Sponsoring Company: Pivot Interactives

Pivot Interactives does more than just labs; with bell ringers and assessment tools built into the platform, it is designed to be a one-stop shop for science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Makes demos interactive by providing short activities great for introducing new concepts; 2. enables authentic assessment by bringing experimental problems directly to students, regardless of their location; and 3. allows instructors to craft their own activities, down to the videos included in the assessments. It’s perfect for synchronous in-person sessions as well.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Friberg

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE International Ltd.

BIOZONE’s two NGSS series have been designed to fully embrace the spirit of the NGSS. We will compare their features, guiding you to select the series best suited to your program. We will show how BIOZONE’s flexible print and digital solutions support you to teach face-to-face, remotely, or through hybrid programs.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Comparing features of the standard and integrated NGSS series; 2. guiding participants to select the series best suited to their program; and 3. print and digital solutions to support teachers who are teaching remotely or face-to-face.

SPEAKERS:
Lissa Bainbridge-Smith, James Leggett

Please enjoy this video of the following Pecha Kucha presentations on the best practices in STEM education.

Don't forget to attend the Elementary STEM Showcase at 4:15 PM EDT on Monday, July 26, to interact with presenters about STEM investigations and resources during the live Q&A session.

Transdisciplinary Instruction Through STEAM
Presenters: Kristin Cook and Richard Cox

STEAMING Ahead! Architects and Engineers Create, Discover, and Explore
Presenter: Belle Akers

Elementary Energy Explorations
Presenter: Melanie Harper

Mars Rover Landing Inspires Connected Curriculum
Presenter: Katie Morrison

Coding Science Stories
Presenter: Ashley Townsend

Early Childhood Engineering Experiences to Engage In-Person and Virtual Students
Presenter: Jenn Brown-Whale

Green Architects: The Wall Is Alive
Presenter: Annette Venegas

City on the Delta: Teaching Natural Disasters with the Engineering Design Process
Presenter: Jennifer C. Williams

Did You Feel That? A PreK Class Uses Local Phenomenon to Begin Studying Geology
Presenter: Anne Lowry

Family STEAM Nights Unpacked
Presenter: Elizabeth Dethloff

Far Away Ocean Problems with Local Connections: Engaging Students with Literature and Place-Based Learning
Presenter: Patricia Newman

SPEAKERS:
Richard Cox, Jr., Elizabeth Dethloff, Melanie Harper, Katie Morrison, Kristin Cook, Jenn Brown-Whale, Anne Lowry, Belle Akers, Patricia Newman, Jennifer Williams, Annette Venegas, Ashley Townsend

Please enjoy this video of the following Pecha Kucha presentations on the best practices in STEM education.

Don't forget to attend the Elementary STEM Showcase at 4:15 PM EDT on Monday, July 26, to interact with presenters about STEM investigations and resources during the live Q&A session.

Remote Robots Roundup
Presenter: Tom Lauwers

STREAMing Engineering in the Elementary Classroom
Presenters: Lauren E. Burrow and Chrissy Cross

Build Like a Bird Engineer
Presenter: Julie Travaglini

Science Discoveries in PreK Town Planning?
Presenter: Anne Lowry

Adding STEAM to Your School Garden?
Presenters: Janet Mannheimer Zydney, Richard Schaen, and Jen Dobson

The Little Solar Pump That Could: An Elementary Gather, Reason, Communicate (GRC) Lesson
Presenter: Rebecca Garelli

Busy Birds Nest Builders
Presenter: Nancy Smith

STEMify Virtual Experiences
Presenter: Elizabeth Dethloff

Draw Like a Scientist
Presenter: Christine Preston

Family STEAM Nights Unpacked
Presenter: Elizabeth Dethloff

Transformative Curriculum Making: Science Accessible
Presenters: Sumer Seiki, Jolynn Asato, and Manisha Hariani

SPEAKERS:
Jolynn Asato, Lauren Burrow, Chrissy Cross, Rebecca Garelli, Elizabeth Dethloff, Anne Lowry, Tom Lauwers, Jen Dobson, Manisha Hariani, Christine Preston, Nancy Smith, Julie Travaglini, Richard Schaen, Sumer Seiki, Janet Mannheimer Zydney, Ben Koo

Please enjoy this video of the following Pecha Kucha presentations on the best practices in STEM education.

Don't forget to attend the Elementary STEM Showcase at 4:15 PM EDT on Monday, July 26, to interact with presenters about STEM investigations and resources during the live Q&A session.

Practicing the Practices in Elementary Engineering Design
Presenter: Ashley Townsend

Introductory STEM: Engaging Preschoolers with Dinosaurs
Presenter: Laura B. Schneider

Growing Plants and Minds: Using Digital Tools to Support Preschool STEM Learning
Presenter: Ashley Lewis Presser

Documenting Early Science Learning Through Children's Nature Journals
Presenter: Ron Grady

Bookmark STEM: Engaging Families in STEM and Literacy
Presenter: Sara Nelson

Marvelous Metals Matter! (A STEAM Lesson for Fifth Graders Incorporates the Engineering Design Process with Implications for Other Grade Levels)
Presenter: Kathleen J. Tate

Engineering with Paper: STEAM Projects with Just Paper, Tape, and Scissors
Presenter: Godwyn Morris

Pulmonology! Students Diagnose Diseases Like Lung Cancer Through Sound!
Presenter: Dieuwertje Kast

Science Tales
Presenter: Robert Wallace

Let's Celebrate the Poetry of Science
Presenters: Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell

SPEAKERS:
Ron Grady, Dr. Dieuwertje Kast, Ashley E. Lewis Presser, Godwyn Morris, Kathleen Tate, Laura Schneider, Sara Nelson, Sylvia Vardell, Ashley Townsend, Rob Wallace, Janet Wong

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Engineering design challenges enable you to apply science and engineering practices in your classroom! Discover structures and strategies that will encourage critical thinking and problem solving through the Engineering Design Process. Learn how to implement, modify, and scaffold these strategies for distance learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What is the Engineering Design Process (EDP) and what does it look like?; 2. how can we model the EDP experience with students, Including roles, navigation, and reflection?; and 3. how can we relate the EDP experiences to real life, 3-D learning, and 21st-century skills?

SPEAKERS:
Pam O'Brien

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Cultivate curiosity and value student voices while utilizing the structures and content from phenomena-based, NGSS-focused curricula.

TAKEAWAYS:
All attendees will learn: 1. strategies on how to cultivate curiosity and value student voices; 2. how an NGSS-focused curriculum can support deeper learning and understanding; and 3. how to elevate science implementation by establishing a culture of figuring out.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

How can we best support students in building evidence-based explanations of phenomena?

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees with learn how: 1. a multi-modal approach allows students to gather evidence from a variety of sources and grapple with phenomena and real-world problems like scientists do; 2. an evidence-based learning approach works to support the NGSS; and 3. evaluating evidence can help students work toward being college and career ready.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Join us to empower students' autonomous learning. We will explore a backward design strategy that helps you create a clear path of learning intentions through all your lessons, encouraging students to track their progress and decide how their time is spent preparing for the unit assessment.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Model a variety of formative assessments; 2. discuss how the results guide instruction; and 3. use student reflection to enhance student ownership.

SPEAKERS:
Kristan Buckman

Sponsoring Company: Kids Making Sense

Provide educators with the resources to teach students how to measure and monitor air quality, to interpret the data they collect, and to take action to reduce their exposure to air pollution.

TAKEAWAYS:
How: 1. to meaningfully engage students in hands-on science activities; 2. using sensors can enhance the quality and comparability of data, while increasing student engagement; and 3. incorporating citizen science activities can enhance outcomes for communities.

SPEAKERS:
Olivia Ryder

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Geologists found a mysterious fossil in a rocky outcrop. How did it get there?

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how: 1. phenomenon-based science supports three-dimensional teaching and learning; 2. instructional sequences designed around engaging, authentic phenomena can motivate students by providing a powerful context; and 3. putting students in the role of a scientist or engineer can help them develop skills for college and careers.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

In this workshop, we will utilize a simple yet effective talk process that encourages students to more fully own their thinking and effectively communicate their ideas to peers. Join us in this interactive session to learn various talk strategies that support the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices, Argument-Driven Inquiry (ADI), and best-practice instruction for all learners!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Describe several ways to encourage student voice in the classroom; 2. how do you create an inclusive environment?; and 3. what are some examples of shared experiences?

