SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Allan (University of Central Oklahoma: Edmond, OK)

Discover how to implement the three-dimensional learning into any science curriculum all while engaging learners to become phenomenal!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How DCIs, CCCs, and SEPs all relate to a phenomena; 2. Data collection to investigate phenomena; and 3. What three-dimensional assessment looks like in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Youngsville, LA), Jessica Kohout (Educational Consultant: Ellicott City, MD)

Discussion centers on how to successfully implement current events in science into lessons and curriculum, increasing student engagement in science content and overall science literacy. Participants will read and analyze a blog post on a recent breakthrough on CRISPR, a genetic editing technique.

TAKEAWAYS:
-How to use blogs, videos, and podcasts on current events in science to engage classroom discussions -How to put use current events in science to put the curriculum into context -How to connect local science researchers to your students and classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Anderson (Hamilton County ESC: Cincinnati, OH)

Educators will be introduced to PBELL and how it can make science accessible and engaging for all levels of special education and English language learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Similarities in ELL and Special Education Students; 2. Strategies to support ALL diverse learners; and 3. How to embed language acquisition throughout science content making it accessible to all.

SPEAKERS:
Brittney Oden (Educational Consultant: Tempe, AZ)

Join us to discuss how to enhance student learning by incorporating activities that relate to real-world environmental and agricultural challenges in science classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Incorporating real-world challenges relating to sustainable agriculture exposes students to meaningful applications of environmental, life, and physical sciences; 2. Communicating that science is not simply abstract concepts, but a way to solve important problems, may increase student engagement in the classroom; and 3. Sustainable agriculture activities lend themselves to adaptation to appropriate grade level or science class.

SPEAKERS:
Maud Walsh (Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, LA), Jennifer Irving (Louisiana State University: Baton Rouge, LA)

Educators who specialize in the teaching of students with dyslexia describe vocabulary modifications, schema development, kinesthetic activities, and methods to modify science content for students with language-based learning differences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to: 1. craft well written vocabulary definitions; 2. use kinesthetic activities to help students gain understanding of vocabulary and complex science concepts; and 3. create a structured word wall that supports students.

SPEAKERS:
Clinton Kittrell (The Summit School: Edgewater, MD), Christine Zito (Miller School of Albemarle: Charlottesville, VA)

Teachers can engage in a three-dimensional lab-driven approach to answer the driving question, Why does hail fall some times, but not at other times?

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to kick off a weather unit with an engaging phenomena; and 2. Hands-on activities for students investigating weather phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Campbell (UTeachTech at Louisiana Tech University: Ruston, LA)

Come learn about three-dimensional assessments that support Latinx and ELLs. We’ll share examples of three-dimensional assessments in a chemistry unit, and tools for designing the assessments!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. see key features of 3-D assessments by examining a few examples; 2. learn how to design 3-D assessments in the context of high school chemistry; and 3. learn how to use various forms of scaffolds to design 3-D assessments that support students from historically marginalized communities.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Fortier (Tustin High School: Tustin, CA), Abbey Zinsser (Tustin High School: Tustin, CA), Hosun Kang (University of California, Irvine: Irvine, CA), Lindsay Fay (Tustin High School: Tustin, CA)

Find out how to use explore-before-explain learning to flip the traditional teaching script and promote long-lasting understanding in physical, life, and Earth and space science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Why sequence matters—a concise review of cognitive science and science education research explains why the order in which you structure your lessons is so critical; 2. What you need to do—an overview of important planning considerations covers becoming an “explore-before-explain” teacher and designing POE (Predict, Observe, Explain) and 5E (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate) instructional models; and 3. How you do it—ready-to-teach lessons that use an explore-before-explain sequence to provide an experience that meets the Next Generation Science Standards and makes interdisciplinary connections to the Common Core State Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Brown (Fort Zumwalt School District R-II: O'Fallon, MO)

How can we support ALL learners as they engage in STEM learning? This interactive session will focus on scaffolding engineering experiences to assist English language learners and other students in need of additional support while enriching the learning for everyone.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore EiE’s considerations for designing fully inclusive engineering experiences; 2. Identify strategies for facilitating accessible STEM activities virtually and in person.

SPEAKERS:
Lorri Coates (Museum of Science, Boston: Boston, MA)

Participants will review performance task components and will utilize a task screener tool to evaluate a performance task.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn: 1. what a performance task is; 2. key components of a performance task; and 3. how to evaluate a performance task.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Torres (Arizona Science Teachers Association: Tucson, AZ), Sarah Sleasman (Arizona Dept. of Education: Phoenix, AZ), Meg Gebert (Arizona Science Teachers Association: Tucson, AZ), Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association)

Join us to learn how our district takes over one thousand elementary students into our local wilds and brings the science and technology standards to life. 

