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)

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)

In this session, we will focus on how two science teachers (one hybrid and one virtual) still conduct labs with their students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Labs are still possible during this pandemic. 2. Labs provide high engagement while students are still learning at home. 3. Simple labs are better than no labs at all.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Ramaswamy (Penn-Trafford High School: Harrison City, PA), Andrew Walton (Upper Moreland High School: Willow Grove, PA)

Environmental/instructional strategies will be addressed to help teachers reduce risk and provide for safer lab activities in on-site school science labs and virtual formats.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Five effective ways of reducing health risks during the COVID-19 pandemic; 2. Facility environmental concerns and ways to make them safer; and 3. Instructional strategies to reduce risk for safer lab activities.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Roy (Glastonbury Public Schools: Glastonbury, CT)

This session will use a Storyline from the Illinois Science Teachers as an example for 3-D Learning in the middle and high school virtual classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Phenomena are important in helping engage students in a storyline to help to explain something in nature; 2. Developing and using models can be done by students in a virtual environment; and 3. There are many ways to use technology with virtual learners to analyze data and construct explanations and other science and engineering practices, incorporating crosscutting concepts to learn the disciplinary core ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Mesmer (Mesmer Science Education Consulting: Baraboo, WI), Brian Bartel (Appleton Area School District: Appleton, WI)

In examining student scientific explanations, one common finding is that understanding how to analyze data is often the missing piece in order for students to construct proficient explanations. However, we often tell students to analyze data, but we don't teach students how to do this. Participants will practice several strategies, acquire resources to share with students, and deepen their understanding of how to teach, not tell, students to analyze data.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Deeper understanding of data analysis as required by the NGSS; 2. Deeper understanding of common student misconceptions about data analysis; and 3. Practical strategies for scaffolding data analysis.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Johnson (EKU Partnership Institute for Math and Science Education Reform: Morehead, KY)

In this engaging and informative online session, Michael will offer a conceptual landscape on which you'll construct a valid understanding of COVID-19. Using a PowerPoint deck populated with richly illustrated and animated slides, Michael will facilitate this essential experience in a manner that's engaging and not intimidating. Through this understanding, you'll become empowered to teach the applicable concepts of COVID-19 literacy, resulting in a student population that is better informed to make critical decisions, especially those that impact their health.

TAKEAWAYS:
After attending this session, attendees will be empowered with an understanding of COVID-19 on which to: 1. increase classroom effectiveness in teaching appropriate disciplinary core ideas of life sciences; 2. apply 3-D learning to understanding the biology COVID-19 virus and the resultant pandemic; and 3. apply crosscutting concepts along with science and engineering practices to an understanding of COVID-19.

SPEAKERS:
Michael DiSpezio (Master Educator, Presenter, and Author: North Falmouth, MA)

Use award-winning informational fiction books as the frame for developing hands-on explorations and activities for elementary students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will use selected award-winning book lists to determine high-quality texts suitable for elementary classrooms; 2. Presenter will share helpful hints for extracting science content from selected literature and develop that content into hands-on explorations; and 3. Participants will have access to activities suitable for in-person and virtual activities aligned with the selected books, including, but not limited to, using play to explore engineering and creating STEM activities from picture books.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Parks (Stetson University: Deland, FL)

Explore strategies and resources to shift your online courses into a more three-dimensional teaching and learning style.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will explore: 1. strategies for engaging students in phenomena in the online environment; 2. different course structural elements that can be used to promote three-dimensional learning; and 3. online resources that can be incorporated into an online course to promote inquiry learning.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Allred (Deer Valley Unified School Dstrict: Phoenix, AZ)

We will investigate the use of anchoring phenomena in lessons with an emphasis on the science and engineering practices. We will discuss the integration of questioning, models, and phenomena in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Phenomena are the basis of science, since science is all about understanding our natural world; 2. Questioning is a key component of science instruction. A teacher should "never say what a student can say" but instead elicit students' responses to drive the instruction; and 3. Modeling is a dynamic process in science. Science modeling is different from "a model" or using modeling as a pedagogical process (i.e., "I do, we do, you do").

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN)

Explore a variety of ways to use the Uncovering Student Ideas Formative Assessment Probes during distance learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Recognize the importance of eliciting students' prior conceptions; 2. Gain tips and strategies for using the probes during remote learning to engage all students in learning concepts and figuring out phenomena; and 3. Learn ways to modify probes for digital use and applications.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: No City, No State)

The National Science Education Leadership Association welcomes participants to an open roundtable discussion with experts who will share successful practices in science education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Emerging leaders will leave with science education leadership skills.

