Curriculum compacting allows students who have shown mastery of course material to challenge themselves and work on more difficult content.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The logistics of how curriculum compacting works 2. Data analyzing the effectiveness of curriculum compacting 3. Pros and cons of curriculum compacting from the viewpoints of the students, the professor, and the teaching assistants

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Hesson (York College of Pennsylvania: York, PA), Jessica Fautch (York College of Pennsylvania: York, PA)

Sponsoring Company: Beyond Labz

Built on a platform developed over 20 years, Beyond Labz creates an open-ended environment providing students the opportunity to experiment, practice, fail, discover, and learn.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Beyond Labz simplifies and reduces the cost and expertise needed to provide crucial laboratory experiences and practice for Secondary and Higher Ed students; 2. Attendees will learn how the labs are used for pre- and post-lab experiences, credit recovery and lab make-up, student engagement in class, and meeting NGSS standards; and 3. Basic onboarding and start-up instructions will be provided for drop-in solutions, and instructions for using some of the more sophisticated features will also be described.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Woodfield (Brigham Young University: Provo, UT)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Explore the properties of water and discover the structure and function of cell membranes with engaging models that allow students to drive their learning!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn how modeling the properties of water allows students to predict the structure of cell membranes; 2. use models to explain the structure and function of cell membranes, including the transport of molecules across the membrane; and 3. experience how the use of these models allows student thinking to become visible.

SPEAKERS:
Keri Shingleton (Holland Hall: Tulsa, OK)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Mitosis, meiosis, chromosome structure, and crossing over will be explored in this hands-on modeling event. Bring your student hat and be ready to engage.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Model chromosome structure and anatomy; 2. Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis; and 3. Model mechanisms that contribute to genetic variation.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Williams (Shelter Island Union Free School District: Shelter Island, NY)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Explore the forces that determine protein shape by actively modeling protein structure! Then explore a particular class of proteins—enzymes—by playing with models.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Protein shape is determined by interactions between amino acids that are specifically ordered in the primary structure of proteins; 2. Protein shape is critical for proper functioning of the protein; and 3. Enzymes are a type of proteins that interact with their substrates in specific ways.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Avery (Pennsylvania College of Technology: Williamsport, PA)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Spark questions with the Synapse Construction Kit© and model activities to achieve Concept Explanation and Visual Representation goals in a topic that students find interesting.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Model neuron and synapse structure and anatomy; 2. Model mechanisms of membrane transport and cell-to-cell communication; and 3. Explore the drugged synapse.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Williams (Shelter Island Union Free School District: Shelter Island, NY)

Let's explore student interest and perceived barriers to careers in STEM education and engage with potential STEM teacher candidates through interdisciplinary urban ecology modules.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Generating interest in STEM education through curriculum innovation; 2. Barriers to careers in STEM education; and 3. Developing STEM education recruitment pipelines.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Stabile (Iona College: New Rochelle, NY), Margaret Smith (Iona College: New Rochelle, NY), Benjamin Gaines (Iona College: New Rochelle, NY)