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to establish mutually beneficial local partnerships that support science instruction; 2. Discover how to encourage even the youngest students to problem solve local issues and take action in their communities; and 3. Walk away with lesson ideas and strategies for taking learning beyond the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Tarlton (Chillicothe Primary School: Chillicothe, OH), Dana Letts (Chillicothe City Schools: Chillicothe, OH)

Implement a three-dimensional middle school unit covering nervous system, chemical reactions, and engineering design! Session targets teachers, coaches, and supervisors from novice to advanced. To contact us, please fill out the form here.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore an NGSS-designed 3-D middle school integrated unit about instant ice packs; 2. Experience activities designed to model how to implement strategies for integrating 3-D learning; and 3. Reflect on how teachers can facilitate and motivate students to drive instruction .

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Bank (Kentucky Avenue School: Pittsburgh, PA), Arlene Friend (Von Tobel Middle School: Las Vegas, NV)

Explore classroom-tested benchmark assessments and scoring guides designed to assess students’ three-dimensional learning related to middle school performance expectations for life, physical, and Earth science.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to: 1. identify all three dimensions in an assessment item; 2. score for three dimensions in one assessment; and 3. adapt assessment items for classroom use based on their students/classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Maia Binding (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Engage in argument-driven scaffolds for Earth and environmental science topics to critically evaluate connections between evidence and alternative scientific explanations using model-evidence link (MEL) diagrams.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn what a MEL diagram is; 2. Practice using a MEL diagram to promote evaluation; and 3. Learn how to access the suite of MEL materials.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Klavon (Black Hills State University: Spearfish, SD), Janelle Bailey (Temple University: Philadelphia, PA), Doug Lombardi (University of Maryland: College Park, MD)

Explore misconceptions surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) while participating in one of the hottest trends in innovative science teaching and entertainment. Free teaching materials available.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. define terms such as transgenic, GMO, and recombinant DNA; 2. sort GMO from non-GMO products; and 3. separate GMO misconceptions from facts.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Petzel Snyder (Teacher-Trainer: Kingston, OH)

Learn how to leverage community resources and infuse criticality into your science curriculum. Presenters will engage attendees in standards-focused activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to: 1. embed justice-oriented practices into their classroom teaching; and 2. create transformative curricula and innovative professional learning experiences to develop highly effective science teachers and teacher leaders.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Pena (Georgia State University: Atlanta, GA), Natalie King (Georgia State University: Atlanta, GA), Christine Thomas (Georgia State University: Atlanta, GA), Desmond Lee (Georgia State University: Atlanta, GA), Vanessa Grady (Rex Mill Middle School: Rex, GA), Nicholas Collins (Fulton County Schools: Atlanta, GA)

Transitioning to online instruction requires educators to employ new digital tools and strategies. We'll focus on an overview of digital tools and strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Making connections between digital tools and strategies for use in student engagement; 2. Becoming familiar with the shared digital tools and strategies for use; and 3. List of online resources for use in online instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Anne Royce (Shippensburg University: Shippensburg, PA)

Sponsoring Company: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is introducing a collection of immersive underwater experiences to bring these exceptional places to viewers everywhere. Join us on a virtual tour of our underwater parks. Learn what national marine sanctuaries are and dive below the surface to virtually interact with sanctuary sea life.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Take a visual tour of America's national marine sanctuaries and learn more about the conservation of these underwater parks; 2. Immerse and explore these underwater treasures through free virtual reality dives and 360 degree underwater photos; and 3. Walk through at least one NGSS-focused lesson plan for grades 6–8 that complements the underwater VR dives.

SPEAKERS:
Claire Fackler (NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries: Santa Barbara, CA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes

Engage in strategies to help your ELL population 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 ELLs within the classroom can build their ability to communicate science concepts effectively.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn strategies to support English Learners; 2. Participate in activities that help scaffold reading and writing for ELs; and 3. Learn how to differentiation ideas

SPEAKERS:
Veronica Burnett (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Dr. Kenneth Heydrick (: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Teachers will engage in three examples of hands-on investigations, digital investigations, and digital teacher demonstrations from the Carolina 3D® kit lines for biology, chemistry, and Earth and space science. These activities illustrate how in-class hands-on laboratory investigations have been modified by Carolina for use in socially distanced classrooms and remote learning settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The modification of a face-to-face investigation to a digital investigation with data collection; 2. How to use live specimen in a remote, digital investigation; and 3. Examples of formative assessment appropriate for remote learning.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Risko (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC), DeeDee Whitaker (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids, Inc.

