Kids' technology designer and author Vicky Fang introduces tools, activities, and philosophies to inspire STEM curiosity and confidence in young kids.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Recommendations based on research and experience to spark STEM curiosity in a wider and more diverse range of kids; 2. Introductions to current tools to promote creativity in tech; and 3. Hands-on activities for promoting design thinking, computational thinking, and computer literacy in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Vicky Fang (Product Designer & Author-Illustrator: Los Altos, CA)

Need a simple and creative way to engage students? Create a green screen area in your classroom. This workshop will demonstrate a simple way to make creative videos with a green screen.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to use a chroma key with different apps and programs; 2. Simple video editing techniques; and 3. Using different objects for green screen props.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Crane (Randolph Academy: No City, No State)

Are you thinking about incorporating coding and robotics at the elementary level? Come try it yourself and learn about funding, resources, and preparing for success!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Coding and robotics can improve students’ algorithmic and critical thinking, which helps with math and reading as well as creativity, communication, and collaboration; 2. When seeking funding for robotics, start with what is manageable and connect your project with math, science, and ELA standards; and 3. Focus on how students are thinking to get the most out of their experiences with coding and robotics.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Townsend (Oak Grove Primary School: Prairieville, LA)

Sponsoring Company: PAEMST

Come learn about the highest recognition for STEM educators in the U.S. We will discuss eligibility criteria as well as the nomination, application, and review process for the awards. Awardees receive a certificate; a $10,000 award; a trip to Washington, DC, for a recognition event; and access to over 5,100 award-winning teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How you can win $10,000; 2. how you can apply for this prestigious award from the U.S. Government; and 3. the benefits of applying for this award.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Mayes (National Science Foundation: Alexandria, VA)

Learn about ways to reach elementary students and increase interest in computer science with engaging contexts and multiple entry points.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Recruiting elementary students to CS is a strategy for increasing the diversity of students in advanced CS classes in the future; 2. The context of CS activities is important for student interest and engagement; and 3. Confidence in implementing strategies that broaden the context for CS learning.

SPEAKERS:
Lorri Coates (Museum of Science, Boston: Boston, MA), Brianna Wilkinson (Museum of Science, Boston: Boston, MA)

Join us on your STEM journey and learn how to incorporate STEM and PBL into your K–5 curriculum. Receive ideas for program development, grants and funding, and inexpensive or free field trips. Teaching STEM digitally with coding and computer programming apps.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Incorporating STEM curriculum and PBL's into the K–5 curriculum requirements and incorporating Digital Coding and computer programs to use with virtual teaching; 2. Finding and scheduling in-house free and inexpensive field trips, guest speakers, and virtual experiences for all students at your school; and 3. 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)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

How can we create a learning environment that taps into students’ natural curiosity about engineering design and supports them in doing the authentic design work of an engineer?

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. how design thinking and technological solutions will continue to increase in importance as we work to address the challenges that confront our modern world in areas such as agriculture, human health, and the environment; 2. why providing students a foundation in engineering design allows them to better engage in and aspire to solve the major societal and environmental challenges they will face in the decades ahead; and 3. how to create a learning environment that taps into students’ natural curiosity about engineering design and supports them in doing the authentic design work of an engineer.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

This past year has demonstrated the need for diverse tools, resources, and support to teach students in dynamic K–12 learning environments. This session will focus on strategies to integrate project-based learning in diverse learning environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn strategies to engage students in science and engineering concepts; 2. Obtain tools to foster a learning environment and classroom culture grounded in the habit of reflection and reasoning; and 3. Gain practical resources and tools to apply project-based learning in a diverse K–12 learning environment that you can begin implementing in your classroom this fall.

SPEAKERS:
Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

We will use Micro:bits, programming, and sensors to empower student learning and accelerate conceptual model development. Participants will simulate this online.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Sensors can accelerate the learning process and empower students when used correctly; 2. Computational thinking is catalyzed by block-based programming languages; and 3. Conceptual model development and inquiry are intricately linked.

