The present-day Gulf of Mexico has long been known for its amazing diversity of sharks, rays, and skates. Join the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to learn a little known fact: Alabama leads the nation in extinct and extant shark species! Learn about and "dig" through coastal Alabama's geologic history!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn about the paleontological history of northern Gulf of Mexico sharks, and why Alabama is a hot bed of past and present shark species, while giving attendees a chance to be amateur paleontologists by sieving their own northern Gulf coastal sands for evidence of this diversity.

SPEAKERS:
Greg Graeber

This workshop looks at Newton’s Laws of Motion in the movement of everyday objects.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with immediate lessons and activities for their classrooms that can be adjusted to their grade level needs.

SPEAKERS:
Krystal Swain, Dawn Perret

Experience a variety of engaging STEM activities that can be done in any science content class in 45 minutes or less.

TAKEAWAYS:
Expose your students to STEM skills through short, easy, and engaging STEM activities that can be completed in a single class period.

SPEAKERS:
Brad Posnanski, Jessica Kohout

In this interactive lesson, participants become health advocates, analyzing and interpreting scientific research to propose effective solutions for barriers to prenatal care access.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this interactive session, participants will use scientific research to uncover how socioeconomic factors and policies impact healthcare while developing a deeper appreciation for the intersection of science and society and the role of scientific knowledge in addressing societal needs.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Burkart

Immerse yourself in two intermediate grade units on Weathering & Erosion and Earth's Systems which integrate algorithmic thinking and student-generated models using block coding. Project {FUTURE} has co-designed CS-integrated curriculum units with teachers in CT and WI, available as OER.

TAKEAWAYS:
Our CS and Science integrated units are ready to use and benefit student learning in both areas. By building algorithms and programs, students model Earth System relationships in novel ways. Likewise, applying CS concepts in the context of science enhances meaning, rigor, and engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Scianni, Christine Thorp, Darcy Ronan

Participants will engage in dynamic, hands-on science and technology activities, merging STEM concepts with popular children's books. Discover how interactive STEM and literacy activities can support and encourage the development of STEM career pathways in young learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will connect impactful STEM activities with children’s literature. They will be shown ways to strengthen equitable learning outcomes and foster excitement for career exploration. Educators will have the opportunity to explore lessons and will leave with materials for their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Clint Coleman

Participants are invited to attend this session to engage in problem-posing, STEM-infused, standards-aligned mathematics and science activities. Learn strategies for helping students make real-world math and science connections, promote positive identities, and relate to real-life situations.

TAKEAWAYS:
The purpose of this session is to provide participants with an opportunity to learn strategies for purposefully infusing STEM in math and science instruction. Participants will explore standards-aligned activities and resources that promote the SEPS, the SMPS, and cross-curricular connections.

SPEAKERS:
Latrenda Knighten

Are you looking to get your entire school excited about STEM? In this session, Mr. Mike French and his AMAZING PRESENTATION STUDENTS will share a high-energy and engaging video presentation of twelve practical STEM projects that can be incorporated into any classroom setting, K-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to see real examples and step-by-step details of 12 STEM projects that will change your school and get students excited about learning. Attendees will also see how to modify these projects to fit any grade level and classroom setting K-12.

SPEAKERS:
Mike French

Investigating the motion of a pendulum will help your students understand gravity's effect on an object and Newton's First Law of Motion.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to relate pendulums to Newton's first law of motion and determine how the motion of the pendulum is related to its length.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Diane Smith

ARISS provides a once in a lifetime educational opportunity for youth by enabling them to conduct a 10-minute interview directly with astronauts on-board ISS. This presentation will provide hints for educators to develop an ARISS contact proposal that will positively impact their youth.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation will provide many hints and tips for educators on how to develop a winning ARISS contact proposal that will positively impact their youth through inspiring, engaging and educational STEM activities.

SPEAKERS:
Tanya Anderson

Take a journey through the history of electromagnetic discovery. Learn how your class can recreate the experiments of some of history’s greatest scientists in your classroom as they discover the force of electromagnetism. Free MagLab Souvenir for every teacher!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how different scientists throughout history have contributed to our understanding of electromagnetism over the past 200 years and how the National Magnet Lab uses these breakthroughs to operate the world's strongest magnets.

SPEAKERS:
Carlos Villa

Participants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the benefits and practical applications of using Native Plant Gardens and Vegetable Gardens in educational settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Identify advantages of incorporating different gardens in teaching for middle or high school. Explain how using different gardens can enhance student student engagement and learning outcomes. How gardens align with standards. Ways to include various departments through out the school.

SPEAKERS:
Jackie Scott

Do you want a quick and easy activity to foster invention education in your classroom? SCAMPER is a great way to engage learners of all ages (K-12) and encourage creative thinking. Come join us for innovative ways to learn with every day objects.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will walk away with a fun, easy to use, relevant lesson you can teach the next day. This lesson is easily adaptable to any age group.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Lawlor-King, Denise Henggeler

This workshop delves into the environmental consequences of flooding. Participants will explore resources and activities that highlight the chain reaction of events triggered by floods, including soil erosion, the spread of pollutants, and the effects of these on overall soil health.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore resources to understand that floods disrupt the delicate balance in soil impacting soil health and structure.

SPEAKERS:
Sequoyah McGee, Lindsay Mossa

Our ecosystems are changing. We need to nurture climate-resilient learners through a transdisciplinary approach. By reconnecting with nature in urban areas we can leverage existing resources to discover new strategies for all educators that are not only actionable, but are inclusive.

TAKEAWAYS:
This interactive workshop emphasizes the importance of rebuilding relationships with nature in urban settings, and teaches strategies to leverage existing resources to build sustainable schools. It aims to provide educators with strategies to support students in addressing climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Kelleigh Huey, Jessa Goldner

Department of Defense scientists and engineers are the bedrock of our nation’s most advanced technology and research breakthroughs, including virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, and more! Join us as we explore multiple STEM career pathways supported by DoD STEM’s network of partners in academia, i

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use career resources on DoD STEM’s website to support students in envisioning themselves as future STEM professionals.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Marquis Mason, Dr. Whitney White, Rebecca Stanley

Space Rocks! Making heads and tails of rocks in space. Comets, meteors, asteroids? What’s the difference? We will use high-engagement strategies to help our students understand the difference between these windows to our galactic past.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will depart with tested lessons, prepared background information, and complete resources for hands-on labs, and three engineering-based STEM projects that incorporate Earth's place in space and human-created systems to make predictions and establish patterns.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Walker

Learn how the Central Indiana Educational Service Center provided Indiana educators an opportunity to elevate their teaching and ignite their creativity with Teacher Industry Experiences in Indiana (TIE-IN), an exclusive initiative designed to bridge the classroom with the dynamic world.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain insights into how they can create their own teacher industry experiences in their communities.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Hilton

Educators of all levels will learn how to create equitable STEM opportunities for girls of urban backgrounds. In addition, suggestions will be given on how ensure that urban girls sustain an interest in STEM which will results in them choosing STEM related college/university majors and careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of representation and how to reverse the narrative when it comes to teaching STEM to African American girls.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Neely

Switch Classroom is a great resource to use in agriculture courses whether the topic is biofuels, land use, or transportation. Incorporating videos, print resources, and activities on Switch Classroom, agriscience teachers can access the latest accurate unbiased energy information.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the wide variety of topics and curricular materials available on Switch Classroom to supplement their agriscience courses. Interactive lessons, videos, and activities that bring unbiased and accurate information on energy use and demand in ag will be demonstrated.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Daniels

In my session, I'll discuss how my students used lacto-fermentation to tackle food insecurity by making pickles, hot sauce, and salsa. Using the Design Cycle and STEM, they refined their recipes and techniques.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the science behind lacto-fermentation and how to incorporate it in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Jeremy Bishko

Three-dimensional learning is the vision of the NGSS. Engaging our students in three-dimensional learning by integrating problem-based learning, technology, and engineering while connecting them to STEM careers will prepare them for the future.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to provide students with the opportunity to learn the DCI, CCC, and SEP and make connections with technology and engineering. They will also learn how to integrate 3-D to make sense of phenomena or design solutions to real-world problems, which is a focus of STEM education.

SPEAKERS:
Denise Clarke-Mayers

Foster inclusive STEM environments valuing students' culture, language & experiences. Learn to infuse culturally responsive learning into STEM through problem-based units that bolster identity & enhance STEM culture. Create a sense of belonging by integrating STEM into diverse learning experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn practical strategies to design problem-based STEM learning experiences that celebrate student diversity, affirm cultural identities, and create an inclusive classroom environment where all students feel valued and empowered to engage with STEM content and develop a positive STEM identity.

SPEAKERS:
Latasha Turner, Sarah Redick

Students explore Newton’s Laws of Motion as a member of an automotive engineering team preparing for the Egg Dash. These collaborative engineers investigate speed and velocity while thinking critically and creatively to design and optimize a model race car capable of beating a rival team’s racer.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on session will present a micro- and macro-look at a dynamic, 21-Century unit in collaborative science. This STEM unit encourages students to communicate their findings, think both critically and creatively, and collaborate to produce a successful racer in a final performance assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Meehan, Gregory Snoke

Explore STEM enrichment through a STEM Innovation Fair, delving into its goals, structure, and impact on fostering creativity and scientific inquiry among K-12 students. Participants discover how the Fair empowers students to be change-makers and ignites a passion for STEM education and careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave equipped with the knowledge and tools to spearhead their own innovation fairs within their school districts, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and community engagement among students while cultivating a culture of innovation for future generations.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Dillon

Explore the complexities of the electric grid by building series and parallel circuits! This hands-on workshop will provide educators with tools and strategies to help students grasp circuity and energy-related concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on, standards-aligned workshop will show the influence of engineering, technology, and science on society and the natural world. Participants will leave the workshop with concepts and strategies to implement a similar lesson with their students.

SPEAKERS:
Bahar Pahlevani, Tess Hooper

This project incorporates into astronomy, physics, and engineering classes as students take on a current real-world career-based project: figuring out how to land on the Moon. Students utilize different STEM fields and communicate to solve a problem with hands-on exploratory learning methods.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will takeaway a plan to integrate current events and a real-world project into multiple disciplines. Whether attendees are looking for an idea to integrate into one class or many, they will see different learning methods and ideas to apply this project to their own classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kelsey Jacobus, Joe Morales, Hanna Cohen

Engage in hands-on learning! Explore wind energy's pros/cons and then design, and test windmills made with recycled materials. Take away a ready-to-use lesson adaptable for grades 4-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave equipped with a student-tested wind energy lesson, incorporating hands-on activities and collaborative learning, adaptable for grades 4-12, fostering a deeper understanding of renewable energy concepts aligned with NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler

The Environmental Institute of Houston monitors sites along the Galveston and Matagorda Bays in Texas to evaluate change in the bay’s ecosystems over time. Participants will utilize Team-based Learning (TBL) strategies to consider and apply data-informed evidence to real-world scenarios.

TAKEAWAYS:
Team-Based Learning (TBL) is a structured method of authentic inquiry grounded in relevant and significant real-world scenarios. Participants will take away from this session strategies and resources for TBL that they may use immediately in their own course.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Metoyer

Keep your pets safe from being left in hot cars by using automatic sensors to design an alarm that could save their lives.

TAKEAWAYS:
Solve a real-world problem with coding and engineering design; no prior experience needed.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Thibodeaux, Jessica Kohout

Dive into a hands-on ball drop activity integrating computational thinking and computer science with physics. This session explores research-driven methods showing how incorporating computer science boosts student engagement and creative problem-solving, aligned with CSTA and NGSS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to effectively integrate computer science and physics in middle school curricula, using technology to enhance real-world problem-solving and interdisciplinary student engagement while aligning to CSTA and NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Hanna, Ian Collins

Participants will explore an engineering design challenge that engages upper elementary students in the creation of tiny homes as a solution to homelessness after a local natural disaster. Explore Design Thinking principles and how empathy plays a role in authentic and inclusive STEM inquiry.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engage in an NGSS-based engineering design challenge where you design a solution for homelessness caused by natural disasters and learn the role of empathy in STEM inquiries by using Design Thinking principles and place-based strategies that engage all learners in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Williams

Explore strategies for providing equitable STEM education for students with disabilities. Understand how to create physically safe and accessible classrooms. Learn practical tips for multi-modal instruction, hands-on learning, and project-based learning connected to student interests/experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take away practical strategies for designing inclusive, equitable STEM learning experiences that leverage Universal Design principles and students' diverse strengths to make STEM accessible for all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Redick

Students in diverse groups designed a 3D car to travel fast and far using the engineering design process. This collaborative approach, tailored to their interests and abilities, boosted their interest, learning, and sense of science identity, supported by self-discovery and teacher recognition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Implementing the Engineering Design Process equitably, collaborating in diverse groups based on skills and interests, with teacher recognition, enhances student interest, engagement, learning, and science identity, fostering a sense of belonging and competence in scientific activities.

SPEAKERS:
Massa Mafi

In this dynamic session, we delve into the unique challenges and opportunities of establishing a thriving STEM program in small, nonpublic schools. With limited resources and varying student backgrounds, the task may seem daunting, but it's entirely achievable with the right approach.

TAKEAWAYS:
Establishing a thriving STEM program in small, nonpublic schools is challenging but achievable. Limited resources and diverse student backgrounds require resilience, creativity, and collaboration. We will share experiences and best practices to foster growth in STEM programs (K-8th).

SPEAKERS:
Selena Scott, Rachel Plunkett, Michelle Boyd, Elizabeth Ahlgrim

Join award-winning science educator Griff Jones and members of the IIHS Vehicle Research Center to explore engaging demos, behind-the-scenes tours of crash tests, and video-supported, inquiry-based activities from the IIHS’s web-based “Crash Science in the Classroom” program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will discover STEM design challenges (Crash Cushions, Egg-Carrying Paper Car Crashes, Project Pedestrian) and other classroom-tested lessons plans, teacher/student tips videos, lab sheets, and answer keys to teach crash-related science and engineering concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Pini Kalnite, Griff Jones

We will go through a set of hands-on, physical and digital experiences to learn how objects vibrate and make sound, and how that sound can be turned into music. Participants will get access to free curriculum resources and digital tools created by music neuroscientist and sound artist, Victor Minces

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn how to use everyday objects and free digital tools to explore the science of sound and music. You will create beats and sound compositions, and tune an orchestra made with beakers and water as an anchoring phenomenon to bring to your students.

SPEAKERS:
Alec Barron

Utilize Switch Classroom to develop engaging energy-related PBL experiences for your students. Using the free classroom resources from Switch Energy Alliance teachers will learn how to incorporate balanced, non-partisan information on energy resources, power generation, and energy usage.

TAKEAWAYS:
Switch Classroom can be used for primary source research, or to scaffold bigger driving questions or lessons involving energy resources, production, generation, use, and effects. Teachers will leave with ideas and examples to facilitate the development of their own PBL lessons involving energy.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Daniels

This session will provide a conceptual framework for transdisciplinary learning and share a template for designing project-based learning tasks, in which students assume a role to create a product for an authentic audience and in response to a real-life question or problem.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how to create a transdisciplinary task that can be tailored to meet diverse students' interests and needs, utilized in practice with students, and shared with colleagues in their school building.

