2021 National Harbor Area Conference

November 11-13, 2021

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FILTERS APPLIED:Postsecondary, Environmental Science

 

Rooms and times subject to change.
25 results
Save up to 50 sessions in your agenda.

3-2-1 Lift-Off! NASA’s Beginning Engineering Science and Technology (BEST) Activities

Thursday, November 11 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Collection of 3-2-1 Lift-Off! NASA's BEST Satellite
Link to files used in the 2021 presentation

STRAND: Integrating Multiple Learning Experiences and Connecting to Move Forward

Show Details

Use each stage of the Engineering Design Process to complete a team challenge of building and launching a satellite while making connections to NASA missions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about and use the engineering design process to build and perform a drop test of a satellite using NASA’s BEST activities. Educators will learn how to integrate the process skills of measuring, calculating, designing and evaluating while teaching the engineering design process. Make real-life connections to how NASA engineers use the engineering design process and work as teams to accomplish their mission goals.

SPEAKERS:
Barbie Buckner (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: Greenbelt, MD)

What Do I Do with This? Making Sense of Your Assessment Data

Thursday, November 11 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 6



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Session Resource Document Form
Access resource document for the session through this form. The Resource Document has links to all activities and will include a link to the slide deck following the workshop.

STRAND: Sharing Authentic Assessment Strategies

Show Details

We are awash in assessment data, but often it’s overwhelming to make sense of it. Come learn tips and strategies for wrangling data.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore new ways to organize data collection and raw data to aid in exploring the data for stories after it is collected; 2. Acquire skills in tying questions, data types, and data visualizations to enhance your ability to make sense of the assessment data; and 3. Identify next steps to better utilize and leverage your assessment data to help you measure students’ success and know what steps to consider next.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson (Dataspire Education & Evaluation, LLC: No City, No State)

Creating Engaging K–6 Science Explorations That Will Ignite a Lifelong Passion for Science

Thursday, November 11 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 2


Show Details

Discover how to create engaging lessons, connecting to student interests and to the science and natural phenomena that surround us. Pick up strategies to engage K–6 students in explorations, helping them recognize and understand real-world science, while creating a lifelong love of science. Handouts!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. innovative strategies to help children identify, explore, and understand a variety of interesting, real-life science that surrounds them in their everyday world; 2. how to design lessons that emphasize exploration, and give students the opportunity to test variables and analyze their effects; and 3. effective questioning strategies to engage students and increase the depth of student thinking, also helping to make student thinking visible; and to help teachers use effective questioning strategies to help students clarify and articulate their understanding of essential science phenomena and concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Knoell (Educational and Technology Consultant: Prairie Village, KS)

Getting Students to Read in Science

Thursday, November 11 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Science Vocabulary Terms
Tier 1, 2, 3 Words

STRAND: Literacy/Science Connections in the Classroom

Show Details

Reading should not be limited to English courses. Leave with strategies on how to motivate students to explore science through scientific novels. Review three years of qualitative data on how novels increased  literacy, scientific fluency, scientific connectivity, and college preparation in a marine biology course.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will: 1. learn how to use articles to make their content more applicable to the lives of their students; 2. receive strategies on how to get students to read more scientific articles; and 3. receive resources on selecting grade-appropriate scientific articles.

SPEAKERS:
Jonte' Lee (Whittier Elementary: Kansas City, KS)

NSELA-Sponsored Session: Highlighting Stories of Successful (Formal and Informal Science) Partnerships from National Science Leaders

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake G


STRAND: Successful Collaborations Between Informal and Formal Educators

Show Details

Participants will learn about the successful and varied informal and formal science partnerships developed by members of the NSELA leadership community.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Successful partnerships between formal and informal science institutions increase student and community engagement in STEM education; 2. Success stories include STEM ecosystems; and 3. The NSELA Learning Center provides resources and support for ongoing learning about formal and informal science partnerships.