SPEAKERS:
Kristan Buckman, Pam O'Brien

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Co.

Science provides one of the best opportunities for teachers to offer equitable learning experiences for all students. By using science phenomena to anchor instruction, and by centering the anchoring phenomena around the students' locality and culture, all students have a voice and are represented. Join us to learn how to create a lesson plan centered around local phenomena that also engages students in STEM, modeling, inquiry, and much more!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Recognize the importance of using local phenomena to engage all learners; 2. use local phenomena to create phenomenal STEM lesson plans, including modeling and inquiry; and 3. provide exemplar resources to use in teachers' classrooms to promote phenomena and STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Monica Wadler

Sponsoring Company: Pivot Interactives

This 25-minute session provides an introduction to Pivot Interactives as a tool for teaching the life sciences, including biology and environmental science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. See a preview of student activities related to the life sciences in a variety of forms, including interactive video, simulations, and sensors; 2. receive an initial view of the Pivot Interactives platform, including searching the libraries, setting up a class, and editing activities; and 3. consider some use cases in the classroom, including remote and in-person learning, lab supplements, and authentic assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Friberg

Sponsoring Company: Pivot Interactives

This 25-minute session provides an introduction to Pivot Interactives as a tool for teaching the physical sciences, including physics and chemistry.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. See a preview of student activities related to the physical sciences in a variety of forms, including interactive video, simulations, and sensors; 2. receive an initial view of the Pivot Interactives platform, including searching the libraries, setting up a class, and editing activities; and 3. consider some use cases in the classroom, including remote and in-person learning, lab supplements, and authentic assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Friberg

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

An introduction to STEM IT!, a pilot program aimed at increasing the number of underrepresented students with competitive applications to high school STEM internships.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn strategies for educating and coaching underrepresented students on how to find paid STEM internships, and to plan their application process and anticipation of interviews; 2. be introduced to a step-by-step approach to coaching and mentoring students through the actual application process, including helping them navigate complex technology, letters of reference requests, and responding to difficult interview questions; and 3. be provided with suggestions for guiding students through practice interviews and sharing basics of a workforce culture.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Stolzer, Toby Bothel, Marc Siciliano

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Co.

How do you teach science online? Can students do labs online, can they engage in discussions, can they solve problems together? In this session, you'll learn about the Communities of Inquiry framework and how to use it to make your online lessons engaging.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. about the Communities of Inquiry framework and how to use it to make online lessons engaging; 2. how to do science inquiry with students either synchronously through remote learning, or asynchronously in fully online formats; and 3. strategies for engaging students with labs, problem solving, and discussions online.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Moore

As seen on the Today Show and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Dr. Kate Biberdorf is breaking stereotypes and blowing stuff up—all in a good pair of heels. Through her theatrical and hands-on approach to teaching, Dr. Biberdorf is breaking down the image of the stereotypical scientist, while reaching students that might otherwise be intimidated by science. Drawing forth emotional responses, rather than rote recitation of facts is key to Biberdorf ’s dynamic approach to her program, as well as to science in general. Her exciting and engaging program leaves audiences with a positive, memorable impression of science—all while diminishing the stigma around women in science.

Dr. Biberdorf is the author of Kate the Chemist: The Big Book of Experiments, a collection of 25 kid-friendly science experiments that come prepared with a messiness factor rating and a note from Kate about how each experiment works. Her newest book, Dragons vs. Unicorns, is a children's novel and was released in March 2020.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Biberdorf

Across the globe, dogs snoop on poop to save endangered species. By studying the stories in scat, students learn mapping, literacy and data interpretation skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The science of scat and the detection dog methodology offer engrossing strategies to engage students with STEM; 2. Scientific fields depend on scientists from diverse backgrounds with diverse skill sets; and 3. Strategies and visuals help students understand, collect, map, and interpret data responsibly.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Montgomery

Students and teachers can learn about STEM in an immersive and risk-friendly environment? A regional student competition was developed to accomplish this feat.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Students will take risks in learning when they are set up for success; 2. Teachers and students can learn together; and 3. Professional Development does not have to be lecture in format.

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Semicek, Ben DeSantis

Learn how to use your existing science kit materials to support your students with NGSS, based on experiences from the Elementary Science Olympiad program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. how to modify "instructional kits" available to them to allow for authentic student inquiry; 2. how to structure instruction to allow for cycles of failure and feedback; and 3. how hands-on science supports implementation of the NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
John Loehr, Shari Haug

Kids' technology designer and author Vicky Fang introduces tools, activities, and philosophies to inspire STEM curiosity and confidence in young kids.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Recommendations based on research and experience to spark STEM curiosity in a wider and more diverse range of kids; 2. Introductions to current tools to promote creativity in tech; and 3. Hands-on activities for promoting design thinking, computational thinking, and computer literacy in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Vicky Fang

Discover how to engage students in science using three-dimensional learning with engineering projects and computational thinking. Free access to grades 3–5 lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore real-world phenomena to motivate students and guide learning; 2. Learn practical tips for reaching all three dimensions of the science standards; and 3. Understand how to guide students in conducting online research and analyzing authentic data.

SPEAKERS:
Brittany Pike, Laurie Salvail

Follow a storyline through early childhood explorations, looking at the needs of living things—space, water, sunlight, soil. Then engineer a garden designed to integrate all areas, supported by great literature.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. STEM Explorations need to be authentic and progressive, focusing on big ideas; 2. STEM Exploration leads to agency and equity in all areas of a child's life; and 3. Communication among all of the guides in early childhood, formal, informal, mentors, and family is the key to success.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Ruud, Juliana Texley

In this session, we will illustrate how educators created integrated STEM activities through real-world sustainability design challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Sustainability issues engage students with real-world local and global problems; 2. Adapting a "Shark Tank-like" format into a "Rethink Tank" provides key questions and criteria to help students use entrepreneurial thinking to create innovative solutions to problems; and 3. Sustainability topics allow for not only STEM integration, but connections to English Language Arts, Social Studies, Career Education, and the Arts.

SPEAKERS:
Deborah Kozdras, Christine Angel Danger

Using quality children's literature and the 5E, ideas for integrated STEM lessons will be shared with corresponding hands-on activities. Handouts and resources provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Using quality children's literature can access students' thoughts and prior knowledge; 2. Children's literature used with engaging hands-on activities can help move students toward understanding of science concepts ; and 3. The 5E model of instruction can be used to instruct students in a three-dimensional way of thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Jim McDonald

Using inquiry-based activities, we will investigate how our lives are connected to the ocean and how we impact it through climate change, pollution, and overfishing.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to introduce phenomena-based activities about climate science to students, including global warming, ocean acidification, coral bleaching, and plastic pollution; 2. Increase ocean awareness and inspire community involvement that leads to changes in the status quo; and 3. Suggest ideas for preparing students as future leaders to think globally about the ocean as it impacts food supplies, jobs, and populations on the move to escape sea level rise and crop failure.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Newman

Join me as I model integrated STEM activities and explorations—where children explore and manipulate objects, materials, technology-rich manipulatives, and variables—to see the effects of their actions, and to help young children see the interconnectedness of the STEM disciplines. Handouts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. about the myriad examples of STEM that comprise the everyday world of the young child and how to identify, create, and explore many amazing opportunities for observation, exploration, and thinking that surround young children every day; 2. and actively engage in discourse with the presenter about ways of nurturing the young child’s natural curiosity and inquisitive nature regarding STEM in the natural world and technology in their surroundings, and ways to set up hands-on exploration opportunities and ways to nurture the curiosity of young children for STEM studies; and 3. best practices for working with young children in science and STEM studies.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Knoell

STEAM-integrated activities are for all learners, including those in an early childhood setting. Participate in a series of play-based STEAM activities that promote three-dimensional learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Early childhood students will engage in scientific investigation and inquiry through student-centered activities that promote curiosity, creativity, and innovation; 2. Kindergarten Readiness Math skills are developed through STEAM-integrated investigations highlighting number sense, measurement, and data; and 3. Activities will develop executive functioning skills through play and open exploration.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Herlehy, Cassandra Armstrong

Co-teaching or have lots of mainstreamed SPED students? Pick up some useful strategies and clever tools to help bridge the anxiety gap here!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Co-teaching best practices; 2. Mainstreaming with SPED students made more comprehensible and easier to do; and 3. Online teaching, grading for SPED students and more addressed.

