How can you craft space to help emphasize student-centered environments for inquiry-based, interdisciplinary, and freedom-centric learning? Join an architect with the Committee on Architecture for Education to explore strategies and examples on how spaces can inspire community, creativity, curiosity, and caring.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Attendees will learn from a case study of a new K-8 STEAM school how various design qualities of openness, art, connectivity, and nature can create freedom-centric learning. 2. Attendees will learn what it means to craft space and how creating diverse and agile settings removes barriers and allows teachers and students to take ownership and adapt the environment to their needs. 3. Attendees will explore how theme-based design can be utilized to shape cultural interactions, indoo/outdoor connections, and the building as a canvas for art.

SPEAKERS:
Olivia Graf Doyle (Architecture for Education: Pasadena, CA)

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 (McKendree Elementary School: Lawrenceville, GA), Julie Wilkerson (McKendree Elementary School: Lawrenceville, GA)

Get the tools to plan and execute a successful STEM Family Night geared toward all ages.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to plan a STEM family night What types of activities do you choose How to get parents involved

SPEAKERS:
Jacqueline Mumford (St. Paul School: Salem, OH), Misty Dietrich (St. Paul School: Salem, OH), David Pancurak (St. Paul School: Salem, OH)

What if students habitually explored the key questions posed by scientists, engineers, and designers in anything they do? Innovators’ Compass is a 5-question tool, in all-free online and offline formats, to make that possible—developed by an MIT and IDEO alumna who’s now an Olin College educator. A quick introduction will include short videos of the Compass used in STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about a visual tool, in all-free on-and-offline formats, with 5 questions distilled from many practices in science, engineering, design, and beyond. See students and educators applying these for STEM, interdisciplinary, and SEL problems and projects. Use these 5 questions with peers on a pressing problem: how to advance hands-on STEM in (semi) virtual times.

SPEAKERS:
Valeria Rodriguez (STEM Educator & Instructional Technologist: Miami, FL), Ela Ben-Ur (Innovators' Compass: Cambridge, MA)

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 (Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES): Cleveland, OH)

Join a group of architects with the Committee on Architecture for Education to explore how alternate learning environments and a connection to nature and sustainability can encourage discovery, innovation, and problem solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore various opportunities for fostering innovation in nontraditional classroom settings. Attendees will investigate case studies of successful spaces that incorporate nature as part of both the learning environment and as a learning tool. Attendees will learn how to create their own alternative learning environments, utilizing sustainable strategies and designing for discovery.

SPEAKERS:
John Dale (HED (Harley Ellis Devereaux): Los Angeles, CA), Claire Gallagher (Georgian Court University: Lakewood, NJ)

Have a great activity to share? Join in for an overview of how to write for The Science Teacher. Learn tips and tricks for being a published author.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will learn about the inner workings of the journal. 2. Participants will gain skills in how to write for the journal. 3. Participants will be introduced to what kinds of articles are sought for the journal.

SPEAKERS:
Ann MacKenzie (Miami University: Oxford, OH)

Hear how to use NASEF’s state-approved esports high school curriculum to engage and motivate students in STEM learning and careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to use esports to attract students to deeper STEM learning . Learn how to implement a state-approved esports curriculum . Learn about the STEM careers in the world's fastest growing industry—Esports.

SPEAKERS:
Laylah Bulman (Samueli Foundation: Corona Del Mar, CA)

Discussion centers on how Louisiana’s innovative STEM pathways give students access to high-demand, high-wage careers straight out of high school or with college or university degrees.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. High school STEM education can help meet vital workforce need. 2. High school STEM pathways can meet student needs whether they plan to attend a college/university or enter directly into the workforce. 3. High-value partnerships with public and private entities can expand capacity to offer high-quality STEM experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Nathan Corley (Louisiana Dept. of Education: Baton Rouge, LA)

The Tennessee STEM Innovation Network has developed a strong, statewide STEM ecosystem for K–12 educators. We will focus on ways to connect and highlight communities of STEM teachers, encourage innovative teaching practices through targeted STEM professional development, and establish a STEM culture through statewide programming efforts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Identify the niches of your ecosystem—what are the roles necessary to promote diversity and unity? Identify the resources needed to sustain an ecosystem Identify potential challenges to the viability of the ecosystem and possible mitigation strategies

SPEAKERS:
Brandi Stroecker (Tennessee STEM Innovation Network-Battelle: Nashville, TN), Becky Ashe (Tennessee STEM Innovation Network-Battelle: Nashville, TN)

A purposeful sample of 196 Texas administrators provided responses to the STEM Awareness Community Survey (SACS). We will share research and discuss school administrators’ awareness of parental STEM knowledge and the critical role parents play in their children’s STEM education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Inform K-12 administrators that parents are not aware of: (1) available school-related STEM opportunities for their children; (2) the importance of engaging in STEM with their children; (3) and the scope of preparation needed to prepare their children for STEM-related careers.

SPEAKERS:
Omah Williams-Duncan (University of Houston-Clear Lake: Houston, TX), Sandy White Watson (University of Houston-Clear Lake: Houston, TX)

NSTA School, District, and University partnerships provide personalized professional learning experiences for K–12 educators and science preservice teachers. Find out more about these NSTA opportunities that combine membership with access to resources, online tools, and the national network.

TAKEAWAYS:
(1) Discover the new NSTA School and District Partner Programs that combine member benefits with access to fee-based resources, professional learning tools, and conference opportunities. (2) Learn how professors use the NSTA website, resources, and online community with teacher candidates. (3) Network with other, link-minded, individuals.

SPEAKERS:
Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA)