Join us for a captivating presentation that explores the innovative and impactful STEM projects undertaken by elementary students. This session will delve into the inspiration behind these projects, highlighting the diverse cultural contexts and collaborative efforts involved. Witness the incredible achievements of young learners as they mastered coding, 3D design, drone flight, and more. Discover how these experiences have profoundly influenced preservice teachers, shaping their future classroom approaches and fostering a belief in the limitless potential of their students.

Elementary STEM Classroom Students Teach Preservice Teachers STEM Concepts
During a preservice teacher field trip, elementary students, K-5, shared and taught STEM concepts to preservice teachers. Students taught coding, 3-D design principles/programs, drone flight, and more. Preservice teachers were extensively impacted and influenced for their future classroom practices.

Engineering a sustainable future from India to Bolivia
In this session you will learn learn about two real world engineering projects happening on opposite sides of our world, and how students can draw inspiration from cultures that may be different than their own.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Engle, Justin Stout

Join us for a presentation that delves into the innovative ways technology can enhance science education. We'll discuss successful service-learning projects, explore strategies to make science accessible for visually impaired students, and provide practical tips for using technology effectively in the classroom. We'll also address teacher concerns about AI and offer a concrete lesson plan to incorporate AI into your science curriculum.

Creating Global Citizens Through Academic Service-learning
This presentation explores the use of Zooniverse to engage students in real-world research projects. Examples will be presented using this technology in conservation ecology-based academic service-learning projects. The platform also hosts projects in technology, humanities, and arts.

Supporting educators in creating and critically evaluating AI-generated science lessons
Despite the ubiquity of artificial intelligence, and its potential to ease the workload of teachers, pre- and in-service science teachers remain skeptical of the technology. In this session, I will share a framework to support teachers in creating and evaluating AI-generated science lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Monica Parker, Ashley Coen

Join us in exploring strategies to enhance formative assessment and integrate bioethics into your high school classroom. We'll delve into the Community of Practice model as a support system for teachers, discuss the "Playing God?" podcast as a resource for bioethics discussions, and showcase the Biome in a Bottle Lab as a practical example of formative assessment. By the end, you'll be equipped with tools to improve student learning and foster critical thinking.

Biome in a Bottle: Creating Self-Sustaining Terrariums to Teach Ecology
Learn how to create a two-week long experiment, in which students are challenged with creating a self-sustaining aquatic terrarium made of plants, fish, and worms. Students will learn about the levels of ecology and connect these to ecological cycles (carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen).

Navigating Bioethics with 'Playing God?' Podcast
Discover innovative ways to incorporate the thought-provoking "Playing God?" podcast from The Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics into your classroom. Explore ethical considerations in medical advancements through real-life stories and engage students in critical discussions on bioethics.

SPEAKERS:
Kirsten Salonga

Join us! Feeling overwhelmed integrating science into your elementary curriculum? This session shows how to leverage existing reading and math time to build short science units based on captivating phenomena. We'll present a research-backed tool to guide student investigations and unveil strategies for creating success criteria aligned with 3-dimensional standards. Leave with the knowledge to support joyful, meaningful science learning and empower students to effectively track their progress and engage in self-evaluation.

Using Success Criteria for Student Peer and Self Evaluation
Join us to learn how to create success criteria that are aligned with academic standards and support students in engaging in peer and self-evaluation strategies.

Engaging elementary students in science practice: Strategies for helping children plan investigations
This session will present a tool that can be used to support elementary-aged children in planning science investigations.

Science, and Math, and Reading...Oh My!
In this session, we will examine how to leverage time used to practice and reinforce math and reading skills to also include phenomenon-based science. By using math and ELA standards as a starting point, short units building off of a common science phenomenon are created.

SPEAKERS:
Jessie Church, Eve Manz, Annabel Stoler, Miranda Orellana

Join us in exploring the power of celebrating STEM success in creating a nurturing school environment. This presentation will discuss strategies to recognize student achievements, foster role models, engage the community, and demystify the electromagnetic spectrum through hands-on learning. By empowering students and promoting STEM education, we can inspire future generations of innovators.

