How do we prepare teachers to build a community of student learners and leaders? Science education is ideal for building student leaders as they investigate phenomena through questions and observations.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will explore and model best practices to promote inclusive student leadership in science.

SPEAKERS:
Sephali Thakkar, Beverly DeVore-Wedding

Students with exceptionalities experience barriers to mastering the breadth and depth of the NGSS. This session explains the process used to reduce the depth, breadth, and complexity of the NGSS into K-12 alternate standards for students with severe cognitive disabilities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how the developmental process of the NGSS PEs was mirrored, yet altered, to develop alternate standards that incorporated the three dimensions described in the Framework and the NGSS at a reduced depth, breadth, and complexity.

SPEAKERS:
Joyce Depenbusch, Christy Glore

In this engaging session, we embark on a transformative journey, equipping educators with the tools and knowledge to instill a growth mindset in themselves and their students, enriching the educational experience, and nurturing future generations of resilient, adaptable, and lifelong learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will self-assess and evaluate students' mindsets, while discussing resources to foster resilience, embracing challenges, and nurturing a lifelong love for learning in any classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Luciana Girgulsky

Sponsoring Company: Amplify Science

Through reflecting on our own personal ‘why’ for teaching science, we’ll consider how to spark a love of science for the next generation of solution seekers. Using exemplar activities and teacher moves, explore ways to celebrate student thinking, be responsive, and promote deep scientific thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Cross

Engaging students in science practices, like arguing from evidence, supports a vision of inclusive instructional strategies. Come explore how students in a fourth grade classroom argue from evidence to figure out which organism was pollinating the moonflower, which only blooms at night.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with an example of how to structure argumentation in the 4th grade classroom through observing student data organization and student discourse.

SPEAKERS:
Betsy Barent, Miranda Orellana

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Learn fun strategies for using informational texts to support your young learners’ sensemaking. Investigate supports with these texts that help students gather more information, use new vocabulary, and experience new ways of talking about their ideas about the world of science around them.

SPEAKERS:
Jen Gutierrez

Diversity in STEM is crucial; however, we need to do more than just talk about it. In order to really create inclusive spaces, we must address the dark side of science which has led many groups to shy away from pursuing these fields. This harm can be repaired through restorative practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will understand the history of science in the United States. By acknowledging the systemic obstacles and barriers that certain underrepresented groups faced, we can implement restorative strategies to create inclusive science classrooms, such as: circles, conferences, and restorative questions.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Josue Falaise

Physical computing allows students to design and create interactive objects that emphasize computational thinking skills. Participants will engage in activities designed for middle school students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Microcontrollers are small computers that come with several integrated sensors. Their functionality makes them useful for both investigations and engineering projects. Some of the basic functionality of different microcontrollers will be learned through hands-on experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Susan German, Michael Bowen

This session will highlight and discuss key takeaways from the bestselling book Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy Helpful Little Humans that have practical applications for educators in their own classrooms, including the acronym TEAM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about some of the underpinning childrearing philosophies commonly found in cultures around the world that help lead to kind, confident, and contented kids, and leave with a toolbox of “best practices” that can be applied directly in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Wu

The INSPIRE program is a professional learning opportunity aimed at increasing diversity within the geosciences. This is accomplished through inclusive pedagogies: specifically scaffolding support for student executive functioning skills and self-regulated learning cycle in inquiry activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about student executive functioning skills, the self-regulated learning cycle, and ways to incorporate their support into their planning and teaching praxis. Participants are asked to bring an example of an inquiry activity (lab, or otherwise) to work with during the session.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Anne Mollica

Sponsoring Company: Amplify Science

How do we uncover and leverage the wealth of background knowledge and experiences students bring to science classrooms? Join UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science for strategies and examples of how student-centered experiences can spark curiosity, empower students, and lead to deeper learning.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Curley, Daniel Alcazar-Roman

All students have the right to develop a deep understanding of how the world works in ways that support their personal goals and the interests of their community. Come explore how instruction can more equitably support science learning that is consequential to your students and their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will develop an understanding of an equity project framework for science education for supporting professional learning and implementation projects. They will learn how open education resources (http://stemteachingtools.org/) can help them develop equitable approaches to science teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell, Michal Robinson

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Join our interactive science workshop where literacy meets exploration! Immerse yourself in a world of discovery as we blend scientific concepts with the power of language. Through engaging activities, see how students will not only unravel the wonders of science but also enhance their literacy skills. Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera, Dr. Sarah Glassman

Physical science and physics offer a wide assortment of authentic, open-ended early learning activities with hands-on multisensory materials and rich opportunities for group work, easily adapted for all learners, including children with diverse learning needs as they explore concepts and ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Adults help illuminate concepts and skills as children act on familiar multisensory, hands-on materials, developing their emerging scientific thinking, understanding, & causal reasoning. Before children can see themselves as scientists, adults must view all children as science learners.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Counsell

This project uses environmental topics from NGSS to promote research skills and strengthen awareness of the human impact on the planet, while also encouraging creativity through writing and visual arts. Lesson plans, bibliography, and strategies for implementing in K-5 will be included.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use grade-level, NGSS standards and concepts as inspiration for students to research, write, and illustrate their own picture books.

SPEAKERS:
Kerry Teeple

65% of Elementary School students will enter STEM jobs that haven't been created yet. How do we prepare students for jobs that don't exist yet? While we don't know what problems our students will face, we do know that they will face problems, and those problems are solved through STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how Gwinnett County Public Schools is engaging our youngest scientists in science-fair-type experiences where curiosity takes its first steps.

SPEAKERS:
Brandon McKinney, Kristin Luthi

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Fredrick Weisbrot

Imagine a world where you can solve real-world problems, build robots, and use cutting-edge of technology. The Department of Defense (DoD) offers diverse STEM programs for kindergarten to post-secondary students and teachers, including competitions, camps, professional growth opportunities and more.

TAKEAWAYS:
The Department of Defense has an extensive and diverse portfolio of STEM programs for kindergarten to post-secondary students and teachers. Attendees will discover the wide range of programs offered by the research offices of the U.S. Office of the Secretary of Defense, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force and Space Force.

SPEAKERS:
Louie Lopez, Kathryn Lasky, Brian Leftridge, Winnie Boyle, Elyse Lohrbach, Kathleen Miranda

Our world demands creative thinkers and problem-solvers. But what is creativity, really? If our job is to foster innovation and prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the future, how exactly do we do that in classrooms from K to 16? What I have found out just might surprise you.