SPEAKERS:
Andrew Weatherhead (National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA): Downingtown, PA)

A STEM Ice Core Investigation That Integrates the Three Dimensions of NGSS

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 5



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Ice Core Records Downloadable Materials
Ice Core Records NGSS.pdf
NASA"s Universe of Learning Program STEM Literacy Program

Show Details

Join me for a multidisciplinary, open-ended investigation that incorporates absolute and relative dating, anomalies, historical context, volcanoes, solar proton events, energy cycles, Earth systems, terrestrial events, and supernovas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students will have a better understanding of the process of constructing knowledge. Students will have to analyze and defend their results. Sometimes there is no answer key, only possible solutions from constructing and analyzing data from several sources that cross traditional disciplines.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Young (NASA/NSO/UoL Program Manager: Laughlin, NV)

Environmental Justice: Connecting the Dots Between Science and Ethics

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 4



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Environmental Justice_ Connecting the Dots Between Science and Ethics SPIKE 2021 NSTA.pptx

Show Details

This session models how to teach Environmental Justice and how to assess student learning. Participants design and test a landfill liner.

TAKEAWAYS:
1-Attendees will learn how to describe Environmental Justice as an environmental ethical principle. 2-Attendees will learn how to design an Environmental Justice lesson, incorporating multiple learning styles. 3-Attendees will learn how to assess student learning of Environmental Justice.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Spike (Clean Air Partners)

Partnering with NSTA to Reach Your Professional Learning Goals

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 8


Show Details

Explore how to take advantage of NSTA’s vast resources and pathways—including both asynchronous and synchronous options—to create personalized professional learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover the value of being a School or District NSTA Partner; 2. Explore how to maximize online professional learning for all teachers; and 3. Discover how to utilize NSTA's online learning resources to support in-person professional learning.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Does Black English Stand Between Black Students and Success in Science?

Thursday, November 11 • 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson C


STRAND: Developing More Inclusive Classrooms

Show Details

Discussion centers on tools to properly analyze black students’ scientific work to determine if the misconceptions and misunderstandings are a learning issue or language issue. Emphasis will be placed on the use of language to reduce the ethnic achievement gap in science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Analyzing students’ work from a linguistic lens; 2. Recognizing biases when it comes to student language; and 3. Pushing Black students academically forward without making them feel torn between two language worlds.

SPEAKERS:
Jonte' Lee (Whittier Elementary: Kansas City, KS)

Modeling Stellar Evolution Using NASA Images, Data, and STEM Analysis Tools

Friday, November 12 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 8



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Modeling Stellar Evolution Using NASA Tools.pdf
NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory
NASA's Universe of Learning STEM Literacy Program

STRAND: Innovating the Future of Education: Technology and Science Education

Show Details

Model stellar evolution processes using NASA images, plotting H-R diagram transitions, and determining the chemistry and physics of supernovas using NASA STEM image analysis tools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Knowledge of the process of how stars form and change over time ending in catastrophic events, providing conditions for the formation of planets. Students will understand that all knowledge of celestial events is determined by analyzing the light from these events and provide possibilities – not definitive answers, as the data can be interpreted differently. Image analysis software tools allow scientists to gain detailed information of stellar physical and chemical processes and constantly refine our evolving models of stellar evolution.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Young (NASA/NSO/UoL Program Manager: Laughlin, NV)

What Is Lurking in Your Soil? Classroom Activity Using Free DNA Databases and Bioinformatic Tools for DNA Analysis

Friday, November 12 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 4


Show Details

What is bioinformatics? This session introduces bioinformatics with the goal of identifying organisms from lists of DNA sequences, providing real-world context to classroom DNA extraction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. Learn how the classroom DNA extraction is an important stepping stone to discoveries in biology and genetics through bioinformatics. 2. Explore public databases that provide free tools to submit and analyze DNA sequences and require only a computer with internet capabilities. 3. Connect biology and computer science departments at a time when biology is becoming an increasingly collaborative and digital discipline.

SPEAKERS:
Zack Bateson (National Agricultural Genotyping Center: Fargo, ND)

Beyond Labz: Realistic Virtual Labs That Bridge the Gap Between Real Labs and Scientific Inquiry

Friday, November 12 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake F


Show Details

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)

Plants from Fish Poop: Exploring Classroom Aquaponics and Raising Trout

Friday, November 12 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 8



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Plants From Fish Poop Files on Google Drive
Slideshow, handouts, and examples to assist in raising fish.

STRAND: Integrating Multiple Learning Experiences and Connecting to Move Forward

Show Details

How does toxic ammonia from fish waste end up serving as a nitrogen source for plants? Attend this informative session to learn about aquaponics.