SPEAKERS:
Stefanie Holloway

Empower educators to inspire and support female students in STEM fields by showcasing women who have made significant contributions. Learn about their achievements, impact, and pathways to success to gain valuable insights and resources for guiding female students toward successful STEM careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will gain valuable insights and resources to inspire and support female students in STEM. By learning about the achievements, impact, and pathways to success of prominent women in STEM, educators will be equipped to encourage and guide their female students toward successful STEM careers.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Harding

Integrating active reading and reflection strategies into STEM education is indispensable to nurture the next generation of innovators and problem solvers. By fostering deeper engagement, critical thinking skills, and interdisciplinary connections, educators can empower students to excel in STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will dive deep into reading and reflecting. They WILL read and write. Not only will they develop skills to enhance their own practices of reading and writing, but they will engage in creating a reading and writing space for students to explore and engage in bringing curiosity to science.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Schneider

Attendees use acoustic data from marine soundscapes to assess the ecological dynamics, functions, and resilience of coral reef ecosystems. The activities incorporate concepts from physics, technology, and biology enabling learners to address conservation challenges using authentic data.

TAKEAWAYS:
Sounds can be analyzed by frequency and amplitude - measures that serve as a “fingerprint” of a sound’s source including species identification and behavior. Because ecosystem health is entwined with biodiversity, bioacoustic monitoring is especially effective in marine environments.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Miller

Come have fun collecting real data to investigate the relationship between altitude and pressure using a micro:bit and a Grove sensor. We will walk through the Python code, collect the data and investigate the relationship through mathematical models, squeezing as much as we can out of our work.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience the marriage of science and mathematics by using the micro:bit and a Grove sensor to collect real pressure data to analyze. We will spend time creating and using mathematical models so that we can better understand the relationship between altitude and pressure.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Pennell

What is in a definition? The Louisiana STEM Advisory Council (LASTEM) recently adopted a statewide definition for STEM that drives the work of the Regional STEM Centers. Learn how the LASTEM network leverages its education-workforce connections to drive meaningful impact around the state.

TAKEAWAYS:
No matter what acronym you use (STEM, STEAM, STEMM, etc.) you are doing STEM as defined by the LASTEM council. Attendees will also learn how the LASTEM network utilizes the newly adopted definition of STEM to support our outreach.

SPEAKERS:
Clint Coleman

The Oregon Coast STEM Hub has been leading transdisciplinary work with 3-person teams of a math teacher, a science teacher and a marine scientist. Teams develop units for grades 6-12 with authentic phenomena and data to integrate math and science standards and create open source materials.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the process for building transdisciplinary math and science units and gain access to open source data and lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Micki Halsey Randall, Carrie Averill, Slade Sapora, Kama Almasi, Kim Norberg

This session will examine 2024 election results, explore how education and STEM policy will fare in the new Administration, and discuss the upcoming reauthorization of the federal education law (Every Student Succeeds Act) and what teachers can expect from Congress and Washington, DC.

TAKEAWAYS:
What kind of policy developments can science educators expect to see from national leaders going into 2025.

SPEAKERS:
James Brown

Unleash student curiosity and transdisciplinary learning with Artificial Intelligence! Educators will discover practical strategies to ignite student interest in real-world responsible problem-solving leveraging the power of AI. Join us & empower the next generation of STEM innovators!

TAKEAWAYS:
STEM classrooms + AI = Empowered problem-solvers! Learn how educators can harness AI for research, analysis & design thinking, fostering responsible AI use in future innovators.

SPEAKERS:
Moni Singh

Merge reading and engineering with STEM activities inspired by classic read-alouds, saving time and increasing engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover three engaging read-alouds and three complimentary STEM activities that encourage curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Terra Tarango

Learn how you can build a STEM academy in your school through targeted and authentic learning. You will learn how to embed research based international competitions WITHIN the school day, how to find STEM guest speakers, and the importance of digital student portfolios.

TAKEAWAYS:
Our low-income STEM academy has won two international NASA competitions, has multiple state and national award winners in STEM fields, and immediate undergraduate success in college. You CAN provide authentic STEM education that prepares students while working in your current school structure.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Oldham

The burgeoning field of Career and Technical Education (CTE) is a hot topic in any educational setting. Join us to explore how CTE intersects with NGSS to provide students with dynamic skill-based opportunities, high-interest pursuits, and prepare them for success in today's ever-changing workforce.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will discover practical strategies for bridging CTE and NGSS. We will demonstrate the development of integration tools that seamlessly align school district classes, post-secondary education, and NGSS’s three dimensions.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Richmond

Students collaborate in small groups to design and develop a sustainable island with a universal theme utilizing various subject areas, seamlessly integrating STEAM standards. It fosters cross-curricular learning and real-world applications through project-based learning activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees learn how to implement project-based learning, cross curricular concepts, and real-world scenarios to actively engage and assess students throughout the year.

SPEAKERS:
Katharine Kintz

Collaborating with regional workforce enhances the depth of career-focused education, forging valuable connections for both sides. Explore how the LASTEM initiative seamlessly integrates career exploration across K-20 classrooms, empowering learners with practical skills and real-world insights.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave equipped with the knowledge of key contacts within corporations for effective outreach projects. Additionally, they'll grasp the significance of aligning lesson plans with career exploration to deepen student comprehension.

SPEAKERS:
Clint Coleman

Invention Education supercharges STEM for all K-12 students! Learn how the invention meets the needs of all learners and allows students to take control of their learning. Invention begins with students identifying problems in their own lives/community and solving these problems through STEAM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience the power of creative problem solving through hands-on activities to help educators prepare students to become inventors. Learn how invention becomes a vehicle for connecting your students with their community. The session will connect educators with a community of support and resources.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Lawlor-King

Come engage with STEM resources to help you identify common features of quality STEM experiences. Learn how to enhance and expand quality STEM opportunities for students. Participants will receive tools and guidance to implement STEM programs in schools and systems, K-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with the tools to identify and evaluate quality STEM opportunities in various grade-level resources using the key features of quality STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Kaci Fontenot, Lanie Gueho

Designed to empower teachers with knowledge and tools to address issues facing coastal communities in the Mississippi Delta, this immersive experience combines place-based exploration and the engineering design process to strategize solutions to foster resiliency and sustainability in the Gulf.

TAKEAWAYS:
This immersive experience combines place-based exploration and the engineering design process to strategize solutions, foster resiliency and sustainability, and empower teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Sanchez, Erica Smith

Discover ways to engage students in STEM fields and topics using real-world environmental issues in their region. Attendees will be shown tools they can use in their classroom that will help students become more aware of their household practices and their personal impact on the environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn strategies that empower students to become involved in their local community through environmental stewardship. A resource kit, including a lesson plan focused on carbon footprints and offsets, will be shared.

SPEAKERS:
Charmaine Morgan

In small groups, participants will design and brainstorm lesson and building ideas for a 4-person, human-powered, amphibious vehicles. Workshop facilitator brings the experience of 5 years of participating and 4 awards (engineering and art) at the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will grow in their confidence to approach large-scale engineering design projects regardless of their experience level.

SPEAKERS:
Mick Scott

Transdisciplinary STEM learning that positions students in the context of real-life scenarios and to problem solve authentic issues can increase students' conceptual understanding of content area knowledge, inspire community connections, as well as increase student engagement in their learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn why transdisciplinary and convergence education matters for the twenty-first century and how this type of learning can be framed and developed, with an overall understanding of how this type of learning and teaching could transform our country and world.