TAKEAWAYS:
Research shows that creativity can (and should) be taught. We want to assess it, but it seems so subjective! Attendees will get some background, critique some assessment tools, and collaborate to design research-based criteria to use in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore

Sponsoring Company: Wildlife Conservation Society

WCS presents Field Sight pairs the insight of our educators with the expertise of WCS field staff to bring you stories of the conservation work we are doing all over the world. Learn about our exciting fieldwork protecting wildlife, and bring this valuable information into your classroom!

SPEAKERS:
Anine Booth

Join the US Patent & Trademark Office with activities from the free online invention education platform EquIP HQ, Patent Sensei, and Patent Quest. Gain a conceptual understanding of some of the steps needed to take during the patent process including developing skills to help perform a patent search.

TAKEAWAYS:
All students have the power to invent. The USPTO is committed to providing free resources to help K-12 students realize their potential as inventors. Unlocking young inventors' potential, EquIP HQ introduces students to the patent process, igniting creativity and innovation in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Juan Valentin

In this session participants will learn about key ideas from multiple perspectives on the topics of: 1) anti-racism, inclusivity, and asset-based orientations – as foundational pedagogies for preparing future teachers. The goal is to develop a classroom that places belonging before achievement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants challenge the achievement-first orientations to reframe classroom environments by placing ‘belonging’ as a central tenant of STEM pedagogy and practice.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Devitt

Life is diverse, the way we teach biology can honor and highlight diversity in gender, sex, and sexuality. In this session, we will share classroom-ready lessons and resources for teaching about diverse bodies, identities, and families.

TAKEAWAYS:
LGBTQ+ students, and all students, can benefit from teaching about gender diversity in evidence-based, ongoing, and positive ways.

SPEAKERS:
Sam Long

Join us to explore and reflect on research-based practices for improving science engagement and learning for multilingual students through a mini-lesson, discussing how these practices are working with our students, and considering how to apply these strategies in your own classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a selection of easy-to-implement practices for making science learning more accessible to multilingual students, and even other students in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Nesnidal, Esther Niemasik, Mary Hatton, Beth Murphy

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Discover new ways to help students think and work like scientists and engineers. Through a hands-on lesson, we will model instruction and resources that support 3-dimensional teaching & learning including teacher instructional slides, student friendly materials, simulations, & student investigations

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera

How do we center our own students and their communities in NGSS units designed for a national audience? Explore and try out localizing approaches, resources, and examples that are grounded in equity-focused research and built out by K-8 teachers and district leaders implementing Amplify Science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will become familiar with an approach used to localize national curricula and will take away research-based and equity-centered tools, resources, and examples they can use in their own efforts to localize their curricula and create an inclusive classroom environment.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott, Brad Street

Early grades students are the most curious, uninhibited learners. They are ready and eager to share their ideas. How do we support them in developing accurate science understandings about complex phenomenon?

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will explore complex phenomenon that support the NGSS K-5 standards, developing not only their own understandings, but considering how they can support students in group sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Ananda Weigand-Sheerer, Kelly Peason, Michael Occhino, Kimberly Fluet

Presenters will share three units in which science is integrated with ELA, math, and social studies. This session will share the process of unit creation and how incorporation with other content areas strengthens science instruction. Three units will be shared: kindergarten, 3rd, and 5th grade.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to integrate multiple content standards to strengthen science instruction, as well as leave with three examples of fully integrated elementary units. In addition to the sharing of the units, presenters will share the creation process so participants can engage in this work.

SPEAKERS:
Mandie Sanderman, Chelsie Byram

Discover engaging phenomena and relevant content (sensor technology, medicine, and the environment) to promote equity in your classroom by engaging ALL students in nanotechnology and scientific learning to help improve our world and the human experience.

TAKEAWAYS:
Nature-inspired solutions are needed to solve real problems and nanotechnology provides the tools to develop innovation solutions and engage students in learning; identify the locations of nano NGSS-aligned activities, resources, and virtual experiences for your classroom in any STEM subject area.

SPEAKERS:
Daniella Duran

Sponsoring Company: Anatomage, Inc.

The Science Table provides a library of over 60 biology, chemistry, and physics experiments with realistic-quality visuals on an interactive 7 foot-long touch-screen table. The workshop will focus on incorporating the Science Table into middle school, high school, and college level classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Jake Lehman

Physical computing allows students to design and create interactive objects that emphasize computational thinking skills. Participants will engage in activities designed for middle school students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Microcontrollers are small computers that come with several integrated sensors. Their functionality makes them useful for both investigations and engineering projects. We will focus in how engineering tasks using microcontrollers provide opportunities for student sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Susan German, Michael Bowen

The crosscutting concepts are particularly powerful at the elementary level. Join as we explore their power!

TAKEAWAYS:
Leverage crosscutting concepts in ways that help elevate science learning across the k-5 grades

SPEAKERS:
Carla Zembal-Saul, Mary Starr

This is a real-life scenario in a hospital setting. The goal is to decrease patient falls inside the 5 West Geriatrics Unit. The Participants team members and leaders in this particular unit will work together to implement a hypothesis to decrease patient falls.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using real-life scenarios can give context that will open up opportunities for leadership, solving problems, and working together as a team.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Biedler

Explore the myriad of ways K-5 learners share their sensemaking

TAKEAWAYS:
Expand ways in which we see children's ways of communicating.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Zembal-Saul, Mary Starr

Engaging in culturally responsive teaching requires that teachers shift their perspective by building relationships within the communities they serve. We present cases of science teachers who partner with communities to design curricula that affirm the assets of students while aligning with the NGSS.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about ways to meaningfully connect with communities outside of school to critique systems of oppression in science education and shift deficit perspectives. Participants will be empowered to advocate for their communities and engage in transformational teaching practices.

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Spencer

Join us for an enlightening session where we delve into the profound role of culture in STEAM education. Discover why embracing cultural diversity is not just essential, but transformative. You'll leave equipped with practical strategies and the confidence to create an inclusive learning environment!

TAKEAWAYS:
Why are culturally inclusive strategies important in STEAM classrooms? How can you synthesize strategies that challenge and engage a diverse group of learners? In this session, we will reveal a planning tool that you can use to advocate for learner success in STEAM classroom settings.

