The public needs a fundamental literacy regarding data science—its methods, functions, and role in daily life. This is vital today as data science powers the AI algorithms shaping our world. Its relevance is underscored by massive field growth; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 36% job growth in data science and computing sectors by 2032. To meet this demand, we must prepare students for a workforce where data fluency is a prerequisite. Science education is a critical venue for this across the K-12 science spectrum. This session presents a selection of author contributions from data science special issues in NSTA’s Science & Children, Science Scope, and The Science Teacher. These exemplars offer concrete starting points for designing and assessing data science learning across all grade levels. By bridging the gap between raw data and classroom practice, we aim to empower teachers to equip students with the competitive skills necessary for modern data-driven careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain a working definition of data science literacy and see how science teachers design data science lessons using real-world applications. The session also covers pedagogical opportunities and challenges when integrating data science and AI into the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Peter Lindeman, Colby Tofel-Grehl, Justice Walker

How can students design technologies that detect and warn people about natural hazards, while learning the science behind them? In this interactive session, experience how OpenSciEd + Computer Science integrates coding, sensors, and engineering design into a 6th-grade science unit on Natural Hazards. Step into the role of students as you investigate earthquakes and tsunamis using micro:bit devices to collect and analyze data. See how students design and program early warning systems by adjusting inputs, thresholds, and outputs. Discover how coding helps students unlock the “black box” of technology, seeing how it works as they build it, while deepening science understanding. Ideal for current OpenSciEd users and those new to the curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience how students use coding, sensors, and engineering design to unlock the “black box” of technology while designing early warning systems for natural hazards through phenomenon-based science learning

SPEAKERS:
Kristy Lathrop

Purposeful use of quality media can be an engaging strategy for supporting the STEM learning of young learners. Familiar characters can help students build important foundational knowledge and skills such as computational thinking, accessing and creating informational text, and observing and asking questions about the world around them. We will showcase free, standards-aligned media-rich resources that can be seamlessly integrated into the elementary science curriculum. Friends can model how to engage in scientific practices to prepare learners to investigate and make sense of phenomena themselves through three-dimensional instruction. We will highlight how this strategy can be used to support young learners’ investigations into Earth, space, and physical science phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
You’ll leave the session with a list of free resources from PBS LearningMedia and ideas for actively engaging your students with media to support science instruction that aligns with the Next Generation Science Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Shawn Stevens

How can students design technologies that help communities respond to water challenges while learning the science behind them? In this interactive session, experience how OpenSciEd + Computer Science integrates coding, sensors, and engineering design into a 7th-grade science unit on Earth’s Resources and Human Impact. Step into the role of students as you investigate flooding, drought, and carbon imbalance case studies from communities across the United States using micro:bit devices and sensors to collect and analyze environmental data. See how students explore and modify MakeCode programs as they design technologies to monitor conditions and develop solutions to community water problems. Discover how coding helps students unlock the “black box” of technology, seeing how it works as they build it, while deepening science understanding. Ideal for current OpenSciEd users and those new to the curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience how students use coding, sensors, and engineering design to unlock the “black box” of technology while designing solutions to community water challenges through phenomenon-based science learning

SPEAKERS:
Kristy Lathrop

What does digital literacy actually look like in a real lesson? In this fast-paced 15-minute session, take a speed tour through an Inquisitive Technology lesson using the 5E model. See how students move from initial curiosity to making thoughtful decisions in digital spaces through structured, inquiry-based learning. Experience how each phase, Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate, supports students in thinking critically, communicating responsibly, and making informed choices online. With simple routines, built-in supports, and ready-to-use materials, this approach makes digital literacy both meaningful for students and manageable for teachers. Walk away with practical ideas you can apply immediately.

