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)

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:
Matthew Hartman (BrainPOP: Pittsburgh, PA), Alexis Mundis (Army Educational Outreach Program: Arlington, VA), Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Attention will be paid to contemporary perspectives on how to integrate three-dimensional science learning, language learning, and computational thinking with all students, including English language learners. In addition, student artifacts illustrating such integration will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) Contemporary perspectives on how to integrate science, language and computational thinking 2) Curriculum materials and classroom instruction to promote such integration 3) Analysis of student artifacts illustrating such integration

SPEAKERS:
Okhee Lee (New York University: New York, NY)

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)

The elementary classroom provides an ideal place for teachers to integrate two of the areas that have many commonalities—science and literacy skills. Identify and integrate fairy tales and fables into STEM teaching lessons. Example lessons and suggested children’s books for use will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will 1). identify and integrate fairy tales and fables into STEM teaching lessons; 2). participate in activities that model the integration of children’s stories and science content; 3). discuss strategies for integrating both science and reading skills.

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

Attention will be paid to contemporary perspectives on how to integrate three-dimensional science learning, language learning, and computational thinking with all students, including English language learners. In addition, student artifacts illustrating such integration will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) Contemporary perspectives on how to integrate science, language and computational thinking 2) Curriculum materials and classroom instruction to promote such integration 3) Analysis of student artifacts illustrating such integration

SPEAKERS:
Okhee Lee (New York University: New York, NY)

Learn how to use purposefully designed, engaging questions to elicit and address students’ commonly held ideas about core concepts and practices related to engineering and technology.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) Learn how formative assessment probes reveal students' ideas about engineering and technology, including common misconceptions and stereotypes about engineers. 2) Learn how to embed the engineering and technology probes into instruction. 3) Learn how the engineering and technology probes support disciplinary core ideas and practices.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: No City, No State), Cary Sneider (Portland State University: Portland, OR), Mihir Ravel (Visiting Scholar: Portland, OR)

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)

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)

Discover STEAM-y starters in books we know, love, and have on our shelves. Titles, activities, and resources will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn why picture books are great starters for STEAM exploration. Discover favorite books and challenges. Explore how to add STEAM into already utilized texts in your curriculum and classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Burton (Trinity School: Atlanta, GA)

The authors of the Picture-Perfect STEM series will share lessons and strategies that integrate STEM and literacy in grades K–5.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore model lessons that integrate STEM and literacy. 2. Learn how picture books can be used in the 5Es learning cycle. 3. Discover engaging picture books that can inspire STEM learning.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Ansberry (Picture-Perfect Science: West Chester, OH), Emily Morgan (Picture-Perfect Science: West Chester, OH)

Come discover how the outdoor classroom and garden are places of joyful, interactive discovery that can engage young learners in science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

TAKEAWAYS:
Lessons taught indoors can be moved outdoors with student involvement in the natural environment. Opportunities for life lessons abound in schoolyard stewardship activities. Multidisciplinary collaboration among classroom, art, science, foreign language, music, and technology teachers is possible, and fun!

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Tate (Tower Hill School: Wilmington, DE)

Attention will be paid to ideas and lessons on programming robots in mathematics classes that allow students to apply their mathematical knowledge in new contexts.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Ideas for using programming robots in mathematics classes. 2. How to enhance students’ engagement in mathematics, programming, and robotics. 3. How programming robots provides feedback to student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Scharfenberger (The Ohio State University: Columbus, OH)

Review findings from a study of grade 6 students participating in a semester-long computing program focusing on STEM-based integrated coding activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Strategies to increase the interest of middle school students in STEM will be shared. 2. Strategies to increase the interest of underrepresented minorities in STEM will be shared. 3. Strategies to improve the attitudes of underrepresented minorities in STEM-related careers will be shared.

SPEAKERS:
Michiko McClary (Claflin University: Orangeburg, SC), Deidra Morrison (Claflin University: Orangeburg, SC), Yolanda Bennett (Robert E. Howard Middle School: Orangeburg, SC)

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:
Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Matthew Hartman (BrainPOP: Pittsburgh, PA), Alexis Mundis (Army Educational Outreach Program: Arlington, VA)

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 (STEM West: CLAREMONT, NC), Regina Barrier (North Carolina School of Science and Math - Morganton: Morganton, NC)

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)

Scoop up new learning with an ice cream insulation project that serves as a unit anchoring phenomenon, providing students with three-dimensional learning experiences interwoven with the strands of STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
A guide for how to utilize an engineering project as the phenomenon for an NGSS unit . Tips on how to effectively manage students working on engineering group projects. A format for 3-D assessment of an engineering design project