SPEAKERS:
Deanna Taylor

Discover how to promote equity and diversity in STEM classrooms through holistic assessment. Gain insights into fostering inclusivity, addressing bias, and ensuring fair evaluation practices. Leave with practical tools and strategies to create an inclusive learning environment for all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Unlock the joy of learning while promoting equity & diversity in STEM! Holistic assessment fosters inclusivity, tackles bias, & ensures fair evaluation. Let's create an exciting, inclusive environment where all students thrive in STEM!

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Tracey

Participants will engage in hands-on activities focused on force and motion concepts. Activities are easy set-ups, using low-cost household materials that promote inclusivity of all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be engaged in multiple activities that promote learning and inclusivity of all students. Necessary materials and best teaching practices will be shared so that attendees can immediately incorporate knowledge and activities into their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Andrea Starks

In this workshop, we will explore the benefits of incorporating BIPOC ecological knowledge into curriculum and engage with methods to support culturally inclusive science learning. Using Papahānaumokuākea as an example, we will investigate how to infuse hope and SEL into climate science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Incorporating diverse ecological perspectives and knowledge systems can enrich students' well-being, sharpen their scientific skills, and empower them to tackle diverse climate and environmental issues.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Turner-Rosa

An integrated science+CS module about invasive species sets the stage for inclusive and culturally responsive instruction. Come to find out how we embedded inclusive approaches into our lessons, and take away hands-on, practical strategies to apply these approaches in your own classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will apply an Equity-Centered Curriculum Framework to inspect and modify existing science lessons to create classroom experiences that meet the needs of all learners. The Framework synchronizes Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Universal Design for Learning, and Project-Based Learning.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Strickland, Annmargareth Marousky, Jeanne Di Domenico

We will share strategies, ideas, accommodations, and ways to adapt and obtain student collaboration and engagement through the lens of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) focus. Come learn strategies for including diverse learners in your project-based classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with ready-to-use resources and ideas for instruction with students with diverse needs focusing on project-based activities within the STEAM framework. These ideas can be adapted to lessons in many content areas.

SPEAKERS:
Theresa Robertson, Sandy Carr

During the middle level Share-A-Thon, we will give a brief overview of MySciLife and its functionality. Then, we will share practical ways you can begin to integrate it into your lessons to create more student engagement and collaboration.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about the FREE science social learning platform, MySciLife, and what opportunities are available to engage their students.

SPEAKERS:
Jesse Nolan

This presentation will highlight the free resources available for educators through the NASA Infiniscope project. This includes NGSS-designed digital learning experiences, a virtual tour creator, and an adaptive lesson builder all supported with live and asynchronous professional development.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about classroom-ready content that they can use immediately and tools to create their own digital content for students.

SPEAKERS:
Sina Kirk

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 to the changing tech landscape, and d) access free resources for 3-12th graders of all genders.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn 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 to the changing tech landscape, and d) access free resources for 3-12th graders of all genders.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Ong

Learn how to help your students build upon their unique identity and funds of knowledge using a hands on STEM project. This session will provide participants a free unit that incorporates both engineering design and computational thinking patterns for students to share their identity in class!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will work through a full engineering design process to show their identity by constructing a lantern and coding a light show for the project. Can be utilized with a variety of technology and maker platforms. Includes access to all materials needed to implement in class tomorrow!

SPEAKERS:
Erin Brabant, Jessica Noffsinger

Former teacher and host of the freely-available Tumble Science Podcast for Kids Marshall Escamilla will guide science educators in the nuts and bolts of creating a classroom podcast. We’ll cover the very basics of getting set up and sharing your content with the entire community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees at this session will learn the very basics of how to create a classroom podcast from a professional podcaster.

SPEAKERS:
Marshall Escamilla, Mary Starr

Indigenous peoples throughout time have used STEM skills. This workshop features the STEM skills correlated with the Ute peoples of Colorado as an example of how all indigenous people STEM skills can be highlighted in social studies class content.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will experience how History Colorado developed Ute indigenous peoples STEM connections into a traveling take-out kit. Participants will be encouraged to explore collaboration with their history museums to encourage development of resources focused on their indigenous peoples.

SPEAKERS:
Maurine Banzhaf

eCYBERMISSION, part of AEOP, is an online STEM competition for students in grades 6-9 that promotes teamwork, self-discovery, and the real-life applications of STEM. The competition’s phenomenon-based learning approach encourages students to investigate and solve real-world problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
eCYBERMISSION is a free virtual STEM competition for grades 6-9 that is supported by a wealth of standards-aligned resources. Attendees will discover strategies to utilize student-chosen local phenomena as the basis for long-term projects while participating in a rewarding STEM competition.

SPEAKERS:
Carey Dieleman, Lora Gibbons, Laura Stary, Brian Kutsch

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Laura Tucker, Brett Thomsen

Discover fresh teaching horizons: surprise yourself, collaborate actively, plan consciously, and enhance communication. Enjoy a transformational opportunity to stifle enthusiasm for differentiation and revitalize teaching with diverse strategies that will inspire and motivate students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will obtain a range of meaningful and easy-to-apply differentiation strategies for their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Luciana Girgulsky

Has a student ever asked, “what does this have to do with me?” Place-Based Learning is a way to answer that question as students build observation, inquiry, and data analysis skills. Workshop presenters will share examples from their STEAM classrooms. Participants will complete a mini investigation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will feel empowered to incorporate Place-Based Learning in STEAM curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Anna Suggs, Gaylynn Lynch, Amanda Petty

Essential Element standards for grades 9 and 10 were used for an integrated science unit regarding traits in life science. It was designed to facilitate learning with students who qualify for alternative assessment and for students with physical needs who may use communication devices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will discuss the process of unit design, intentional use of inquiry teaching practices, essential element standards, assistive technology, and preparing the teacher. One high school level unit and middle school sequence will be shared to use in their own teaching spaces.

SPEAKERS:
Mandie Sanderman, Chelsie Byram

This session will provide teachers with practical and effective strategies for supporting Multilingual Learners. Through hands-on activities, we will model best practices for scaffolding the language demands of a science lesson and the language development opportunities provided by the Practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science learning and language development are mutually supportive. Language learning occurs as a product of using language. As Multilingual Learners engage in the SEPs, they use disciplinary language to make sense of phenomena and use their emerging language to communicate their new understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Diana Velez, Claudio Vargas

Join PhET’s initiative to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in STEM education by increasing your familiarity with our resources, and considering how simulations + activities + facilitation can be used to increase representation, relevance, and accessibility.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use the PhET Equity Framework to explore aspects of PhET simulations and sim-based resources that can help all students learn, such as inclusive sim features, translations, diversified character sets, and equity-aligned rubrics to select and modify teacher-contributed activities.