TAKEAWAYS:
How the nitrogen cycle influences both plant and fish health. How to use a modular design philosophy to allow students to innovate and create an aquaponics system in the classroom. How to incorporate Virginia's Trout in the Classroom program into your aquaponics system.

SPEAKERS:
Eric March (Browne Academy: Alexandria, VA), Kristen Oberhofer (Browne Academy: Alexandria, VA)

Collaborative Partnerships + Hands-On Activities = STEM Career Interest

Friday, November 12 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 6



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
BioNetwork STEM Outreach Website
If you want more information about what we do, or if you'd like to view our resources, please check this site out!

STRAND: Successful Collaborations Between Informal and Formal Educators

Show Details

Connect your school with local colleges and STEM employers using relevant, standards-based, hands-on activities that spark interest in science and STEM careers. Sample activity included.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to identify and reach out to potential community and industry partners How to build a program or event that meets the needs of all stakeholders Developing authentic learning experiences to impact student perspectives of locally available STEM careers

SPEAKERS:
Bethany Kenyon (BioNetwork: Greenville, NC)

How to Incorporate Climate Education and Environmental Justice—In and Out of the Classroom

Friday, November 12 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake C



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Incorporating EJ and CC in the classroom

Show Details

Gain important insight on how to easily and gently integrate lessons on Climate Education and Environmental Justice using project-based and class-tested activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to offer students ways to understand events, make changes and be a voice for changing the current climate dilemma and environmental injustices. Attendees will learn about activities that can be used to support students to drive social change or offer citizen science. Attendees will be inspired by the innovative ways shared on best practices to communicate effectively with students.

SPEAKERS:
Lolita Kiorpes (Thomas Stone High School: Waldorf, MD)

Discover NSTA’s New Professional Learning Units to Earn Continuing Education Credit

Friday, November 12 • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 1


Show Details

Explore NSTA’s NEWProfessional Learning Units. Discover these bite-sized asynchronous professional learning experiences that support student sensemaking to earn credit to submit to your school or district.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover how NSTA can provide asynchronous and bite-sized continuing education credit options (2 hours per PLU); 2. Explore how each PLU contains reflections or tasks connected to the classroom that are submitted to NSTA for review or feedback; and 3. Explore how we can support professional learning for individuals or schools/districts, including the flexible options available for Professional Learning Unit topics, and how these fit into our Professional Learning pathways.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Elizabeth Allan (University of Central Oklahoma: Edmond, OK), Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

NSTA Press Session: Ignite Your Professional Teaching Practice with NSTA’s Trilogy of Three-Dimensional Resources

Friday, November 12 • 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 1


Show Details

Join us as we explore how NSTA’s three-dimensional resources can be utilized to enhance your teaching. Walk away with effective strategies for science teaching and learning and hear from educators as they provide tips for using these resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Hear from classroom teachers about how they are using NSTA Press publications; and 2. Leave with top-notch teaching tips and innovative lesson plan ideas that promote imaginative learning and student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Wendy Binder (Program Director, STEM Professional Learning: Arlington, VA)

NASA Space Food and Nutrition

Saturday, November 13 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson C



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NASA Space Food & Nutrition File Collection
Resources from conference presentation

STRAND: Integrating Multiple Learning Experiences and Connecting to Move Forward

Show Details

Explore caloric and nutritional values of space food. Discover a menu of inquiry activities/resources to integrate into the classroom to satisfy your STEM appetite.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore NASA STEM activities that investigate space food and nutrition for astronauts living on the Space Station. Construct sample space food menus to develop a better understanding of nutrition for human space exploration. Make connections between math, science, nutrition and exercise while exploring the impact of living in space and in our gravity filled environment here on earth.

SPEAKERS:
Barbie Buckner (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: Greenbelt, MD)

The Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience as a Framework for Successful Environmental Literacy Partnerships

Saturday, November 13 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 1


STRAND: Successful Collaborations Between Informal and Formal Educators

Show Details

It takes a village to build and sustain formal and informal environmental educational partnerships. Join the nonprofit ShoreRivers, Maryland's Wicomico County Public Schools, and funder The Chesapeake Bay Trust, as they share how the "Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience Academy" created 15 unique partnerships and curricula that support Next Generation Science Standards and Maryland's Environmental Literacy Standards, and connected students with their communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience provides a curriculum framework that embraces and enhances formal and informal partnerships that support Next Generation Science Standards. 2. Formal and informal educators can collaborate to support Environmental Literacy through local issue investigations that culminate in students doing science while engaging directly with field professionals and community networks while advocating for community solutions. 3. Best practices for informal and formal collaborations and funding opportunities to support systemic and sustainable partnerships.

