NSTA Engage: Spring21 - Sessions

Keynote Presentation: Equity-ology

Growing up in a single parent home on the south side of Chicago, IL, Justin J. Shaifer had little awareness of the potential of a STEM career. His worldview drastically transformed after experiences at Hampton University. Justin graduated with a bachelor's degree in marine and environmental science with the highest departmental GPA, and was also president of Hampton University's student body while receiving scholarships from NASA and NOAA that covered 100% of his tuition and room and board. Now 24 years old, Justin travels the country empowering young students to "embrace their inner nerd" despite their surroundings, and developing culturally responsive STEM curricula for New York City institutions.

Justin is executive director of Fascinate, Inc., an organization created to excite underrepresented students about STEM. He is known for his work on the Magic Cool Bus Project. Past partners of his organization include Microsoft, MIT Media Lab, and the Children’s Aid Society. Justin is studying these programs’ effects as a PhD student at Columbia University.

Speakers

Justin Shaifer (Fascinate, Inc.: New York, NY)

NSTA’s “State of Education” Message

Hear about the new administration’s priorities and plans for supporting science and STEM educators and learn more about education and funding priorities in Congress. Bring your questions, and join us in this discussion about what’s going on in Washington, D.C.

Speakers

Jodi Peterson (: Arlington, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Speed-Sharing Chats

Speed-sharing chat topics will include:

• Science experiments gone awry 
• Funniest teacher jokes
• Funniest administrator jokes
• “Worst day ever” experiences that you can now laugh at
• Funniest teacher sayings 
• Funniest things you’ve heard students say
• Weirdest experiment results
• Best science experiments
• If you could rename teachers, what would it be?
• If you could rename science, what would it be?
• Things you wish you would have known before becoming a science teacher
• Weird things you’ve done in class
• Weird things students have done in class
• Most hilarious things you’ve seen or heard at school
• Funniest tweets about teaching, teachers, or students you’ve ever seen.

Join in, have fun, and let loose! This event will be one you’ll never forget!

Note: This session involves Breakout Rooms. In order to participate, you must have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to your computer. Before accessing our Zoom platform, please visit Zoom.us/download, click on Download, and then click on Execute file to initialize.

Please note that these chats are available to the first 500 participants.

This event is not being recorded.

Speakers

Keynote Presentation: U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona Answers Your Questions

Don’t miss your opportunity to hear from U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona as he shares a special message and answers questions from science teachers.

Speakers

Miguel Cardona (U.S. Secretary of Education: Washington, DC)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Keynote Presentation: Education Through Minecraft

Bestselling author Max Brooks believes in the power of educating through entertainment, whether it’s learning survival skills through zombie fiction or better understanding our own history through graphic novels. What better way to reach students than through mediums they have fun using, such as video games? Join Max as he explains why he thinks the massively popular game Minecraft has the potential to be the greatest teaching tool since Gutenberg’s printing press.

Speakers

Max Brooks (Author: Venice, CA)

Marketplace Partner Keynote: Integrating Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion (DEAI) in the STEM Classroom

STEM is not just about integrating science, technology, engineering, and math. Dr. Carol O’Donnell discusses how schools can support STEM students and teachers of diverse backgrounds through curricula, professional development, and leadership development that take an integrated approach to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion in K–12 STEM. Participants will learn about several free Smithsonian resources to integrate inclusive design into K–12 STEM curricula, apply PD strategies for teaching English learners and girls in STEM, and diversify the STEM teaching workforce.

Speakers

Carol O'Donnell (Smithsonian Science Education Center: Washington, DC)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Marketplace Partner Keynote: Planning for a Responsive Relaunch

What have we learned during the past year about what we most value about teaching and learning? Where does science fit in a responsive relaunch? Join leaders from UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science as we reflect on these questions and begin to explore how to capitalize on a phenomenon-based approach to create a culture that values student voice and fosters curiosity and engagement.

Speakers

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

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Keynote Presentation: Engaging Students by Integrating Culturally Relevant Instruction

Alejandro understands that students arrive each day with an abundance of cultural wealth. He will share how establishing authentic relationships with his students and strategically integrating culturally relevant instruction has increased student motivation, morale, and engagement in his class. He will also provide insight to some of the challenges that our students from underrepresented populations face, and how providing his students access to a variety of people, programs, resources, and experiential learning opportunities has been critical to his students’ success.