Through an online simulation, participants will develop a model for an ecosystem and then introduce a new species to explain how this new component in the system affects the flow of energy and cycling of matter throughout the ecosystem. Learn about Lab-Aids’ new Remote Learning Activities and discover ideas for implementing hands-on curricula into an online platform. The activity provides an opportunity to assess student work related to MS-LS2-3.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about Lab-Aids' new Remote Learning activities while discovering how to implement hands-on curricula into an online platform; 2. Utilize a digital simulation to develop a model of a food web to show the flow of energy and cycling of matter throughout an ecosystem; and 3. Relate core science concepts to the issue of introduced species and their effects on ecosystems.

SPEAKERS:
Cindy Lilly (Ocean Bay Middle School: Myrtle Beach, SC)

Sponsoring Company: HHMI

Explore an example of a storyline that encompasses evolution, genetics, and protein folding using the relationship between sickle cell disease and malaria as the anchoring phenomenon. A variety of instructional strategies will be demonstrated using activities from HHMI BioInteractive that are research based, free, and classroom ready.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. HHMI activities can be bundled together to allow students to make sense of the evolutionary connection between sickle cell and malaria; 2. Storyline Viewer can be used to plan and organize lessons; and 3. A variety of strategies to engage participants as they explore the anchoring phenomenon.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Colvard (Retired Educator: Nottingham, NH), Kathlyn Van Hoeck (St Xavier University: Chicago, IL)

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Tap into your students' curiosity about COVID-19 to teach key biology concepts in context. In this session, see hands-on classroom activities that use the same laboratory techniques as those used for COVID-19 detection. Walk through a real-world scenario where students determine how COVID-19 spreads at a restaurant.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about new activities to teach ELISA and gel electrophoresis in the context of the science of COVID-19; and 2. walk through a real-world problem-solving case study about the spread of COVID-19 in a restaurant.

SPEAKERS:
Damon Tighe (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

In this hands-on interactive workshop, participants will learn how to utilize physical chromosome and DNA models to explore and compare the processes of mitosis and meiosis with students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to: 1. use models to teach the organization and structure of DNA; 2. use models to compare mitosis and meiosis; and 3. connect DNA structure to phenotypic expression when teaching genetics.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Chou (Longmont High School: Longmont, CO)

Sponsoring Company: Pivot Interactives

Come learn how Pivot Interactives helps students learn chemistry concepts and lab skills using our online learning platform. Interactive video allows students to make their own measurements from libraries of thousands of high-resolution videos and interactive measurement tools. Customizable instructions, fast grading tools, and LMS integration make life easier for teachers too!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how Pivot Interactives allows students to start with phenomena and guides them to use their own measurements and observations to build and apply models; 2. see from the student perspective how Pivot Interactives enables online labs; and 3. explore the content library, grading tools, and LMS integration.

SPEAKERS:
Peter Bohacek (Pivot Interactives: Minneapolis, MN)

Sponsoring Company: NSTA, Shell Teacher Awards and Competitions

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

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to apply for a Shell-sponsored award or competition; 2. begin your application or nomination of a Shell-sponsored program and receive a prize; and 3. collaborate with past winners and judges to learn how to strengthen your application.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Upton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Ruth Ruud (Cleveland State University: Cleveland, OH)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

How do we support students to gather a variety of evidence in order to deepen their understanding of phenomena? Join program authors from UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science to experience how a multimodal approach allows students to grapple with phenomena and real-world problems like scientists do. We will unpack structures from the K–8 Amplify Science curriculum and consider how a deep understanding of NGSS can support you in making principled pedagogical decisions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain a deeper understanding of the role that different sources of evidence play in phenomenon-based teaching and learning; 2. experience an exemplar of how students figuring out investigative phenomena can support their increasing understanding of more complex anchor phenomena; and 3. reflect on how students engage in all three dimensions of NGSS as they gather evidence and grapple with real-world phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Stenger (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Sponsoring Company: TCI

Participants will be immersed in an investigation designed to reach all learners and make learning science concepts fun and engaging. Participants will experiment with a variety of materials to make different kinds of waves and come up with a scientific definition of waves.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Attendees will learn how to engage students with phenomenon-based storylines that provide real-world problems for students to connect their learning with their own experiences; 2. through the session immersion and hands-on investigations, they will see how each TCI's Bring Science Alive! lesson incorporates three-dimensional learning in the middle school classroom; and 3. attendees will walk away knowing how to use the TCI's digital platform to bring science alive in the distance and blended learning environment.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Thomas (TCI: Mountain View, CA), Deanna Morrow (TCI: Mountain View, CA)