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Davis (American School of Dubai: Dubai, 0)

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 (Visual Science Studio: Lovettsville, VA)

Hear how a model car design challenge used project-based learning to interweave the strands of STEM into a student-driven learning experience.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. A scaffolded process for designing, organizing, and assessing their own STEM-based PBL unit. 2. Tools to use to manage student learning and group work. 3. A collection of resources to help with designing a STEM-PBL unit.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Davis (American School of Dubai: Dubai, 0)

STEM educators are quickly responding to the challenge of teaching students virtually through online classrooms and asynchronous assignments, but in hands-on technology classrooms, like Fab Labs and makerspaces, learning is especially difficult without access to 3D printers, laser cutters, and other digital fabrication tools. Over the past few months, the SCOPES-DF educators and makers network has been innovating and prototyping solutions to this challenge. In this workshop, participants will hear about some ideas and practices from innovative educators in the network using digital fabrication technologies with their students and will be challenged to get creative in their own virtual classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Shifting the focus to design is important for virtual projects. Computer simulations are an added step for digital fabrication that can be helpful in virtual assignments as well as in-person prototyping. Educators all over the world are facing this challenge with digital fabrication technologies, learn from others by joining the network.

SPEAKERS:
Liz Whitewolf (The Fab Foundation: Boston, MA)

Learn how to use purposefully designed, engaging questions to elicit and address students’ commonly held ideas about core concepts and practices related to engineering and technology.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) Learn how formative assessment probes reveal students' ideas about engineering and technology, including common misconceptions and stereotypes about engineers. 2) Learn how to embed the engineering and technology probes into instruction. 3) Learn how the engineering and technology probes support disciplinary core ideas and practices.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: No City, No State), Cary Sneider (Portland State University: Portland, OR), Mihir Ravel (Visiting Scholar: Portland, OR)

Discussion centers on pre-college educational preparation, acquisition of career information, and career options. Strategies for first-year college success will be described.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. High school course work preparation 2. Needed student strengths for success 3. Sources and uses of career information

SPEAKERS:
C Dale Elifrits (Northern Kentucky University: Highland Heights, KY)

Join us to explore a professional development program for secondary teachers to explore citizenship/programming concepts with explicit connections to the National Security Agency’s Cybersecurity Concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
• Participants will learn the National Security Agency’s Cybersecurity Concepts • Participants will explore exemplars for integrating Cybersecurity Concepts in various teaching disciplines • Participants will discuss best practices when teaching cyber literacy

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Ivy (Bellarmine University: Louisville, KY), Kevin Thomas (Bellarmine University: Louisville, KY), Eric Wong (Mercy Academy: Louisville, KY), Patrick Burton (Mercy Academy), Kristin Cook (Bellarmine University: Louisville, KY), Robert Kelley (Bellarmine University: Louisville, KY)

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)

Engage your students in this multidisciplinary application of civics and the scientific process. Implement this real-world problem-solving venue in your school!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to plan and execute co-curricular classes that integrate aspects of criminal justice, forensic science, and crime scene investigation. Expand these experiences for students by encouraging the involvement of other teachers/faculty in your schools. Explore how the implementation of student agency in the classroom can encourage students to grow in their ability to prioritize and chose responsibly, which is a lifelong skill.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Field (WestonHigh School)

Have your students explore the theories of life’s origins. Guide your students through historical research to memorable experiences of independent experimental design with Proteinoid Production. Student-produced samples will be on display.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will receive instructional materials and learn how to guide students through historical technical research to develop independent labs for Proteinoid Production. Discussions will include ways to implement and manage lab experience and stay sane. Methods of providing quick (and judicious) feedback as well as streamlined collective result sharing will be addressed.

SPEAKERS:
Catherina Sammons (Tates Creek High School: Lexington, KY)

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 (Army Educational Outreach Program: Arlington, VA), Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Matthew Hartman (BrainPOP: Pittsburgh, PA)

Find out how math, writing, and history/geography can come alive in a science classroom when assessing students through the use of claim, evidence, and reasoning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to: - Integrate claim, evidence, reasoning assessment strategies into their lessons - Develop lessons that challenge students to not only strengthen scientific thinking skills but math and writing skills as well - Challenge their students into applying their knowledge to the immediate world around them.

