professional societies to help broaden participation. Join us to explore what worked—and what challenges remain.

TAKEAWAYS:
In an interactive session, participants discuss the effectiveness of the history of science/geoheritage to broaden participation—and explore avenues of how college science instructors can facilitate diversity in the sciences.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Clary

Education research reveals that advanced undergraduate and graduate students often feel a lack of agency when working under faculty advisors. More effective mentoring practices can demonstrate positive effects on student success. Best practices and expectation management principles are provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
Data gathered from current graduate students and experienced advisors is presented. The strengths and weaknesses of graduate education are highlighted and recommendations for improvement are provided. Participants will be better equipped to build more productive relationships with diverse students.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Slater, Michelle Mason

This project shows how informal science spaces provide opportunities for pre-service teachers to build their knowledge in STEM disciplines, develop their STEM teaching skills, and take on leadership roles. A set of best practices will be shared with specific examples and lessons learned.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore the affordances of partnerships between university programs and informal science spaces through a model of engagement consisting of: distributed expertise, agency, learning and growth, transformational leadership, community engagement, creating change-makers, and longevity.

SPEAKERS:
Carmen Vanderhoof

Teacher PD typically includes 1-2 weeks of intensive summer instruction, but implementation is often months later. How effective is this model and is there a better way? We will share our research from a PD model that is based on pedagogical techniques used in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
This paper will share the logistics of our PD model, challenges, findings from our current research, and implications for future PD in K-16.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Matsler

To achieve a clean energy future, the industry needs new, diverse talent to fill jobs across many different occupations, spur innovation, and build a better world. Let's discuss ways this can be achieved and how the Department of Energy and its national labs can best inspire the next generation.

TAKEAWAYS:
The goal would be to seek feedback from participants, share tools and resources to support challenges to meeting our nation's clean energy workforce needs, and solicit input into future work efforts to attract those that want to build a better world.

SPEAKERS:
Paula Richards, Michael Arquin, Arielle Cardinal, Kimberly Swan, Elise DeGeorge

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Join us as we explore free BioInteractive classroom resources that use the prevalence of sickle cell disease as an example of natural selection in humans.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Moran-Johnson, Cinthya Fernandez

This session will share the results from a 15-week study that explored how an innovative STEM methods course impacted teacher candidates’ personal and professional growth as future STEM educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave the session with a framework for developing innovative STEM methods courses to prepare future teachers to effectively integrate inquiry-based STEM instruction in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Cramer, Jennifer Ponder

Sponsoring Company: Ocean Diagnostics x Water Rangers

Through a hands-on demonstrations of our easy-to-use water quality and microplastics educational toolkits and technology, you'll learn how to bring real-world problem-solving into the classroom, increase student engagement and empower the next generation of environmental problem solvers.

SPEAKERS:
Nikolas MacLean, Katherine Strom-Trudel

Join our panel of preservice and novice teachers as they share internship and early teaching experiences. Ask questions and gain valuable insights!

TAKEAWAYS:
Preservice teachers can be better prepared to student teach and begin their first jobs by hearing stories from, and asking questions of, preservice and new teachers who have just experienced interning, or their first years of teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez, SOPHIA JEONG, Laura Robertson, Jaclyn Murray, Erika Reeves, Kelsea Gray

High structure course design, which includes pre-class content acquisition and assessment, in-class active learning, and after-class review and assessment, has been shown to improve student outcomes, reduce achievement gaps, and increase belonging.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1.) Explain what high structure course design is and the benefits of applying it to STEM courses, and 2.) Begin to apply the principles of high structure course design to their own courses.

SPEAKERS:
Justin Shaffer

We developed a near-peer mentoring program to empower math and science teacher candidates to connect with early career teachers. We will share our research findings in this session, and engage participants in a shared discussion of approaches to support teacher self-efficacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about the design of our near-peer mentoring program and have access to tools to facilitate the process. Discussion will help attendees develop near-peer mentoring in their induction or teacher education program, and how to expand and support their pool of near-peers.