SPEAKERS:
Julie A. Smith

The Dallas Arboretum and Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD will share the process and results of their collaborative STEM hydroponics program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. explore the development process of the hydroponics collaborative; 2. view sample before-and-after lesson plans as a result of the curriculum redesign; and 3. learn about lessons learned and opportunities for growth, including adjustments due to distance learning.

SPEAKERS:
Dustin Miller, Christy McClain

Learn how to engage preK–2 students in light and shadow concepts as they engineer light sources, materials, and screens to produce a desired effect.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Identify meaningful contexts for exploring light and shadow phenomena that already exist in the young child's world; 2. Engage in strategies that enable young learners to explore how properties of materials interact with light, and then use their understanding of light and properties of materials to engineer effects on a screen to communicate with peers; and 3. Recognize multiple paths to conceptual understanding contingent on each child's unique backgrounds and experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Beth Dykstra VanMeeteren

Design thinking enhances student engagement and performance across the curriculum. Come try the DT process and explore resources to help you get started!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The design thinking process (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) is used by schools and corporations around the world to solve problems and create products; 2. The design thinking process can be applied in any content area to promote critical thinking and student engagement; and 3. Many free strategies and resources are available to teachers, and implementation can be as simple as routinely having students ask certain questions.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Townsend

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Come learn how to use effective literacy strategies so that students can better understand science content. Help students successfully analyze, discuss, and summarize science text. Student understanding and critical-thinking skills will improve with these techniques. Join our constructivist approach that promotes literacy in the science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will; 1. learn and practice vocabulary structures and strategies that are effective for all learners; 2. experience the effectiveness of student notebooking and graphic organizers to reinforce reading and writing skills and strengthen science understanding; and 3. gain an understanding of how to effectively integrate literacy, writing, and discourse into the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Gunner, Dr. Kenneth Heydrick

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. Join me as I share research and curriculum guides to plan a similar unit in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What do young learners know about how the brain works?; 2. How can brain-based research help us understand and teach growth mindset?; and 3. Learning about the brain in lower school supports lifelong achievement and development.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Kurson

This session presents interactive “Cricket Challenges” to engage students in nature-based activities designed to encourage curiosity and to make cross-curricular STEM connections to literature.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Innovative ways to engage readers to use fiction as a springboard to explore their natural world and make text-to-real-world connections; 2. Handouts including instructions for activities such as “An Outdoor Challenge for Every Season," ”Creating a Nature Wonder Hour,” “Nature Scavenger Hunts,” “Creating a Nature Journal from the Point of View of the Main Character in the Book You’re Studying,” and “Bloom Bingo”; and 3. Writing prompts educators can use to encourage students to analyze and explore their natural world.

SPEAKERS:
Jo Watson Hackl

Experience an engineering design challenge that engages all students in the design process,  building critical mindsets around collaboration, perseverance, and critical thinking. Take away facilitation resources for implementing NGSS-connected, real-world challenges in one session or over several months.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, participants will come away with: 1. a clear understanding of the Engineering Design Process and strategies for integrating this process into their instruction; 2. confidence to engage all learners as they implement design challenges in their learning settings; and 3. knowledge of the connections between design challenges and NGSS K–12 engineering progression.

SPEAKERS:
Erica Barrueto, Amy Bucher

Join me for a hands-on, engaging, meaningful engineering project that can be immediately applied in any classroom, whether it be remote or in-person.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. This session will give attendees the confidence and desire to teach engineering in their classrooms; 2. Participants will understand that teaching engineering does not require purchasing expensive materials, and a quality project can even be done in a remote setting; and 3. Everyone will leave the session with a ready-to-go project that can be implemented immediately.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle King

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Co.

Take on the role of a consultant for NASA to design a system to model a rocket launcher while highlighting tools you can use to support gender equity, economically disadvantaged youth, English Learners, students with disabilities, and advanced and gifted learners. This really is rocket science, but ensuring equity doesn't have to be!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn: 1. strategies to modify engineering challenges to meet the needs of diverse learners; 2. how to create lessons and assessment rubrics that provide equitable access to rigorous science standards; and 3. strategies to help create more time and opportunity to incorporate STEM and engineering challenges in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Erin Horner

Let’s make a foldable solar system scroll. Come learn how to apply ratios to create a scale model of the planets based on your height.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. With a properly scaled solar system scroll, participants will identify inner and outer planets and readily SEE why they are named as such; 2. Understanding the concept of rations and fractions, part-to-whole, participants will leave being able to create a proportional solar system in their classroom, on a football field, or across their state; and 3. This activity can be used at any grade level.

SPEAKERS:
Barbie Buckner

This interactive session will guide you through a process of identifying community “grand challenges” and using multicultural children’s literature to create empowering STEM learning experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn to guide students through the process of identifying and defining relevant, investigable issues in their communities; 2. recognize the power of children's literature for promoting equitable access to STEM learning opportunities for diverse students; and 3. leave with a framework for empowering students to use STEM skills and knowledge to enact meaningful change in their community.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Donaldson

Need a simple and creative way to engage students? Create a green screen area in your classroom. This workshop will demonstrate a simple way to make creative videos with a green screen.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to use a chroma key with different apps and programs; 2. Simple video editing techniques; and 3. Using different objects for green screen props.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Crane

If we treat content areas as silos, we will never find time for science! Discover how to create authentic, cross-curricular learning experiences that increase engagement and thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Determine characteristics of authentic learning experiences; 2. Explore two projects, lesson by lesson, making connections to your science content; and 3. Discover a process for creating your own project-based learning units.

SPEAKERS:
Terra Tarango

Explore the NASA Elementary GLOBE storybook the “Scoop on Soils.” Engage students with a dynamic experiment on soil permeability.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. NASA Elementary GLOBE has free storybooks with three or more STEM activities each integrating the Core Standards with the Science standards. The materials are translated into five languages; 2. All students will relate to the climate issues of the availability of fresh water and soil needed to grow food; and 3. Exploring the environment with backyard soils engages students in real-world problem solving.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Kohler

Sponsoring Company: PAEMST

Come learn about the highest recognition for STEM educators in the U.S. We will discuss eligibility criteria as well as the nomination, application, and review process for the awards. Awardees receive a certificate; a $10,000 award; a trip to Washington, DC, for a recognition event; and access to over 5,100 award-winning teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How you can win $10,000; 2. how you can apply for this prestigious award from the U.S. Government; and 3. the benefits of applying for this award.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Mayes

We discuss a number of considerations for virtual science instruction and highlight how the five practices take shape in an online STEM experience. We further suggest ways by which teachers can maximize an online learning platform for equitable participation.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The Five Practices remind us that discourse and equitable participation in the science classroom require more than discipline-based knowledge or simply providing experiences with phenomena and materials; 2. As teachers prepare to engage students in virtual science experiences, utilizing strategies that promote effective discourse is essential. It is not the teacher alone who creates effective discourse; however, the teacher’s careful construction of explicit guidance for students through discourse strategies while investigating science phenomena is crucial; and 3. Virtual classroom instruction can be designed in ways that enhance motivation, support productive participation, and deliver interactive learning experiences in science.

SPEAKERS:
Cathrine Maiorca, L. Octavia Tripp, Sahar Alameh, Kristin Cook, Margaret Mohr-Schroeder

Are you thinking about incorporating coding and robotics at the elementary level? Come try it yourself and learn about funding, resources, and preparing for success!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Coding and robotics can improve students’ algorithmic and critical thinking, which helps with math and reading as well as creativity, communication, and collaboration; 2. When seeking funding for robotics, start with what is manageable and connect your project with math, science, and ELA standards; and 3. Focus on how students are thinking to get the most out of their experiences with coding and robotics.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Townsend

Learn about an innovative teacher PD model employing free youth summer camps to support elementary grade teachers’ authentic understanding of NGSS principles and pedagogy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. about a new practicum-based professional development model that pairs NGSS PD with informal (summer) youth learning; 2. approaches to measure the effectiveness of NGSS teacher professional development; and 3. how district-level PD needs can be addressed through university-district partnerships.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Kennedy, Emily Mathews, Jessica Mahon

The Sensing Science project has developed and researched a curriculum to support learning about states of matter and its phase changes at the kindergarten level.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Free apps for use in your classroom; 2. Models that assist students in the understanding of why the three states of matter are different; and 3. Free interactive stories introducing phase changes to students.