SPEAKERS:
Stefanie Holloway

5,600 exoplanets have been detected with new planets being found outside our solar system almost every day. However, just a few hundred years ago discovering new planets wasn't something that happened every day. Come learn about the dramatic stories of the discoveries of Uranus and Neptune.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn why the discoveries of Uranus and Neptune are connected to each other. They will also learn about how this episode in the history of astronomy illustrates the real life messiness and controversy that inevitably accompany the process of scientific discovery.

SPEAKERS:
Robinson Yost

For this workshop, you will see how to develop an engineering unit for elementary students where they are challenged to use recyclable materials to build skyscrapers, bridges, and other structures. Try your own skill in building structures using easily accessible materials.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, participants will learn how to develop an engineering unit for elementary students where they design and build their own skyscrapers and bridges. Relevant videos will be shown and student work will be showcased.

SPEAKERS:
Joan Gillman

In this session, participants will learn how to bring electrical engineering to life with the creation of "Electric Houses". Participants will walk through the steps of turning science standards about electricity into a fully hands on project that involve all types of learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be immersed in a project based activity bringing electricity and circuits to life. Using basic knowledge of electrical circuits, participants will be able to teach concepts in a hands-on immersive way to engage their learners in a real world situation about electrical engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Reno

Prepare for an exhilarating journey as you work to save the crew of a spacecraft in jeopardy. Work with a team on the ground to communicate a life-saving solution to the crew in space. Come be one of the great minds to save our crew! Ready-to-use lesson and chance to win a prize!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will receive a lesson that encourages communication and teamwork from their students. By participating in the activity, participants will have a first-hand look at how to conduct the lesson.

SPEAKERS:
Sabrina Ketter, Missy Stubblefield

Integrating authentic and meaningful hands-on maker projects into science classes can be challenging, but rewarding for both students and teachers. These types of projects offer us the opportunity to alternatively assess student learning, infuse creativity, and focus on student choice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will participate in the engineering and design process and will leave with successful example projects, a working knowledge of the project-design process and can utilize the various strategies for implementation of maker projects in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Catherine Bischoff

STEM4Real aims to reduce absenteeism by involving students in solving real-world environmental issues through multidisciplinary projects that elevate high school senior's passion projects with the community and align their vision to service learning and environmental issues that drive the learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding that integrating service learning with environmental issues can significantly enhance student engagement and reduce absenteeism. By involving high school seniors in real-world projects that require civic engagement, educators can make learning more relevant and impactful.

SPEAKERS:
Neotha Williams, Jennifer Munoz

Personal narratives bring topics to life. With a booklet available as a free download, engage critical thinking skills with astronaut personal narratives. Compare and contrast rocket designs and basic data. Based on learning that takes place, design a rocket with at least 1 innovative feature.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will examine a set of rockets and data on performance. They will select a feature to design to improve performance and explain why they made the design changes they chose. Through this, they learn how to engage students with engineering design principles.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Boulden

Energy Stewardship projects will empower your students to become energy and environment advocates. With a thorough understanding of energy resources, students become experts about both the energy transition and every-day environmental protections and share this knowledge with the school/community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore the fundamentals of energy stewardship projects that you can implement with your grades 4-12 students, putting the science and engineering practices into practical work. These projects will increase engagement as your students learn knowledge and skills, allowing them to “do” science.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler

Join us for an interactive session that combines the excitement of freeze tag with the innovation of robotics! In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the world of robotics through engaging activities using both LEGO and VEX 5 Robots.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explain the function of bump sensors and how they detect contact. Demonstrate how to program robots to respond to bump sensor input. Address the common misconception of assuming bump sensors only detect frontal collisions.

SPEAKERS:
Alberteen Ransom, Rudy Martinez, Sarah Bennett

Wondering about ways to use 3-D printing pens with your students? Practice using a 3-D pen to create a small but STEM-tastic model or design to use in your classroom. Explore the possibilities of using the engineering design process to solve real-world problems with creativity and a new tech gadget.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have an opportunity to use a 3-D pen to make (and take) a small model or design for the classroom using a provided pattern or an original design. Information about eCYBERMISSION and programs administered by NSTA and sponsored by AEOP will be available.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Lasky, Brian Kutsch

Connecting children's books and STEM is an easy way to increase student interest in STEM studies. In this session we will explore children's books and see how we can connect hands on STEM activities to broaden the learning. Ideas and activities that have been used in classrooms will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will receive a resource of over 30 books and their STEAM connection will be provided so teachers can use them in classrooms immediately. Additionally, lesson planning forms and Crowdsourcing tools will be shared to make planning for future lessons will be shared.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Penchev

Strong winds generated by hurricanes and tornadoes can lift the roof off a house. A model for the engineering design process that integrates the NGSS three dimensions will be used to design a better roof.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to address the NGSS student performance expectation: 3-EES3-1 Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Ostlund

In this workshop, you’ll discover nature-themed elementary storybooks and their free book guides. We’ll learn while having fun with activities that meet NGSS, Math, ELA, and Art standards. These engaging activities will increase science vocabulary and literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to use engaging storybooks and activities centered on nature and birds to boost their diverse students’ science vocabulary, increase their connection to nature and science, and teach integrated STEAM content.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Licher

You will learn how to use MFLOW, a web-based programming platform that makes it extremely easy to play with sounds and create sound compositions while learning the basics of programming. You will gain access to an NGSS-aligned curriculum to support students with coding and sound engineering.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn how to use MFLOW to sound engineer and code your own sound or music composition. Also, you will learn how to engage your students with coding through engineering design challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Alec Barron

Produce a public release image of a supernova remnant using NASA X-ray data both by hand and with Js9 web-based imaging software with this STEAM activity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Scientists learn about astronomical objects from the light they produce. Colors in images are based on data from this light and are used to highlight different features.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Perry

Are you looking for an opportunity to bring free hands-on engineering experiences to your students? The labs available work for biology, environmental science and physical science classes with cross curricular application in math.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this workshop, teachers will don their student caps as an engineer guides us through Engineering Tomorrow’s most popular lab - Phototherapy! Teachers will have an opportunity to register for this free program during this workshop and leave with a goodie bag of supplies!

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Maggio

Discover how the fusion of circuitry and spatial concepts, in illuminating a piece of art, impacts student innovation in STEAM Education. This session will explore the intersection of art and science with practical strategies to promote student accessibility and understanding of STEAM concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will create illuminated artwork using a simple circuit (copper tape, LEDs, coin battery). They will reflect and gain insights on how to make complex concepts accessible, blending STEAM and Maker Education that will foster inclusive learning for all students.

SPEAKERS:
Merinda Baker

The various metals and alloys used in the minting of the US penny over the years will provide for rich explorations. We will share activities that combine some very basic lab activities conducted by some of our chemistry classes with detailed mathematical modeling done by the students in statistics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will collect and use real data to develop mathematical models and learn how to test our hypothesis by performing an experiment and analyzing the results, combining chemical analysis with statistical sampling for a cross-curricular approach.

SPEAKERS:
Karlheinz Haas

Educators at South Hampton K-8 School are empowering their 7th and 8th grade students to host "Bulldog Talk: On the Edge," a student-led podcast that explores relevant topics and issues. This session will provide tips and strategies for starting a similar student-driven podcast program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to establish a student-run podcast program that engages learners, develops essential communication skills, and provides a platform for student voice and agency.