SPEAKERS:
Dan Moore, Janelle Johnson

The presentation will review the findings and implications of a qualitative dissertation research study of elementary teachers who developed and implemented a standards-based science curriculum and how that experience plays out in teachers' classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
How does building and district leadership help or hinder the science curriculum implementation process?

SPEAKERS:
David Jacob

Explore a module that examines cellular biology content through a quantitatively focused lens! "Sizes, Scales, and Specialization" explores how cell size varies between cell types by having students conduct conversions between volume, density and mass. For undergraduates and upper level HS students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be ready to implement a 1 hour classroom activity to improve their student’s proficiency with scientific numbers and unit conversions by exploring the most common cell types in the body and their sizes.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Esquibel

Using the Universal Design Principles, I propose to show educators specific examples of how they can improve learning for all our students with proactive changes to their courses and teaching styles. Student success ultimately falls on the student but can be aided significantly by inclusive teaching

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn the importance of broad application of Universal Design Principles and how it affects all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Shari Lanning

Presenters will share methods of designing, implementing, and integrating materials gained through mini-grants to establish new units, based upon NGSS standards, for classrooms in high-needs districts leading to an increase in the quality of instruction and success of students in STEM education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to structure and fund mini-grants as a tool to improve awareness and success of STEM in schools. Administrators and curriculum leaders will learn the methodology to provide the materials necessary to assist teachers with planning and execution of lessons based on these grants.

SPEAKERS:
Andrew Lazowski, Bonnie Maur

Higher Education faculty were engaged in an ELit professional learning community focused on capacity building and ELit integration into the teacher education classroom. In this session, we will share the qualitative data (course artifacts, participant reflections) and details on the HEEL curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will share ideas for integration of environmental literacy in teacher education curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Chelsea McClure

Students may use science terms without fully grasping their meaning, which can interfere with conceptual understanding. I created a team project requiring students to explain a science concept using only simple English. Students expressed confidence and a sense of mastery after the project.

TAKEAWAYS:
This poster will provide a walkthrough of a team project in which students explain a science concept using only simple English. I will also present examples of student work.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Davis

The New Mexico State University (NMSU) and Dona Ana Community College (DACC) Noyce team collaborated to develop science and math bachelors degree programs that embed a minor in secondary education, along with an associates in STEM Education, to recruit STEM teachers for the teaching field.

TAKEAWAYS:
The team utilized the Noyce Capacity Building grant to prepare for a full proposal for the Noyce Track 1 Scholarship Program. Challenges and solutions will be presented to aid others in considering a Noyce proposal.

SPEAKERS:
Tracey Gorham Blanco

New teachers struggle with classroom management, a work-life balance, and a lack of support. In contrast, teachers benefited from professional and emotional support, improved their communication skills through teaching, and felt a sense of purpose in their teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
New teachers benefit from their own parental support and/or mentor support.

SPEAKERS:
Donald Selway

This presentation discusses a framework that supports a universal design approach and highlights indigenous ways of thinking to mitigate environmental impacts. Based on the successful outcomes of a recent study, this presentation demonstrates how the framework may be put into practice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to learn about the potential of a teaching framework, specifically in assisting pre-service teachers. By embracing cultural traditions while working together with progressive pedagogy, the intent is to develop relevancy, engagement, and motivation in mathematics.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Potes

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

How do habitat fragments serve as ecological "islands?" Join us as we investigate strategies for connecting disconnected habitats using free BioInteractive resources.

SPEAKERS:
Perri Carr, David Hong, Lisser Vidal

Open Educational Resources (OERs) significantly enhance educational equity. Yet, what do the students themselves think about OERs? In this presentation, we analyze and discuss data from student feedback/surveys regarding their experiences with OERs to make improvements where necessary.

TAKEAWAYS:
In summary, the data show that students are mostly grateful for the opportunity to not have to pay for any additional classroom materials after tuition. OER quality varies, and any shortcomings do not go unnoticed by students. However, the zero-cost aspect outweighs any downsides of specific OERs.