SPEAKERS:
Carolyn Staudt, Nathan Kimball, Jamie Broadhead

Learn to teach observation investigations with young learners that integrate geology, art, and math. Participants will receive hands-on materials and lessons to use with students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to; 1. do three-dimensional investigations with young learners; 2. integrate teaching of art and math concepts with geology; and 3. teach young students to observe and collect geological data.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Schneider

Can you think like a bird? That is what these NGSS-focused activities ask of students in an engineering challenge to create shelter for local birds.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Fun, authentic, NGSS-focused activities that promote students' application of science concepts in the engineering design process; 2. Simple strategies to engage students in place-based outdoor learning experiences that are adaptable for in-person instruction, virtual learning, or at-home projects; and 3. Ideas for modifying your existing life science activities to fit the time of year.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Krall, Sagan Goodpaster

An Out Teach instructional coach gives teachers the information, inspiration, and practical everyday tips they need to head outdoors to lead hands-on real-world cross-curricular experiences proven to build science skills and get students deeply engaged in science practice. Presenters will provide specific strategies for elementary teachers to engage students in science and engineering practices anchored in outdoor phenomena—whether students are remote or in-person.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. To put equitable outcomes at the center of all we do, students need opportunities to make decisions about their own learning and space to bring their own experiences and background to the classroom in ways that connect meaningfully to content. This highly sought after, student-centered approach can be kick-started through outdoor experiential learning in Science; 2. Many teachers struggle with 3-D science instruction, which requires that we not only teach students content but give them ample opportunities to think and work like scientists. The outdoor classroom is a powerful instructional tool for authentic scientific practice, developing a scientific mindset and a love of learning; and 3. Outdoor experiences are a great equalizer, improving student-directed learning, SEL, and 21st-century skills during remote, hybrid, and in-person instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Wendy Kelly, Allie Graybeal

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

How can we create a learning environment that taps into students’ natural curiosity about engineering design and supports them in doing the authentic design work of an engineer?

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. how design thinking and technological solutions will continue to increase in importance as we work to address the challenges that confront our modern world in areas such as agriculture, human health, and the environment; 2. why providing students a foundation in engineering design allows them to better engage in and aspire to solve the major societal and environmental challenges they will face in the decades ahead; and 3. how to create a learning environment that taps into students’ natural curiosity about engineering design and supports them in doing the authentic design work of an engineer.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott

Get ready for STEM and the NGSS by sequencing instruction to promote your students’ long-lasting understanding with a simple yet powerful approach: Explore-Before-Explain.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. participate in two explore-before-explain STEM activities; 2. identify the benefits of guiding students to construct explanations based on personal observations and data analysis; and 3. collaboratively brainstorm ways they can tweak one of their existing STEM activities following the explore-before-explain instructional strategy to meet the vision of the NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Fayen, Patrick Brown

Come along as a kindergarten class explores the world of nature, experiences the seasons, and engages in STEM activities with Joe the Ginkgo Tree as its guide.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Promote inquiry-based learning through the lens of a schoolyard tree; 2. Learn how to design a yearlong, child-centered STEM project; and 3. Connect students with the natural world both inside the classroom and outdoors with hands-on STEM and art-based activities and experiments.

SPEAKERS:
Amie Petronis Plumley

See how early childhood educators at an urban charter school are revolutionizing their classrooms as makerspaces to promote developmentally appropriate practice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how: 1. a makerspace for young children can be intentionally designed to allow for children to experience Seymour Papert's 8 Big Ideas of Contstructionism; 2. the young children can gain experience with the 8 Science and Engineering Practices in a makerspace-inspired Early Childhood Classroom; and 3. to facilitate child-directed learning in a developmentally appropriate manner in an intentionally designed makerspace.

SPEAKERS:
Sabrina Burroughs, Karen Brooks-Bauer

Learn about ways to reach elementary students and increase interest in computer science with engaging contexts and multiple entry points.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Recruiting elementary students to CS is a strategy for increasing the diversity of students in advanced CS classes in the future; 2. The context of CS activities is important for student interest and engagement; and 3. Confidence in implementing strategies that broaden the context for CS learning.

SPEAKERS:
Lorri Coates, Brianna Wilkinson

This interactive session provides experiences that model how anchoring phenomena and engaging scenarios help students develop an understanding of three-dimensional learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. understand the importance of anchoring phenomena tied to scenarios to drive student learning; 2. leave with example STEM units aligned to industries and careers that can be implemented in the classroom; and 3. share a model template for creating their own STEM units.

SPEAKERS:
Jo Anne Vasquez, Michael Comer

Join us on your STEM journey and learn how to incorporate STEM and PBL into your K–5 curriculum. Receive ideas for program development, grants and funding, and inexpensive or free field trips. Teaching STEM digitally with coding and computer programming apps.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Incorporating STEM curriculum and PBL's into the K–5 curriculum requirements and incorporating Digital Coding and computer programs to use with virtual teaching; 2. Finding and scheduling in-house free and inexpensive field trips, guest speakers, and virtual experiences for all students at your school; and 3. Funding and grant writing information and sources to fund your STEM program.

SPEAKERS:
Johanna Disney, Julie Wilkerson

A team of Outstanding Science Trade/ Best STEM Books authors introduces the STEM Tuesday blog, a free resource that celebrates STEM books and connects classrooms via STEM and literacy activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Find out what STEM Tuesday is and how to use it in middle level classrooms; 2. Leave with activities, book lists, resources, and suggestions from STEM Tuesday's FREE website to use in the classroom; and 3. Interact and provide feedback among authors and science teachers on STEM literacy and needed books.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Swanson, Heather Montgomery, Patricia Newman, Nancy Castaldo

The goal of this presentation is to share resources and best practices that will aid instructors in developing an innovative cross-curricular STEM instructional setting.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with the following: 1. a list of resources that can be used to implement STEM objectives across all subject areas; 2. specific examples of how to develop a cross-curricular STEM unit based on a literary text; 3. a template to guide them in developing cross-curricular STEM activities; and 4. a cross-curricular unit they will design during the session.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Dunn

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Come engage in strategies that can help your English Learners (ELs) make sense of science concepts and apply their science knowledge to real-world applications. In this session, we will explore a variety of strategies for differentiating instruction so that ELs within the classroom can build their ability to communicate science concepts effectively.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Navigate the 5-E Model of Instruction through the lens of a ESL teacher; 2. show strategies that support English Learners as they learn content and acquire English; and 3. identify supports for ELs embedded in STEMscopes.

SPEAKERS:
Veronica Burnett, Dr. Kenneth Heydrick

In this session we'll explore the ways that forest walks are catalysts for discussing emergent science concepts, connections, and curiosities in an outdoor preschool.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Unplanned experiences can provide a variety of opportunities to capitalize on children's interest and both assess and extend knowledge; 2. Using tools such as nature journals and floorbooks are powerful ways to chronicle experiences and document ongoing learning; and 3. With the right lens, urban forests and green spaces have all of the resources necessary for a robust experience of the natural world.

SPEAKERS:
Ron Grady

Historical issues create rich opportunities to utilize Science, Social Studies, and ELA disciplinary skills—through STEM—to increase student engagement and a deep understanding of complex problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Session attendees will learn both pedagogical concepts and history as they work to understand and solve perplexing problems that faced Japanese-Americans interned at Topaz. Using the Topaz Japanese internment camp as the backdrop, session participants will: 1. learn how to pair both fiction and informational texts (including primary source documents); 2. discover ways to integrate NGSS standards, Social Studies, ELA, and STEM through lessons and problem-solving activities; and 3. focus on the 5Es and 3-D learning.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Siebach, Deborah Draper

Tim and Rob are back for tea and lively conversation as we look toward next year, once again reflecting on our use of technology in the classroom. We'll look at one of the big questions on all our minds: Now that we know what we know, how can we use that to support students in both their learning and their emotional well-being as we move back into the "new normal" classroom?