SPEAKERS:
Linda Cook (The University of Texas at Dallas: Richardson, TX), James Blake (Lincoln Public Schools: Lincoln, NE), Shane Woods (Girlstart)

Teach science-skeptical students about climate change by exposing them to the powerful story and evidence of climate change found in your community.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Students are not convinced by data models, but they are convinced by what they can experience in their own communities; 2. There is evidence of climate change that can be found in every part of the country; and 3. Knowing what to show students in the community, and how to tell the story of climate change on a local level, empowers students to make a difference.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Burkhart (Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania: Slippery Rock, PA), Jason Hilton (Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania: Slippery Rock, PA)

Hear innovative ideas for developing partnerships and programs with community, universities, and industry to equip students with STEM skills necessary for success in tomorrow’s world.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to go beyond one-off field trips to engage students in deeper, more meaningful, long-term, and real-world learning; 2. Learn how to take advantage of the coming "silver Tsunami" in most industries, to get unique learning experiences and measurable outcomes for your students; and 3. Understand that "STEM fields" are not limited to robotics or space exploration; most if not all fields soon will require at least a basic understanding of STEM concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Gordon Bourns (Bourns, Inc.: Riverside, CA), Sharon Gutierrez (Riverside Public Utilities: Riverside, CA), John Robertson (Riverside Unified School District: Riverside, CA), Damaris Velez (Riverside Public Utilities: Riverside, CA)

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.

TAKEAWAYS:
Share your passion and practice by applying for one of eight awards. Learn from past Shell awardees, finalists, and judging panel members’ important tips to apply for this award, and how to win a trip to next year’s national conference in Chicago.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Upton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Richard Embrick (Wright Junior High: No City, No State)

Use argumentation tools to facilitate elementary student conversations around the intersection of science and social justice because as the  NGSS state, “Science is a Human Endeavor.”

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn to connect the NGSS to a science phenomenon focused on social justice and culturally responsive to our student populations; 2. Use the science and engineering practice of arguing from evidence to facilitate student conversations on socially just science topics; and 3. Practice tools to facilitate difficult conversations around race, culture, identity, and social justice in the elementary classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Brandon Davis (PS 142, The Amalia Castro School: New York, NY), Leena Bakshi (STEM4Real: No City, No State)

Let's bring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into the forefront of science education! Join us as we share the details of our joint AMSE and NSTA Multicultural/Equity upcoming virtual miniseries. #DEIinACTION

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Addressing the Elephant in the Room: A Focus on Diversity and Equity Among Minority and Underserved Students in Geographic Locations; 2. Designing for Equitable Sense-making with Multilingual Learners; and 3. All in the (Science) Family: Considerations and Strategies for Inclusive Science Teaching for All Students.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Conerly (Marion County Schools: Columbia, MS), Sharon Delesbore (Stephen F. Austin High School: No City, No State)

The NSTA Atlas of the Three Dimensions maps out learning progressions based on the Framework for K–12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) using the same techniques that were used to develop the Atlas of Science Literacy from AAAS Project 2061. The 62 maps in the Atlas organize all of the elements from standards on a particular topic (e.g., modeling, patterns, or definitions of energy) on a single page. The elements from grades K–2 are at the bottom of the page and those from grades 9–12 are at the top. Arrows connect elements to indicate how ideas in a particular topic build on each other and how elements in different topics connect to one another. Studying the maps in the Atlas and the additional resources in the appendixes can provide educators new insights about the standards.
 
This session will provide an overview of how to read a map, the other features of the Atlas, and how educators can use this powerful navigational tool to develop and implement curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to read a map in the Atlas; 2. the relationship between the Framework and the Atlas; and 3. how to use the Atlas to unpack or clarify standards.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

We will present a unit designed to help students understand friction by using connected learning, engineering design principles, and real-world problem-solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to create real-world problems based on engineering design principles; 2. Explore how connected learning can engage all learners by tapping into their interests; and 3. Examine the framework of engineering design principles through an example of friction.

SPEAKERS:
Tevis Jacobs (University of Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh, PA), Cassie Quigley (University of Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh, PA), Autumn Dillaman (Falk Laboratory School: Pittsburgh, PA)

Attention will be paid to research-based strategies and resources to differentiate instruction, making science accessible and engaging for ALL students. Discussion centers on ways to increase participation, engagement, and advance learning. Handouts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. strategies, to engage all learners actively with hands-on experiences, to advance learning and deepen conceptual understanding for all K–6 students; 2. ways to differentiate instruction, offering tiered or leveled experiences, where explorations vary as to the complexity of the task, while offering essential concepts to all students; and 3. effective questioning strategies to enhance and deepen student understanding, increase academic language, and help make students’ thinking visible.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Knoell (Educational and Technology Consultant: Prairie Village, KS)

The 7Cs of creativity (Creators, Creating, Collaborations, Contexts, Creations, Consumption, and Curricula) allow students additional avenues to demonstrate content mastery content. Join in to explore ways of connecting science practices and design thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn strategies to incorporate wonder and curiosity in science lessons to engage reluctant learners; be able to implement lessons that incorporate creativity, design thinking, and science practices; and 3. learn ways to implement design thinking and use science practices with a wide range of learners.

SPEAKERS:
Deepa Iyer (Knox Gifted Academy: Chandler, AZ)

This session will engage teachers in experiencing and exploring free NGSS-focused resources for classrooms from STEM@GTRI.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Free NGSS-focused resources; 2. virtual field experiences; and 3. educational technology.

SPEAKERS:
Tyler Kinner (Georgia Tech Research Institute: Atlanta, GA)