SPEAKERS:
Katherine Perkins, Briana Clarke, Rebecca Vieyra

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

The DQB is an essential tool used throughout OSE units to generate, keep track of, and revisit student questions around the anchoring and related phenomenon. Join the collaborative fun finding ideas for developing, maintaining, and revisiting this exciting representation of students’ learning.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Klaft

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Spencer

Diversity is more than skin deep. It's part of who we are and who our students are. In this session, you will learn how your students differ on many levels and how you can tailor your lessons to better match their needs. Learn different strategies and practice modifying lessons!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn strategies to diversify their lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Hamada, Kristin Ambrose

What might seem like student apathy and lack of engagement may be a student simply needing connection, community, and care. Join high school teachers as they share instructional practices and strategies used to create a positive and equitable classroom that can improve student outcomes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be led through a variety of engaging activities and instructional practices put together over the past 3 school years. The activities are aimed at building engagement within the classroom with special attention to student trauma and equitable practices.

SPEAKERS:
Sydney Recknagel, Kari Parnin

Discover the recent research on females in STEM and learn how to take intentionally small, but powerful steps in your classroom to ensure that our future female problem-solvers have the confidence, encouragement, and motivation to change the world, one STEM field at a time!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will discover the current reseach regarding girls in STEM, hear from female scientists from the Van Andel Institute, and leave with four powerful ways to increase female student interest, motivation, and confidence in these fields.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn McCotter

Through a hands-on lab investigation, students will explore landfill mining as a practice for the recovery of non-renewable resources and as a means to reclaim landfill areas for alternative uses. Students will learn about benefits, drawbacks, and steps involved in landfill mining.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through a hands-on lab investigation, students will explore landfill mining as a practice for the recovery of non-renewable resources and as a means to reclaim landfill areas for alternative uses. Students will learn about benefits, drawbacks, and steps involved in landfill mining.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Burns

Lydia Denton is a 15 year-old inventor. She has been nationally recognized for her inventions and was named one of the 16 Under 16 in STEM in 2022, and was a 2022 NSTA Angela Award winner. Join her as she shares her journey and how you can encorage innovation and problem solving in your own classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how empowering students to tackle real-world problems in their community can increase student engagement, foster skills in perserverance, and draw on multiple skills to create prototypes for real-world solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Lydia Denton, Covey Denton

It's science night again and you need an inexpensive, hands-on activity for somewhere between 50 and 1500 kids. We can help! Come experience ten “science night” booth activities that get kids involved, included, and active with informal science!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be resourced with 10+ science night ideas suitable for preK-12th, along with the science background and pedagogical content knowledge to deliver these to their students and parents in an inclusive and exciting way.

SPEAKERS:
Kate York, Katherine Donaldson

Attendees will employ engineering drawing techniques to draw a cube isometrically and extend that new skill to draw a cube puzzle built during the workshop using orthographic projections. This exercise will be used to illustrate equity building opportunities within classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Drawing isometrically allows us to create a different 2d representation of a cube where all sides are measurably equal, employing a model that better represents our actual lived experience and understanding of geometric shapes and strengthens spatial reasoning skills.

SPEAKERS:
Cheryl LG Riedel

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 the 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

Studying the Heat Island Effect covers multiple standards and content areas, and is an excellent grounding phenomenon to discuss equity and justice in the classroom. Come to this hands-on workshop to run through this experience and learn about a framework to develop empowering engineering projects.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with a framework for developing engineering projects that integrate social justice, and will also walk through one of our developed projects on the Heat Island Effect.

SPEAKERS:
Kylie Bertram, Emily Berman

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Brittany Beck, Yishan Lee, Yanique Sears

Elementary-age children come to science learning with expansive resources that we must leverage for sensemaking. Their brilliance unfolds when we create and maintain space for them to lead investigation and design opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through an elem science example, focus on how elem. science learning changes when students lead.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Zembal-Saul, Mary Starr

Come learn how to use the Justice, Equity, and Inclusion in Science Picture Books Checklist to select high-quality picture books for your classroom. In this interactive workshop, participants practice using the checklist and discuss takeaways. Several picture books will be raffled to participants.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants learn about a tool to analyze science picture books they select that center justice, equity, and inclusion. Participants practice using the tool with recently published picture books, analyze the value of the tool, and discuss how they can integrate it in their teaching environments.

SPEAKERS:
Ingrid Carter, Caitlin Fine

Embracing diversity, equity, and inclusive practices through STEAM / STEM instruction. Future educators demonstrate culturally diverse STEAM strategies that enable teachers to effectively instruct and empower culturally/linguistically diverse English Learners and English Learners with disabilities.

TAKEAWAYS:
See examples of STEAM strategies and curriculum materials designed for instruction of Culturally Linguistically Diverse English Learners (ELs) and English Learners with disabilities. Replicate materials and teaching strategies for EL students and diverse learners with disabilities in your communities.

SPEAKERS:
Alma Sandigo, Patricia Peterson

The story of the double helix is standard fare, but it is usually told in a cursory and superficial way. The actual story, however, can be brought into the classroom in a way that excites students and shows the scientific process, warts and all, in a manner that promotes equity and inclusion.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will ask students to do the difficult work of placing themselves into the narrative in a way that enables them to address some of the scientific and ethical choices made by the various parties to the discovery of the double helix.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Miller

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Join our interactive science workshop where literacy meets exploration! Immerse yourself in a world of discovery as we blend scientific concepts with the power of language. Through engaging activities, see how students will not only unravel the wonders of science but also enhance their literacy skills. Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera, Dr. Sarah Glassman

Science, you either love it or hate it! Come learn how to build your students' science identity throughout the year in tandem with the science and engineering practices, so your students see themselves as scientists in your classroom and beyond.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to continually build science identity within their classrooms throughout the year.

SPEAKERS:
Whitney McCormick, Sheena Velasquez

In this session, participants will work on hands-on activities and test a prototype to learn about forces using the engineering design model and translanguaging for middle grades

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to teach about forces for elementary grade level using an engineering activity and translanguaging (English/Spanish).

SPEAKERS:
Max Vazquez Dominguez

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Shelly Grandell

Inspired to bring joy to our students through authentic STEM investigations that are culturally and historically responsive, we collaborated to create a common framework for planning learning experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Having a dedicated STEM resource for teachers helps to streamline the curriculum and give teachers ideas for incorporating STEM in ways that are accessible to all students and mindful of a K-5 teacher’s workload.