SPEAKERS:
Suzanne Sullivan (ShoreRivers: Easton, MD), Mairin Corasaniti (Education & Outreach Coordinator: Easton, MD), Hemalatha Bhaskaran (Wicomico County Public Schools: Salisbury, MD)

NSELA-Sponsored Session: How as Science Leaders Are We Supporting an Asset View of Science Learners?

Saturday, November 13 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Chesapeake I


STRAND: Supporting the Social and Emotional Needs of Students Post-COVID-19

Show Details

Participants will learn about how some districts around the country are using an asset approach to post-COVID learning and will collaboratively share ideas with others.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Some districts around the country are focusing on an acceleration rather than a remediation post-COVID approach to learning; 2. An asset approach to learning and learners supports social and emotional well-being; and 3. The NSELA Learning Center provides resources for continued learning about asset versus deficit approaches to learning.

SPEAKERS:
Andrew Weatherhead (National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA): Downingtown, PA)

Making Decisions with Data

Saturday, November 13 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - National Harbor 14



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Files.pdf

Show Details

Learn the rationale behind hypothesis testing methods like the Student’s t-Test. A classroom activity comparing surface areas of sun and shade leaves will be presented.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will understand… • the logical reasoning underlying hypothesis testing. •how to compare the means of two samples, for example, an experimental and a control group, to see if there is a significant difference between them. Participants will be able to apply… •a simple and elegant procedure for determining the surface area of leaves which is useful in the sun leaf vs shade leaf activity, as well as in activities determining the rate of transpiration of leaves.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Cooper (Pennsbury High School, West Campus: Fairless Hills, PA)

Enabling Real-World STEM Learning Through Collaboration with Industry Experts

Saturday, November 13 • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 3


Show Details

Explore proven methods for developing collaborative relationships between students and professionals to utilize science and engineering practices to address authentic challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Attendees will be given clear examples of impactful collaboration between formal and informal educators and professionals through interactive activities; 2. Through a guided work burst, participants will use a framework to develop their own written products to use with their students to develop collaborative relationships with informal educators and professionals, which can be assessed by a single point rubric for their effectivenessl and 3. Attendees will participate in an open panel discussion with experts and seasoned educators to address challenges and concerns, and how to create learning opportunities.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Milord (DreamUp, PBC: Washington, DC)

Promoting STEM Teaching Interest Through Urban Ecology

Saturday, November 13 • 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Baltimore 5



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Presentation Slides
Stem For All 3-Minute Video Presentation on Project
Urban Ecology Module Instruction Video

Show Details

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)

Say What? Getting Students to Learn and Use Scientific Vocabulary Words

Saturday, November 13 • 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Annapolis 3



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Science Vocabulary Terms
Tier 1, 2, 3 Words

Show Details

Emphasis will be placed on five-minute daily strategies that will get students to become fluent in scientific vocabulary.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Develop students’ critical-thinking skills through the use of scientific vocabulary words; 2. Provide teachers with five-minute daily strategies to strengthen students’ scientific vocabulary usage; and 3. Provide teachers with exercises that will help students recognize the difference between Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary words.

SPEAKERS:
Jonte' Lee (Whittier Elementary: Kansas City, KS)

Closing Keynote Presentation: Education Is the Foundation to Combating Climate Change

Saturday, November 13 • 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center - Woodrow Wilson A


Show Details

Climate change is a global human issue that affects each and every one of us, yet disproportionately impacts some of us. During the closing keynote speech, Jasmine Sanders will speak to attendees about this intersectional, complex issue, its various impacts, how educators are part of the solution, and the organization she leads working with young people on an everyday basis to advocate for change. "Imagine the possibilities when we use our power as educators and tap into young bright minds to make a difference."

SPEAKERS:
Jasmine Sanders (Our Climate: Washington, DC)

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