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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

Join MiSci’s staff astronomer to learn why space is often regarded as the “gateway science,” as we tour our rocket garden and discuss strategies for engaging students through current scientific research and real-world phenomena.

The general absence of disability from the educational equity lens makes it hard to determine and address the degree of underrepresentation of people with disabilities in the STEM fields. How do we close a gap that’s largely invisible? Three Noyce Scholars from Metropolitan State University of Denver offer their perspectives on this issue, and invite feedback from session participants.

SPEAKERS:
Janelle Johnson, Kimberlee Bourelle, Adrian Clifton, Joseph Schneiderwind

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

Hear how a cohort model to professional learning can not only build individual teacher capacity, but also impact STEM learning throughout an ecosystem.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn about the benefits of a cohort-based approach to STEM professional learning; 2. understand the impacts of this approach within the context of an ecosystem and on individual professional development; and 3. learn how collaboration can elevate common goals to impact student learning along the pipeline.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Porter, Jessica Kesler, Patty Brunet

Are you interested in creating a comprehensive, equity-focused, schoolwide STEM environment? If so, join this session to gain insight into Indiana’s road map for implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The “why” behind each element based on Hattie’s Visible Learning research; 2. Creating a comprehensive and equitable STEM environment is a two- to thre-year process, and the process is ongoing; and 3. Community partners are a critical component of providing a comprehensive STEM environment.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Hilton

We will share justice-oriented pedagogical strategies and tools empirically co-developed through a partnership project involving educators and youth for teaching science and engineering practices in STEM programs at informal settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. This session provides participants with strategies and tools for justice-oriented instructional approaches for teaching SEPs, with attention on informal science programs. These justice-oriented practices, developed by educators, youth, and researchers, focus on supporting youth in having equitable opportunities to develop expertise in SEPs, and empowering youth to agentically enact practices toward investigating issues and questions that matter to them personally and socially; 2. We will engage participants in two activities: a) exploring justice-oriented pedagogical practices and b) designing instructional plans for STEM learning using the pedagogical practices; and 3. We will share tools and resources empirically produced from collaborations in multiple informal STEM programs, including a) practice briefs, b) design approaches for implementing pedagogical practices, and c) teaching and learning cases. These pedagogical practices and tools will be useful to informal STEM educators and school teachers who seek to use justice-oriented STEM projects with their students.

SPEAKERS:
Micaela Balzer, Sinead Brien

Hear about a STEM consortium that partners schools with nonprofits, academia, industry, and government to produce college- and career-ready graduates. Come problem solve how to increase participation of underrepresented populations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn how they can engage with consortium programs; 2. generate solutions for engaging students from historically underrepresented populations in STEM; and 3. learn about how the consortium is partnering students with the DoD STEM workforce.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Stanley, Christina Romero, Tameka Woodruff

Explore a holistic snow curriculum built through collaboration between an Iñupiaq community and university educators. Learn development processes and access free STEM lessons and videos.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore the free and NGSS-focused Qanniksuq: It is Snowing resources targeting middle school; 2. Learn about an emerging research-based process for indigenous community-engaged STEM curriculum development applicable to K–12; and 3. Discover how curricula developed using this process impacted students, teachers, and community members in participating indigenous communities.

SPEAKERS:
Lori Schoening, Lynda McGilvary, Sean Asikłuk Topkok

This session will explore the ways educators can expand STEM affinity among diverse populations by using placed-based lessons through the cultural lens of lessons on weather and climate.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Theme one is that community-based learning has been shown to positively impact indigenous science and STEM learners. Central to this theme is the belief that to promote science and STEM affinity, pedagogies and curricula should leverage diversity, languages, culture, practices, and epistemologies. (Gutierrez, Baquedano‐López, & Tejeda, 1999); 2. Theme two is a predicate of community orientation. This presentation will posit that STEM fluency is dependent on cultural relevant initiatives and will show significant promise in closing achievement gaps and improving science academic performance (Brayboy & Castagno 2008); and 3. Theme three is that culturally relevant curricula and pedagogies help to embody and mobilize community leaders and STEM advocates with in-school and after-school programs.

SPEAKERS:
Corydon Strawser

Sponsoring Company: Shell

A panel of current Shell Urban Educators Development Award winners will discuss their successes and challenges with implementing a STEM curriculum to an underserved and underrepresented student population. They provide strategies, methods, and programs that address inequities while ensuring STEM is for all students.

SPEAKERS:
Tiffany Scott, Erica Stephens, John Carlo Tulinao, Michelle Ellis, Leslie White-Keuchler, Melissa Collins, Alexander Eden, Carla Neely, Nakia Williams, Cenia Santana, LaShan Rose

Join the education staff from Detroit’s historic Belle Isle Aquarium to discover exciting ways to identify, recruit, and host diverse career role models to inspire your students, whether you’re teaching face-to-face, virtual, or in hybrid mode.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Greater understanding of how STEM role models can have a significant positive impact on young learners; 2. Practical steps for teachers to design STEM career connections from their own communities that richly connect to students' lives; and 3. Access to novel STEM career role model resources—videos, books, blogs, etc.—created specifically for underrepresented and underserved populations.