SPEAKERS:
Jared Carter (University of Florida: Gainesville, FL)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

What if coding were integrated into core science instruction instead of being an isolated after-school activity for a select few?

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to: 1. provide students with the opportunity to learn basic computer science concepts and practices in service of solving real-world problems; 2. increase access to positive experiences in computer science learning; and 3. infuse coding science curriculum with constant opportunities for collaboration and student discourse.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Learn how to use the Secret Coders graphic novel series by Yang and Holmes to integrate the elements of computational thinking (abstraction, algorithmic thinking, decomposition, generalization, and debugging). Weave in both computer science and ELA practices for an interdisciplinary adventure!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Graphic novels provide an unplugged way for students to learn about computational thinking; 2. Computational thinking can be integrated into language arts classes; and 3. Interdisciplinary lessons can enhance both language literacy and computational thinking literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Rachelle Haroldson (University of Wisconsin-River Falls: River Falls, WI)

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

CYBER.ORG works to ensure that every K–12 student gains foundational cybersecurity knowledge by empowering teachers with free resources and training.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. gain free access to CYBER.ORG’s library of K–12 curricula and resources as well as implementation strategies for the classroom; 2. see examples of lessons as well as plugged and unplugged activities at the elementary, middle, and high school levels; and 3. gain a better understanding of CYBER.ORG resources by talking directly with content developers.

SPEAKERS:
Kevin Nolten (CYBER.ORG: Bossier City, LA)

Bring the world to your urban classroom with Global Science / Citizen Science. Experts will share their work and provide details on how to actively involve students in real-world science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Engage with educators who have led their school systems to meet various challenges; 2. Learn from successful programs; and 3. Discuss relevant issues related to urban science educators.

SPEAKERS:
Pat Shane (UNC-Chapel Hill Emerita: , NC), Mary Beth Berrien (Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School: Greenfield, MA), Michelle Ellis (Hunter Huss High School: Gastonia, NC), LeeAnne Jimenez (Wilson Teaching and Learning Academy: Tulsa, OK), Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Susan Meabh Kelly (University of Connecticut: Storrs Mansfield, CT), Brad Rhew (Guilford County Schools: No City, No State)

This workshop explores the connection between the NGSS, STEM identity, and project-based learning (PBL) through a series of culturally responsive activities for virtual learning environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. critically consider their own STEM identity and the STEM identities of their students to inform PBL in online and in-class learning environments; 2. respond to students’ needs and interests to plan PBL that develops their STEM identities; and 3. learn instructional strategies that engage students in PBL and the Scientific and Engineering Practices within the Next Generation Science Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Lane (University of the District of Columbia: Washington, DC)

Decoding computer models is demonstrated as a productive and time-saving method to integrate CS and CT within high school science courses without explicitly teaching programming.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Decoding is a powerful way to integrate CS across the curriculum that both reinforces disciplinary concepts and increases CS understanding; 2. Decoding consists of a set of practices and pedagogies that are easy to implement and do not require explicitly teaching computer programming; and 3. Resources and materials are available to integrate CS in Science through decoding.

SPEAKERS:
Paige Prescott (The University of New Mexico: Albuquerque, NM), Thara Rangaraj (Leominster High School: Leominster, MA), Lynn Sa (Retired Physics Teacher: Worcester, MA), Natalie Stassen (Leominster High School: Ashburnham, MA)

Keep your pets safe from being left in hot cars by using automatic sensors to design an alarm that could save their lives.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Solve a real-work problem with coding and engineering design, no prior experience needed; 2. Learn about inputs from sensors (temperature) and if-then-else decision logic to control an output (sound or color LED) based on the sensor readings; and 3. Gain exposure to possible STEM careers in automobile design features.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Kohout (Educational Consultant: Ellicott City, MD), Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Youngsville, LA)

This workshop introduces strategies and digital tools to help students develop high-quality STEM presentations and posters in online and in-class learning environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. embody the role of a student conducting a scientific/engineering investigation leading to a STEM presentation; 2. be able to create a digital STEM visual using presentation applications; and 3. learn instructional strategies that engage students in developing high-quality presentations and Scientific and Engineering Practices within the Next Generation Science Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Lane (University of the District of Columbia: Washington, DC)

