Join Mike Massimino, former NASA astronaut, as he relates his time in space with the feelings of isolation and loneliness that many of our teachers and students are experiencing in this distance/virtual learning environment. Mike’s message is a reminder to all of us, that in spite of the physical distancing, we can (and, should!) stay “connected” to one another.

SPEAKERS:
Mike Massimino (Columbia University: New York, NY)

So great, we got through this year: Now what? As we prepare for next school year, what digital tools are out there to support us in blended learning situations that will put us in the classroom, in the home, and back? Join us for a select list of flexible, easy-to-use tools that have the potential of opening up new possibilities for teaching and learning. We’ll keep it lively and engaging and along the way as we share a host of digital resources for middle level education and classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Payo (Denver Urban Gardens: Denver, CO), Tim Blesse (Denver Museum of Nature & Science: Denver, CO), Ari Leventhal (West Middle School: Denver, CO), Elizabeth Johnston (Denver Public Schools: Denver, CO)

When schools closed in the spring of 2020, many educators felt as though they could only be reactive instead of proactive, with many pieces constantly in flux. As we consider the 2020–2021 school year, many questions remain. Join us as we process what remote learning looked like and provide a space to process what the upcoming year may look like (remote, hybrid, or in-person). Through a Q&A moderated by Denver Public Schools science team lead Renee Belisle, the panelists will describe their approaches to STEM learning in a remote environment, describing how teachers facilitate learning in traditionally hands-on subjects during the spring, as well as discussing ideas for the fall.

SPEAKERS:
Reneé Belisle Kelly (Amplify: Brooklyn, NY), Phil Kim (KIPP Schools: San Francisco, CA), Stephanie Hervey (Denver Public Schools: Denver, CO), Meghan Gardner (Guard Up's Guardian Adventures: Burlington, MA)

Build student understanding and ability to look for patterns, analyze data, and use their own mathematical rules in the context of a photo finish they orchestrate.

TAKEAWAYS:
Build positive mathematical identity by using math to describe their situation. Create a richer understanding of the mathematics they do when they create rules (functions) to describe the movement of their object. Collaborate and problem solve with others to create an collective experience connecting mathematics and science.

SPEAKERS:
Katelyn Barnes (Riverside High School: Leesburg, VA), David Barnes (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: Reston, VA)

Address the NGSS chemistry disciplinary core ideas with STEAM! Several mini-units / activities presented, which are Monday doable, environmentally focused, and develop students’ STEM understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. This session is Engineering activity focused, giving teachers several mini-units and activities that focus on the Chemistry related DCI's. 2. Participants will get several strategies to incorporate Art and Technology–related activities into their Science classrooms. 3. Participants will come away with a new appreciation for the "nonmechanical" Engineering strands, such as Chemical, Construction, and Environmental Engineering strands, as well as Material Science.

SPEAKERS:
Julie A. Smith (Lennox Middle School: Lennox, CA)

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)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

We will bring science and coding together as participants learn to do some basic coding (no experience necessary) while developing a mood ring! The science of color mixing is explored while determining the right body temperature thresholds. Is fuchsia flirty? Should green be groovy? Lets find out!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Teachers will see how to get up to speed on STEM and coding with TI’s STEM projects. 2. Specifically, teachers will see how they can engage their students in designing a working digital mood ring by mixing primary colors to create any color they want. 3. If teachers or coordinators need help getting a STEM project going at their school and district, then the TI STEM Team can help.

SPEAKERS:
Fred Fotsch (Texas Instruments: Dallas, TX)

Studies continue to show a low representation of women in STEM careers, even though the number of jobs available grows year after year. A key component to combat this growing gap involves providing young women in middle school and high school with opportunities to connect with role models and mentors so that they can see themselves in these STEM careers. Moderated by Mellisa Blankenship, Kentucky Science Center programs director, this panel will explore how programs that inspire and reengage students with hands-on STEM concepts and career mentorship can help young women build confidence and encourage them to pursue STEM subjects academically, as well as elevate them through the STEM career pipeline.

SPEAKERS:
Mellisa Blankenship (Kentucky Science Center: Louisville, KY), Gabi O'Daniel (Mercy Academy: Louisville, KY), Mackenzie Bardin (Tates Creek Middle School: Lexington, KY), Patrick Burton (Mercy Academy), Stacey Hubbard (Westport Middle School: Louisville, KY), Kathleen Riley (Tates Creek Middle School: Lexington, KY)

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)

Discover Orton-Gillingham strategies and activities for science vocabulary, concepts, and organizational skills that can be used immediately in all grade levels and inclusion classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Vocabulary-based strategies for all levels of students. Language-based differentiation that can be adjusted for STEM classrooms. Orton-Gillingham method can be adapted for all levels of science classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Wink Gilligan (The Bridge Academy of New Jersey: Lawrence Township, 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)

If you’re new to coding, come get up to speed! By combining coding and hands-on activities, you can learn how to program a robotic vehicle to perform different challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Bring coding and hands-on science learning together; Learn creative ways to use the engineering design process to teach science; Write simple code to use a Rover to explore the relationship between speed, distance, and time.