SPEAKERS:
Tambra Clark

Experience the “real” feel of working in a lab from the physical layout to the various “tasks” performed. Take on the role of a scientist/engineer and conduct scientific studies with a prototype. Catch a glimpse of an Army lab in action and learn how equipment used by our troops is developed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have an opportunity to use virtual reality goggles and applications to explore a technological alternative to hands-on scientific inquiry and engineering design processes. Information about eCYBERMISSION and programs administered by NSTA and sponsored by AEOP will be available.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Lasky, Brian Kutsch

Hear how an elements project integrates technology, literacy, and arts into the study of atomic structure and the periodic table.

TAKEAWAYS:
Student-generated learning project that can be done at any level by any student, which integrates STEAM in the physical science curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Weissman

Learn how friendly competion gets students thinking, designing, and bulding levees. You can use the levees throughout the semester to teach succession, erosion, evaporation, and even about levees themselves.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hands on learning is easy and fun to do in the classroom. Learn how to tie in one lesson to many diffferent lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Melancon

Explore how transdisciplinary projects ignite students' passion for STEM. Gain insights into providing authentic experiences that nurture the development of robust STEM identities. The poster will showcase examples of projects and community partnerships, providing practical tools and ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
The primary takeaway underscores the critical role of transdisciplinary experiential learning in shaping students' STEM identities. This approach not only fosters a deep understanding of STEM concepts, but it also empowers students to see themselves as capable problem-solvers and innovators.

SPEAKERS:
Lora Taylor

By implementing STEM related mini grants, students will be positively impacted through multidisciplinary, hands-on, and inquiry-based learning. Students benefit from experiencing mini grants in the classroom which also allows teachers to more effectively teach their students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the specific benefits and reasons for implementing STEM mini grants throughout every grade level. Through learning the positive impacts on students, attendees will understand how to meet the specific needs of one's own classroom and their content area.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Hansen, Adriana Piccolino, Jenna D'Angelo

Sharing free Department of Defense and US Space Force online resources around careers and space science topics. Will have a "light saber" circuit make or take kit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Sharing free Department of Defense and US Space Force online resources around careers and space science topics. Will have a "light saber" circuit make or take kit.

SPEAKERS:
Deb Novak

Looking to incorporate local phenomena into your curriculum? Hear how a diverse group of Louisiana teachers working with subject matter experts engaged in a NOAA BWET funded project to examine environmental indicators through place-based learning. Gain access to the lessons these teachers created.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain an overview of the Louisiana phenomenon, environmental proxies and scientific concepts teachers examined as well as themes that emerged throughout the project while gaining access to the LSSS and NGSS aligned lessons these teachers created.

SPEAKERS:
Dani DiIullo, Alvera McMillan

Dive into a science classroom's Maker Space, sparking creativity and fostering a sense of belonging. Our hands-on program encourages inquiry-based learning, collaborative projects, and inclusivity, igniting curiosity and a lifelong love for science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience the Maker Space firsthand in our session, engaging in interactive activities that deepen understanding and inspire collaboration. Gain practical skills to apply beyond the session, igniting creativity and empowerment in every participant.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Bruch

The oil industry has many practical applications for teachers to use in the classroom. One of the less-explored topics is how oil is found. In this session, you will see a multidisciplinary lab where students explore for and extract oil, and deal with the economic and environmental costs as well.

TAKEAWAYS:
Oil drilling can be accurately modelled in a classroom setting to allow students to apply Earth Science concepts to understand how oil is made, explored for, and extracted out of the ground.

SPEAKERS:
Loren Klein

Students in upper school engineering classes were challenged to solve the big, small, exciting, and mundane problems that teachers face. From a traffic study to nature miniature golf to a guinea pig habitat fit for royalty, creativity shone in this collaborative effort.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience the breadth and depth of some of the problems solved by upper-school engineering students. We will teach you what we learned about organizing problems, meeting with teachers and facilities, collaborative design, and manufacturing.

SPEAKERS:
Matilde Robbe, Carrie Vetrovsky

Use STEM web-based analysis software and basic physics gravitation and centripetal acceleration equations to determine if a stellar core is a white dwarf or neutron star.

TAKEAWAYS:
Light curves generated from web-based js9 image analysis software can be used to determine the period of rotation and identify objects as white dwarfs or pulsars using Newton’s Universal Law of gravitation and centripetal acceleration calculations.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Perry

Encountered something you want to buy? Use a bite-sized approach to literacy to discuss the nature of scientific research. This lesson is designed for a high school science course. You will leave with selected literature and a lesson plan that is all about asking questions and scientific discourse.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to engage in asking scientific questions and will be able to participate in discourse using literature and a phenomenon common to people of various backgrounds. They will leave with a lesson plan and associated materials to implement in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Summer Landreth, Brooke Whitworth, Ashley Hunter

Force and motion, simple machines & energy transfer are just a few of the science topics that students learn as the build their own interactive roller coaster projects.  Using just paper, tape and scissors, we will show you how to easily include this fun educational hands-on activity in your class.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hands-on, engaging projects can be done with easily accessible inexpensive supplies. It does not have to cost money to do intereactive experiments

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Sevin, Godwyn Morris

Ever wondered where to find FREE Federal STEM education resources that can provide authentic learning experiences for your K-12+ students? Join Federal agencies, including but not limited to the Dept of Education, NOAA, EPA, NIH, USGS, USPTO and NSF to learn more and to receive a resource guide!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers and educators will learn about FREE K-12 STEM learning resources offered by federal agencies. Attendees will engage in two-way conversations with federal representatives about STEM resources, programs, and opportunities, and will leave with a one-page resource guide.

SPEAKERS:
Bekkah Lampe, Kayla Smith, Jennifer Sizemore, Melissa Anley-Mills, Elizabeth Williams

Density of Stellar Materials is a hands-on interactive workshop that focuses on understanding density and volume, through a series of practical tests, working out the simulation of stellar materials low and high density as they undergo the life cycle of stars.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to collect data through measurement and use number skills in a practical context. This workshop incorporates math and science comparing the results with observational surveying.

SPEAKERS:
Vernita Adkins

Gear up, science teachers! Explore physical science with Fantastic Elastic Cars: build, race, and uncover motion marvels. Get ready for hands-on fun that'll ignite your passion for science!

TAKEAWAYS:
Unleash Science Fun!! Join me to discover a dynamic approach to teaching the Laws of Motion with a burst of fun! Experience the thrill of building rubber band cars to explore motion, friction and mass in action.

SPEAKERS:
Crissy Giacona

In New Brunswick, NJ, district leaders and educators engaged in collaborative spaces to design placed-based learning involving multiple disciplines. We gained a "River of Insights" while engaging in equitable, inquiry-based learning, and designing innovative solutions for climate-related problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will explore a placed-based instructional approach to addressing local environmental challenges, and will collaboratively reflect on how we can naturally integrate multiple disciplines to design innovative solutions and promote equitable practices for addressing Climate Change.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Nunez

Presentation of a college course using convergence research to tackle the complex issue of wasted food, while emphasizing the integration of diverse perspectives to enhance student learning and problem-solving skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will understand how convergence research was used in the context of wasted food to support students’ learning and address complex problems through creative, multifaceted, and equitable solutions. They will also be empowered to leverage convergence research when addressing complex problems.

