Undergraduate researchers built a bat house on the Amazon River Basin. The project goals were: 1.) provide natural remediation, 2.) create a marketable commodity (guano), and 3.) reduce overhead costs. The venture has proven beneficial and has far-reaching global effects on the most at-risk humans.

TAKEAWAYS:
Several benefits for the Maijuna can be replicated in other communities. International historical bat projects will be shared. Future ventures with tropical bat houses and other natural resources will be shared. The main takeaway is the use of the natural environment to battle current human struggles.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Bechtel

Science coordinators from two public school districts in South Carolina will share how they are implementing a high-quality, open-education NGSS curriculum to support equitable three-dimensional science instruction for all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will share our implementation strategies, including how we recruited teachers as early adopters. Learn how we support teachers and students, partner with administrators and the community, manage materials, address challenges, and celebrate successes.

SPEAKERS:
Richard Phillips, Holly Sullivan

School leaders play an important role in the adoption of high quality instructional materials and can serve as catalysts for smart adoption processes. Participants will learn how to develop and use local priorities and instructional vision to drive the instructional materials adoption process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to develop local priorities and establish an instructional vision, engage with EdReports reviews of instructional materials to make informed decisions based on local context, and leave with materials to support replicating this process with their local educators.

SPEAKERS:
John-Carlos Marino, Shannon Wachowski

A team of Science Consultants and Early Literacy Coaches in Michigan has utilized recommendations in the power of the Brilliance and Strengths Report, combined with data on elementary-level science education, to devise an approach to support literacy practices within science instructional time.

TAKEAWAYS:
The attendees will learn what the SLIC Model consists of, as well as how to find out more to gain supports to implement themselves. There are Facilitator Guides, Train-the-Trainer Professional Learning opportunities, and sessions built out to take with them. This is an OER resource.

SPEAKERS:
Wendi Vogel

Explore the NSTA Website with us! NSTA provides high-quality digital resources and opportunities—all within a professional community—that supports professional learning and classroom instruction. NSTA staff will be available to answer questions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will become knowledgeable about the plethora of digital resources available on NSTA’s website, about the live events and professional learning community that can help them enhance their knowledge and improve their teaching practices.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips, Flavio Mendez

Many schools need high-quality units to meet their state standards or localize phenomena. BSCS Science Learning has extensive experience with designing, adapting, and localizing. In this session, apply a BSCS design tool, and learn about a suite of tools to use for large-scale design or adaptation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience with a tool to unpack target standards by clarifying key ideas, listing prerequisites and challenges, and considering what students should “figure out” and not just “learn about.” Consider and share how to apply tools and processes for designing and adapting HQIM in your local context.

SPEAKERS:
Jean Flanagan, Elaine Klein

Old Enough to Make a Difference? Yes, you are! It is possible for students of all ages to start making a positive difference in their community. Inspirations from student projects will be shared along with resources for teachers. Great ideas for family engagement nights, science fairs, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will have resources that can used in the classroom and community right away.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Stevenson

Paramount tasks can develop learners’ scientific literacy and critical consciousness by problematizing real world situations. We will engage participants in explorations to demonstrate how community-centered phenomena and children’s literature can be catalysts for developing paramount tasks (EC-5).

TAKEAWAYS:
Paramount tasks foster opportunities to develop rigorous problems that intricately connect learners, their communities, and their cultures with key content and skills. This approach reflects the hallmark of the NGSS and positions learners and their communities at the forefront of learning.

SPEAKERS:
Kelley Buchheister

Have you felt all the responsibility of teaching climate in only your classes? Every K-12 classroom can integrate climate literacy & action. Join us to learn about Washington State’s ClimeTime Program’s resources and support for integrating climate literacy and action across all content areas, K-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with practical solutions to create connections between the climate literacy found in the Framework and non-science K-12 content areas. Guidance for working with their peers to anchor classroom instruction around climate change and climate solutions will also be provided.

SPEAKERS:
Korey Peterson, Jacob Parikh, Lori Henrickson

Join a conversation with educators and the parent of an autistic child to gain awareness about autism and discuss ways to support the needs of autistic students and their families. Learn through discussion and anecdotal evidence from a parent’s perspective.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain awareness about autism; the evolving science behind it, how families navigate therapies, and the struggles students face in the classroom. Ideally this experience will allow participants to develop a growth mindset around the support autistic students need in a general education setting.