SPEAKERS:
Cyrus Sadeghian

College and university faculty who recruit STEM teacher candidates: This session is for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
There is a STEM teacher shortage. Students are interested! College and university faculty can help!!

SPEAKERS:
Jia Wern Hue

In this workshop, participants will put hands-on experiments and learning scenarios used in a research study that focused on the contribution of non-formal activities to a pre-service science teacher education program about the nature of science, inquiry-based science learning, and STEM learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
All participants explore hands-on STEM experiments (e.g. planets’ orbit) with daily materials and inquiry-based learning scenarios (e.g. how to eliminate noise). In groups, they discuss and propose a new one. All materials will be available to participants, including some extra learning scenarios.

SPEAKERS:
Isabel Borges

A discussion on how the CMU preservice student NSTA chapter maintains the organization at the university level, focusing on how they are involved in promoting STEM sensemaking in schools, fundraising for their organization, and providing professional development opportunities to preservice teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about the ideas, strategies, and resources the CMU preservice chapter uses to maintain the chapter. The executive board members will touch on community science events, fundraising, and the professional development opportunities that allow us to be a successful organization.

SPEAKERS:
Eli Vincent, Jim McDonald, Emma Patrus, Morgan Glann, Lauren Rupe

We will share the latest findings from a multi-year study to identify the most promising features of undergraduate teacher preparation programs that contribute to improved training of preservice science teachers, and experiences that optimize overall STEM knowledge and students’ misconceptions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the latest on what factors impact preservice teachers’ interest in teaching, the status of teacher education programs, and what are the strong and weak STEM content knowledge areas of preservice science teachers, including prevalence of learning about students’ misconceptions.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Sadler, Cynthia Crockett

This study aims to provide opportunities to collaborate with rural science teachers in a mutually beneficial partnership in order to build agency in rural teachers, students, and preservice teachers in rural classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will collaborate with presenters in order for all to better understand the challenges and opportunities for providing high-quality, engaging science instruction to students in rural areas.

SPEAKERS:
Gwinn North

Teacher leaders are the superheroes of education. In this session participants will investigate the Domain IV of the Teacher Leader Model Standards. In this deep dive, facilitating improvement in science instruction and student learning will be addressed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through participant dialogue, each attendee will walk away with a list of methods or practices found to be successful in the science classroom, as well as, ways to collaborate and support colleagues.

SPEAKERS:
Jenne VandePanne, Jessica Wagenmaker

Artificial Intelligence chatbots have upended teaching and learning. Negative aspects of their use have been raised, but there are positive ones too. Research into the performance of students and ChatGPT in a chemistry class will be shared and future directions discussed for student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Chatbots are here to stay. Teachers and students need to know how to use them to support learning.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Clark

Rather than simply use an interesting news story or issue to "hook" students, I use a current issue to drive the Biology content covered in that lecture. By carefully choosing issues across all parts of Biology, I cover all content normally included in an introductory Biology class.

TAKEAWAYS:
I will provide specific guidance to transform the delivery of content to align with current, relevant issues. This includes individual variations that can either include or exclude physiology, and cover more, or less, content in specific areas of Biology.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Sawey

Research has demonstrated that various case-based learning approaches support various depths of learning. Using a single case study on Huntington’s Disease, participants will observe how case implementation in either a case-based method or a case lecture supports learning depth.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn implementation of two types of case-based learning (CBL): a case-based method and a case-based lecture. Participants will learn the structure of each type of CBL, and how a subtle difference in CBL can support depth of learning while comparing the two types of CBL in biology.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Krall, Katherine Sharp

Education research emphasizes the importance of representation; however, this session takes a broader perspective. Join us as we share insights from PEBC’s inaugural BEST Conference, an effort to expand beyond young learners and explore belonging that centers educators and professionals.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of the session, participants will have a greater understanding of the purpose behind PEBC's BEST Conference, and pragmatic strategies to employ with the BIPOC educators and professionals that they support.

SPEAKERS:
Jailyn Jenkins