SPEAKERS:
Pete Locher

Come have fun creating data that simulates the flight of a model rocket. Together, we will walk through the Python code and make key coding decisions so that we create data that is representative of the real flight. Both linear and quadratic functions will be used to model and understand the flight.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience the marriage of science, coding and mathematics by using Python to create simulated flight data of a model rocket. Participants will get to see how coding and mathematics can be used to understand what is happening in the physical world.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Pennell

Seaworthy STEM in a Box revolutionizes PreK-12 STEM education with Department of Navy and NGSS aligned activities, fostering science inquiry and engineering skills. Designed for versatility, these kits and curriculum accommodate various grades and settings. Session lead by DON staff/ STEM educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will discover how to seamlessly integrate Navy-aligned STEM activities into diverse educational environments. With expert-led workshops and comprehensive resources, educators can cultivate problem-solving skills in students, empowering them for future success in science and engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Thompson, Nathan Diehl

Connect the human impact of trash pollution to engineering design. Get your students thinking critically and creatively as they collaborate in real-world problem solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience a project that enhances STEM skills in students such as collaboration, curiosity, and creativity.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Thibodeaux, Jessica Kohout

Empower students to take action with an in-depth study of biodiversity and sustainability of urban forests. Use iNaturalist’s Seek App and analyze data from a comprehensive study to examine challenges to urban forests’ sustainability and advocate for communities by developing possible solutions.

TAKEAWAYS:
A lesson that can be used with students to use understanding of biodiversity and sustainability to advocate for their local communities, including use of a free app to collect species data, opportunities to utilize AI tools, and suggestions for community-facing products that students can create.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Jack, Elissa Griffin

Be a structural engineer for the day! Come design, build & test an earthquake proof structure while learning about Earthquakes. In this session we will review the MS ESS standards related to earthquakes & utilize the Engineering Standards to compete in a tallest earthquake proof tower challenge.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will ignite a love for engineering while focusing on structural engineering as a career. We hope that teachers will be able to turn key this with their own students with these simple materials.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Jessie

This workshop will discuss the value of a HFE course to K-12 education and how to adapt HFE to technology education and vocational high school curriculum environments. Workshop activities will reinforce hands-on analysis, decision making and redesign methods, with a Q&A discussion to follow.

TAKEAWAYS:
Consider Human Factors Engineering as a means of adding valuable practical hands-on, project-based, user-centered design, and transferable skill experiences with authentic real-world application.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Tenenbaum

Looking to get involved with community partners? Learn how school districts partner with Louisiana Sea Grant to co-create customized place-based explorations in community wetland areas where students apply scientific principles to locally relevant phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hear from formal and nonformal educators about how to co-create place-based learning experiences for students which enhance K-8 curriculums, explore hands on learning with a locally relevant context, and take away resources, tips for success, and lessons learned.

SPEAKERS:
Nathan Cotten, Vanessa Van Heerden, Cheyenne Autin, Alvera McMillan

Using the United Nations' Global Goals for Sustainability Initiative, students will be able to create a design for a sustainable energy source.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students will be using creative thinking, problem-solving and cooperative learning in a STEM lesson to address climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly McSorley

Students who require social-emotion learning, and individualized learning require differentiation. Project-based learning, and technology has helped our students engage, access the curriculum, and meet their individual needs. We will share our projects and what we have used to help enhance learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation will focus on techniques to help with differentiating each lesson, enhance individual student's learning, and assessing students.

SPEAKERS:
Trisha Pytko

Attendees learn about a project based learning activity revolving around earthquake proof structures. Students design a miniature earthquake proof skyscraper using real engineering techniques to be tested on a shake table. Two real shake tables and real student examples will be shown.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees learn about implementing a project-based learning activity in HS Earth Science. Students investigate how natural disasters impact human populations, and apply engineering principles to develop earthquake resistance skyscrapers. Learn how we built a shake table to test these structures.

SPEAKERS:
Aaron Dose

ESTITCH is a integrated curriculum for teachers of grades 3-6. Teachers will practice integrating science, social studies, math, and literacy through storybooks. This session will facilitate teachers in engaging project based learning in their elementary classroom with maker technologies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will practice integrating science, social studies, math, and literacy through storybooks and explore project based learning in their elementary classroom with maker technologies.

SPEAKERS:
Colby Tofel-Grehl

The entertainment industry has impacted students' experience in the classroom. Here we present an educational experiment at Lehigh University (Engineering) exploring the theory of filmmaking and the universe of superheroes to engage students an improve learning experience.

TAKEAWAYS:
Reinventing the class structure with a dynamics mirroring film plot diagrams, we identify key elements in Superheroes movies which can be used as science and math educational tools. We will provide resources for implementing this model at the Middle and High-School with experiential learning.

SPEAKERS:
Ricardo Castro

Educators will engage with lessons that can be used with an interactive website where students can learn about how geoscience-related careers can address the world’s greatest challenges, as defined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will understand the importance of discussing careers in ways that address current student concerns and priorities, especially with respect to environmental challenges. Educators will explore resources to bring these discussions into Earth Science and other related courses.

SPEAKERS:
Sequoyah McGee, Lindsay Mossa

From seeds to sprouts to leafy greens we've got you covered to help you "grow" a middle school program. Using hydroponics to boost student engagement and belonging in middle school.

TAKEAWAYS:
Takeaways include: Hydroponics 101; an example of a hydroponics model as well as ideas on how to adapt it for your school program; alignment to NGSS; and ideas of how to go beyond the classroom and help your community (e.g. foodbank, cafeteria, restaurants, zoo).

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Hartings, Vera Hayslip

Under a NIIMBL grant, NC biopharma industries combined with NC STEM outreach organizations to create a fun and interactive activity to showcase the biotech career pathway.

TAKEAWAYS:
My Future in Biotech is a comprehensive pilot program which addresses the unprecedented growth and demand for a skilled workforce in the biomanufacturing industry. This presentation will go through the pilots, the activity, and what we've learned from the experience and students and teacher feedback.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Behrle

High quality STEM in afterschool programs engages and energizes students. Presenters are 2 Title 1 public school educators with 36 years of combined experience as science teachers and 20 years as after school program coordinators and instructors. Successful strategies and ideas will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how a variety of STEM resources can be used to meet the needs of students in afterschool and summer programs. Engaging lessons and activities that are well-tested with students will be highlighted. Educators will walk away with useful ideas to excite students about STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Javan Winston, Audrey Hughes

Core skills of Research, Oral and Visual Presentation, and Civic Action are integrated into a yearlong experience in numerous courses. Students choose relevant community issues to investigate and take action towards solving a problem. A symposium showcases project results at the end of the year.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees learn to implement research proposals, use formative checkpoints to manage individual progress, and analyze findings. Examples will be shared from physics, environmental science, and math courses. Discussion will include challenges and successes with the project and how to manage workload.

SPEAKERS:
Marci Harvey

Explore the implementation of a makerspace apprenticeship program that increased and diversified makerspace engagement through peer-learning, creativity, and relevant projects. This program helped launch a brand new makerspace to being an inclusive space for all.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to get a diverse range of students engaged in a makerspace.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Mitchell Ludwig

Host a STEM Fair promoting student-centered learning with equitable access to resources and a focus on the scientific method or engineering design process. Students investigate topics that interest them as part of the curriculum, culminating in an all-school celebration of student research.

TAKEAWAYS:
A school based STEM Fair allows students to engage in a four year scaffolded series of research projects ensuring that all have the same access to resources and time to experiment at school. The culminating fair offers students authentic feedback and celebrates their research.

SPEAKERS:
Nichole Lazor, Kelly Wilson

Engage students, families, and the community in STEAM through Family STEAM Nights in order to equitably build understanding and interest in STEAM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to create, recruit, and implement a Family STEAM Night to engage students, families, and the community in STEAM.

SPEAKERS:
McKenna Serowka

Teacher obtained mini grants used in order to teach lessons utilizing STEM pedagogy specific to science, math, and technology. Using the real-world problem of invasive species in nearby lakes, students investigate nutrient cycles and create restoration strategies to assist the local community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn strategies and resources concerning the incorporation of local and environmental issues into inquiry-based STEM learning that allows students to impact their local community.