SPEAKERS:
Fredrick Weisbrot

Research suggests that most teachers will leave the profession within 5-years. This presentation will share tips to help science teachers stay enjoying teaching! This session could prove helpful to any new or preservice teacher, teacher mentor, or anyone who wants a new perspective.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with tangible practices to implement in their lives as a teacher! I will offer tips that worked for me, discussing topics like the school social environment, the lingo of education, using district resources, combating burn out (preemptively and practically), and more!

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Christie

During this session, school leaders will explore a NGSS Implementation Toolkit that leverages classroom observations to support strategic alignment of resources for elementary science education. Participants will hear from educational leaders that utilize this tool to advocate for elementary science.

TAKEAWAYS:
This toolkit allows educational leaders across the system to gain a deeper understanding of student sensemaking and discourse in an NGSS-aligned elementary classroom. Teacher Leaders who open up their classrooms can leverage this process to advocate for structures and support for elementary science.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn O'Connor, Nancy Wright

What started out as our solution to “viewing science fair projects can be boring” evolved into a well-attended, hands-on experience for our families and community. In this session, we will share our station-oriented activities and how to use them to build relationships with families and your school.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with the resources and confidence to organize large events for their school and community using science to build relationships. Session participants will be given an outline of helpful resources, tools, and ideas they can use to manage their own events.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Hunt, Anne Fritz

Participants will learn about the characteristics of hiqh-quality instructional materials (HQIM) and how to identify them. They will use EdReports resources to compare and contrast materials based on markers of quality and discuss how to use this process when selecting HQIM for their local context.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through engaging in a sample materials selection process, participants will gain an understanding of the characteristics of high-quality instructional materials (including sensemaking and the presence of phenomena and problems) and how to use EdReports' free resources.

SPEAKERS:
John-Carlos Marino, Shannon Wachowski

Jason will explain why CLEAPSS and King’s College, London decided to undertake this action-research project and what it’s taught he, and his colleagues, about supporting elementary and middle school science leaders to champion and facilitate effective hands-on science in their schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation provides educational professionals and coaches with insights into the effective practices and ways of working that we have developed to support elementary and middle school science leaders to lead science across their schools.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Harding

Participants will engage in the development of a PBL Life Science unit— from start to finish for any secondary student. Several examples of successful PBL Units will be shared and participants will have the opportunity to create their own PBL— specifically Brownfields, Env. Disasters, etc.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to walk away with a partial or entire PBL unit.

SPEAKERS:
Margaret Busker-Postlethwait

Prior experience and knowledge are key to reading comprehension, especially for tackling complex texts. Join us for an interactive session where we'll explore how doing science and applying effective reading strategies are what students need to be successful readers and scientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students need to engage fully in the science and engineering practices in order to build reading comprehension. Science cannot be learned through reading alone, and readers need to be able to draw upon their experiences in science to understand and make sense of new concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Claudio Vargas, Diana Velez

Engage in a research strategy grounded in the Global Competence Framework. Using maps and data visualization tools, including the EPA’s Environmental Justice Screening Tool, participants will consider different perspectives, investigate the world, communicate ideas, and plan to take action.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn a research strategy that helps make student research personally meaningful and globally relevant while developing their global competence. Learn how to use data visualization tools to explore environmental justice in your own community and inspire students to take action for a more just world.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Emery, Catherine Knasas, Caroline Stabile

Our students are concerned about their environment and are making a difference in their community. Join us to learn how you can use our new curriculum to engage your students in civic action for the environment. You’ll take leave with resources to implement this curriculum with your community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Formal and nonformal educators will learn how to facilitate community engagement projects for the environment with their students so they can learn about environmental issues in their community and potential solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Cayton, Megan Ennes

Share ideas and discuss ways to navigate the political and socio economic climates of diversity, equity and inclusion in science education. Highlight examples of schools and districts that have implemented DEI initiatives with current successes, pitfalls, and next steps for science instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
The importance of addressing DEI in science education. This emphasizes the need for open discussions and idea sharing on how to navigate the political and socioeconomic landscapes related to DEI in science education.