Models as a Tool for Systems Thinking and Executive Functioning
Making models is a challenging but essential topic for students. By using specialized graphic organizers with executive functioning scaffolding, students can capture and integrate new information into models allowing for greater understanding, systems thinking, and assessment preparation.

Celebrating Students Success in Robotics and STEM at Your School
In this session I will share information on how teachers can celebrate student accomplishments in robotics and STEM on their campuses. How hosting a STEM Scholarship celebration can encourage even more students to pursue STEM opportunities.

The SpectrumX Teacher Program
Do you include the electromagnetic spectrum in your curriculum? Then this session is for you! Come and learn about a teacher program that will help you better understand radio frequencies. In addition, participants will gain access to a free library of ready to use lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Hirsch, Jennifer Doran, Valarie Bogan

University/College instructors talk about how they integrate NSTA resources in their courses. Come and listen to their stories and ask them questions! Find out the benefits that this opportunity provides you and your teacher candidates.

TAKEAWAYS:
Many university/college instructors are using NSTA resources in lieu of a textbook when teaching preservice teacher courses. Participants will meet some of these instructors to learn how they integrate NSTA resources in their courses and about the benefits of the program.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez

Are you looking for ways to make your Introductory/General Education College Science Classes more engaging for students? Join your colleagues as they share how they have put research into practice in their classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Put research into practice as you experience these engaging, relevant, and real approaches to teaching non-majors.

SPEAKERS:
Richard Jones

Join us for a comprehensive workshop that equips middle school teachers with the resources they need to elevate their STEM education. Discover a treasure trove of free, standards-aligned materials, including hands-on projects, interactive activities, and multimedia content. Explore the TeachEngineering collection, featuring projects that require minimal cost and maximize learning, and delve into the diverse STEM+M resources from Baylor College of Medicine. Finish the session with a rapid-fire overview of strategies for effectively integrating "Developing and Using Models" into your NGSS-aligned curricula.

TeachEngineering Digital Library: Free STEM Resources for Inclusive Teaching Materials
In this session, we will present the TeachEngineering Digital Library as a resource for inclusive teaching materials. TeachEngineering is a free, online digital collection of 1,750+ STEM resources that uses engineering as a vehicle to integrate science, technology, and math in K-12 classrooms.

STEM+M Simplified! Engaging STEM+M Resources from Baylor College of Medicine’s BioEd Online
Explore the dynamic BioEd Online website, which offers free STEM+M-student centered classroom lessons and biomedical science resources created and/or curated by faculty in Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Educational Outreach. Examine lessons and materials that can enhance STEM+M learning.

Accelerating Science Education: Speed-Sharing on Developing and Using Models in NGSS
Join our rapid-fire session exploring innovative approaches for teaching Developing and Using Models in NGSS. Exchange dynamic ideas and best practices for enriched science education in a fast-paced format

SPEAKERS:
Ellen Sukovich, Jimmie Thomas, Stephanie Tracey

Join us for a presentation that will equip middle school teachers with the tools to make their science curriculum more engaging and informative. Discover the fascinating world of astronomy through NSF NOIRLab and LLPAD. Learn about observatories, virtual tours, hands-on demonstrations, and data-based education programs. We'll show you how to incorporate these resources into your classroom to inspire students and deepen their understanding of the cosmos.

LSU-LIGO Physics and Astronomy Demos (LLPAD)
This presentation will highlight LLPAD's free virtual program offerings and classroom resources for the 4th to 12th grade STEM teachers and organizations.

Advancing Data Literacy Skills with NSF’s NOIRLab
NSF NOIRLab has developed a variety of educational programs freely available to teachers including the citizen science program Globe at Night, The Teen Astronomy Cafe To Go and astronomy investigations for the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. Learn to to access all these free materials.

SPEAKERS:
Vernita Adkins, Robert Sparks

Join us in exploring how to create inclusive and engaging science learning experiences. This presentation will delve into strategies to support students with language-based learning differences and English Language Learners. Through kinesthetic and manipulative activities, we'll help students solidify their understanding of science concepts and vocabulary. We'll also discuss the power of gamification in motivating students and creating immersive learning environments. Our session will include a hands-on opportunity to practice these strategies and discover how to implement them in your own classroom.

Hands-on Vocabulary Review
Come see how to make vocabulary review a hands-on and collaborative activity. Using inexpensive materials vocabulary review can become an interactive way to increase comprehension of science concepts.

Gamification in the Classroom
Teachers today need to be up to date with the latest teaching tools. They tend to use the same resources year after year, but more innovative classroom tools are coming out each year. I hope to share new online educational tools and how they can be used in the classroom.

Science in Every Word: Maximizing Impact with Dual-Purpose Content Language Objectives
Content Language Objectives (CLOs) address science content and language development found within the NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Zito, Brandon Reinertsen, Jean Rowe

Join us for a presentation brimming with resources to revitalize your science curriculum. Discover engaging engineering and design activities, comprehensive climate change resources, and practical solutions to integrate real-world issues into your classroom. Learn about energy-themed lessons, the SubjectToClimate platform, and the Consider Litter project, all designed to inspire critical thinking and foster a deeper understanding of science.

Excellent Energy Engineering
Learn about free, hands-on engineering and design activities and challenges to incorporate into your science content lessons that your students will love!

Engaging Young Minds: Argument-Driven Inquiry in the K-2 Classroom
Explore how Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI) can be effectively implemented in the early grades. This session will demonstrate how to introduce and scaffold ADI for young learners, emphasizing critical thinking and scientific reasoning.

Consider Litter: Building Stewardship Through School Actions
Consider Litter is a 4th-12th grade student litter stewardship and research project. Students collect litter on their school campus, learn how to characterize and quantify the litter, and conduct their own analysis on the data. Hear from project partners about current actions and future directions!

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Swan, Victor Sampson, Kimberly Cooke, Dani DiIullo, Vanessa Van Heerden

Join us for a comprehensive exploration of innovative teaching strategies that empower students and foster a deeper understanding of science. We'll delve into the outcomes of a 4-day camp that combined field studies, hands-on experiments, and scenario-based learning. Discover how the Community Cultural Wealth framework can transform teaching practices and ensure that all students feel valued and supported. Explore a multi-phase program that bridged the gap between academia and real-world conservation efforts. And finally, learn how humor can be a powerful tool for engaging students and making science more accessible.

Knowledge and Perceptions of Critical Marine Science Issues Among Adolescents from North Carolina
Outcomes from a grant funded 4-day camp with 40 adolescent participants. Student research participation focused on critical marine science topics and careers. Session focuses on assessment of student sensemaking associated with a maritime biodiversity field study and coastal resiliency case studies.

Enhancing Success in Science: Empowering Historically Marginalized High School Students Through Community Cultural Wealth Strategies
I will share innovative strategies aimed at leveraging the rich cultural resources within student communities to foster science achievement and success. I will discuss how embracing and harnessing community cultural wealth can not only bridge educational gaps but also empower students.

Molluscs and microplastics: Examining plastic pollution trends in Tampa Bay oysters
Via a collaborative learning experience with teachers, graduate students, and two non-profit organizations, high school students participated in authentic hands-on stewardship that included identifying and analyzing data. In addition to learning gains, the program supported vital oyster restoration.

Comic Chemistry: Fostering Engagement and Understanding Through Humor in Science Education
I told a Chemistry joke, but there was no reaction. This presentation illustrates how creating science comics offer a creative opportunity for students to engage with science content in authentic sensemaking experiences, apply and deepen their understanding of the content, and communicate their idea

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Goodale, Eva Porter, Heather Judkins, Angi Shelton

This session will guide educators into introducing writing into their science curriculum starting at 3rd to 5th grade and how to make it fun, interactive, and informational!

TAKEAWAYS:
After this session attendees will be able to effectively introduce writing into their science curriculum to strengthen students' knowledge of the science curriculum and deepen critical thinking skills.

SPEAKERS:
Krystal Rising