SPEAKERS:
Elcilia Taveras, Meera Rajani, Carmen King, Susannah Waksberg

Science notebooks can be a powerful tool for students to capture their thinking and chart growth in learning. But how can notebooks be assessed to help students grow in their science and engineering practices? Proficiency rubrics will be shared to allow teachers and students to assess notebooks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave this session with 4 different proficiency scales to assess student notebooks through the science and engineering practices. While notebooks should not be assessed as “right and wrong,” they can be used to help students grow in their science and engineering practices.

SPEAKERS:
Chelsie Byram, Mandie Sanderman

This session is intended for secondary science teachers with multilingual learners (MLLs). MLLs bring important science ideas that contribute to learning. This session will emphasize meaningful language instruction for all students and provide ideas for how to support emergent multilingual students.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, participants will engage with meaningful examples of teaching techniques to support higher-level thinking for all students, especially multilingual learners. These examples can be implemented in any secondary science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Snapke, Angela DiLoreto

In today's tech-driven world, with abundant information and limited planning time, achieving both content-rich and inclusive lessons can lead to "analysis paralysis." Break free from overwhelm with our practical tool for evaluating resources. Join us!

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this lesson, educators will be able to apply effective strategies to critically evaluate a range of resources, thus enhancing the overall sense of inclusivity and belonging within their classroom communities.

SPEAKERS:
Jailyn Jenkins

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Sabrina Whitaker

Join me as we engage with many high-leverage SEL strategies I regularly incorporate into my high school classroom. I use these strategies to foster a sense of belonging and support strong development of the NGSS SEPs. We’ll discuss successes and strategize your adaptations of my ready-to-use tools.

TAKEAWAYS:
One core SEL strategy I’ll share is a “temperature check” in which students take 5 minutes of class weekly to fill out a digital (or paper) survey to let me know how they’re doing. I’ll share my rationale behind the questions I use and how they have increased my ability to support students.

SPEAKERS:
Andrea Ames

Come learn more about underlying barriers and current trends in youth outdoor participation. Building life-long relationships with the outdoors benefits students and their communities. Explore strategies and resources to create more just and equitable outdoor student learning opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore strategies and resources to increase outdoor student engagement and participation for more inclusive and equitable science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Lizette Navarrete-Burks

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Phillippe Fernandez-Brennan

"Every Rock Has A Story" is a free online YouTube series created by Prof. Ethan Baxter of Boston College. The stories of rocks—shared by diverse co-hosts—inspire children about the exciting and interconnected science of the Earth and Environment, and help kids see themselves as scientists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use "Every Rock Has A Story" in your classroom or informal learning space to inspire wonder, curiosity, relevance, and excitement in ESS learning. See how the diverse co-hosts help to enhance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the geosciences for your students.

SPEAKERS:
Ethan Baxter

Come try out the Digital Molecule Maker, a platform created by the Molecule Maker Lab Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Supported by AI research, learners can explore the world of molecular synthesis and create novel molecules alongside complimentary hands-on activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how novel AI techniques in chemistry have allowed researchers to create a system that enables learners to combine different molecular building-blocks and get feedback on predicted molecular properties. They will also get examples of complimentary hands-on activities.

SPEAKERS:
Sabrina Abdulla, James Planey

Explore the use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) a freshwater fish at the forefront of biomedical research and easily maintained in a classroom aquarium, to spark ALL students’ curiosity and scientific engagement with real-life science experiences through multiple-learning modalities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learning how zebrafish and low-budget pet store supplies can be used to engage diverse learners, including English learners, in multimodal (visual, kinesthetic) real-life science learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Pam Kirkland, Vinita Hajeri

Phenomenon-based instruction can make learning experiences more relevant and equitable for students. Come learn how to foster student sensemaking after you introduce a phenomenon today and then leave with a library of high-quality instructional materials that you can use for years to come.

TAKEAWAYS:
Introducing meaningful phenomena is necessary but not sufficient for fostering sensemaking. Students must also have opportunities to use DCIs, CCs, and SEPs during the learning experience and the experience must be structured in ways that make the process of sensemaking useful and inclusive.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Discover new ways to help students think and work like scientists and engineers. Through a hands-on lesson, we will model instruction and resources that support 3-dimensional teaching & learning including teacher instructional slides, student friendly materials, simulations, & student investigations

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera

Discover a 360-degree VR intervention implemented in inclusive biology classrooms, showcasing significant score differences between students with and without disabilities. Gain insights into data analysis, limitations, practice implications, and future research plans.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with the six free resources used in the study and expectations to support their use in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Shalece Kohnke

The SIOP Model is an effective research-based instructional model for meeting the academic needs of English language learners. Learn how to use it to support ELLs in your science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1.) The eight components to the SIOP model will be explained; 2.) Examples of actual and effective classroom implementation of the SIOP model; and 3.) Consideration for not only teaching science content, but doing so in a culturally-conscious manner will also be shared.

SPEAKERS:
Nadene Klein

In this session, participants will work on hands-on activities and build a guitar to learn about the properties of sound using the engineering design model and translanguaging for elementary grades.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to teach about the properties of sound for elementary grade level using an engineering activity and translanguaging (English/Spanish).

SPEAKERS:
Max Vazquez Dominguez

Students are going to talk anyway. Learn to make talk productive with student-led talk circles. Use this powerful strategy tomorrow to build students’ scientific literacy! (K-8)

TAKEAWAYS:
Talk Circles enable educators to uncover student ideas and misconceptions as well as reveal students’ understanding to pave the way for further investigation.

SPEAKERS:
Sheri Geitner, Patricia McMahon, Nicole Bay

Social Emotional Learning is a proven strategy to improve student learning outcomes, reduce negative behaviors such as bullying, and create positive classroom communities. But what does this look like in science class? Come learn how to use free lesson plans to incorporate SEL into your class!

TAKEAWAYS:
You will walk away with a library of free, ready-to-use SEL lessons to teach skills such as self-awareness, relationship skills, positive decision-making, and more while introducing students to a variety of STEM professions!