SPEAKERS:
Tim Blesse, Robert Payo

Investigate the amazing and powerful forces shaping our planet through a live tour of MiSci’s newest permanent exhibit gallery. Transform desert landscapes, create avalanches, explore Jupiter's otherworldly atmosphere, and watch as we construct a swirling fire tornado in this immersive experience!

Join us for the Elementary STEM Showcase and leave with a headful of ideas for the best practices in STEM education. The Elementary STEM Showcase is an exciting and quick-fire format event that uses the popular Pecha Kucha presentation method. This "social show-and-tell event" brings together leaders in STEM education as presenters who offer 15 slides for 20 seconds each. Each five-minute presentation will offer teaching strategies and resources in the best practices in STEM education for our youngest learners. Featured presenters are celebrated classroom educators, informal education centers, NSTA leaders, and strategies from the NSTA preK–5 journal, Science & Children.
 
NGSS connections to student experiences will be highlighted during each Pecha Kucha presentation. Participants will interact with presenters about STEM investigations and resources through this live Q&A session. Presentations will be passionate, funny, informative, and inspirational. Join us for this new format and learn from this fast-paced, energy-filled experience and leave with ideas to use with your students and colleagues.

Don't forget to watch the three Elementary STEM Showcase Prerecorded Videos before attending this Q&A session.

SPEAKERS:
Sylvia Vardell, Janet Wong, Ashley E. Lewis Presser, Kristin Cook, Jenn Brown-Whale, Belle Akers, Richard Cox, Jr., Lauren Burrow, Jolynn Asato, Godwyn Morris, Rebecca Garelli, Katie Morrison, Melanie Harper, Elizabeth Dethloff, Anne Lowry, Dr. Dieuwertje Kast, Chrissy Cross, Janet Mannheimer Zydney, Ron Grady, Tom Lauwers, Jen Dobson, Kathleen Tate, Laura Schneider, Rob Wallace, Jennifer Williams, Annette Venegas, Christine Preston, Sara Nelson, Ashley Townsend, Nancy Smith, Patricia Newman, Julie Travaglini, Richard Schaen, Sumer Seiki, Ben Koo, Manisha Hariani

In this talk Jami will discuss strategies that can be used to build resilience, with a particular emphasis on increasing the percentage of women and underrepresented minorities that choose to pursue STEM studies. She will use examples from her experiences as one of the few African American women with a PhD in physics and discuss strategies to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Jami Valentine Miller

Sponsoring Company: The Algae Foundation

Algae has the potential to be the solution to some of society’s biggest challenges. What can we use as renewable fuel? Algae. How will we feed the ever-growing population? Algae. What is that weird stuff I see when I swim in the lake? Algae.

The Algae Academy’s FREE STEM kit and curriculum includes teacher resources, all necessary lab supplies, and live algae that will have your students asking their own big questions as they realize the real potential of algae. Students cultivate algae, monitor its growth, analyze and interpret data, and make connections as to how algae production has a positive impact on the global environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn all things algae—from the basic living requirements to how algae will help solve pressing global issues; 2. walk through the entire Algae Academy curriculum to better understand the supplies provided, day-to-day activities, and teacher resources available to support teacher instruction; and 3. learn how to cultivate your own algae culture!

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Nalley, Jakob Nalley

Learn about Argument-Driven Engineering and how to give students opportunities to use core ideas and practices from science, engineering, and math to figure out solutions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to use the ADE instructional model, or way of teaching, to give students an opportunity to learn how to use core ideas and practices from science, engineering, and mathematics to design a solution to an authentic and meaningful problem that will make the world a better place; 2. How to give students an opportunity to talk, read, and write in the service of sensemaking; and 3. Ways to support ongoing changes in student thinking as they learn to use core ideas and practices from science, engineering, and mathematics to figure out solutions to problems.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson

Space science content introduced through innovative technologies engages student learning. AR/VR allows student explorers to learn about our quest to send humans to Mars.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. to use an online challenge to teach space science concepts; 2. about many of the NASA resources available for use in the classroom; and 3. to use augmented reality to learn about space science.

SPEAKERS:
Rhonda Christensen, Gerald Knezek

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

What if coding were integrated into core science instruction instead of being an isolated after-school activity for a select few?

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to: 1. provide students with the opportunity to learn basic computer science concepts and practices in service of solving real-world problems; 2. increase access to positive experiences in computer science learning; and 3. infuse coding science curriculum with constant opportunities for collaboration and student discourse.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott

Roadkill is a phenomena to engage every student. Teachers integrate STEM and English, challenging students to design, build, and sell a wildlife crossing to City Council.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Innovative instructional sequences rooted in an everyday phenomena students care about; 2. Lessons that integrate science skills, critical reading, and meaningful design practices; and 3. Grade-appropriate resources (data, images, texts) for engaging students, regardless of culture or background, with authentic citizens science.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Montgomery, Lauren Avant, Ann Vitello

We will use Micro:bits, programming, and sensors to empower student learning and accelerate conceptual model development. Participants will simulate this online.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Sensors can accelerate the learning process and empower students when used correctly; 2. Computational thinking is catalyzed by block-based programming languages; and 3. Conceptual model development and inquiry are intricately linked.

SPEAKERS:
Jared Carter

Use the Great Lakes as a learning tool! Participate in virtual classroom-ready activities, discover PD opportunities, and learn how to collect authentic water quality data.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. how to request and incorporate the use of the Hydrolab in their classroom to collect authentic water quality data either in the classroom or in the field; 2. how to utilize Nearpod to create engaging lessons that can be utilized virtually or in the classroom; and 3. about professional development opportunities aboard the R/V Lake Guardian and at Ohio State University's Stone Lab.

SPEAKERS:
Shari Insley, Melissa Kowalski

Explore strategies to get your students involved in designing and implementing an investigation of surface temperature and the urban heat island effect.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to: 1. analyze how urban heat islands develop both around and within cities, with certain neighborhoods heating up more than others on sunny days, through an exploration of the role of infrared radiation and albedo; 2. evaluate strategies through which students create and carry out investigations that contribute in a meaningful way to the scientific understanding of the urban heat island effect; and 3. apply an enhanced understanding of the urban heat island effect in their neighborhood in order to support students in the design and implementation of useful mitigation strategies that can have a long-term benefit to the health and resilience of their community.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Slack, Debra Amoroso

Learn how teachers link sixth-grade math concepts and science processes through decoding mechanisms in computer models.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Decoding is a powerful way to link math and science processes through coded mechanisms in computer models; 2. Teachers have developed pedagogical moves to teach decoding without having to explicitly teach computer programming; and 3. Decoding mechanisms in math class benefit students by enabling them to understand scientific processes encoded in computer models during science class.

SPEAKERS:
Emma Anderson, Aditi Wagh, Fritzie Culi, Eric Prileson

This past year has demonstrated the need for diverse tools, resources, and support to teach students in dynamic K–12 learning environments. This session will focus on strategies to integrate project-based learning in diverse learning environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn strategies to engage students in science and engineering concepts; 2. Obtain tools to foster a learning environment and classroom culture grounded in the habit of reflection and reasoning; and 3. Gain practical resources and tools to apply project-based learning in a diverse K–12 learning environment that you can begin implementing in your classroom this fall.

SPEAKERS:
Acacia McKenna

Humans use water, often in inequitable ways. Our online tools, which include a calculator and NGSS-focused lesson plans, help educators learn how to teach beyond the water cycle.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. understand how we use water and what a water footprint is; 2. understand how water is connected to the global systems that create our food, energy, and consumer goods; and 3. learn about our free virtual tools and content that help them teach students about their water use as a part of their overall environmental impact.

SPEAKERS:
Robin Madel, Kai Olson-Sawyer

Participants will experience an overview of research in digital fabrication and explore three aspects of 3D modeling and printing activities enhancing core content STEM classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
The outcomes of this presentation are to: 1. explore the role of 3D printing integration in STEM teaching and learning; 2. facilitate a dialogue on the classification of 3D printing STEM activities; and 3. discuss participants’ use of 3D printers in their classrooms and how teachers can leverage other task types to enhance STEM teaching and learning.