TAKEAWAYS:
A 5E lesson structure helps teachers turn digital literacy into meaningful, manageable learning by guiding students from curiosity to informed decision-making.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Shaw

This session presents a secure, fully offline AI system for K-12 science classrooms that supports assignment generation, auto-grading, and real-time AI tutoring. Aligned with the AI and Data education strand and the NRC Framework for K-12 Science Education, the tool demonstrates how instructional design and feedback can support NGSS three-dimensional learning, including Science and Engineering Practices such as analyzing and interpreting data and constructing evidence-based explanations. Participants will explore classroom-ready workflows showing how assignments are created, how student work is evaluated using consistent rubrics, and how tutoring responses adapt to learner input using performance data. The system enables continuous instructional feedback loops grounded in student work. Designed for privacy-sensitive and low-bandwidth environments, the platform operates entirely offline to ensure equitable access while reducing teacher workload and improving feedback consistency.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn an offline AI workflow for K-12 science education that supports NGSS-aligned instruction through assignment generation, auto-grading, and adaptive tutoring, enabling data-informed feedback, reduced teacher workload, and equitable implementation.

SPEAKERS:
Nitindra Chowdary Pavuluri

How can students use technology to investigate weather and climate systems while learning the science behind them? In this interactive session, experience how OpenSciEd + Computer Science integrates coding, sensors, data analysis, and modeling into a middle school science unit on Weather and Climate. Step into the role of students as you investigate hailstorms, severe weather, and unusual climate patterns using digital sensors and simulations to collect and analyze atmospheric data. See how students use coding and computational tools to model how sunlight, gravity, air movement, and water interactions drive weather and climate systems. Discover how coding helps students unlock the “black box” of technology, seeing how it works as they build and revise models, while deepening science understanding. Ideal for current OpenSciEd users and those new to the curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience how students use coding, sensors, data analysis, and modeling to unlock the “black box” of technology while investigating weather and climate systems through phenomenon-based science learning

SPEAKERS:
Kristy Lathrop

How can students design technologies that measure and reduce damage from collisions while learning the science behind contact forces? In this interactive session, experience how OpenSciEd + Computer Science integrates coding, sensors, and engineering design into a middle school science unit on Contact Forces. Step into the role of students as you investigate why some collisions cause damage while others do not, using sensor systems to collect and analyze force data. See how students design and program technologies that measure forces and help minimize damage from collisions. Discover how coding helps students unlock the “black box” of technology, seeing how it works as they build it, while deepening science understanding. Ideal for current OpenSciEd users and those new to the curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience how students use coding, sensors, and engineering design to unlock the “black box” of technology while designing solutions to measure and reduce damage from collisions through phenomenon-based science learning

SPEAKERS:
Kristy Lathrop

How can students use technology to investigate how sound is produced, detected, and modified while learning the science behind sound systems? In this interactive session, experience how OpenSciEd + Computer Science integrates coding, sensors, data analysis, and modeling into a middle school science unit on Sound Waves. Step into the role of students as you investigate how sound causes things to move using micro:bits and digital tools to collect and analyze wave data. See how students modify MakeCode programs to synthesize sounds, analyze wave patterns, and explore how sound technologies work. Discover how coding helps students unlock the “black box” of technology, seeing how it works as they build and modify sound-based systems, while deepening science understanding. Ideal for current OpenSciEd users and those new to the curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience how students use coding, sensors, and sound technologies to unlock the “black box” of technology while investigating how sound is produced, detected, modified, and used in the world around us

SPEAKERS:
Kristy Lathrop

This workshop demonstrates how data interpretation and AI-supported tools can strengthen real-world science learning using H5N1 (bird influenza) in poultry. Led by a teacher educator and an agricultural diagnostician, the session makes connections to relevant topics such as disease spread and egg prices. Participants will engage in two free, classroom-ready lessons: (1) analyzing real-time USDA outbreak data to identify patterns in commercial and backyard flocks, and (2) an introductory activity with UniProt and AlphaFold that explores the cell receptor the H5N1 virus uses to dock and infect poultry cells. These activities highlight practical classroom applications and reflect tools used in agriculture and health science careers. Participants will leave with ready-to-use materials and strategies to help build transferable skills in data analysis, problem solving, and evidence-based reasoning, grounded in current events.