This session will explore the genetic basis behind hybrid flower production on the video game Animal Crossing New Horizons and how you can use this popular game to gain student interest in genetics.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Many traits are influenced by multiple genes; 2. The video game Animal Crossing New Horizons uses Mendelian genetics to determine the offspring of a flower; and 3. Student interest can be enhanced when you use popular video games as a frame of reference for activities, and their virtual experiences can be used in sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN), Leslie Suters (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN)

This workshop introduces participants to "Teacher Moments," a platform for digital clinical simulations to advance equitable, practice-based teacher education and professional development.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. be introduced to existing practice spaces published on the digital clinical simulation platform, “Teacher Moments,” and complete two–three simulations/practice spaces; 2. learn about simulations previously implemented in teacher education contexts, about simulation design, and how simulations support equity in distance learning; and 3. learn how to register for the free platform and create practice spaces customized to their context, e.g., instructional coaching, professional development, higher education, etc.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Lane (University of the District of Columbia: Washington, DC)

Join the education staff from Detroit’s historic Belle Isle Aquarium to discover exciting ways to identify, recruit, and host diverse career role models to inspire your students, whether you’re teaching face-to-face, virtual, or in hybrid mode.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Greater understanding of how STEM role models can have a significant positive impact on young learners; 2. Practical steps for teachers to design STEM career connections from their own communities that richly connect to students' lives; and 3. Access to novel STEM career role model resources—videos, books, blogs, etc.—created specifically for underrepresented and underserved populations.

SPEAKERS:
June Teisan (InnovatED 313), Amy Emmert (Belle Isle Conservancy: Detroit, MI)

Students will see science concepts through the perspectives of characters in novels. Participants will leave with lists of book titles and ready-to-use reflective prompts.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. A list of literature that is categorized by grade level and science topics covered; 2. Examples of how to use literature in the science classroom to promote student engagement and meaning-making; and 3. Ways to connect social justice topics to a science curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Prince (St. John's Prep: Danvers, MA)

Come experience how one California district is leveraging an opportunity to bring equitable STEM experiences to all preK–12 students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How one district approaches integrated STEM; 2. What an integrated STEM unit feels like; and 3. -How one district enacts and supports integrated STEM systemwide.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Reynolds (Community Training and Assistance Center (CTAC): Boston, MA), Vanessa Garcia (South West Park Elementary School: Tracy, CA), Debra Schneider (Tracy Unified School District: Tracy, CA)

The “quantum revolution” is on the horizon. What can we do today—through policies and programming—to ensure quantum computing education is accessible to all students?

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to: 1. explain why quantum computing is an important emerging technology and STEM discipline; 2. identify the barriers to accessible, widespread quantum education and describe actionable strategies to combat them; and 3. discuss ideas to increase diversity in quantum computing, starting at the K–12 level.

SPEAKERS:
Kiera Peltz (The Coding School: Studio City, CA)

As COVID-19 changed learning environments, the rift between curricula and instructional practices widened with detrimental results for students and teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Issues with curriculum leading instructional practices; 2. Need for support and professional development of teachers for conceptual model development in students; and 3. Teachers who were trained in conceptual modeling pedagogical practices were better able to serve students in their classes in new learning environments.

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Ruzycki (University of Florida: Gainesville, FL)

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

Connect with the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) to learn about engaging a diverse range of students through programs spanning the STEM Ecosystem.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. strategies to recruit a diverse group of students to their STEM classrooms; 2. where to find research-backed resources that are free to use and download; and 3. how to engage and celebrate their students with programs from NCWIT, including Aspirations in Computing and TECHNOLOchicas.

SPEAKERS:
Angela DeHart (STEM Impressionists Program: Ashburn, VA), Edie Cheng (National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT): Boulder, CO), Shannon Gibbs (Graceland Park-O’Donnell Heights Elementary/Middle School #240: Baltimore, MD)