SPEAKERS:
Kyle Ivy, Anna Wan, Teresa Sappington Lampe

Learn how to use the Secret Coders graphic novel series by Yang and Holmes to integrate the elements of computational thinking (abstraction, algorithmic thinking, decomposition, generalization, and debugging). Weave in both computer science and ELA practices for an interdisciplinary adventure!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Graphic novels provide an unplugged way for students to learn about computational thinking; 2. Computational thinking can be integrated into language arts classes; and 3. Interdisciplinary lessons can enhance both language literacy and computational thinking literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Rachelle Haroldson

Explore how to build studies that put phenomena first and engage students in discovery through initial investigations designed to spark questions and curiosity. Discover how to be responsive to student interests as you decide "where to go from here."

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Transform your approach to planning by putting phenomena first; 2. Find out how to embed content and practices into hands-on learning activities that allow students to discover science ideas; and 3. Learn a simple process to identify "where to go from here" based on students' interests, questions, needs, and your curricular demands.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole VanTassel

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Claim-Evidence-Reasoning is a way for students to scientifically describe what they have observed and learned through an investigation, experience, or research. By making claims based on evidence, students are able to connect their science knowledge to the events and observations of the real world. Come learn how CER is an effective assessment tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will: 1. understand the meaning and application of claim, evidence, and reasoning; 2. experience a variety of hands-on examples and how to adapt among grade levels; 3. discuss rebuttal and when/where it would be appropriate to implement; and 4. gain examples and ideas that can be taken back to the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Spaeny, Dr. Kenneth Heydrick

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

CYBER.ORG works to ensure that every K–12 student gains foundational cybersecurity knowledge by empowering teachers with free resources and training.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. gain free access to CYBER.ORG’s library of K–12 curricula and resources as well as implementation strategies for the classroom; 2. see examples of lessons as well as plugged and unplugged activities at the elementary, middle, and high school levels; and 3. gain a better understanding of CYBER.ORG resources by talking directly with content developers.

SPEAKERS:
Kevin Nolten

Dive into an engaging hands-on design challenge! Walk away with more than 60 lessons and strategies for implementation as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. create a design-based learning artifact; 2. receive a virtual toolkit of 60+ STEM activities; and 3. co-examine the strategies we have used to update our lessons to amplify the culturally relevant and anti-racist stances in our activities.

SPEAKERS:
Antoineta Meekins, Fran Agnone

Use each stage of the Engineering Design Process to complete a challenge of building and drop testing a satellite while making connections to NASA missions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. We can use the engineering design process in our everyday life to solve problems and make improvements; 2. NASA engineers must ask a question, imagine a solution, plan a design, create that model, experiment and test that model, then take time to improve the original—all steps that are crucial to mission success from Moon to Mars and beyond!; and 3. While this activity will focus on teaching the engineering design process using the process skills of measuring, calculating, designing, and evaluating, the "boring part" of ask, imagine, plan will be focused on to emphasize deeper learning as a thought process prior to simply "building stuff."

SPEAKERS:
Barbie Buckner

Learn the basics about Invention Convention. Introduce students to the seven-step invention process and allow them to apply their learning to solve authentic, real-world challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the: 1. value of Invention Education and how it is positioned to be uniquely accessible to students from a variety of backgrounds; 2. seven-step Invention Process and creative ways to implement that process in the classroom; and 3. pathway for recognition available to students who participate in Invention Convention.

SPEAKERS:
Mitchell Hufnagel, Janice Warju

Participants experience how to offer students opportunities for choosing virtual design challenges in various science domains by utilizing provided videos and data sets.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in a design challenge to test: 1. efficiency of wind turbine blades; 2. the strength of electromagnets; and 3. the greenhouse effect in an area of a specific land surface (e.g.,ocean, lake, arctic, desert).

SPEAKERS:
Kathleen Brooks, Rebecca Tonkinson, Sharyon Holness

The WATERS curriculum allows students to analyze real-world problems using models to explore and evaluate the condition of their local watershed using real data.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Connect to the NGSS Earth and Space Science standards using models and data; 2. Make connections to our Earth system using real-world data and modeling; and 3. Provide multiple representations for the scientific terms with photos, movies, and Spanish translations with additional embedded Universal Design for Learning (UDL).

SPEAKERS:
Carolyn Staudt, JERRY VALADEZ

Learn about Argument-Driven Engineering and how to give students opportunities to use core ideas and practices from science, engineering, and math to design solutions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to use this instructional model, or way of teaching, to give students an opportunity to learn how to use core ideas and practices from science, engineering, and mathematics to design a solution to an authentic problem that will help make the world a better place; 2. How to give students an opportunity to talk, read, and write in the service of sensemaking; and 3. Ways to support students as they learn to use core ideas and practices from multiple disciplines so design challenges are more than just tinkering until something works.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson

Bring the world to your urban classroom with Global Science / Citizen Science. Experts will share their work and provide details on how to actively involve students in real-world science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Engage with educators who have led their school systems to meet various challenges; 2. Learn from successful programs; and 3. Discuss relevant issues related to urban science educators.

SPEAKERS:
Pat Shane, Mary Beth Berrien, Michelle Ellis, Susan Meabh Kelly, Brad Rhew, LeeAnne Jimenez, Acacia McKenna

In this session you'll practice using a storytelling model and creating your own short film so you can use similar techniques in your teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. develop experience using the story spine framework within a science classroom; 2. learn basic filmmaking techniques, including shot-blocking and the 180 rule; and 3. develop additional confidence and understanding of how they can use storytelling and filmmaking within their own science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Eugene Cordero, Noah Canton

Investigate ways to incorporate STEM topics into the hunt for disease. Case studies to MICROBITs help engage students in tracking the transmission of disease.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to: 1. integrate discipline-specific literacy case studies and technology as strategies for engaging students in problem solving around a current topic; 2. construct opportunities to engage in the SEPs around content as they determine who is patient zero; and 3. demonstrate how integrative STEM uses exploration and sensemaking to come together to help solve a world pandemic.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Bowen, Christine Anne Royce, Susan German, Beverly DeVore-Wedding

Explore NASA STEM Engineering Design resources to engage students in building a rocket race car to demonstrate Newton’s Third Law.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. NASA astronauts on board the International Space Station provide STEMonstrations with activities in simple video format; 2. NASA’s free STEM educator guides provide detailed information to implement STEM in the classroom; and 3. Investigate Newton’s Third Law of Motion by designing and constructing rocket-powered racing cars.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Kohler

This workshop explores the connection between the NGSS, STEM identity, and project-based learning (PBL) through a series of culturally responsive activities for virtual learning environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. critically consider their own STEM identity and the STEM identities of their students to inform PBL in online and in-class learning environments; 2. respond to students’ needs and interests to plan PBL that develops their STEM identities; and 3. learn instructional strategies that engage students in PBL and the Scientific and Engineering Practices within the Next Generation Science Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Lane

The objective truths found in science and mathematics can serve to bridge the subjective realities of diverse communities represented among students and teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The diverse cultural, religious, ethnic, and racial realities among students and teachers create stovepipes and inequity of learning that require consistent checks on biases brought to the classroom; 2. The impact of teacher and student bias in the classroom can be alleviated through common bonds that transcend cultural, religious, ethnic, and racial realities; and 3. The objective truths discovered among science and math serve as a bridge connecting the subjective experiences of a diverse student and teacher community.

SPEAKERS:
Justin Ivy, Kyle Ivy

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Co.

Let’s explore together how what we see and read may not always be fully factual or scientifically accurate.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to help students: 1. identify erroneous internet information; 2. separate science phenomena into fact and fiction; and 3. explore some factors that influence the movement of the ocean waters.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Comer

No space suit, helmet, or rocket required for this trip into our solar system! Take a virtual journey to Saturn's largest moon, Titan, and take your first steps to becoming a scientific illustrator. Science and art both play important roles in how we understand our complex world. Art can also provide a valuable access point to STEM content for students who do not identify as "scientists."

In this fun, interactive session, get a taste of a Virtual Science Academy program from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and create your own scientific illustration. Join us to explore why methane rains from Titan’s sky and why the atmosphere is bright orange, and discover new resources for STEAM learning.