TAKEAWAYS:
Walk away with two ready-to-use lessons that use real bird flu outbreak data and simple AI tools to help students analyze patterns, understand disease spread, and connect science to real-world issues like rising egg prices.

SPEAKERS:
Jane Hunt, Zack Bateson

Join Dr. Carlotta A. Berry, professor, engineering, researcher, advocate, NoireSTEMinist®, and children’s book author, for the launch of her latest children’s picture book, The STEM Kids Make a Robot published by NSTA kids. This engaging book follows a diverse team of fourth graders as they design a recycling robot to solve a problem in their elementary school cafeteria. Along the way, the students model teamwork through the cooperative learning cycle (forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning) and the engineering design process, from identifying a need, research, brainstorming a solution, prototyping, testing, evaluating results, all the way to deployment and presentation. She will also share her robotics children’s book series, There’s a Robot! for baby through 4th grade, and Robot Explorations for 1st – 5th grade at DrCarlottaABerry.com/childrensbooks. This event will celebrate the power of imagination, collaboration, and problem-solving to change the face of STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: • Understand the steps of the engineering design process as demonstrated in The STEM Kids Make a Robot. • Recognize the importance of teamwork and the cooperative learning cycle in solving complex problems. • Connect the book’s diverse characters and storylines to real-world problems

SPEAKERS:
Carlotta Berry

In this workshop you will experience our innovative unit: Self Driving Cars. Incorporate AI, computer science, and a compelling social issue into science and STEM classrooms. During the workshop you will participate in hands-on unit activities as well as review this freely available curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will leave ready to implement our high quality unit with your students engaging student interest and using powerful storylining teaching routines. You will also have authentic student assessments to accompany the unit.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Henson

As states implement sweeping computer science (CS) and digital literacy mandates, science educators face a critical challenge: how do we transition middle schoolers from passive screen consumption to active technological creation without causing instructional overload? This session introduces an innovative, low-barrier framework that cross-walks foundational CS principles—like algorithmic flow, database logic gates, and nested logic—directly into existing physical science labs. By protecting the first 40 minutes for tactile, hands-on inquiry and introducing a strategic, 10-minute digital collaboration layer at the end, educators deepen 3D science sensemaking while seamlessly meeting state tech requirements. Participants will analyze authentic student artifacts, walk through an integrated pacing sequence, and receive a plug-and-play toolkit featuring cross-walk templates, rubric frames, and access to a complimentary professional credential resource.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will master a frictionless 10-minute digital protocol to integrate algorithmic thinking and cloud database logic directly into existing hands-on science labs, meeting state computer science mandates simultaneously without causing instructional or pacing schedule overload.

SPEAKERS:
Moni Singh

This session presents a secure, fully offline AI system for K-12 science classrooms that supports assignment generation, auto-grading, and real-time AI tutoring. Aligned with the AI and Data education strand and the NRC Framework for K-12 Science Education, the tool demonstrates how instructional design and feedback can support NGSS three-dimensional learning, including Science and Engineering Practices such as analyzing and interpreting data and constructing evidence-based explanations. Participants will explore classroom-ready workflows showing how assignments are created, how student work is evaluated using consistent rubrics, and how tutoring responses adapt to learner input using performance data. The system enables continuous instructional feedback loops grounded in student work. Designed for privacy-sensitive and low-bandwidth environments, the platform operates entirely offline to ensure equitable access while reducing teacher workload and improving feedback consistency.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn an offline AI workflow for K-12 science education that supports NGSS-aligned instruction through assignment generation, auto-grading, and adaptive tutoring, enabling data-informed feedback, reduced teacher workload, and equitable implementation.

