We will share a PBL suitable for secondary and postsecondary meteorology students using an online severe weather events database.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will be given an opportunity to explore the Storm Prediction Center's (SPC) online severe weather events database, identifying the most impactful severe weather days (cases) for a sample region and year; 2. Participants will proceed through an example weekly worksheet analyzing the atmospheric parameters conducive for severe weather for a sample severe weather day; and 3. Presenters will share indirect assessment (via pre- vs. post-survey) data revealing the pedagogical impact of the PBL on student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Joby Hilliker (West Chester University: West Chester, PA), Shannon Hilliker (Binghamton University, SUNY: Binghamton, NY)

Introduce students to ways we use energy—exploring thermal energy transfer, electricity, lighting, and more! Learn great investigation activities for both the home and school!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to use energy management tools to measure energy use in the school and at home; 2. Describe efficiency and conservation, and categorize an energy-saving measure as either efficiency or conservation; and 3. Teach students how to measure and calculate which devices use more electricity than others and which cost more than others.

SPEAKERS:
Tyler Cvitkovic (The NEED Project: Manassas, VA)

Sponsoring Company: MatterHackers, Inc.

Learn how to lead students through engaging learning experiences such as the make:able challenge in order to improve learner outcomes and deepen student agency. They will be able to use empathy, STEM skills, and their own interests to improve the lives of others through assistive technology and 3D printing.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about the make:able challenge and how you can implement it at your school; 2. use resources from the Build a Better Book project to facilitate design challenges for people with visual impairments based on student interest; and 3. gain strategies to help promote student independence, growth, and reflection.

SPEAKERS:
Mara Hitner (MatterHackers, Inc.: Lake Forest, CA), Steven Jones (Swanson Middle School: Arlington, VA)

A project-based STEM curricula has students applying their knowledge and skills to improve the world they live in by achieving quantifiable water savings.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Science in the classroom can lead to real-world results; 2. Water audits require the use of math and technology to solve real-world problems; and 3. Community involvement enhances student learning and experience.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Hurlbut (The University of Arizona Maricopa County Cooperative Extension: Phoenix, AZ)

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)

Discussion centers on how to start an Environmental Education Club, incorporate green STEM-focused curriculum, and become part of the Eco-School global initiative.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. how to start an Environmental Education club at their school and will see examples from other schools and colleges; 2. about Green STEM lessons and interdisciplinary units that they can easily incorporate in their standards-based curriculum; and 3. about the Eco-School global initiative and will explore how they can inspire their students to collaborate with others and involve their local communities so together they can create creative and meaningful solutions to protect the planet.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Ristuccia (Fountain Hills Charter School: Fountain Hills, AZ)

Join us to learn how we move science from an “extra” subject in the primary grades to a focus that improves literacy achievement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn: 1. practical ways to use science to increase student mastery of the writing standards in the early grades; 2. how to “make the case” for using science to increase literacy; and 3. literacy assessments that are supported by classroom science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Dana Letts (Chillicothe City Schools: Chillicothe, OH), Heather Tarlton (Chillicothe Primary School: Chillicothe, OH)

Keeping the Earth big and blue requires getting students out into the schoolyard. Discover how to put in gardens or an outdoor classroom and how to support the learning through crosscutting concepts with journals and children’s literature.

TAKEAWAYS:
1.Teachers will experience through photographs, stories, and activities how to engage all students in connecting sustaining Earth to the local schoolyard and their backyards; 2. Teachers gather resources for lessons, units, and a wide selction of chidlren's literature, going home equipped to address crosscutting concepts effectively; and 3. Hands-on activities and anecdotes of the presenter's expereinces will give teachers inspiration to help children find connections to nature at home and at school.

SPEAKERS:
Steve Rich (Science Author/Consultant: Atlanta, GA)

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)