Note: Participants will need one piece of orange paper, one black-colored pencil, and one white-colored pencil, or similar materials to actively engage in this session.

SPEAKERS:
DMNS Virtual Experiences, Jose Zuniga

Take a trip through MathAlive!, an 8,000-square-foot exhibit that connects math to daily life and potential careers. Bring to life the real math behind what students love most—video games, sports, fashion, music, robotics, and more.

If a student in your class is amazing at math or a wiz in the science lab, what job do you tell them they'd be good at? I think the answer we need to tell them is, “You would be a great teacher!” Students should leave our classes loving STEM and wanting to TEACH STEM! In this conversation, we will explore ways teachers can pass on both our love for STEM and our passion for our profession to our students.

SPEAKERS:
John Arthur

Sponsoring Company: The Algae Foundation

Algae has the potential to be the solution to some of society’s biggest challenges. What can we use as renewable fuel? Algae. How will we feed the ever-growing population? Algae. What is that weird stuff I see when I swim in the lake? Algae.

The Algae Academy’s FREE STEM kit and curriculum includes teacher resources, all necessary lab supplies, and live algae that will have your students asking their own big questions as they realize the real potential of algae. Students cultivate algae, monitor its growth, analyze and interpret data, and make connections as to how algae production has a positive impact on the global environment.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn all things algae—from the basic living requirements to how algae will help solve pressing global issues; 2. walk through the entire FREE Algae Academy curriculum to better understand the supplies provided, day-to-day activities, and teacher resources available to support teacher instruction; and 3. learn how to cultivate your own algae culture!

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Nalley, Jakob Nalley

There is a need to introduce engineering to high school students but there are not a lot of resources available. Through this session, educators will learn how to engage their students in building instrumentation to observe their environment, including a weather station and water quality sensor following student-created design manuals.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Assembly manuals for weather station and water sensor; 2. Opportunities for students to build one of the models; and 3. Communicate with engineering professors and students and provide engineering students feedback on their manuals.

SPEAKERS:
Janet Struble, Kevin Czajkowski, Caleb Farny, Glenn Lipscomb

Increase student engagement in analysis and evaluation of real data. Engage students of different ability levels in mathematical models with measurements not previously accessible in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Combine graphing calculators with handheld sensors to maximize class time; 2. Use real data to develop mathematical models; and 3. Learn how to test your hypothesis by doing an experiment and analyze your results.

SPEAKERS:
Karlheinz Haas

Decoding computer models is demonstrated as a productive and time-saving method to integrate CS and CT within high school science courses without explicitly teaching programming.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Decoding is a powerful way to integrate CS across the curriculum that both reinforces disciplinary concepts and increases CS understanding; 2. Decoding consists of a set of practices and pedagogies that are easy to implement and do not require explicitly teaching computer programming; and 3. Resources and materials are available to integrate CS in Science through decoding.

SPEAKERS:
Paige Prescott, Thara Rangaraj, Lynn Sa, Natalie Stassen

Use web-based image and analysis software to examine and compare the Cartwheel Galaxy in optical and X-ray bands, which can help determine the sources of the ultra- and hyperluminous X-rays (U/HLXs) in this galaxy.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Astrophysicists use light in all bands of the electromagnetic spectrum to determine the nature of an object; 2. Web-based software will be used (the same tools used by scientists); and 3. This software can be used by students to do their own investigations in astronomy with real data sets.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Perry

Sponsoring Company: Pivot Interactives

People learn better when they are actively engaged rather than watching or listening. Learn how Pivot Interactives makes active learning for science easy and accessible.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, learners will experience the active learning capabilities of Pivot Interactives as we showcase; 1. the accessibility of quantitative and qualitative measurement skills in a digital environment; 2. the power of blended instruction, where students experience science in the classroom and build on it online; and 3. the ease and speed of automatic and personalized feedback, designed to help your learners where they are in every step of their learning journey.

SPEAKERS:
Matt Vonk, Linda Detwiler, Peter Bohacek, Eric Friberg

Deepen inquiry and student engagement in the social context of STEM, through the lens of history! Participants will receive free resources from IEEE REACH, a crosscutting, interdisciplinary program.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Attendees will learn about a free resource program that provides tools to implement learning opportunities that improve both cultural and technological literacy skills by engaging students in the history of technology and the examination of how technology and engineering, throughout time, impact society, culture, politics, and economics, and are in turn impacted by them; 2. The IEEE REACH program provides a new lens from which students may view engineering and technology as relevant to their lives and their future, and enhances skills in problem solving, critical thinking, research, communication and collaboration, and it prepares students to become better-informed citizens of our high-tech society; and 3. Attendees will walk away with standards-aligned, inquiry-designed lesson plans that include formative performance tasks, suggested civic actions, excerpted documents, background information for the teacher, primary sources, hands-on activities, and short classroom videos, which may be implement immediately either in the classroom or remotely.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly McKenna, Michael Geselowitz

Learn about a virtual journal club that encourages interaction between students, teachers, and scientists through reading and interpreting research papers.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The St. Jude Virtual Journal Club integrates into the AP Biology curriculum and teaches NGSS Science and Engineering Practices and Nature of Science Practices; 2. Teaching primary literature can develop inquiry, critical thinking, and other 21st-century skills in students; and 3. High school students learn about the realities of scientific research and careers from practicing scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Shelby Montague

Discover how to make the STEM learning-to-application process more fun by replicating Michigan Tech’s story-based Unboxed challenges approach.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn about a nontraditional educational outreach program model in which teams of students apply STEM knowledge through hands-on challenges; 2. learn best practices for creating their own nontraditional challenges for students to supplement curriculum concepts; and 3. discover free resources and puzzles they can incorporate into their own challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Jannah Tumey

Learn not only about esports and its function, but also how to facilitate your classroom with innovative STEM concepts where all students can thrive!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What is Esports?; 2. How Esports contributes to STEM education and career development ; and 3. How to implement Esports virtually and in hybrid settings.

SPEAKERS:
Jorrel Batac, Angelique Gianas

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

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Solve a real-work problem with coding and engineering design, no prior experience needed; 2. Learn about inputs from sensors (temperature) and if-then-else decision logic to control an output (sound or color LED) based on the sensor readings; and 3. Gain exposure to possible STEM careers in automobile design features.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Kohout, Stacy Thibodeaux

Have you wanted to get involved with NSTA contests, but were unsure how to start? This project incorporates STEM in a virtual or traditional classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Use NSTA contests as a springboard to STEM-based practices; 2. Learn how grants can enrich STEM experiences; and 3. Discover tools to facilitate team-based learning.

SPEAKERS:
Carrie Jones

Model stellar evolution processes using NASA images, plotting H-R diagram transitions, and determining the chemistry and physics of supernovas using NASA STEM image analysis tools.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Knowledge of the process of how stars form and change over time ending in catastrophic events, providing conditions for the formation of planets; 2. Students will understand that all knowledge of celestial events is determined by analyzing the light from these events and provide possibilities—not definitive answers—as the data can be interpreted differently; and 3. Image analysis software tools allow scientists to gain knowledge of the physical and chemical processes involved to create constantly evolving models of stellar evolution.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Young

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

We have all hit the formidable “blank stare wall” when teaching concepts like PCR, Sanger Sequencing, and Restriction Enzymes. Explore how one modeling kit can reach all these topics…and more.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn about the benefits of hands-on modeling; 2. practice one application of PCR modeling; and 3. see how modeling with the Biotechnology kit already fits into their curriculum and can increase student mastery.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Sigalas

This workshop introduces strategies and digital tools to help students develop high-quality STEM presentations and posters in online and in-class learning environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. embody the role of a student conducting a scientific/engineering investigation leading to a STEM presentation; 2. be able to create a digital STEM visual using presentation applications; and 3. learn instructional strategies that engage students in developing high-quality presentations and Scientific and Engineering Practices within the Next Generation Science Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Lane

This session focuses on the role CubeSats are playing as a disruptive technology in our space program and how to introduce precollege students to these future opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Design a relatively inexpensive CubeSat; 2. Build a CubeSat data collection device; and 3. Learn how NASA is using CubeSats.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Jabot, Kevin Czajkowski, John Moore, Maxwell Friedman

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

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Light curves generated from image analysis software can be used to determine the period of rotation of some white dwarfs and pulsars; 2. Newton’s Universal Law of gravitation and centripetal acceleration calculations can be used as evidence for determining the type of star; and 3. Js9 web-based software provides students with real opportunities to do astronomical research.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Perry

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE International Ltd.