SPEAKERS:
June Teisan, Amy Emmert

The pandemic has reminded us that learning demands strong teacher-student relationships and opportunities to connect ideas from science to students’ and families’ everyday lives and communities. Equity demands we not return to the “old normal” and that we reject the false dichotomy between learning and students’ social, cultural, emotional, and intellectual well-being. In this panel presentation, authors of the Learning Policy Institute and Spencer Foundation report “Summer Learning and Beyond: Principles for Equitable Learning Postpandemic” will describe principles grounded in the learning sciences for equitable learning in a post-pandemic world.

SPEAKERS:
William Penuel, Shirin Vossoughi, Christopher Collins, Ann Ishimaru

Come experience how one California district is leveraging an opportunity to bring equitable STEM experiences to all preK–12 students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How one district approaches integrated STEM; 2. What an integrated STEM unit feels like; and 3. -How one district enacts and supports integrated STEM systemwide.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Reynolds, Vanessa Garcia, Debra Schneider

Sponsoring Company: Kids Making Sense

Through a combination of virtual presentation, storytelling, and demonstrations we will help teachers find value in taking students into their community for lab work. With air quality at the forefront of national discussion, there has never been a better time to teach students about the air that we breathe. Discover how we work with teachers to create young “citizen scientists” that act upon the knowledge that they gain and guide them through how to present their data and advocate for positive environmental change.

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

SPEAKERS:
Olivia Ryder

Do you impact your school and community with STEM? If you teach K–12, then come learn how to apply to win one of eight Shell-supported awards, and a teacher competition.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Share your passion and practice by applying for one of eight awards, and a teacher competition; 2. Learn from past Shell awardees, finalists, and judging panel members’ important tips to apply for this award; and 3. Learn how to win a trip to the 2022 NSTA Houston National Conference, March 31–April 3, 2022.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Ruud, Amanda Upton

Students will see science concepts through the perspectives of characters in novels. Participants will leave with lists of book titles and ready-to-use reflective prompts.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. A list of literature that is categorized by grade level and science topics covered; 2. Examples of how to use literature in the science classroom to promote student engagement and meaning-making; and 3. Ways to connect social justice topics to a science curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Prince

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

Connect with the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) to learn about engaging a diverse range of students through programs spanning the STEM Ecosystem.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. strategies to recruit a diverse group of students to their STEM classrooms; 2. where to find research-backed resources that are free to use and download; and 3. how to engage and celebrate their students with programs from NCWIT, including Aspirations in Computing and TECHNOLOchicas.

SPEAKERS:
Angela DeHart, Edie Cheng, Shannon Gibbs

As COVID-19 changed learning environments, the rift between curricula and instructional practices widened with detrimental results for students and teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Issues with curriculum leading instructional practices; 2. Need for support and professional development of teachers for conceptual model development in students; and 3. Teachers who were trained in conceptual modeling pedagogical practices were better able to serve students in their classes in new learning environments.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Ruzycki

Sponsoring Company: Jhumki Basu Foundation

Democratic STEM teaching—involving student voice, shared and transformational authority, and critical STEM literacy—can make the classroom more inclusive so that historically marginalized students have access to a high-quality STEM education.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Understanding the Democratic STEM Teaching Framework (DSTF); 2. How to develop an empathy-based classroom; and 3. Evaluation results of application of DSTF in classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Houston, Gina Tesoriero, Dipak Basu

The global pandemic forced many educators to pivot to virtual or hybrid learning. In this session, you will learn tips and tricks to keep quality STEM education alive in any setting.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will: 1. see an example of how an in-person, integrated STEM learning experience can be changed to work in a virtual or hybrid setting; 2. be provided with resources to promote inclusive and equitable practices that increase student collaboration and engagement in a virtual, hybrid or face-to-face setting; and 3. leave with an existing STEM unit that can be completed in their own classroom, whether it be virtual, in-person, or hybrid.

SPEAKERS:
Theresa Goltermann, Vonceil Anderson, Laura Drager, Rebecca Stanley

The “quantum revolution” is on the horizon. What can we do today—through policies and programming—to ensure quantum computing education is accessible to all students?

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to: 1. explain why quantum computing is an important emerging technology and STEM discipline; 2. identify the barriers to accessible, widespread quantum education and describe actionable strategies to combat them; and 3. discuss ideas to increase diversity in quantum computing, starting at the K–12 level.

SPEAKERS:
Kiera Peltz

Session participants will learn how scientists were trained to lead a virtual presentation of a research paper to AP Biology students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Training scientists improves their science communication skills and their experiences with K–12 outreach; 2. Successful training sessions were brief, focused, and offered virtually, which fit easily within scientists’ schedules; and 3. High school classes that otherwise would not be able to host a scientist visit were able to participate because the program was completely virtual.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Ayers, Katherine Wade-Jaimes, Shelby Montague

Explore family engagement events that provide fun, hands-on experiences and an opportunity to teach parents strategies to support their children's academic vocabulary at home.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Engage in both virtual and in-person family engagement events that expand classroom learning that families with members of all ages can participate in; 2. Learn strategies to support linguistically diverse students in the STEMSS (STEM + Social Studies with an emphasis on real-world, cross-curricular learning) classroom; and 3. Develop a plan to integrate these strategies into your family engagement events to help parents learn how to support academic vocabulary at home and to bridge the home-school connections to increase opportunities for language learners.

SPEAKERS:
Margarita Jimenez-Silva, Karen Guerrero