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Noffsinger

Words are the currency of education. Teachers and students use words to share ideas, ask questions, and demonstrate learning. Selecting vocabulary is challenging. Learn how to use a research-based Vocabulary Planning Document to ensure vocabulary selection is focused, intentional, and systematic.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will use a research-based Vocabulary Planning Document (Graves 2006, 2016) to identify critical academic vocabulary and word-learning strategies associated with specific Disciplinary Core Ideas. This process ensures that lesson vocabulary selection is intentional, focused, and systematic.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Jackson

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Let’s explore several intervention strategies to help struggling students in STEM. Move beyond differentiation and scaffolding. Come learn other proven intervention techniques to help students. Let’s modify our traditional outreach to connect with students so that they gain greater understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Campana

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Beth Tuck, Rosann Wise

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

How do we engage students to ask questions and develop evidence-based explanations? In this hands-on activity from the Lab-Aids EDC Earth Science program, discourse occurs authentically as you role-play a geologist testing various site extractions for molybdenum, a valuable mineral.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Parker

Learn how to utilize the SCORES Model principles of Safety, Connection, and Open-Dialogue to build a classroom culture of inclusion including tips for student grouping, to facilitate communication, and increase student participation. Equip yourself to nurture a diverse STEM community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Utilize the SCORES Model principles: Safety, Connection, & Open-Dialogue, to craft a positive classroom culture, refine student grouping to promote equitable talk, and increase student engagement and intrinsic motivation through proximity and connection.

SPEAKERS:
Mandy Heal, Jamie Rapkiewcz

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 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

Have you ever wonder why minerals come in so many different shapes and color? Using nanoscience concepts, come experience how a mineral's internal atomic arrangement contribute to its properties through a fun hands-on activity involving simple materials without an electron microscope!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teaching abstract concepts, such as matter at the atomic scale, can be difficult to get across to our students. Learn to use common household objects to help our students make sense of mineral properties using nanoscience ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Yishan Lee

Innovative workshop designed to help break down barriers to innovation with free educational resources, hands-on activities, and lesson plans celebrating our Inventor Trading Cards. Empower students of all backgrounds and differing abilities to see themselves as inventors!

TAKEAWAYS:
Everyone is an inventor! All students and educators are problem solvers, inventors, and makers regardless of economic status or geographic location. Innovation and our economy thrive on diversity of thought and all voices and ideas are essential to solving the problems of today and tomorrow.

SPEAKERS:
Jorge Valdes, Reginald Duncan

This session will provide science teachers with resources on how to integrate AI tools into their curriculum for personalized and differentiated instruction, including assessing students' progress and adapting lessons to meet diverse learning needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to use AI for personalized instruction, assess student progress, and efficiently adapt lessons for diverse learning needs.

SPEAKERS:
Tamu Crisden, Demetrice Smith-Mutegi

What is climate resilience? Using open source data demographics, specifically FEMA and EPA mapping tools (RAPT, NRI, and EJ Screen), attendees will learn to connect climate change issues to local communities, exploring the differential impact of climate change on communities to encourage advocacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
By employing EPA and FEMA's open-source GIS mapping tools (RAPT, NRI, EJ Screen), attendees can identify climate change impacts on local vulnerable populations. Educators will also gain strategies for fostering classroom discussions on solutions and advocacy.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Luna, Tamanna Shahid

Learning about climate change can be overwhelming and trigger emotional responses at all ages. This session focuses on how to prepare students and families as topics, such as extreme weather, arise in your classroom and how to tailor your resources and approach to empower all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about teaching moves for before, during and after a lesson or unit on climate change, including tips for teaching language and questioning.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Townsend

Sponsoring Company: Knowles Teacher Initiative

Equalize learning experiences for all students during group work by improving collaboration and increasing participation. Consider the areas of complex instruction, actionable norms, curriculum, and student status in the designing and implementation of science group tasks.

SPEAKERS:
Takumi Sato, PhD, Laura Shafer, PhD, Rosiane Lesperance, PhD

When learning about climate change, students may experience significant anxiety regarding potential impacts in their community. This session will highlight emotion-management techniques and evidence-based strategies that can help reduce anxiety while learning about climate change and it’s impacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Effective emotion-management techniques that can help facilitate students’ learning about climate change, including evidence-based strategies for reducing anxiety, and emphasizing the importance of learning action-based strategies for students to impact their community.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Donna Pincus, Ava Guiney

Sponsoring Company: Kognity

Join Kognity as we explore the importance of having students share initial ideas, investigate, sense make, and reflect on their learning journey. We will discuss how to teach students the skills of reflection and revision while illuminating mindsets shifts in and out of the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Gabriella Holm

Postcards from the Past is a classroom-based program in which students explore anthropogenic change by adopting a radiocarbon-dated clam and investigating how different human cultures used coastal areas during their clam’s lifetime, expressing their understanding as a postcard-themed art project.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will conduct a geochronology classroom activity, explore art collage techniques, and learn how to bring the environmental and cultural history of the northern Gulf of Mexico into their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
JoAnn Moody, Tina Miller-Way

Projects in the P-2 band are a wonderful way to include all student voices and are very indicative of science understandings. See ways of creating a project, and what to do with the projects that get "left behind."

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with project ideas and criteria for choosing workable class projects, as well as research citations supporting such work to use and share in their specific contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Lowry

Within these years of early childhood education, teachers and their young learners need high-quality STEM materials to explore what is in the world, and how it works. Ramps & Pathways give children endless possibilities to design and create…come learn how!

TAKEAWAYS:
By preparing the next generation of STEM educators, we are preparing them to support innovation in their classroom with their own students. This session will focus on how to use Ramps and Pathways as a tool to support your young engineers in an active and engaging session!

SPEAKERS:
Allison Barness

Outreach specialists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Boulder, CO, will discuss what NOAA does and what resources are available for teachers. We will walk through our in-person opportunities, online information, videos, and student activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a Federal agency anchored by Science, Service, and Stewardship. Our Outreach specialists are passionate about bringing NOAA science to classrooms across the United States.

SPEAKERS:
Carolyn Szoke

The UCAR Center for Science Education engages all learners to explore and understand our changing world by connecting them to science at the NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research. Come learn about fun ways for you and your preK-12 students to connect with and explore Earth systems science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with ideas and resources for hands-on weather, climate, and Earth systems science activities and programs they can use in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Mays, Katie Wolfson

Science Friday, your trusted source for news and entertaining stories about science, is more than a radio show. SciFri also creates exciting, free STEM activities developed by educators like you that make cutting-edge science accessible to everyone. Discover why every day is Science Friday!