BIOZONE has published two new exciting titles for the latest CEDs. Listen to the publisher explain their features and get a one-year FREE e-book licence.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover how the new titles have been structured to follow the latest CEDs; 2. Inquiry, case studies, and data analysis are used to develop enduring understanding of key concepts; and 3. Personal Progress Checks prepare students for the AP exam.

SPEAKERS:
Richard Allan

This session will explore the genetic basis behind hybrid flower production on the video game Animal Crossing New Horizons and how you can use this popular game to gain student interest in genetics.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Many traits are influenced by multiple genes; 2. The video game Animal Crossing New Horizons uses Mendelian genetics to determine the offspring of a flower; and 3. Student interest can be enhanced when you use popular video games as a frame of reference for activities, and their virtual experiences can be used in sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Moore, Leslie Suters

Sponsoring Company: Pivot Interactives

We know the importance of labs in the AP courses. During this session, we will showcase how to use Pivot Interactives with your AP course.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, AP teachers will: 1. see how we use Pivot Interactives to make experiment design cost effective and time efficient; 2. see how students can design, capture, and analyze data in the Pivot Interactives platform; and 3. leave with options for active learning options for each of the units in each of the AP science courses.

SPEAKERS:
John Burk, Eric Friberg, Peter Bohacek, Matt Vonk, Linda Detwiler

Have you been asking whether you should trust loud claims of advertising? How could false positives in medical testing affect you? Or do you simply want to know what a penny is made of?

TAKEAWAYS:
1/ Explore cross-disciplinary aspects by linking the science content to the mathematical models; 2. Understand the importance of simple sampling for product quality control; and 3.Explore the use of technology for simulations to evaluate statistical claims.

SPEAKERS:
Karlheinz Haas

Simulations have long been in the instructional tool box of the science educator. With the rise of online and hybrid offerings, simulations of the real world play an increasingly important role for science students all around the globe. You will not want to miss this keynote panel hosted by highly accomplished teachers with a wide variety of experiences. The guided discussion will focus on how simulations are implemented in the classroom to maximize their instructional impact and drive inquiry.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Buhr, LaShundra Young, Kathleen Scalise, Vaughn Vick

Sit back and enjoy an electrifying presentation from within MiSci’s Sparks Theater, where we’ll experiment with static electricity and see the seven-foot Tesla Coil in action as we explore atomic interactions and energy transfer.

As science educators, what contributions can the disciplines we teach make to ongoing struggles for social and environmental justice? This presentation explains how keeping this question at the center of our work provides opportunities for our students to engage with our disciplines in deeper, more critical, and potentially transformative ways.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Morales-Doyle

The use of socio-scientific issues as contexts for learning science, as well invoking cross-disciplinary connections, is supported in the literature as being both effective and educationally significant. STEM mandates and programs often lack this “Science-in-Context” vision. This talk aims to situate the teaching and learning of science from a sociocultural perspective of STEM, such that the need for learning it is apparent and the content being learned relevant, meaningful,  and useful.

SPEAKERS:
Dana Zeidler

The objective of this study was to assess informal science engagement using social media and examine changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Social media engagement in regards to science-related topics was robust pre-COVID-9 pandemic; 2. During the pandemic, the total number of posts remained at a similar level while post reactions increased over time; and 3. Social media remains an effective platform for informal science engagement even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Pyatt, Maya Briskin, Esther Choi

When astronauts are in space, several detrimental physiological changes occur to their bodies. What countermeasures are needed and will they be enough?

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Microgravity causes many changes in the astronaut's body; 2. Countermeasures are utilized while in orbit; and 3. Long-term missions need to overcome the detrimental effects.

SPEAKERS:
Cahleen Shrier

To assist our students in understanding theoretical concepts in order to apply them, we have delved into the process of using and writing case studies. This presentation will focus on the successes and failures to write and publish a case study.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Identify a relevant topic that is accessible to your intended audience; 2. Present the problem while being specific and conscious of time; and 3. Research where to publish.

SPEAKERS:
Nalini Broadbelt, Michelle Young, Nevila Jana

NSTA’s Committee on Postsecondary Science Teaching will examine best practices and the challenges in designing authentic assessments that not only measure learning outcomes, but remain inclusive to all students. A special emphasis will be placed on underserved populations and underprepared students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to: 1. explain the principles of Inclusive Authentic Assessment; 2. describe how underprepared and underserved students benefit from Inclusive Authentic Assessment; and 3. identify the challenges of using Inclusive Authentic Assessment in higher education.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Ogle, David Wojnowski, Esperanza Zenon

Interprofessional collaboration is essential for students' success in their selected program and postgraduate life. These types of experiences have been shown to improve students’ interprofessional competences—communication skills, teamwork abilities, ethical practices, and understanding other team members’ roles and responsibilities—as well as their theoretical knowledge and increase student achievement within their discipline. We developed and tested a unique pedagogical idea—interprofessional case learning project (ICLP)—that encompassed a multidisciplinary approach involving chemistry, biology, and public health. The goal was to provide students and faculty with the opportunity to experience interprofessional collaborative practices that would encourage questioning, discredit misconception, connect concepts and make inferences, generate new ideas, and encourage shared decision making.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Promote multidisciplinary approach involving chemistry, biology, and public health; 2. Foster team building and collaboration; and 3. Change misconceptions about a discipline.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Young, Nalini Broadbelt

Participants will be introduced to the ways you can use your local zoo as a living laboratory to teach STEM content to majors and nonmajors alike. During this interactive session, participants will explore the various ways science is used at the zoo and practice collecting behavioral data.

SPEAKERS:
Grace Fuller

Through research conducted by the Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine grant, this presentation explores the upsides, downsides, and enticements of secondary STEM teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. explore perceptions of careers in STEM secondary education; 2. understand factors that influence interest in STEM fields; and 3. identify evidence-based practices for preparation and retention of high-quality secondary STEM teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Waters

This presentation explores the impact engaging with diverse communities through service learning has on elementary student learning, preservice teacher development, and community-campus partnerships.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. explore how service learning can be used as a vehicle for building a K–16 STEM pipeline; 2. understand the impact of service learning on preservice teacher development; and 3. identify best practices for community partnerships in STEM education.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Waters

This interactive workshop will demonstrate the pitfalls and barriers to cultural responsiveness. Participants will gain knowledge and applicable skills in cultural responsiveness that are small changes to what they are currently doing in their professional practice.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Plotts

The purpose of our research is to investigate how teacher candidates’ experiences in STEM field studies with community partners can inform our work with an integrated practicum semester based on a curriculum of place. Place-based education is an approach to teaching that is grounded in the context of community and environment and seeks to help participants in solving community problems. Many Indigenous scholars are replacing the term place with land and argue that land-based pedagogies promote the decolonization of education by recognizing the intimate relationship that Indigenous peoples have with the land. One challenge with land-based pedagogies is the role non-Indigenous peoples have in this approach to the decolonization of education. Our research, in a western Canadian context, explores this tension as we come to a deeper and shared understanding of our co-responsibility within Treaty 7 relationships. Our project considers varying perspectives of place as it informs STEM teacher education pedagogy.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Land-based pedagogies;2. Indigenous ways of knowing; and 3. Integration of STEM curriculum and pedagogies.

SPEAKERS:
Kevin O'Connor

Research is relevant as it plays a key role in transitioning from concepts in basic science into practical application. Basic science research drives progress in clinical and pharmaceutically industries. It is therefore essential that our health care students gain exposure in this arena and expand the analytical, collaborative, and technical skills that will enable them to succeed in their future careers. To assist the students, projects are devised around the students' interest in an area of the selected faculty specialty. The projects culminates with the students presenting their findings at a research symposium.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Establish a method that will get the student interested in driving the project; 2. Be clear about the time frame and commitment to project; and 3. Assist in making the research manageable.

SPEAKERS:
Nalini Broadbelt, Michelle Young