SPEAKERS:
Karlheinz Haas (Science/Math Instructor, Retired: Tequesta, FL)

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 (Sehome High School: Bellingham, WA), Heather Ryan (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI), Kris Herman (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

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 (Immersed Games: Buffalo, NY)

Join us to explore a holistic view of the challenges, as well as learn tips and strategies to successfully implement distance learning in your middle school classrooms. Moderated by Kavita Gupta, panelists will share experiences and wisdom gained toward driving equity across learning styles, changing assessments, and addressing interventions. Participants will walk away equipped with best practices in distance learning, including a new educational context.

SPEAKERS:
Kavita Gupta (Monta Vista High School: Cupertino, CA), Charu Gulati (Tierra Linda Middle School: San Carlos, CA), Jessica Holman (Boone County High School: Florence, KY), Tara Krishnan (Tierra Linda Middle School: San Carlos, CA), J. T. Hardin (National Geographic Society: Washington, DC)

Join an interview with Kaitlin Graff, School and Higher Education Subject Matter expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as we navigate through the challenges of how to best educate our students around COVID-19 and its impact on their daily lives and the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kaitlin Graff (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, GA)

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 (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

How are you prepping your kids? If you are letting them make and teaching them coding, then you know they will be OK. Why not attend a session where you can learn both? We will dive into building your own hardware to work with any subject.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks. Students know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts, or solving authentic problems. Students develop, test, and refine prototypes as part of a cyclical design process

SPEAKERS:
David Lockett (Meharry School of Applied Computational Sciences: Nashville, TN), Denise Wright (Ocean Bay Middle School: Myrtle Beach, SC)

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)

Culture is the key to engaging underrepresented populations in STEM education. Understanding the pedagogy is necessary to grow STEM diversity.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understanding the role culture plays in learning ; Application of strategies that can be used in the learning experience to meet the needs of culturally diverse learners ; Understanding the framework of culturally relevant pedagogy

SPEAKERS:
Rochelle Darville (West St. John High School: Edgard, LA), Nikita LaCour (Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Magnet Academy: Baton Rouge, LA), Ashley McClure (Southern University and A&M College: Baton Rouge, LA), Bobbie Shujaa (Southern University and A&M College: Baton Rouge, LA)

See robots in action during this event! Educators from around the world will bring their robots to virtually demonstrate their uses in a showcase format. This is an interactive event where attendees wanting to know about robots can ask questions and collect ideas for their own classrooms. Together, we'll establish a professional learning network of educators using robots to engage students. 

SPEAKERS:
Alex Crooks (World Robot Olympiad Foundation: Taylorsville, NC), Amy Slotnick (Slingshot Films: New York, NY), Anna Elzer (iRobot Corp.: Bedford, MA), Gary Garber (Garber STEM Consultants: Melrose, MA), Tom Lauwers (Birdbrain Technologies, LLC: Pittsburgh, PA), Ben Smith (Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12: New Oxford, PA)

The Engaged Quality Instruction through Professional Development (EQuIPD project) provides weeklong summer sessions for teachers. To aid teachers in implementing the project goal of increased inquiry, coaches met with teachers twice per month for one year. The coaching model used was a facilitative one. Come learn about the EQuIPD Facilitative Coaching Model and its effect on teachers and student performance.

TAKEAWAYS:
1) A copy of the EQuIPD Facilitative Coaching Model will be disseminated to elucidate the meaning of facilitative coaching. 2) Strategic Activities coaches used across three phases of inquiry implementation: Planning, Implementation, and Sustainability phases will be distributed so participants can utilize these to increase the use of inquiry in their own schools. 3) Sample Coaching Reports, Logs, and Coaching Work Plans utilized in the project will also be shared to illuminate goal setting and progress tracking.

SPEAKERS:
Krista Dulany (University of Florida: Gainesville, FL), Xavier Rozas (University of Florida: Gainesville, FL), Nancy Ruzycki (University of Florida: Gainesville, FL), Julie Edmunds (SERVE Center: Durham, NC)

Discussion centers on the concept of artificial intelligence and how it is taught in the middle school classroom. Emphasis will be placed on real-life examples and how they interact with AI. Resources/technology that support teaching AI will be shared, especially the AI4All movement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Create experiences for learners to make positive, socially responsible contributions and exhibit empathetic behavior online that build relationships and community. Attendees will be exposed to a variety of resources that assist educators, so they, may introduce middle school students to AI. Design authentic learning activities that align with content area standards and use digital tools and resources to maximize active, deep learning.

SPEAKERS:
Denise Wright (Ocean Bay Middle School: Myrtle Beach, SC), David Lockett (Meharry School of Applied Computational Sciences: Nashville, TN)

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 (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

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 (Scientist and Educator: Fall River, 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)

Join us for this demo show by the Kentucky Science Center. You won't want to miss this display of favorite science demonstrations that are brought to students and families everywhere!