2024 Denver National Conference

March 20-23, 2024

4/9/2026 12:00PM EST: All sessions added to My Agenda prior to this notice have been exported to the mobile app and will be visible in the app when you login, under your profile. Any sessions added now will also have to be added in the app.
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Rooms and times subject to change.
29 results
Save up to 50 sessions in your agenda.

Phone Physics: 3D Rotational Motion

Thursday, March 21 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Slide Decks for NSTA 2024

Show Details

This workshop will introduce teachers to classroom investigations using the built-in gyroscope in their smartphones which connect foundational physics to real-world applications such as virtual reality and fitness tracking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will conduct multiple hands-on investigations using the gyroscope sensor in smartphones to explore rotational motion. They will directly experience the amazing capabilities of the sensors and will go away prepared to implement the investigations in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
David Rakestraw, Michael Tobler, Helene McLaughlin

Building Bridges to Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Thursday, March 21 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Mineral Hall B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Building Bridges Slides with LInks

Show Details

Learn from our experience as a math and a science teacher collaborating together to give our students an interdisciplinary learning opportunity so that you can start your own plan. We will share the logistics from this authentic inquiry-based project and you’ll hear testimonials from our students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be provided with one way to overcome logistical challenges inherent with interdisciplinary collaboration at the secondary level, including differing rosters and schedules. Furthermore, attendees will have the opportunity to start their own plan for their own interdisciplinary project.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Schneiderwind, Nadene Klein

Phone Physics: E&M Sampler

Thursday, March 21 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Slide Decks for NSTA 2024

Show Details

Workshop participants will conduct investigations using the built-in magnetometer sensors in smartphones to investigate the 3D properties of magnetic fields, including the Earth's magnetic field and magnetic information storage.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will conduct multiple hands-on investigations using the magnetometer sensor in smartphones to explore magnetic fields. They will directly experience the amazing capabilities of the three-axis magnetometer sensor and will go away prepared to implement the investigations in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
David Rakestraw, Michael Tobler, Helene McLaughlin

Supporting teachers, challenging students, and increasing accessibility: How DoD STEM Ambassadors advance STEM education in their communities

Thursday, March 21 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom F


Show Details

With support from a sponsored organization and the DoD, DoD STEM Ambassadors are prepared to promote equitable education in their communities. Resources and strategies will be shared to encourage other teachers to utilize DoD STEM resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how DoD STEM Ambassadors increase STEM education and opportunities for disadvantaged students in their communities. Presenters will review DoD STEM resources and show how attendees can also serve their classrooms to close the achievement gap, with support from DoD STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Botello, Josephine Mesina, Thanh Le, Nicole Rosen

Phone Physics: Acceleration and Friction

Thursday, March 21 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Slide Decks for NSTA 2024

Show Details

The accelerometer sensor in smartphones provide students with the ability to precisely measure changes in 3D motion. Workshop participants will conduct investigations to experimentally determine the change in motion of an object, including the often tricky static and kinetic friction experiment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will conduct multiple hands-on investigations using the accelerometer sensor in smartphones to explore changes in motion. They will directly experience the capabilities of the three-axis accelerometer sensor and will leave prepared to implement investigations in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
David Rakestraw, Michael Tobler, Helene McLaughlin

Connecting Classrooms with Nature: Teaching Physical Science Using Underwater Sound

Friday, March 22 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
DOSITS

Show Details

This hands-on workshop will help participants incorporate the natural world phenomena of underwater sound into classroom physical and biological science activities. Online resources will be shared, including an audio gallery of the underwater sounds produced by animals, people, and the natural world

TAKEAWAYS:
Using the topic of underwater sound can be an engaging vehicle for middle and high school students to explore and connect with the undersea environment and the science of sound.

SPEAKERS:
Gail Scowcroft, Liesl Hotaling

Energy Analysis in Physics using Multiple Representations

Friday, March 22 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Granite



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Energy folder
This folder contains everything from the presentation plus other things we do and some student samples (which may contain errors!).