TAKEAWAYS:
Stop by the Science Friday table to explore demo activities and grab free resources. While you’re here, sign up to receive free materials for our “Hack Your Brain” escape room and register for our Down to Earth program with the ISS. Plus, learn to make engaging audiograms to share with learners.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Roberts

Horses allow infinite applied learning experiences in equine education but owning them is challenging. Learn about the challenges schools are facing and strategies to overcome those challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Financial, liability, and curricular obstacles prevent schools from using horses for applied learning in modern agricultural education at community colleges. Strategic partnerships and robust procedures can help institutions justify owning horses.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Slater, Lindsey Freeman

Many students struggle to become effective science communicators through writing. Our research study reveals why some life science instructors are no longer assigning traditional lab reports. Strategies to help your students with science writing are provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
A surprisingly large number of college faculty have stopped assigning traditional lab reports in introductory life science courses. Our research study reveals several barriers, some of which are quite surprising. We provide a list of classroom-ready strategies to improve students’ science writing.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Slater, Kristy Palmer

STEP UP is a national community that designs lessons to inspire women to pursue physics in college. Learn about our Careers in Physics lesson, including tools you can use to match students’ interests with physics-related careers and increase enrollment in the physics classes your school offers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about and practice using STEP UP’s Careers in Physics online career matching tool and options for using it in their classroom. Participants will also learn ways to increase interest and enrollment in high school physics programs.

SPEAKERS:
Kori Bowns-Kamphuis

A qualitative study to determine how students learn best through text - physical books, audio books, and e-books. We tested comprehension, conducted interviews, and created journals.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to understand how to determine which type of reading media will work best for their students. Attendees will see how they can test their students and how to draw conclusions to find the best fit for their classroom and individual needs.

SPEAKERS:
Kaylyn Hoth, Mikayla Prusha

We’ll share a free collection of lessons and a tool for culturally-relevant lessons in CS. A VA Department of Education grant supporting 3 school districts led by VCU School of Ed in collaboration with Capital One, Bank of America, and Carmax have students share solutions to authentic CS challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers gain awareness and access to OER support curriculum and a culturally responsive eval tool in CS. They will learn how local corporate partnerships enhance learning with student examples to PBL authentic challenges. Effort includes hundreds of students from seven schools across central VA.

SPEAKERS:
Al Byers

In response to calls for integrated STEM education that builds all students’ agency and sense of belonging, teachers and leaders are being encouraged more and more to consider how to equitably implement integrated STEM education for all—both in the science classroom and beyond.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through active discussion and dissection of classroom examples, attendees will learn about research-based best practices in STEM education, knowledge of the equity-based conceptual framework, and practical teaching ideas to empower their students with meaningful STEM learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Cook, Christa Jackson, Thomas Roberts

Differentiation is a buzz word in education, but how can teachers effectively differentiate while keeping all students engaged? Blended, mastery-based instruction allows the classroom to become student-led and flexibly paced within each unit of instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to effectively differentiate instruction and provide individualized attention to struggling learners while keeping students engaged and managing classroom behavior.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Richardson, Kathryn Allen, Laura Martin-Lauzer

Teaching about environmental problems can be demotivating if students are not given the opportunity to contribute to solutions. Come to this session to learn about a project-based unit that fosters critical hope and empowers students to become advocates for sustainability in their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to implement a unit that positions students as changemakers and advocates for sustainability at their school. They will walk away with a unit outline, scaffolds, and examples of student work.

SPEAKERS:
Brianna Balke

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Selene Willis, Nicole Rosen

To engage and retain more students in STEM courses and to improve diversity in STEM among underrepresented groups, The Governor’s School for Science and Technology has developed a mentorship program available to all students. The program was implemented by establishing community partnerships.

TAKEAWAYS:
The presenters will share how The Governor’s School establishes community partnerships, develops the research course curriculum, provides faculty advisors, and showcases the students’ research.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Vobrak

The Everyday Actions Guide includes a self-reflection for teachers and suggestions for actions in and out of the classroom to foster a strong physics class community. Come learn about strategies to help all students, especially those historically left out of physics, see themselves as “physics people.”

TAKEAWAYS:
The STEP UP Curriculum includes two NGSS-aligned lessons proven to encourage women and other marginalized groups to consider pursuing physics. The Everyday Actions Guide is filled with suggestions for encouraging all students to pursue physics and improve their physics identity throughout the year.

SPEAKERS:
Bree Barnett Dreyfuss

Who do students picture when they picture people in STEM careers? Do they picture themselves? Representation matters in engaging all learners in science. Attendees will explore and receive free Natural Inquirer products that introduce students to diverse people and fields in the Forest Service.

TAKEAWAYS:
Natural Inquirer products, created in partnership with the USDA Forest Service, help educators demonstrate that science is a human endeavor. Educators will be able to show their students that scientists are people from all cultures and backgrounds. Attendees will receive copies of all materials.

SPEAKERS:
Bradi McDonald, Nissa McKinney

Benefits of Flipped Classroom models to foster Student-Centered Learning in Middle and Upper School Life Sciences courses. Learn about tools, strategies, implementations, and resources to use when creating a course using Flipped Classroom models. Use literacy skills as enrichments tools.

TAKEAWAYS:
The use of both a Flipped Classroom model and Literacy tools to foster a more robust Student-Centered learrning.

SPEAKERS:
Fernando Azcona

Since COVID-19 hit, students seem to have lost the valuable social skills of empathy and effective communication needed for success in college. This session broadly outlines student incivility and provides action-oriented strategies to build more effective and equitable learning environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Strategies exist to meet students where they are in a post-pandemic world, to help students develop the soft skills required for academic success. Strategize how to get students out of a competitive and isolated "survival mode" and help them join a learning community in academia.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Slater, Michelle Mason

Scientific caricatures (SCs) serve as unique instructional and assessment tools to engage students in online classrooms and promote critical thinking. Learn how to incorporate SCs in YOUR classrooms! Resources provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
In online science classrooms, scientific caricatures (SCs) offer an innovative and creative assessment tool for students to imaginatively apply science content, optimize their critical thinking skills, and engage their online peers.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Clary

Learn about a successful cross-curricular model creating an opportunity for students to explore the science, history, and culture of their community. Add math skills, physical education, and poetry, too. This collaboration brings staff together to create a unique student learning opportunity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about a successful all-school science-led, cross-curricular week highlighting the school's local environment, history, and culture with the opportunity to brainstorm how to create a similar activity for their own schools.