SPEAKERS:
Sephali Thakkar, Sharon Delesbore, Leena McLean, Acacia McKenna

Sponsoring Company: Publisher Spotlight

The Roccos will discuss their new book, Wild Places: The Life of Naturalist David Attenborough, and the Children’s Book Creators for Conservation goal of creating free conservation-based programs for schools nationwide. They will end with an interactive “game show” about endangered animals.

SPEAKERS:
John Rocco, Hayley Rocco

Participants will learn how school districts were able to increase elementary science access by establishing a District Science team grounded in distributed leadership and using the principles and tools of Improvement Science. Panelists' insights and a toolkit of resources will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how several districts developed a distributed leadership team focused on increasing access to elementary science education. They will hear from panelists and explore the tools and processes these teams used as part of their science leadership teams.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Wright, Dawn O'Connor

Come ready to wear your student hats and your teacher hats as we dive deep into how to integrate education for sustainable development (ESD) into the classroom! Through ESD we empower students to become advocates for environmental justice simultaneously with teaching our content.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover ways to empower your students while integrating ESD into your classroom. The natural ties between science concepts and environmental justice creates opportunities to develop leadership skills in your students while encouraging advocacy and learning the underlying scientific principles.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Brandt, Nicholas Kukla

During this talk Jason will explain what Science Ninjas is, why CLEAPSS and King’s College, London (University of London) decided to undertake this research and what it’s taught he, and his colleagues, about supporting elementary and middle school teachers to plan effective active learning lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation provides educational professionals and coaches with insights into the effective practices and ways of working that we have developed to support elementary and middle school science leaders to promote hands-on learning across their schools.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Harding

Utah’s Informal Science Education Enhancement (iSEE) has been serving students and teachers across the state for 18 years. We’ll discuss funding, reporting, and collaborating with both other informal education providers and public schools to connect teachers and students with subject matter experts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how Utah has been bringing informal science education experts into formal classrooms across the state for 18 years with financial support from the state legislature and how this successful model can be adapted to other states across the nation.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Halvorsen, Laura Cotter

The NSTA provides in-person, online, and blended professional learning experiences for cohorts of K–12 educators. All programs engage educators with digital resources, virtual programs, the larger community, and expert staff. Depending on your choice of services, NSTA membership is also included.

TAKEAWAYS:
District and school leaders will learn about the variety of professional learning opportunities that NSTA offers, delivered in-person, online, and blended that give their teachers the power to enhance their learning as well as the ability to learn with peers. Membership included for most services.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez, Tricia Shelton

Engage students in answering the question "How can I impact change?" as you partner Civics with Ecology. Learn to take students from hearing about ecology to taking a stand on ecological policy, and developing passion projects to influence change at the local, state, or national level.

TAKEAWAYS:
Walk away from this session with a cross-curricular project that takes students from merely hearing about ecology, to caring deeply about an issue, to take a stand and answer the question “How can I impact change?”

SPEAKERS:
Katherine Willet

This engaging workshop provides experience and insight into the complex nature of genetics. Participants will explore genetic variations and prevalence in the population resulting in enhanced understanding and empathy for those with Down’s, Klinefelter's, and Turner Syndromes and several others.

TAKEAWAYS:
Enhanced understanding and empathy for those with Down’s, Klinefelter's, and Turner Syndromes, and several others.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Tucker, Brett Thomsen

A session dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by new teachers, especially alternative path teachers. We will explore strategies to retain talented educators in the field by demystifying education language and providing key tools and resources for a successful first year.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leaders will gain actionable insights into establishing robust support systems for new science teachers, resulting in improved teacher retention and implementation of science and engineering practices.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Rhoades

STEM Policy Expert Jame Brown will paint a picture of the federal public policy landscape for STEM education generally and science education in particular, including emerging policies in Congress and the federal government and the outlook for the future.

TAKEAWAYS:
Get smart on what’s going on in Washington, DC around STEM education and how it can impact the science education ecosystem and your local community.

SPEAKERS:
James Brown

Cultural relevance promotes inclusive environments that expand perspectives of science education to question: Who can participate in science and what constitutes scientific activity? This session explores frameworks for cultural relevance and ways they can be applied in science classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
This proposed workshop will consider the questions: (1) What is cultural relevance? (2) How has cultural relevance been applied? and (3) How can we make actionable steps in our own classrooms to affirm the diverse cultures and perspectives of our students?