SPEAKERS:
Nitindra Chowdary Pavuluri

Scientists at Institute for Systems Biology have been using AI and Machine Learning (ML) to analyze complex systems biology datasets for many years. As such, we developed an interactive lesson that guides high school students through how, why, and when ML can be used. These step-by-step free resources were built for non-computer science teachers using a heart-health dataset. We believe all people should understand, and be able to use, the process of ML to make sense of data, especially life science data. In this workshop, we will give a quick overview of the lesson and will share all curricular materials so that attendees can try the activities as students would. We’ll work through the correlations portion of the lesson with plenty of time for questions and technical assistance. We’ll then give an overview of the logistic regression and applications portions of the lesson. We will focus on having all teachers leave with the links, skills & confidence to bring this to their students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Machine learning is a subset of AI and is easy to comprehend when you guide “learning” using a spreadsheet to analyze an interesting dataset. You can use our step-by-step resources to guide your students through this lesson and then watch as they apply their learning to other data sets of interest.

SPEAKERS:
Claudia Ludwig

Students use AI but do they critically think about it? This workshop will explore classroom activities that use AI to examine the veracity, biases, flaws, and ethics of AI. Delve into voice cloning technology, and debate its pros and cons. Employ counterfactual/what if thinking and prompt engineering (e.g., images generated from “old man in a church” vs “Asian old man in a church”) to reveal biases in AI models. Try a simple student-centered activity to critically analyze AI by testing its knowledge of something you yourself and/or your students are experts in. TTIC (ttic.edu) is a philanthropically endowed research institute and university focused on AI and CS theory. NGSS Alignment: HS-ETS1-2 & 3; CCC 1, 2, & 4; Practices 1, 3, 4, 6, & 8.

TAKEAWAYS:
These activities will help your students to think critically about AI in their lives and in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Randall Landsberg

I'm a Physics teacher, and over the last six months I've been building something I didn't realize I would be capable of building. This 1-hour session is a chance for other teachers to see firsthand what is possible before deciding whether to invest the time and small expense to set the tools up themselves. Most teachers do not yet realize the kind of tooling that has become accessible through AI coding agents that take instructions in plain English rather than in code. I have built a small but growing curriculum platform that generates problem sets, analyzes my course through different pedagogical lenses, and writes narrative feedback for each of my students after every assessment. I built it on my kitchen table with an AI coding agent called Claude Code and plain-English prompts. For the full hands-on installation experience, see my 2-hour workshop.

TAKEAWAYS:
This 1-hour session is, honestly, the demo I wish someone had shown me before I went down the AI rabbit hole alone. This is the working-teacher version of AI tools, not the marketing. See what is actually possible right now in a real classroom—no AI slop here.

SPEAKERS:
Brendan Wischweh

Bring bioinformatics into your classroom through introductory, plant-focused investigations. This session highlights classroom-ready activities such as DNA barcoding for species identification, phylogenetic analysis using carnivorous plants, and exploring plant immune systems. Designed for high school classrooms, these lessons use free, web-based tools and genetics to build student skills in data interpretation. Activities are scaffolded, flexible, and aligned to NGSS, allowing teachers to integrate them into units on evolution, heredity, and plant biology. Participants will see how bioinformatics can move beyond human-focused examples to increase relevance, accessibility, and student interest using plants as a familiar and meaningful context.

TAKEAWAYS:
A practical starting point for teaching bioinformatics through classroom-ready plant investigations you can use immediately, built on free tools and real data, no prior experience required.

SPEAKERS:
Zack Bateson

This session presents a secure, fully offline AI system for K-12 science classrooms that supports assignment generation, auto-grading, and real-time AI tutoring. Aligned with the AI and Data education strand and the NRC Framework for K-12 Science Education, the tool demonstrates how instructional design and feedback can support NGSS three-dimensional learning, including Science and Engineering Practices such as analyzing and interpreting data and constructing evidence-based explanations. Participants will explore classroom-ready workflows showing how assignments are created, how student work is evaluated using consistent rubrics, and how tutoring responses adapt to learner input using performance data. The system enables continuous instructional feedback loops grounded in student work. Designed for privacy-sensitive and low-bandwidth environments, the platform operates entirely offline to ensure equitable access while reducing teacher workload and improving feedback consistency.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn an offline AI workflow for K-12 science education that supports NGSS-aligned instruction through assignment generation, auto-grading, and adaptive tutoring, enabling data-informed feedback, reduced teacher workload, and equitable implementation.

SPEAKERS:
Nitindra Chowdary Pavuluri