From folklore and fiction to real life, animal mascots engage early learners in using science and engineering practices to explore how natural engineers solve problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn creative ideas for integrated lessons Overview of “tinkering,” “making,” MEA’s (model eliciting activities) and STEM Make meaningful connections between STEM, literacy and the natural world

SPEAKERS:
Margaret Giunta, Kali Guinn

Leverage technology to keep your students engaged. This session will showcase the use of augmented reality (AR) technology within the learning cycle framework in upper elementary classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be: • Given a list resources that can be used for physical science, life science and earth/space science • Have a hands-on experience with a few different applications and resources for an immersive experience • Discuss how to accommodate a diverse set of learners and how to use proper scaffolding

SPEAKERS:
Sumreen Asim

Your STEM journey begins here. Incorporate STEM and PBL into the K–5 curriculum. Receive ideas for program development, grants and funding, as well as  inexpensive or free field trips.

TAKEAWAYS:
Incorporating STEM curriculum and PBLs into the K–5 grade–level curriculum requirements. Finding and scheduling in-house free and inexpensive field trips, guest speakers, and virtual experiences for all students at your school. Funding and grant writing information and sources to fund your STEM program.

SPEAKERS:
Johanna Disney, Julie Wilkerson

Sponsoring Company: Twig Science Next Gen

Learn how Twig Science Next Gen leverages the strengths of multicultural backgrounds to help students feel valued and empowered with STEM. Twig Science raises expectations for all students (No deficit mindset here!) and helps build an equitable community of science and engineering in classrooms where all students see themselves as valuable contributors.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Distance Learning does not have to be difficult! 2. Underrepresented populations in STEM can be strategically empowered 3. Inspire all students to pursue STEM Careers

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Larsgaard

Hear how the Samueli Foundation along with its partners designed and scaled the STEM Learning Ecosystem to now 89 communities around the world.

TAKEAWAYS:
What it takes to build a STEM Ecosystem How to build a STEM Ecosystem The evidence to support the value of a STEM Ecosystem

SPEAKERS:
Veronica Gonzales

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks) Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social) - remote or classroom - and how being part of that community supports sensemaking Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano, Tricia Shelton

Learn computational modeling with the EcoMOD curriculum. See how to explore a 3-D virtual ecosystem, and program a beaver agent to build a dam.

TAKEAWAYS:
The EcoMOD research curriculum demonstrates an effective approach for integrating computational modeling and science content. Visual block-based programming interfaces make computational modeling for STEM learning accessible in upper elementary school. The NSF-funded EcoMOD software and curriculum are being made available for download through free license from Harvard University.

SPEAKERS:
Shari Metcalf

The Lewis and Clark expedition offers a rich opportunity to bridge STEM, social studies, and ELA using three-dimensional learning as the foundation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use picture books, historical fiction, as well as primary sources to engage students in STEM/Social Studies learning. Attendees will be work to solve STEM problems that simulate problems encountered by Lewis and Clark expedition. Attendees may choose to grapple with/solve problems involving either Life Science, Physical Science, or Earth and Space Science as they work through a lesson built on the 5E model. Attendees will learn to see the connections between NGSS, CCSS, and NCSS standards so they, too, can build lessons integrating all three areas.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Siebach, Deborah Draper

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks) Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social) - remote or classroom - and how being part of that community supports sensemaking Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton, Kate Soriano

Hear about a PBL project called Filling the Gap that connects educators with local STEM businesses to develop classroom units around real business issues/problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with: 1. Understanding of a local STEM Ecosystem in western North Carolina 2. Understanding of the Filling the Gap Program 3. Examples of PBL units partnering classroom teachers with local STEM businesses

SPEAKERS:
Carol Moore, Regina Barrier

Sponsoring Company: Immersed Games

Video games can help improve your students’ three-dimensional, NGSS learning by having students use science and engineering practices as they directly engage with phenomena as part of storylines. We will examine model activities and discuss how games can fit into your classroom instruction even in a remote or hybrid setting.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Tropf