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Spencer

Presenters organize around four main ideas for departmental, building, and/or district-level professional learning. Topics include equitable classroom practices, lab safety, book studies, and incorporating SEPs, CCCs, and sensemaking in science instruction (including NSTA PLUs and courses).

TAKEAWAYS:
How to organize good in-district and in-building professional learning opportunities while leading as department chair, science administrator, or teacher (leading from the middle); and how to "shoehorn" these opportunities into any available time for all grade 6-12 science subjects.

SPEAKERS:
David Jacob, Harry Rosvally

A session dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by new teachers, especially alternative path teachers. We will explore strategies to retain talented educators in the field by demystifying education language and providing key tools and resources for a successful first year.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain actionable insights into establishing robust support systems for new science teachers, resulting in improved teacher retention and a more resilient and passionate science education community.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Rhoades

Dive into data about a range of math and science careers and how these compare to teaching as a profession. While you’re here, share your story!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teaching is an attractive highly competitive career if you love young people! We want to hear from you too!

SPEAKERS:
Jia Wern Hue

Are you interested in learning how to help your students (or yourself) make better decisions? This workshop will walk you through a variety of engaging activities and adaptable lessons to introduce decision-making strategies to your students (in partnership with the Alliance for Decision Education)!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to guide their students in making better decisions for themselves and their communities at large, along with possible learning strategies applicable for the attendees themselves!

SPEAKERS:
Brittany Beck, Yishan Lee, Yanique Sears

Members of this panel discussion will respond to questions about their experiences as leaders by and for sciences. Perspectives may include: goals, plans, mentors, equity relationships, and the courage to lead.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of advocacy, modeling, collaborating, and providing professional learning.

SPEAKERS:
Rodger Bybee, Dora Kastel, Maya Garcia, Jim Short

Curriculum implementation requires significant planning so that systems support the needed shifts in practice to strengthen science teaching and learning. Join us to figure out how leading change–an important element of curriculum-based professional learning–can make a difference.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leaders can create a culture that is conducive to the significant changes in knowledge, beliefs, and practices required to support the implementation of high-quality instructional materials designed for next generation science.

SPEAKERS:
Janna Mahfoud, Jenine Cotton-Proby, Jody Bintz

Past and present members of the Early Childhood Education Committee will share their journey of how they became elementary science teachers. The discussion includes the importance of science equity from the beginning of a child's education, and how panel members 'grew' science in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
The panel would like to promote and support early education and elementary teachers to teach science as an interdisciplinary discipline. Sharing our "journey" is a way of dispelling the myth that great science teachers haven't had the same struggles as novice teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Jenn Brown-Whale, Mary Lynn Hess, Annette Venegas

Have you or your students ever groaned at the thought of yet another ice-breaker activity? Fear not! In this session, discover fun ways to utilize your students' (and your own) creativity to lead meaningful practice in communication using improvisation skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Be ready to go back to your classroom with tools and techniques to build a more communicative, inclusive environment. Practice guiding students (maybe other teachers and admin too!) through activities that will enhance communication skills.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Grandell

As science educators and PhD students, the facilitators will present a research project they are working on to uncover values embedded in state standards documents.

TAKEAWAYS:
Audience members will learn about this research project, participate in a discussion of values embedded in NGSS-based standards, and learn how to use a web app to conduct similar research.

SPEAKERS:
Juanita Martin, Jesse Mechanick

Join NSTA, the STEM Education Coalition, the Hands-On Science Partnership and the National Academies to learn about emerging public policy issues and how NSTA members can engage in the policymaking conversation at the national, state, and local level.

TAKEAWAYS:
As the old saying goes: If you are not at the table, you might end up on the menu. We will talk about practical ways to get science educators around today’s policymaking table. Also get a preview of upcoming NAS studies that can impact the field.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Stephens, Erika Shugart, Alex Molinich, James Brown

This poster will share how science museums and informal spaces can address epistemic injustice by considering the narratives these spaces create about science, and how this can disenfranchise (or engage) groups who are often already marginalized from knowledge production.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about epistemic injustice, or the exclusion and marginalization of groups from knowledge production, and the ways in which we highlight contributions to science. We’ll share examples from a qualitative research project of a science history museum.