SPEAKERS:
Alison Seymour

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Fluet, Ananda Weigand-Sheerer

Are you teaching a high school Anatomy and Physiology course? Do you want to prepare your students for their college A&P course? This session is for you! Learn about the standards and common assessment practices collegiate instructors use. This session will focus on lab instruction and more.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn how to prepare your students for their collegiate A&P experience.

SPEAKERS:
Sophia Garcia

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Bertha Vazquez

Learn about the collaboration of university and industry-based researchers with K-12 educators in creating science learning opportunities through community centered STEM lessons and activities that highlight local STEM research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how the SciREN project supports a collaborative relationship between K-12 Teachers and STEM researchers by providing a platform for researchers to translate their local research into K-12 lesson plans under the guidance of K-12 teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Joni Lakin, Komanci Love

Using student questions and related books, you will lead your students to planting, maintaining, and harvesting your school garden. The school garden offers a place to enrich teaching efforts with powerful hands-on experiences that make learning come alive.

TAKEAWAYS:
School gardens are a fantastic way to transition from a more traditional classroom to an outdoor, experiential learning opportunity centered on student engagement and critical thinking. A school garden can be integrated into many subjects such as math, science, health, literacy, and social studies.

SPEAKERS:
Rhonda Gadino

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Andi Twiss

Do you want your students to see themselves as scientists? Learn about an innovative approach to promoting equity in your classroom by having students research scientists and researchers in your field to discover unsung heroes in science!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how one science teacher modified a national project and competition to reach students in her marine science classes and help build a set of women and people of color who have contributed to our understanding of the world around us.

SPEAKERS:
Tami Lunsford

Learn how to embed future-ready skills through the science and engineering practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
During this session, teachers will learn how to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to actively engage students in the science and engineering practices.

SPEAKERS:
Brandon McKinney, Kristin Luthi

What do young learners know about how the brain works? Brain-based research and mindfulness can have a profound impact on young learners. Foster a growth mindset in your young students. Presenter will share research and curriculum guides to plan a similar unit in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
How can brain-based research help me understand and teach the development of a growth mindset?

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Kurson

Participants will gain tools for reducing marginalization in the physics classroom. This session begins with STEP UP’s Women in Physics curriculum and ends with resources and strategies for having difficult but necessary conversations about equity and inclusion.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain resources and strategies for having DEI–related conversations in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Praisy Poluan

Coding may not be a necessary skill for every science, but learning to code can benefit students in all areas. With modern coding languages and environments, it is easy to demonstrate the benefit of computational thinking in basic sciences without much coding background for teachers or students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Easy-to-learn coding tools are now available that allow novice teachers or students to quickly model or demonstrate a wide variety of science-based concepts. This deepens student understanding and appreciation of the scientific idea.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Wong

By 2025, it’s estimated that 463 exabytes of data will be created daily; that’s like 212,765,957 DVDs/day! How can our students know if the information they receive is credible? Generation Skeptics teaches the necessary skills with lessons and guest speakers. (www.generationskeptics.org)

TAKEAWAYS:
Generation Skeptics arms educators with free resources to instill skepticism in students. Recognizing the proliferation of misinformation, GenSkeps seeks to equip the next generation with the enduring principles of the scientific method and the importance of substantiating claims with evidence.

SPEAKERS:
Bertha Vazquez

Explore how science notebooks can empower Multilingual Learners and high-needs students, offering differentiation and creativity in science education.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will take with you the ideas behind embracing flexible science notebooks to foster creativity and promoting inclusivity in science education K-12.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Warren

My first years of teaching Physics at Title 1 schools in Memphis were challenging. Many of my students were very behind, especially in math. However, I developed 3 strategies to make learning physics engaging and accessible.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will come away from this session with a list of labs and strategies that they can immediately implement in their classrooms to make physics more accessible and engaging, especially for their lower-level learners.

SPEAKERS:
Jack Replinger

Are you looking for a way to simplify your workload of grading and providing feedback on CER writing tasks? Look no further than Autocrat! This Google Sheets extension can shorten your grading and feedback process from weeks to minutes!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with templates of resources from the presentation that will enable them to carry out their own automated feedback process using Autocrat.

SPEAKERS:
Morgan Cook

Competency-based education at Mount Vernon revolutionized science learning through personalized, mastery-driven paths. Hear how CBE engaged and empowered students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave inspired to reimagine science instruction through competency-based models that empower student-driven mastery.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Lariscy

Experience an interdisciplinary lesson challenging students to achieve an understanding of climate change by improving their comprehension about the polar areas at the North and South Poles. Data sets and a hands-on experiment will be shared as well as strategies for inclusive, anti-bias teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with a lesson that will help their students understand the polar regions and glaciers. The lesson is from an AMS workshop that was hosted for teachers during the summer. Teachers will learn about the workshop and COLDEX. Data sets and a hands-on experiment will be shared.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Ripollone

Important differences exist in attitudes toward writing lab reports for undergraduate life science majors who identify as female and male. We use survey data to determine how to help students improve upon the lab report. Action-oriented science writing strategies will be provided to help students.

TAKEAWAYS:
For those interested in gender differences, equity, and post-secondary science writing, this session provides an overview of perceptions and attitudes of writing lab reports for life science majors identifying as female and those identifying as male.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Slater, Kristy Palmer

Physics educators utilize culturally-based teaching methods. We spotlight professional communities of physics instructors emphasizing (1) strong teacher identity, (2) effective curriculum design, and (3) student comprehension assessment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Physics educators emphasize culturally-based teaching, focusing on teacher identity, curriculum design, and student understanding. They lean towards culturally relevant pedagogy, facing challenges in fostering critical thinking and student autonomy.

SPEAKERS:
Clausell Mathis

This session will provide K-12 Colorado science teachers support with aligning classroom instruction to the Colorado Academic Standards for Science by unpacking the components of the standards and providing free, evidence-based instructional resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, participants will recognize the three dimensions of the Evidence Outcome Statements outlined in the Colorado Academic Standards for Science and leave with evidence-based instructional resources to support them in aligning their science instruction with the standards.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos

Teams of youth living next to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, home of mountain gorillas, are becoming solutionaries with their STEAM conservation projects that help the forest, the gorillas and other wildlife, and people. This program is with Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, NatGeo Explorer.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will understand that these solutions-based STEAM conservation projects are designed by youth to create systemic and beneficial change for people, the environment, and non-human animals. The projects are empowering many marginalized youth with knowledge, life skills, and confidence.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Arndt