Speakers

Alejandro Diasgranados (Aiton Elementary School: Washington, DC)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Keynote Presentation: Environmental and Climate Justice Education—From Grass Roots to the Classroom

In this session participants will get an overview of how environmental and climate justice have been introduced to classrooms through partnerships, expos, and educational programming. Participants will also get an overview of key terms, focus areas, and resources for learning more about environmental and climate justice through a local lens.

Speakers

Taylor Morton (WE ACT for Environmental Justice: New York, NY)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

NSTA’s “State of Education” Message

Hear about the new administration’s priorities and plans for supporting science and STEM educators and learn more about education and funding priorities in Congress. Bring your questions, and join us in this discussion about what’s going on in Washington, D.C.

Speakers

Jodi Peterson (: Arlington, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Speed-Sharing Chats

Speed-sharing chat topics will include:

• Science experiments gone awry 
• Funniest teacher jokes
• Funniest administrator jokes
• “Worst day ever” experiences that you can now laugh at
• Funniest teacher sayings 
• Funniest things you’ve heard students say
• Weirdest experiment results
• Best science experiments
• If you could rename teachers, what would it be?
• If you could rename science, what would it be?
• Things you wish you would have known before becoming a science teacher
• Weird things you’ve done in class
• Weird things students have done in class
• Most hilarious things you’ve seen or heard at school
• Funniest tweets about teaching, teachers, or students you’ve ever seen.

Join in, have fun, and let loose! This event will be one you’ll never forget!

Note: This session involves Breakout Rooms. In order to participate, you must have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to your computer. Before accessing our Zoom platform, please visit Zoom.us/download, click on Download, and then click on Execute file to initialize.

Please note that these chats are available to the first 500 participants.

This event is not being recorded.

Speakers

Save a Nickel and Learn to Trickle!

Learn how to create a project-based camp or classroom lesson that enable students to apply concepts, such as photosynthesis and the water cycle, to design a smart irrigation system. Inspired by real-world events, students are motivated to apply problem-solving skills and learn some basic programming to come up with innovative solutions to using water more efficiently.

Takeaways: 1. Developing models to better understand a process; 2. Constructing explanations and designing solutions; and 3. Introducing students to coding to solve a science problem with an engineering solution.

Speakers

Jessica Kohout (Howard County Conservancy: Woodstock, MD)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Virtual Amazon Fulfillment Center Tour

Give your students real-world computer science and career exposure through Amazon Future Engineer's new live, virtual, and interactive Fulfilment Center Tours! From our online store to doorstep, students will discover how computer science, state-of-the-art engineering, and incredible people deliver customer orders at Amazon.

Takeaways: Attendees will learn: how Amazon uses computer science, engineering, and amazing people to deliver customer orders around the globe; 2. how algorithms, sensors, cloud computing, machine learning, databases, and more all help make Amazon possible; and 3. what it's like to be an engineer at Amazon.

Speakers

Trinidad Cisneros (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Tony Wallin (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Hilah Barbot (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA)

Examining Nature of Science and Standards in a Post-COVID World

Using COVID data and multimedia sources, teachers can elevate students’ understandings of science as a human endeavor, and explore diverse contributions and other nature of science themes.

Takeaways: Attendees will: 1. acquire multiple classroom resources for COVID data, updates, and multimedia; 2. examine connections among pandemic examples and grade level nature of science (NOS) themes in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS); and 3. explore opportunities to enhance science lessons with key NGSS NOS themes such as science as a human endeavor, diverse contributions and cultures, using a variety of methods, and knowledge open to revision in light of new evidence.

Speakers

Danny Bergman (Wichita State University: Wichita, KS)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Keynote Panel: Psychosocial Skills and Achievement: A Two-Way Street

The objectives of this session are threefold: to assist teachers in identifying students who need additional social and emotional support; to highlight the dynamic between SEL and learning/achievement as bi-directional, since SEL instruction and skill building have been shown to improve achievement, but achievement or lack of it also impacts children’s sense of well-being; and to highlight psychologically validated strategies designed to prevent distress as well as enhance performance in the science classroom. Teachers will learn about approaches they can use to help students manage performance fears and encourage strategic risk-taking that fosters creativity.