SPEAKERS:
Debi Hanuscin, Ariela Ikezawa

Connecting Classrooms and Colleges showcases how to cultivate successful partnerships between the K-12 setting and higher education to improve science education for all level learners, from kindergarten to graduate school and beyond.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how educators can find opportunities to cultivate partnerships with colleges that benefit all that seek to learn and improve science education. A decade-long partnership between the University of Georgia Genetics Department and a middle school teacher will be featured.

SPEAKERS:
Audrey Hughes

AI integration in STEM education enhances learning, fosters critical thinking, and empowers educators. STEM-ified instruction is developed to ensure students are well-prepared for STEM challenges in our Technological world.

TAKEAWAYS:
Integrating AI into STEM education enhances learning, critical thinking, and teacher empowerment. It offers STEM-ified instruction and practical learning experiences, preparing students for the STEM-driven future. Professional development is essential for effective AI integration.

SPEAKERS:
DAISY MAE BONGTIWON

Come learn about how the FREE Explore the Salish Sea curriculum supports culturally responsive elementary science teaching through engaging students in using Western and Indigenous knowledge to solve local environmental problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about culturally responsive elementary science teaching through concrete examples from Explore the Salish Sea, a place- and project-based science curriculum aligned with the NGSS. Lessons are freely available and customizable.

SPEAKERS:
Josie Melton, Debi Hanuscin

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

Networks matter. Creating professional networks is challenged by time, space, and resources. Learn how facilitated networking with STEM experts, education researchers, and other teachers improved our earth and environmental science teaching and made student learning more relevant and engaging.

TAKEAWAYS:
Effective, quality teachers need a collaborative network. Building a comprehensive network includes professionals within and beyond the educational sphere. Attendees will learn about the importance of teacher networks and strategies for building their own network to enhance curriculum development.

SPEAKERS:
Alyssa Weisenstein, Angela Zier

Deep dive trainings in strategic communications; focused on the use of digital and social media tools to reach broader audiences and on persuasive writing tips and techniques. Trainings will be followed by a panel of state teams who completed the trainings and are using the skills locally.

TAKEAWAYS:
Skills to effectively advocate for K12 science via digital and social media tools and techniques for securing OpEd/LTE and blog placements.

SPEAKERS:
Josh Parrish, Julia Rothenberg, Eric Rosenberg, Adam Ezring

Curriculum implementation requires a robust professional learning program to support teachers in making the shifts called for in NRC’s Framework. This experience leverages BSCS’s new instructional model, Anchored Inquiry Learning (AIL), and an immersion model of professional learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leaders can support teachers with making the instructional shifts called for in the NRC’s Framework through immersive, curriculum-based professional learning programs.

SPEAKERS:
Jenine Cotton-Proby

Engage with teachers and informal educators to learn about informal and formal partnerships in the largest school district in the country. Session will include a hands-on brainstorming session to inspire participants to think outside of the box when creating community partnerships.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will glean insights from educators about their experience working with informal science institutions and the benefits to their teaching practice. Participants will brainstorm engagement with different informal science institutions and the steps needed to form partnership connections.

SPEAKERS:
Shannen Rivadeneira, Megan Janke, Jessie Scofield

Follow butterflies, bees, birds, and childrens' books into the school yard with an NSTA Press author who shares strategies for journaling like wilderness explorers and wildlife habitat champions interwoven with stories of creating and preserving the phenomenon of Monarch migration. Free seeds!

TAKEAWAYS:
The main takeaway is most prominently the set of strategies (nature journaling, integrating childrens' literature) that help students in interdisciplinary efforts to use or create school gardens that promote pollination and provide a pathway for migrating butterflies, various birds, bees, and bats.

SPEAKERS:
Steve Rich

Are these the “Worst of Times” for science education? With widespread public rejection and even hostility to vaccines, climate science, and evolution, these might seem to be grim times in the science classroom, but I will suggest that is not the whole story.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be presented with some of the principal challenges facing science educators around the nation. However, each of these challenges presents a unique opportunity to engage students with topics of interest that are deeply relevant to their everyday lives.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Miller

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

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

How do we teach Tier 3 science vocabulary to students with limited English (or no English) and encourage success? We will share multiple strategies for teaching Tier 3 Academic Science vocabulary, as well as modalities that incorporate visual aids, manipulatives, and kinesthetic activities to engage

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Tier 3 strategies for teaching science. 2. The inclusion of visual and kinesthetic activities to engage ALL students. 3. Forms of assessment for ALL levels of English Language Learners.