SPEAKERS:
Jenna D'Angelo, Karen Hansen, Bonnie Maur, Andrew Lazowski, Adriana Piccolino

Data Science, AI, and You (DSAIY) in Health Care aims to broaden participation in STEM through an innovative and culturally responsive learning ecosystem for teaching rapidly evolving cross-disciplinary STEM fields to high school students, using data science and AI.

TAKEAWAYS:
After completing the curriculum and datathon, we interviewed teachers and students. One teacher commented, “The kids walked away getting a much better appreciation for AI, how it's impacting certain aspects of the healthcare field, how it can impact society.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Eller

This round table discussion will outline the key components, benefits and struggles of high school research programs. Established research program directors will be able to provide insights for educators and administrators seeking to implement similar initiatives in their schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
By implementing research programs for high school students, we can enhance science education and empower the next generation of scientists, innovators, and problem-solvers.

SPEAKERS:
Caleb Bagby, Ashley Posey

Are you looking for an opportunity to bring free hands-on engineering experiences to your students? The labs available work for biology, environmental science, and physical science classes, with cross curricular application in math. Leave with a goody bag of sample labs!

TAKEAWAYS:
In this workshop, teachers will explore the free resources developed by Engineering Tomorrow (“ET”). The ET curriculum of hands-on and virtual labs work for biology, environmental science and physical science classes with cross curricular application in math. Leave with a goody bag of sample labs!

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Maggio

The purpose of our research is to investigate how educators’ experiences in field studies with community partners can inform a transdisciplinary STEAM educational program based on a curriculum of place. Our project considers varying perspectives of place and land as it informs STEAM TEd programming.

TAKEAWAYS:
This research has the potential to inform future STEAM teacher education and K-12 teaching and learning that integrates STEAM pedagogies, Indigenous knowledges and place/land-based transdisciplinary curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Kevin O'Connor

Students often ask “why are we learning this?” and “when will I use this?” that point to issues of connecting STEM concepts to their everyday experiences. Participants will discuss and plan how to incorporate social justice STEM pedagogy in classrooms to foster students’ civic engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers share best practices for fostering student debates on complex issues, considering ethics, culture, and morals. They will explore evidence-based science arguments and civic engagement, with access to classroom resources like sample units of study.

SPEAKERS:
Augusto Macalalag, Jr., Joseph Johnson, Dylan Fedell

Explore integrating makerspace & tech at the high school level across all disciplines, from English to Science to Foreign Languages. Discover innovative projects and strategies for interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing learning and creativity in every classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Innovative ways to integrate technology and STEM everywhere in high school.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Mitchell Ludwig

Using inspiration from Caine's Arcade, students will use STEM principles to create an engineering project (cardboard arcade).

TAKEAWAYS:
Students will be able to use recyclable materials in order to create a functioning machine.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly McSorley

Participants will put themselves into the shoes of various people around the city of Philadelphia to get a sense of how their experiences shape their access to nutritional food. Following this activity, participants will engage in a discussion about their first thoughts about the SSI topic at hand.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants in this session will take away ideas on how to incorporate active student learning about the socio-scientific issue of food insecurity and its effects on school-based achievement.

SPEAKERS:
Shawnee Harvey, Abigail Howard

Learn how two technology-enabled learning resources from the Smithsonian – Spectrum Lab and DIY Planet Search – engage high school physics, chemistry and earth science students in relevant and compelling multidisciplinary investigations of light, color, and alien worlds.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take away strategies for equity that amplify opportunities for students to experience “connected” science learning — connected to their own prior knowledge, connected to their everyday lives, connected to other disciplines– through free Smithsonian DataLabs instructional materials.

SPEAKERS:
Erika Wright, Mary Dussault

The goal of this project is to use engineering design principles to teach ecology and sustainability through active student involvement in an urban garden.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students learn the engineering design process and apply it directly in practice through the creation of an urban garden.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Weissman

Many High School STEM Teachers enter the profession after second careers or academic study outside the education college. Examples will be shown how this industry and academic experience enriches students, and how institutional challenges can be met and overcome.

TAKEAWAYS:
STEM teachers from industry lead students to careers, and not the next academic step.

SPEAKERS:
Tom Kratochvil

The workshop explores the benefits of using drone operation across the STEM disciplines. Motivational and cognitive benefits will be discussed along with examples of drone use.

TAKEAWAYS:
Drones can be used in the science classroom as a student-centered hands-on activity that explores real-world phenomenon to enhance problem solving and spatial reasoning abilities.

SPEAKERS:
Stephen Farenga, Salvatore Garofalo

Discover how nature positively impacts student well-being while fostering curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Learn to integrate environmental education into your curriculum with research, cross-curricular lessons, and strategies for both urban and rural settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
The key takeaway from this session is a comprehensive understanding of the positive impact of nature on students' well-being and practical strategies for integrating environmental education into your curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Harding

Students often struggle with connecting STEM concepts to their everyday experiences such as deciding on healthy food options in the cafeteria. Teachers will participate in a model lesson incorporating STEM and social justice pedagogy ultimately advocating for their stance on an issue.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to merge STEM with social justice in teaching, empowering students to critically assess the complexities of healthy eating and school nutrition through diverse perspectives including health experts, students, parents, and food vendors.

SPEAKERS:
Augusto Macalalag, Jr., Joseph Johnson, Dylan Fedell

Join Girls Who Code for strategies and tools on how to a) recruit and retain girls and BIPOC students in STEM, b) design inclusive holistic programs that build life skills, c) keep your curricula relevant with emerging tech and ai, and d) access free resources for 3-12th graders of all genders.

TAKEAWAYS:
Join Girls Who Code for strategies and tools on how to a) recruit and retain girls and BIPOC students in STEM, b) design inclusive holistic programs that build life skills, c) keep your curricula relevant with emerging tech and ai, and d) access free resources for 3-12th graders of all genders.

SPEAKERS:
Kibret Yebetit

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 you for wanting to be hot and cheap in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with at least 3 useful lab activities giving opportunities for measurement, math, engineering, collaborative work, and an understanding of the materials around us. All of the activities use easy to find and household materials that are available at low cost.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Richardson

NSF’s NOIRLab’s Teen Astronomy Café – To Go! program brings students the excitement of scientific discovery by exploring astronomical data. Learn how students can hunt for brown dwarfs and planets in the outer solar system using the citizen science project Backyward Worlds. Laptops are encouraged.

TAKEAWAYS:
By exploring the Teen Astronomy Café – To Go! program designed to support the NGSS, participants will learn about the resources available to introduce astronomical data analysis their classrooms and help students develop critical thinking and data literacy skills.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Sparks

Explore global, environmental challenges with hands-on lessons that build skills in science, math and social sciences, while applying learning to authentic problems. Engage in collaborative problem solving, simulation and 3D modeling related to Human Impacts on Earth’s Systems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with interdisciplinary strategies for addressing ecology topics in the middle school classroom, with an emphasis on 3D learning, data literacy and student inquiry. They will also be able to align the presented activities to NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
Chantal Correll

This session will engage participants in an engineering task using a project management approach called Scrum. Embedded throughout the experience, we will demonstrate how we explicitly teach students SEL. We will share our classroom experiences and strategies to promote SEL and engineering design.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how they can embed an agile project management approach called Scrum and SEL into Engineering Design. We will show strategies we have used to teach SEL and Scrum that have resulted in much more productive group work.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Borton, Jesse Wilcox

In this workshop you will learn how to incorporate the world of STEM into any discipline from ELA and Social Studies to Art. You will get a hands-on experience along with ideas ready to use in the classroom. You will see how one idea can be used in multiple academic and non-academic classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will leave the workshop with ready to use materials and ideas of how to incorporate hands-on STEM ideas into your classroom

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Messina

This session will engage participants in authentic conservation decision-making practices using dynamic, interactive tools on the Half-Earth Project Map and Map of Life. The activities shared empower learners to evaluate biodiversity distribution, protected areas, and human impacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Human activity adversely impacts biodiversity through habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. However, data-driven tech tools help ensure conservation decisions protect areas with the highest biodiversity with equitable benefits to humans.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Miller

Imagine you’re in 7th grade standing before a panel of college professors. You’ve created a project for a real client and you’ve just ended your pitch. Now the questions begin. This is how our design students experience the design thinking process. Learn how to adapt our process for your class!