Show Details

Yes, your students (even freshmen) can derive energy equations and solve complicated energy conservation problems, and have fun doing it, using toys! Find out how using force vs. distance graphs and a graphic organizer using multiple representations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to use the idea of Work done on a system to derive energy equations and then use this knowledge to solve for variables in various hands-on stations. Participants will experience how students must make judgments on how to analyze systems to complete multi-step energy analyses.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberlee Freudenberg

Exploring Cosmic Gamma Rays in a High School Classroom

Friday, March 22 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 1



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
HAWC Teacher Created Lessons
Full website containing a library of multiwavelength and specifically gamma ray astronomy lessons created by teachers in collaboration with the Michigan Technological University group of the High Altitude Water Cherenkov Gamma Ray Observatory (HAWC).
Presentation Materials
Slides from today, but also past presentations and lesson materials for teachers teaching astronomy and/or physics.

Show Details

Learn how high-energy astrophysics can be brought into the classroom by engaging in real-world research data. Explore cosmic gamma radiation using fresh popcorn, not one but two frustratingly addictive games, and discover how computers and machine learning are vital in scientific research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees work through classroom activities designed to introduce students to photon (gamma) radiation and proton (hadron) radiation so that attendees are able to engage their students in real-world astrophysics research and gain an appreciation for how computers are utilized in current research.

SPEAKERS:
Katelyn McCarthy

Using Physics Modeling Instruction to Engage Learners

Friday, March 22 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 2



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA Denver24 Modeling Presentation.pdf

Show Details

Modeling workshops are structured inquiry approaches to physics teaching that incorporate computers and insights from content and physics education research. Modeling workshop attendees develop skills in scientific discourse, Socratic questioning, and in assessment of student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees at this session will be introduced to the Modeling Method via a hands-on activity that is engaging and is representative of a typical modeling paradigm lab.

SPEAKERS:
Jon Anderson

Deriving Newton's 2nd Law using the 3-Dimensions

Friday, March 22 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 1


STRAND: No Strand
Show Details

See how students can use carts and tracks to determine the cause and effect relationships in Newton’s 2nd law through gathering, analyzing, and interpreting data. Briefly learn how technology-mediated lesson study has helped rural science teachers collaborate to design 3 dimensional lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
In one class period, students can gather, analyze, and interpret data to derive Newton’s 2nd Law by testing the cause-and-effect relationship of force and mass on acceleration.

SPEAKERS:
Douglas Morris, Joshua Stowers

Hot & Cheap – Great Classroom STEM Activities!

Friday, March 22 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 2



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Hot & Cheap - STEM - Denver 2024 .pptx

Show Details

Test some heat-treated metal samples; practice your math skills and artistry with a STEAM activity; work in groups for an engineering challenge! There’s a little something for everyone and we won’t judge anyone for wanting to be hot and cheap in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
There can be a lot of fun learning and STEM possibiltiies with cheap, accessible materials, application of heat, and a little creativity. Teachers will leave with a number of ideas useful for all levels of high school classroom: chemistry, physics, physical science, math practice, and engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Spohler, Briana Richardson

Rocketry + Avionics: Taking Data to New Heights

Friday, March 22 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
2024 Free Summer Rocketry Professional Development
NSTA 2024 Rocketry Presentation
SpaceLab Illinois Courses and Professional Development

Show Details

Inspired by recent space launches? Wondering how to capture the excitement with your students? Join us to learn how we use rocketry and avionics to teach data analysis and system engineering. This course allows exploration of Newton's Laws through guided modules that develop knowledge and skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will explore the phenomena of rocketry through hands-on activities focused on hardware and flight. They will then formulate how predictive and actual data tells the whole story of the rocket's flight. The session culminates with the supports to make rocketry accessible in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Arnett

Science Has to Have Story — But How Do You Get It In There?

Friday, March 22 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Granite


Show Details

Our brains and our students' brains are programmed to engage with stories. This is true not only for the stories of STEM discoveries and history but also for broader applications. Engagement, understanding, and even classroom culture all benefit when the instructor becomes the storyteller.

TAKEAWAYS:
Come learn how to find, cultivate, create, and deliver the stories embedded within your content area with a published author and 16-year science educator. Also, learn techniques for adding story where it might not seem apparent and building the story of your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Matt Brady

Connecting Math and Science Through Technology: Data Analysis Made Easy

Friday, March 22 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom A


Show Details

Increase student engagement in analysis and evaluation of real data. Engage students of different ability levels in mathematical models with measurements not previously accessible in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use real data to develop mathematical models and learn how to test your hypothesis by performing an experiment and analyzing your results, combining graphing calculators with handheld sensors to maximize class time.