SPEAKERS:
Darren Wells, Karen Ziminski

The “Advocacy in Action” pathway will culminate with a panel discussion featuring three states that participated in a special communications and advocacy training program last year. They will share key takeaways form that training and describe specific actions they have each taken to improve their communications or to engage in local advocacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Guidance and concrete ideas for how you and your colleagues can learn from these states and launch your own advocacy efforts locally! Featuring an advocacy charge from NSTA leadership to all NSTA members.

SPEAKERS:
Autumn Rivera, Julie Luft, Jonathan Frostad, Maggie Moore, Adam Ezring

To deepen our connections with our students, community, and place, educators must be committed to social justice and culturally sustaining pedagogies. In this session, educators will have an opportunity to cultivate new perspectives and skills to provide a meaningful science education.

TAKEAWAYS:
One main takeaway is that educators will understand that Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and that teaching science can be aligned to indigenous knowledge systems, different languages, community assets, and indigenous/cultural values.

SPEAKERS:
Phillippe Fernandez-Brennan

We will learn about the German fourth-grade bicycle license program, Fahrradführerschein, and consider ways to incorporate the world of biking into our teaching. We will plan bike-related sustainability, climate change, or physics lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Bikes are a useful tool to teach about sustainability, climate change, and physics. We can teach our students how to advocate for better bike infrastructure in their communities so they can ride more safely. We can use bikes as a tool to empower our students to build more sustainable communities.

SPEAKERS:
Andrew Patel

This presentation is aimed at providing an overview of the six tenets within the Cultural Wealth Model, each including activities and strategies that can be implemented within the classroom to promote social justice, equity, and cultural relevance.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation will provide teachers with resources to begin constructing culturally relevant lessons with ease, while building community in the classroom and resisting oppressive structures within education.

SPEAKERS:
Maizie Dyess

Look across the Essentials of curriculum-based professional learning to figure out how leaders use them together to support teachers in making the shifts called for in NRC’s Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
By attending to the Essentials of curriculum-based professional learning, leaders take a systems approach to supporting teachers in the instructional shifts called for by NRC’s Framework. These shifts promote three-dimensional phenomena/problem-driven science teaching and learning.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Hopkins-Evans, Susan Gomez Zwiep

Using a Peer-assisted-learning model, you can learn how to establish a writing center at your school to support science literacy and foster student leadership. Doing so can also emotionally support students and build student self-confidence while communicating in multiple ways.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be provided an approach for developing a writing center at their schools with research outlining the necessity of science literacy and for science teachers to support and teach literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Brooke Whitworth, Ashley Hunter, Althea Roy

Reflections of a book study of Leadership for Increasingly Diverse Schools. Presentation is about how the book study is focused on race, poverty, disabilities, LGBTQ, gender, multilingual learners, religion, family, and community advocacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be given an equity audit tool to use in their district to see where there may be areas of inequities to focus on. Users of the tool can create action steps to increase a more diverse school community. Attendees will be given resources and strategies to help support them.

SPEAKERS:
Tonyea Mead

In this session, participants will engage with the NGSS-aligned Henrietta Lacks: Cervical Cancer and the HPV Perspective unit, interconnecting Henrietta Lacks’ life and experiences with our current understanding of science and society.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to use classroom-ready, standards-aligned materials connecting science and society. Learning Objectives include: 1.) Discuss the history and legacy of Henrietta Lacks ; 2.) Understand the causes of cervical cancer and the role of HPV; and 3.) Assess the pros and cons of the HPV Vaccine.

SPEAKERS:
Beth Tuck, Rosann Wise

Participate in activities using news to connect with students. Attendees engage with digital materials that promote environment awareness and civic knowledge preparing students to be engaged citizens. These free materials focus on media literacy, primary source analysis, and civic awareness.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with new digital tools and strategies to build student’s confidence and skills. Empower students to be involved citizens if they are passionate about a topic and know who can help them affect change.

SPEAKERS:
Victoria Pasquantonio, Elizabeth Osborn

Combating the loud noises of systemic oppression often faced by students of color in the Alabama Black Belt entails creating space for them to rely on their cultures, their lived experiences, and their talents to address environmental problems that disproportionately affect their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to make the concept of sustainability culturally relevant to their historically marginalized student groups living in impoverished areas.