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Support three-dimensional learning with individual membrane modeling packs useful for home or school lessons exploring the chemical properties of water and the phospholipid bilayer membrane.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will learn how hands-on modeling tools support student learning outcomes and help uncover student misconceptions. 2. Participants will learn how a phospholipid bilayer is constructed based on the unique chemical and physical properties of water and phospholipids. 3. Participants will simulate and describe passive and active transport of molecules across a membrane.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Auld, Heather Ryan, Kris Herman

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks). Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social)—remote or classroom—and how being part of that community supports sensemaking. Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton, Kate Soriano

Practical exercises convinced these science teachers to use art in their classrooms to improve learning. Leonardo was right: art and science belong together. See how!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how the physical act of drawing can enhance science learning and observation skills. 2. Take away practical exercises that help teach observation skills . 3. Discover how drawing practice can dovetail with the Next Generation Science Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Sally Bensusen

Walk through a unit design centered upon the student question, “What is blood and how is it used in a transfusion?” Emphasis will be placed on analyzing science education tools with the eye of a scientist so as to maximize student-scientist discovery of evidence, as well as communication of its significance (meaning).

TAKEAWAYS:
Unit design walk-through the process for creating a student-scientist adventure from freely available internet resources Science and interdisciplinary (math and literacy) lesson materials that serve to promote efficient communication of student-scientist discovery Ideas for generating and sample student guided notes sheets

SPEAKERS:
Helen Flavin

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks). Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social)—remote or classroom—and how being part of that community supports sensemaking. Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton, Kate Soriano

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

With BioBits® cell-free systems, students visualize biological concepts in ways never before possible. Watch DNA make RNA and protein in real time—then, in a separate activity, directly investigate the relationship between amino acid sequence and protein structure and function. All in a visual, engaging format that is quick and easy and requires minimal equipment—ideal for distance learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Students can visualize the flow of genetic information from DNA to protein using BioBits cell-free technology 2. Fluorescence can illuminate how DNA makes RNA makes protein in what is known as the Central Dogma of Molecular Biology 3. Students can identify and manipulate the steps of transcription and translation in guided inquiry experimentds

SPEAKERS:
Ally Huang

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

We have all faced the terrifying “blank stare wall” when teaching biotechnology concepts such as PCR, Sanger sequencing, and restriction enzymes. Explore how you can cover all of these topics and more using a single modeling kit. Through NGSS-focused lessons, your students can experience the process, not memorize results.

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

SPEAKERS:
Diane Sigalas, Heather Ryan, Kris Herman

Can the popular comic book medium be used to better support students learning chemistry? Science comic books are comic books designed to visually engage readers using sequential art to navigate a narrative that delivers science content. My investigation showed that students who read the comic book had higher gains in chemistry content knowledge than those who read the chemistry text. Given the findings, science comic books will be an effective educational tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
How science comics can benefit my students. How I can use science comics in my classroom. What science comics are there to use and where to find them.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Preece

Uncertainty and lack of predictability can stimulate the biological mechanisms of stress. Join in for a practical look at the science of stress from the perspectives of neuroscience and behavior. How do we benefit from stress and get harmed by it? How can we and our students regulate stress in the distance learning environment, in a way that promotes health and learning?

TAKEAWAYS:
Social-Emotional Mind and Brain Science Classroom Management

SPEAKERS:
Tim Blesse

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

Be part of a zombie apocalypse! Learn about disease-spread modeling using simulations and fun storylines about a zombie outbreak. Applicable for middle school and high school, this workshop is sure to scare you and your little zombies with its exciting Hollywood themes used to engage students in learning science!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. This session will explore disease-spread modeling using fictional zombies. 2. Attendees will also see how using Hollywood themes combined with actual STEM careers can be a fun way to engage students in learning science and STEM. 3. Attendees will find out about free science and STEM lessons from Texas Instruments.

