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)

Implementation of evidence supported instructional techniques has demonstrated the potential to increase student performance while increasing student engagement. Moderated by Brian Ogle, this panel will highlight strategies for implementing best practices in the math and science classroom to better serve students with a learning disability. Participants will examine the unique challenges to teaching STEM content and the challenges that students with a learning disability face.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Ogle (Brevard Zoo: No City, No State), Jodi Brubaker (Beacon College: Leesburg, FL), Matthew Epp (Tavares Middle School: Tavares, FL)

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)

Help your students explore two evolutionary processes: adaption and speciation. Participants will use computer models to examine these processes at various spatial and temporal scales and collect evidence to articulate the impacts of inheritance, mutation, selection, forage, competition, and reproduction on the processes. This session targets NGSS Biology Evolution core ideas at the high school level (HS-LS4).

TAKEAWAYS:
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SPEAKERS:
Lin Xiang (University of Kentucky: Lexington, KY)

Sponsoring Company: MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling

We will focus on the defining feature of CRISPR technology, the ability of the Cas9 endonuclease to find and cut DNA at a unique site in the 3.2 billion base-pair human genome. We will also explore how a related CRISPR protein is being used to detect the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will see how models can be used to investigate how the mechanism of the CRISPR/Cas9 system is used to edit genomes. 2. Participants will learn how CRISPR technology is being used in current Coronavirus research. 3. Participants will discover the benefits of hands-on modeling and how it improves student understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Herman (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI), Heather Ryan (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI), Kris Herman (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Every day a small number of zoo nutritionists around the world apply any and every gram of knowledge they can find to ensure the nutritional welfare of the animals in our care. This isn’t just simply “STEM-ming the heck out of it,” but often taking it the next step to ensure all of those disciplines effectively collaborate to come up with practical solutions to help feed some of the rarest animals on the planet. We’ll share how we approach diet design for everything from ants to zebras, the true meaning of “comparative nutrition,” and how every component of STEM is engaged daily to help save species through appropriate nutrition. 

SPEAKERS:
Mike Maslanka (Smithsonian National Zoological Park: Washington, DC)

The coronavirus pandemic has exposed gaps in U.S. science education. Our curricula have not been prioritizing learning about the relationships between issues of social justice and scientific phenomena, like the inequitable impact of the pandemic or environmental degradation. Meanwhile, powerful protests against anti-blackness have made more and more science educators aware of the need to enact anti-racist science teaching. Discussion centers on principles and examples of teaching about Social Justice Science Issues (SJSI) in high school science courses, introductory college science courses, and in preservice science teacher education.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Morales-Doyle (University of Illinois Chicago: Chicago, IL)

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)

Join us to explore a holistic view of the challenges, as well as learn tips and strategies to successfully implement distance learning in your postsecondary 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), Leslie Ligier (Washington University in St. Louis: Saint Louis, MO), Teodora Rutar Shuman (Seattle University: Seattle, WA), Katey Shirey (edukatey: Washington, DC)

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)

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)

Highly acclaimed author Rebecca Skloot spent more than 10 years doggedly uncovering the truth about the life, death, and ultimate “immortality” of a poor black tobacco farmer named Henrietta Lacks. Part detective story, part scientific odyssey, and part family saga, her phenomenal book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is inspired by the life of Henrietta Lacks, whose cancer cells—code named HeLa—were taken without her knowledge in 1951. Rebecca is currently writing a new book on the often controversial topic of animal research and ethics through a deeply personal story about our complex relationships with animals—their roles in our lives, and in science—and the humans who battle over their fates, and as a result, our own.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Skloot (Journalist, Teacher, and Author: Berkeley, CA), Brian Ogle (Brevard Zoo: No City, No State)

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!