SPEAKERS:
Eshwaa Godfrey, Venecia Eaton, Mashika Tempero

Sponsoring Company: EarthEcho International

Join EarthEcho International as we explore environmental and climate resources that inspire young leaders to take action. Session participants will have access to FREE E-STEM resources focused on the blue economy, community science, water quality testing, and biodiversity restoration.

SPEAKERS:
Kasey Gaylord-Opalewski

EdReports will share case studies of state partnerships and discuss how to use local priorities to drive the instructional materials adoption process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to engage with their state and district to develop local priorities and establish an instructional vision, utilizing EdReports reviews of instructional materials, to make informed adoption decisions based on local context.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Wachowski

Learn about the latest developments from NSTA, including changes in governance, volunteer opportunities, and new services and resources. There will also be an opportunity for you to provide feedback to NSTA leadership.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about ways that NSTA can help their professional journey and will provide feedback to the association.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Alicia Conerly, Elizabeth Mulkerrin, Julie Luft, Erika Shugart

Some actions have obvious environmental footprints–water use from long showers is self-evident. The distance between food production and consumption hides the full climate impact. We will put food choices into perspective by visualizing the relative climate impacts of animal and alternative protein.

TAKEAWAYS:
Incorporating alternative protein science into existing course material offers a means for educators to link science and technology with students’ values-driven interests. Given the cross-cutting nature of the material, these lessons can be applied to all levels!

SPEAKERS:
Nathan Ahlgrim

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

To bring awareness to K-12 education communities and how to utilize programs at Field-Based Science Institutions, whereas, STEM-based education opportunities could be provided in order to increase change in STEM education.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, the attendees will become familiar with the significance of heightened STEM interest via programs that support STEM education classrooms through student’s participation in FBSI programs such as zoos, museums, and botanicals.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Michael Williams

Join us to learn how to Create a Positive STEM Identity for Students! Give students the power to be confident, curious, and capable in STEM using the lens of flight to generate passionate pursuits. Discover practical strategies to promote a growth mindset, creativity, and increase student agency.

TAKEAWAYS:
Unlock students' STEM IDENTITY with hands-on strategies that inspire confidence, curiosity, and STEM skills. Learn how aviation and aeronautics can promote a growth mindset and create real-life engineering scenarios and career connections. Get free resources and actionable steps at this session.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Davis

Curious as to what DEI is and how to include it in the classroom? Want to help your students feel supported and included? DEI in the science classroom is about using scientifically accurate and inclusive language to support all of our students in the classroom and in life.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using inclusive and scientifically accurate language will help support all students in the classroom to not only learn but to learn in a safe and supportive environment.

SPEAKERS:
Joanne McGuire

A Social Problem and STEM Research Project guides students through the scientific process while encouraging students to see themselves as agents of change. Students take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding their topic, which helps build an intellectual community in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will receive examples and instructions for the Social Problems and STEM Research Project, and resources on how to guide students in finding a problem and STEM applications. They will have time to brainstorm how they can incorporate social problem topics into their teachings.

SPEAKERS:
Selene Willis, Nicole Rosen

This session will feature a mini-PBL on genetics as implemented in the classroom and featured in the West Virginia Science Teachers Association publication.

TAKEAWAYS:
As students learn the key concepts of genetics, they make the connection to their own lives and how they are unique and designed to survive and thrive. This unit will give teachers another instructional method for delivery of the content (DEI association).

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Eades

Letting every child have a voice in their learning and understanding of the world and how it works.

TAKEAWAYS:
Examples and strategies of ways to make each scholar voice be heard and the ideas become impactful to all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Fluet, Ananda Weigand-Sheerer

ScienceSaves (www.sciencesaves.org) promotes the fact that science makes life healthier and easier. Our FREE lessons teach graphing, data analysis, engineering practices, etc. They include teacher notes, standards, rubrics, and lesson plans. Check out our $15,000 scholarship for high school seniors.

TAKEAWAYS:
Too often, our students view science as a cold, calculated endeavor. We have lessons that show how a diverse array of scientists have given humanity amazing innovations, like open-heart surgery, CRISPR, and seatbelts. Our goal is for students to see themselves as future scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Bertha Vazquez

This session is for all educators hoping to get their foot in the door for incorporating equity into the classroom through a scientific lens. This a chance to engage in discourse with other educators around overcoming barriers and preparing a ready-to-implement lesson for when they return home!