TAKEAWAYS:
Hear from actual students on how they met with clients to assess their needs and wants. Hear how they shepherded their idea through the prototyping and testing phases to put a final product in their clients hands.

SPEAKERS:
ROBBY STANLEY

We will explore the processes of a STEM project following the Engineering Design Process (EDP) by using data collected by sensors to help teams evaluate the effectiveness of their project.

TAKEAWAYS:
How can we encourage teams to use sensors in their STEM project so that they will better understand the impact of their plan.

SPEAKERS:
David Young

Immerse yourself in a captivating learning experience as you critically analyze the environmental and social issues surrounding a coal ash landfill located in a small, rural town in Alabama. Join others as you explore how to help students analyze and solve community issues through Design Thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science educators will learn how to create and implement Design Thinking lessons centered around local community issues.

SPEAKERS:
Malysa Chandler

In Project VOICE, students identify real world problems impacting the community and propose possible solutions/actions that can address these problems. We will share lesson resources and planning templates for creating community-driven, justice-centered science learning experiences for students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Classroom learning experiences that center local issues impacting students and their communities are more engaging and meaningful for students, and require transdisciplinary learning approaches to develop innovative solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Meyer

Hands-on activities to help introduce students to the ways in which we use energy in buildings. Explore thermal energy transfer, electricity, lighting, and learn how to use the school as a living laboratory to conduct an educational energy audit with your students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the difference between energy efficiency and energy conservation and be provided with free curriculum to help their students understand these concepts and be able to save energy at school and at home.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Swan

How can we create a visual representation of sound waves? This session will explore a cross curricular PBL unit that takes students through the process of creating visual art from a sound recording.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore an overview of a cross-curricular PBL unit on creating art from sound waves created in the Audacity app. Attendees will practice creating and exporting a sound wave and then using a graphic design app to create an art piece. Student samples of 3D artwork will be displayed.

SPEAKERS:
Cheryl Szurkowski, Eileen Koenig

Participants will use cell phone adapters and microscopes to capture photos/videos of microbes present in pond water, then Screen Mirror them via Apple TV. Participants will record observations of organisms, briefly research them, and develop a CER style writing to justify their identification.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about hands-on activities that engage students in science and research, and strategies to improve evidence-based writing in the science classroom including a CER checklist, scaffolding techniques for struggling writers, vocabulary banks, sentence frames, and peer feedback.

SPEAKERS:
Maureen Barclay, Amy Douglas Kendrick

eCYBERMISSION is a free virtual STEM competition for grades 6-9 that offers standards-aligned resources, grants for teachers and thousands of dollars in awards for students. eCYBERMISSION fosters critical thinking and creativity while preparing students for the future.

TAKEAWAYS:
eCYBERMISSION is a free virtual STEM competition for grades 6-9 that offers standards-aligned resources, grants for teachers and awards for students. eCYBERMISSION provides educators the resources to foster critical thinking and creativity while preparing students for the future.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Lasky, Brian Kutsch

Ever wonder how a wind-up toy works? Or what causes a spinning top to light up? Stop by this poster to see what’s inside some of your favorite toys and learn how tinkering activities can promote student sensemaking in physics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to identify the ways tinkering can support student sensemaking in physics; have the option to participate in a simple tinkering exercise; and receive practical tools to facilitate reverse-engineering activities in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Forsythe

With the abundance of technology tools available now the question becomes how can they be used. Come see how 3-D printers, green screens, drones, and other tools can be integrated into the NGSS.

TAKEAWAYS:
Technology tools and resources can be used to enrich and extend Science standards in the classroom. They help provide hands on visual experiences that can lead to deeper understanding

SPEAKERS:
Michele Bacon, William Hall, Jr.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to help your students connect to nature through birds–an accessible animal in every season, explore biodiversity data, build science practices with eBird participatory science, and use tech and big data to help conservation efforts wherever you are.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to: use the Merlin Bird ID app to identify birds, submit data to eBird, and describe how participatory science helps students develop data literacy, deepen their understanding of biodiversity, uncover real-world patterns and trends, and support conservation efforts.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Licher

Students will explore the wonders of STEM skills using various genres of books! A cross-disciplinary approach to learning STEM is also an excellent way to build students' literacy skills. Participants will engage in hands-on activities that incorporate science and literacy skills into their lesson.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to incorporate more reading, writing and creativity into STEM lessons/activities which will support and build students’ literacy cross disciplines.

SPEAKERS:
Katrin Smith, Nikita LaCour, Rochelle Darville

Find out how to leverage opportunities in your-day-to-day science teaching to get students excitedly picturing themselves in STEM careers! We’ll show you how to use high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) to intentionally support students’ development of Career Readiness Competencies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Become familiar with Career Readiness Competencies and how to use HQIM to create opportunities for students to develop these competencies.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips, Rob Wallace

Wanna go fast? Really fast? Maglev trains have superior acceleration, lower maintenance, and provide a smooth ride but there are also some challenges. Designing a model allows students to learn about magnetic fields, superconductors which provides a means to connect to the exciting world of quantum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Real world applications for quantum information science and engineering STEM project appropriate for the classroom Content on maglev, magnetic fields, superconductors, levitation

SPEAKERS:
Karen Matsler

Discover NASA's Astro Camp Program: free STEM resources and lessons on space exploration. See how one school created a week-long, community-building STEM Challenge for Pre-K to 5th grade, reinforcing the S.E.P.s and sparking interest in NASA careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
NASA’s ASTRO CAMP Community Partners Program provides collaboration opportunities for youth service organizations, museums, libraries, and schools interested in presenting NASA’s ASTRO CAMP activities in their community with training and resources provided by NASA ACCP specialists. Free resources.

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Sevin, Jennifer Williams

Inspire students to lead energy action and design a campus microgrid system. This hands-on workshop equips educators with practical knowledge to engage students in energy-related concepts, including microgrids and energy analysis, fostering energy literacy and sustainability awareness.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on session will cover the United States’ energy system, energy resilience, transitions toward a decentralized energy generation, and how to solve problems like energy managers. Participants will leave the workshop with concepts and strategies to implement this lesson with their students.

SPEAKERS:
Bahar Pahlevani, Tess Hooper

Utilize Switch Classroom and Project Look Sharp websites to engage students in constructivist media literacy. Using these free classroom resources teachers will learn how to help students ask the right questions, think critically, and decode media messages of all types.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will participate in a media decoding activity using materials focused on energy resources. Examples of lessons available will be shared as well as information on helping students ask the right questions and identify biases.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Daniels

Poll results are in the news during an election year. We will discuss the science and math behind polling and sampling, and engage in an inquiry activity in which small groups will design a procedure based on random sampling, collect data, and draw inferences about a population.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to confidently facilitate an inquiry investigation with their own students that teaches the statistical concepts behind random sampling/sample size and the applications to polling and experimental design.

SPEAKERS:
Ellen Schiller