SPEAKERS:
Erick Archer

Concepts addressed include skeletal muscle anatomy and physiology, and the cellular physiology of the muscle cell, which are applied in formulating explanations that describe muscle cell function in healthy individuals and those with a disease. BackYard Brains electromyograms recordings as well as physical models will be used. These modules have been used in high school– and college-level classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. engineering design activities challenge teams to build 2-D and 3-D models 2. Skeletal muscle anatomy and physiology, and the cellular physiology of the muscle cell is learned as well as implications in a disease state. 3. • STEM content knowledge is applied in explaining a human health issue—muscular dystrophy

SPEAKERS:
Robin Cooper, Rebecca Krall, Tawny Aguayo-Williams

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks) Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social) - remote or classroom - and how being part of that community supports sensemaking Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton, Kate Soriano

Hear about various NSTA competitions and how they can bring STEM and the NGSS into the classroom, as well as give students and teachers a chance to earn recognition and prizes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about NSTA competitions Learn about how you can use competitions as a resource to implement NGSS and STEM into your curriculum Learn how you and your students can win prizes and recognition

SPEAKERS:
Alexis Mundis, Acacia McKenna, Matthew Hartman

Engage in free sensemaking modeling and digitally enhanced activities developed by Concord Consortium that zoom into the mechanisms behind fur coloration in mice across various levels.

TAKEAWAYS:
Boldly go where no curriculum has gone before using cutting-edge simulation software and digital zoom-ins to present to students what is typically missing from their understanding. Explore how students can generate accurate biological datasets to work with, compare, analyze, and/or applied to group statistical analysis. De-silo biology instruction to teach interconnected content across multiple levels (population, organismal, cellular, molecular).

SPEAKERS:
Louise Mead, Rebecca Brewer, James McCusker, Timothy Newman, Frieda Reichsman

An interactive module in experimentation, data gathering, and interruption was developed with a focus on the benefits of knowing life cycles and behavior of two animal models related to real-life implications in forensic science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1.How to set up an experimental design with flies of different species that feed and lay eggs on different food sources. 2.Understand behaviors of insects related to food choice to lay eggs: related to forensics. 3. Develop NetLogo simulations whereas middle level students are limited to the live investigations and graphing using paper-and-pencil methods.

SPEAKERS:
Robin Cooper, Rebecca Krall, Tawny Aguayo-Williams

Daily Do sensemaking tasks are designed to engage students in authentic, relevant science learning whether at home or in the classroom. Join us to explore how these phenomenon-driven tasks motivate students to engage in science and engineering practices to make sense of science ideas (disciplinary core ideas) they need to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. No matter the grade level or science subject you teach, we have Daily Do sensemaking tasks for you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand what sensemaking is and how to create opportunities for sensemaking (recognize sensemaking tasks) Strategies for ensuring students are part of a rich learning community (science is social) - remote or classroom - and how being part of that community supports sensemaking Opportunities for family engagement in sensemaking tasks to build a family-school connection/community that supports all students learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton, Kate Soriano

Well-told stories capture our imagination and inspire emotional engagement while also providing context to the lesson. We will cover how to use stories in your lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
How and why stories improve comprehension and retention of information How to improve emotional engagement in your lessons using stories and gamification Tips on integrating stories into your classes starting tomorrow and see the difference immediately

SPEAKERS:
Meghan Gardner

Sponsoring Company: MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling

We will focus on the defining feature of CRISPR technology, the ability of the Cas9 endonuclease to find and cut DNA at a unique site in the 3.2 billion base-pair human genome. We will also explore how a related CRISPR protein is being used to detect the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will see how models can be used to investigate how the mechanism of the CRISPR/Cas9 system is used to edit genomes. 2. Participants will learn how CRISPR technology is being used in current Coronavirus research. 3. Participants will discover the benefits of hands-on modeling and how it improves student understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Herman, Heather Ryan, Kris Herman

Attention will be paid to implementation of a conceptual framework and activities for professional development to increase the quality and quantity of secondary STEM teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
- Attendees will discuss the research-based conceptual framework of a STEM professional development project. - Attendees will be asked to share on activities of the project as a method to increase the quality and quantity of STEM teachers. - Our two-year project results will be shared with attendees.

SPEAKERS:
Sumreen Asim, Alan Zollman

Faculty and current students will discuss Pitt-Johnstown’s unique approach to their STEM Endorsement Certification, including students’ personal experiences and future teaching goals, and the program’s benefits and implications for  research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in discussion to learn about: • Current focuses on teacher preparation in STEM education • Pennsylvania’s approach to endorsing students via their STEM Endorsement Certificate model and its program design and evaluation competencies • Pitt-Johnstown’s unique approach to the model, through a Q&A with faculty and current students.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Chesney