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how to engage with and educate around the historic weaponization of science. They will be able to build a lesson around this topic and create a dialogue geared toward middle school aged scholars.

SPEAKERS:
Andi Twiss

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

How can we combine soft skills with science? Learn how to incorporate 21st century career and post-secondary options into your science content lessons!

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover more ways to expose your students to the REAL WORLD relevance of science after graduation.

SPEAKERS:
Aliyah Johnson

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

Science for all. As the population we serve changes, our practices should change with it. It is important that we know who our Emergent Bilingual students are, what problems they face and what are some things we can do to better support them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take away specific and intentional strategies to support their Emergent Bilingual students such as language objectives, structured discourse, and effective vocabulary integration.

SPEAKERS:
Carminia Moreno

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

We will highlight the importance of climate education and present educators with strategies and resources to develop climate literacy and advocacy in their classrooms. We aim to inspire and support educators to increase climate education in their classrooms this year.

TAKEAWAYS:
The need for climate education is urgent, and plenty of resources and strategies exist to make implementation possible today.

SPEAKERS:
Bryce Coon

This session presents a replicable model used by a university professor, school system leaders, and industry leaders to blur the lines of STEM learning into informal spaces enabling students from marginalized populations to see themselves (STEM identity) as future STEM participants.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using a replicable and intentional model of collaboration can positively impact STEM identities of educators and youth, while also creating a K-12 pipeline into the STEM industry.

SPEAKERS:
Taylor Lamon, Melisa Fowler

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

Provide students with the power of citizen science as they make observations and analyze data to increase awareness worldwide about the impact of light pollution using NSF’s NOIRLab’s Globe at Night program. Students engage with authentic data to propose local solutions to light pollution.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the impacts of light pollution and walk away with resources and strategies for implementing this interdisciplinary citizen science campaign as a PBL opportunity in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Sparks, Mark Newhouse, Emily Peavy

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

“Those who can do; those who can’t teach.” Sorry, that quote does not resonate with my teaching story. Learn the power of storytelling and how it can help transform your class and school through building better student relationships, creating student voice, and increasing student engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn benefits and strategies for creating and telling stories in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jeremy Harden

Learn how to become a member of a collaborative effort between NMLSTA and NSTA to support early-career, middle-level science teachers with access to resources and networking opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Early-career, middle-level science teachers will become aware of opportunities to connect in a nationwide professional learning community supported by resources and networking.

SPEAKERS:
Loris Chen

Learn about the National Middle Level Science Teachers Association and what we offer to our members.

TAKEAWAYS:
NMLSTA is the only national organization dedicated to the support of middle-level educators—grades five through nine.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Schoeffler, Mary Lou Lipscomb

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

Engage with a strategic tool used to identify specific and systemic barriers that hinder students' with IEPs access to grade level science instruction in order to intentionally design high quality, standards-based science and engineering learning experiences and environment for ALL students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Research on equitable systems and instructional practices used to design tools to support moving toward system-wide goals for equity in science classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Eva Bridgeforth, Tammy Law, Elizabeth Johnston

DEI session focuses on ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences) & how they affect children’s education. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of how ACES affect behavior & learning, how educators can promote a safe classroom environment, & rehearse coping strategies for use in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
ACEs contribute to toxic stress that changes the brains of the affected. This interrupts quality health, behavior, and of most importance, learning. In order to maximize student achievement, educators must learn to recognize the effects of ACEs and how to foster resilience.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Eades

Leaders and advocates will critically review strategies for connecting with their community to build a program focused on supporting STEAM with emphasis on inclusive practices for design with equity at the forefront.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take away strategies for engaging with their community to support their schools in developing and sustaining STEAM programming focused on equity.

SPEAKERS:
Terry Smith, Vincent Scotto

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

Meet a group of science teachers using their power as master practitioners to advance science education through community engagement & strategic partnerships with government & business that raise money to promote science awareness, develop STEM programs for urban youth & train teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to harness their unrealized power as experts in classroom science to grow beyond the classroom and become leaders, advocates, and ambassadors of science education at the local, state, and national levels.

SPEAKERS:
Yishan Lee, Dianna Gobler, Lawrence Perretto

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