SPEAKERS:
Alexander Eden (Florida International University: Miami, FL)

The Carnegie STEM Excellence Pathway is a successful partnership initiative that proves schools can improve their STEM education practices through a positive, collaborative approach with community organizations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Designed to help the widest range of school districts and schools adopt best practices in STEM education, the Pathway includes: a tool and process for assessing current STEM programming and creating a practical plan for improvement a guide to specific steps a school or district can take to improve STEM education supports for teacher professional development and district-to-district mentoring.

SPEAKERS:
Toni Stith (Carnegie Science Center: Pittsburgh, PA)

Learn how to use purposefully designed, engaging questions to elicit and address students’ commonly held ideas about core concepts and practices related to engineering and technology.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) Learn how formative assessment probes reveal students' ideas about engineering and technology, including common misconceptions and stereotypes about engineers. 2) Learn how to embed the engineering and technology probes into instruction. 3) Learn how the engineering and technology probes support disciplinary core ideas and practices.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: No City, No State), Cary Sneider (Portland State University: Portland, OR), Mihir Ravel (Visiting Scholar: Portland, OR)

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 (Guard Up's Guardian Adventures: Burlington, MA)

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)

Join us as we discuss pandemic rethinking of an in-depth, in-person program led by university students engaging diverse upper-elementary girls in a STEM pathway, and opportunities for participating college mentors.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) Critical role the community advisory panel played in informing, guiding, and advocating for their audiences during the pandemic . 2) Student mentors have a powerful impact on the direction and depth of programming, including nurturing interests and role modeling with the next generation of scientists. 3) Key aspects of connecting young, diverse girls to the STEM pathway.

SPEAKERS:
Gianna Sullivan (University of Colorado Museum of Natural History: Boulder, CO), Lina Perez Angel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Rachel Fox Freeman (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

Undergraduate students performed science outreach activities with grades 8–12 students at the YMCA afterschool program. Students designed and facilitated three consecutive sessions each week that were scaffolded to specific grade levels. They used this experience to fulfill the capstone requirement for their BA in Biological Sciences degree. The undergraduates served as role models to students underrepresented in STEM fields while stimulating their interest in science. This experience also stimulated interest of the undergraduates in future careers as science teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Halpin (University of New Hampshire at Manchester: Manchester, NH)

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 (University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown: Johnstown, PA)

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 (Indiana University Southeast: New Albany, IN), Alan Zollman (Indiana University Southeast: New Albany, IN)

Reduce costs for learning materials by using Open Education Resources (OER) in STEM and CTE courses. Resources, tools, and processes will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be given: • A list of discipline specific OER resources • Criteria for evaluating OER resources =

SPEAKERS:
Esperanza Zenon (River Parishes Community College: Gonzales, LA)

Explore a partnership with an informal education organization to inspire the next generation of STEM students to pursue a career in STEM teaching. Discussion centers on the changes in interns’ perceptions of teaching STEM through data collected, including videos, observations, and student focus group data.

TAKEAWAYS:
• Participants will learn about a community partnership with an informal education organization to inspire the next generation of STEM students to pursue a career in STEM teaching. • Participants will explore the changes in interns’ perceptions of teaching STEM through data collected, including videos, observations and student focus group data. • Participants will discuss opportunities to teach and educate others for students interested in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Akhtar Mahmood (Bellarmine University: Louisville, KY), Kristin Cook (Bellarmine University: Louisville, KY), Cody Nygard (Bellarmine University: Louisville, KY)

Review a model for science methods courses that encompasses formal/informal learning environments built upon the six strands set forth by NRC Learning Science in Informal Environments. The framework focuses on the science culture of tools, language, and norms. Discussion includes how the model can be modified for elementary, secondary, and special education programs.

TAKEAWAYS:
- attendees will learn about a model that fuses together both formal and informal learning environments. The scope and sequence of the course syllabi will be shared - attendees will be learning about specific activities to better integrate various learning environments - attendees will given a list of resources to help implement in their respective courses

SPEAKERS:
Sumreen Asim (Indiana University Southeast: New Albany, IN)

It takes a village to build a STEM culture. We will share how two international schools built a culture of making through makerspaces and maker fairs.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to develop partnerships with outside organizations, corporations, and makers. 2. Understand that STEM ecosystems vary from one school to another, there is no one recipe, but there are guiding principles. 3. Gain understanding in how a maker space and a school maker faire can build a STEM culture.

SPEAKERS:
Craig Gingerich (American School of Doha: Doha, 0), Brian Wright (American School of Doha: Doha, Qatar)