SPEAKERS:
Karlheinz Haas

Creative Assessment Strategies for STEM Classrooms

Friday, March 22 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Mineral Hall B


Show Details

Join us to learn engaging and creative assessment strategies for your classroom. Move beyond multiple choice tests and challenge your students to apply their learning in new ways. Learn how you can use Claim-Evidence-Reasoning, EdTech Platforms, Google Forms and more to assess student progress.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn and practice with several creative assessment strategies to assess student learning. The emphasis of these strategies is to get students to apply what they have learned and communicate effectively, while giving teachers quality data on their progress towards learning goals.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Freyschlag

Metacognitive strategies for the science classroom

Friday, March 22 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 1



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Metacognitive Strategies for the Science Classroom

Show Details

Teachers will explore the role of reflection as a metacognitive strategy and learn how to facilitate high-quality metacognition. They will work in groups to develop a reflection tool they can apply in their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through small group discussion and collaboration, participants will identify what cognitive strategies are best suited for their practice and co-create a metacognitive reflection tool. This tool will allow them to leverage those strategies and empower students to be independent learners.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Kovar, Mary Frances Harris, Julian Martins

Understanding Challenges of Equity through STEM Challenges

Friday, March 22 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Granite



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Equity Through STEM Challenges
Slide deck

Show Details

Participants will engage in a team STEM challenge to illustrate the impact of unequal access to resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain tools to guide students to consider how advantage and disadvantage impact STEM challenge outcomes as an allegory for societal inequities, building empathy to fuel socially just thinking and action.

SPEAKERS:
Maya Bhagat, Maggie Osman

Using the Patterns Approach to Engage all Students in the NGSS

Friday, March 22 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 7



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Using the Patterns Approach to Engage all Students in the NGSS
Link to presentation

Show Details

Discover a transformative, three-year NGSS curriculum that's equity-focused and engineering-based, including climate science. Adopted in 33+ Northwest districts, this vertically articulated program could revolutionize your high school science program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover a transformative, three-year NGSS curriculum that's equity-focused and engineering-based, including climate science. Adopted in 33+ Pacific Northwest districts.

SPEAKERS:
Matt McCollum, Bradford Hill

Assessment 3.0: The Learning Progression Model

Friday, March 22 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Mineral Hall B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
https://reimaginedschools.com/nsta-conference-presentations/
A copy of the slide presentation plus many other useful resources!

Show Details

The Learning Progression Model is a flexible, equitable assessment strategy to provide descriptive feedback, set goals, evaluate teaching, and report achievement. Attendees leave knowing how they can implement this in their classrooms, even in a traditional grades school. For K-College, all courses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand how the Learning Progression Model keeps students engaged and accountable, how learning progressions are used to develop/assess skills and knowledge aligned with NGSS, and how to integrate this approach into the traditional grading system.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore

Powerful and Equitable Physics Exploration - The Work and Power Lab Revisted

Friday, March 22 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom A


Show Details

In this powerful workshop, teachers will learn how to promote an equitable and safe space to design, experiment, and investigate the topics of work and power as an alternative to the traditional stair lab.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will work through an alternative lab that allows students to build and examine the work and power involved in a conveyor belt system. The lab, suggested materials, and analysis will be supplied to teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Sabrina Whitaker

Teaching the Science of Climate and Justice Through Interdisciplinary Methods

Friday, March 22 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 2



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Teaching the Science of Climate and Justice through Interdisciplinary Methods
Google Slides deck

Show Details

Workshop will focus on the structure of a Climate Science and Environmental Justice course and how it could be used as a model to engage students of all ages in climate literacy, advocacy, justice, and sustainability.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a concrete template to design a lesson, unit, or course in an interdisciplinary fashion. Also, participants will be given time to plan and design for a lesson, unit, or course to be used immediately in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Andrew Bigelow, Ryan Zaremba

Computational Modeling Physics First: Adding a New Representation to your Model

Friday, March 22 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Mineral Hall B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UhH0rAPif68jV6Hx_eTcoYQ9dYN9uo7Y?usp=sharing
Computational Modeling presentation

Show Details

Learn about the newest iteration of Modeling Instruction: Computational Modeling Physics First. Give ALL students exposure to coding by having them teach Physics to the computer to program simulations to learn Physics concepts more deeply.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will learn about the newest curriculum in Modeling Physics, how a computational representation enhances understanding, and why we choose to teach using Computational Modeling. We will work through the constant velocity sequence, using coding to enhance critical and proportional thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberlee Freudenberg

Groovy Sounds

Friday, March 22 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom A


Show Details

Get in the groove and make a real working record player! Investigate sound and wave properties with an easy-to-build homemade record player. Learn how music is encoded and played back. Understand the difference between digital and analog information transfer with this DIY device.

TAKEAWAYS:
Sound waves and their application in technologies for information transfer.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Muller

Kinematics With Fan Carts

Friday, March 22 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 1


Show Details

Attendees will collect and analyze uniform motion data from a dune buggy and nonuniform motion with a fan cart, identify dependent and independent variables, and create large graphs that can be easily interpreted by using adding machine tape.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: Observe that if Fnet = 0 N motion is uniform. Observe that if Fnet ≠ 0 N motion is non-uniform. Interpret graphs of position vs. time, velocity vs. time, and acceleration vs. time for uniform motion and nonuniform graphs that yield the Physics Kinematics Equations.

SPEAKERS:
Jan Mader

Using Authentic Data to Evaluate the Expansion of the Unverse

Friday, March 22 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 2


Show Details

In Rubin Observatory’s new online Expanding Universe investigation, students use galaxy redshift and supernova data to reconstruct Hubble’s law, then advance to a higher redshift data set to discover how the expansion of the Universe has changed over time, and its connection to dark energy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use the free interactive Expanding Universe online investigation and support materials designed for NGSS teaching and learning, as well as scaffolded teaching, and formative assessment strategies to ensure that all students may achieve a successful learning experience.

SPEAKERS:
Justine Schaen, Ardis Herrold

Building Data Fluency: Infusing Statistics into Science with PhET Simulations and CODAP Tools

Friday, March 22 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 1


Show Details

Explore the nexus between science and statistics using PhET simulations and CODAP tools. Delve into experimental design, uncertainty, data metrics, and the “Projectile Motion: Data Lab” simulation. Sneak a peek into PhET’s latest work and gain ready-to-implement lesson ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will acquire strategies and resources to seamlessly integrate experimental design with sources of uncertainty and statistics into their physics lessons, fostering data fluency and analytical thinking in students using PhET simulations and CODAP.

SPEAKERS:
Katherine Perkins, Matthew Blackman

Distracted Driving Dangers – Where Biology and Physics Meet the Road

Friday, March 22 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Centennial Ballroom A


Show Details

Complete a distracted driving hands-on activity and discover award-winning videos and more inquiry-based activities from IIHS’s free Crash Science in the Classroom program that illustrates the vital connections between biology, physics, mathematics, medicine, engineering, and teen crash safety.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will measure their reaction time and complete a distracted driving simulation using a series of 4 activities simulating the 4 major types of driving distractions. Participants will also learn how to access detailed lesson plans, teacher tips videos, student lab sheets, and answer keys.

SPEAKERS:
Griff Jones

Leveraging Technology to Prevent Teacher Burnout: Strategies from a HS Physics and Chemistry Teacher

Friday, March 22 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Mineral Hall B


Show Details

In my first year teaching I worked 16 hours a day, swamped with planning and grading. Despite my best intentions, neglecting my own needs had a negative impact on my teaching. I now leverage technology to work smarter not harder, reducing my workload while improving my students’ learning experience.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to reduce your workload whilst maximizing students’ benefit. Reduce grading workload using my three rules for grading: automate it, delegate it, and simplify it! Save time lesson planning using my 3 favorite tools: the 5-minute lesson plan, video examples, and Google suite.

SPEAKERS:
Abigail Vega

Unlocking Deeper Thinking: Questioning Strategies That Foster Learning Rather Than Knowing

Friday, March 22 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Hyatt Regency Denver - Capitol Ballroom 2


Show Details

This session explores techniques for creating learning environments that foster deep-level thinking and support students with applying ideas to new contexts. Participants will explore questioning strategies and teacher moves that can build classroom cultures that value learning above knowing.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with teacher moves and questioning strategies to support students with thinking more deeply and critically about disciplinary core ideas. Attendees will experience what it looks like to take the role of a facilitator rather than a lecturer.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Berk, Kali Hines

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