Speakers

Rena Subotnik (American Psychological Association: Washington, DC), Joanne Broder (Media Psychologist: Moorestown, NJ), Amanda Dettmer (Yale School of Medicine: New Haven, CT), Kimberly A. S. Howard (Boston University: Boston, MA)

NASA GLOBE Cloud Resources for Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning

NASA GLOBE Cloud resources provide a variety of ways for diverse learners to engage in the science process in their local community through citizen science.

Takeaways: 1. NASA GLOBE Cloud resources are free and flexible and allow diverse learners to engage with content in many ways; 2. A NASA scientist will discuss why citizen science observations are important to NASA; and 3. Learners can actively participate in citizen science in their own community.

Speakers

Angela Rizzi (NASA Langley Research Center/ Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI): Hampton, VA), Elizabeth Joyner (NASA Langley Research Center: Hampton, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Marketplace Partner Keynote: Creating Inclusive STEM Classrooms to Support All Students from Diverse Backgrounds

STEM fields do not currently reflect the diversity in our country. Not every student will need to be a scientist or engineer but every student should be able to envision themselves in a STEM field. How do we create inclusive classrooms to support all students from diverse backgrounds?

Speakers

Jacqueline Smalls (Code.org: Seattle, WA)

Marketplace Partner Keynote: A New Awakening: Taking Care of the Social and Emotional Needs of Students and Teachers

This past year put a spotlight on the social and emotional needs of our teachers and students. Let’s step back and look through a renewed lens at what really matters. While good teaching is the hallmark of student success in the classroom, this can only happen when teachers and students are in a good frame of mind and position to care for one another. We'll tackle this critical issue with relevant tools and suggestions. Learning from this past year can transform education forever.

Speakers

Kenneth Heydrick (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Keynote Presentation: You Would Be a Great Teacher!

If a student in your class is amazing at math, then what job do you tell them they'd be good at? Engineering, maybe? What if they have a natural aptitude for science, or they’re well-spoken and love to debate? The best answer for these questions, and every other issue we face in education, is simple: You would be a great teacher!

Speakers

John Arthur (Meadowlark Elementary School: Salt Lake City, UT)

Keynote Presentation: Lessons from CDC Studies of COVID-19 in Schools and Implications for Science Education

School-based studies of COVID-19 have provided valuable information about how the virus spreads and the activities and settings most associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although some risks can be ameliorated with policy or environment change, behavior plays a large role in risk of infection. Science teachers are well positioned to address behavioral contributions and can impact behavior change to mitigate the spread of COVID-1.

Speakers

Lisa Barrios (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, GA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

NSTA’s “State of Education” Message

Hear about the new administration’s priorities and plans for supporting science and STEM educators and learn more about education and funding priorities in Congress. Bring your questions, and join us in this discussion about what’s going on in Washington, D.C.

Speakers

Jodi Peterson (: Arlington, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Speed-Sharing Chats

Speed-sharing chat topics will include:

• Science experiments gone awry 
• Funniest teacher jokes
• Funniest administrator jokes
• “Worst day ever” experiences that you can now laugh at
• Funniest teacher sayings 
• Funniest things you’ve heard students say
• Weirdest experiment results
• Best science experiments
• If you could rename teachers, what would it be?
• If you could rename science, what would it be?
• Things you wish you would have known before becoming a science teacher
• Weird things you’ve done in class
• Weird things students have done in class
• Most hilarious things you’ve seen or heard at school
• Funniest tweets about teaching, teachers, or students you’ve ever seen.

Join in, have fun, and let loose! This event will be one you’ll never forget!

Note: This session involves Breakout Rooms. In order to participate, you must have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to your computer. Before accessing our Zoom platform, please visit Zoom.us/download, click on Download, and then click on Execute file to initialize.

Please note that these chats are available to the first 500 participants.

This event is not being recorded.

Speakers

Using Models in the Chemistry Classroom

Visualization is difficult for many students. Join me for a discussion and demonstration of several modeling activities you can use in your chemistry class. This session is targeted for novice/intermediate attendees.

Materials needed:

• magnets
• paper templates (https://airtable.com/shrNVEvxmPZuJHWvA)

Takeaways: 1. What modeling looks like in a classroom; 2. Modeling resources to use with students; and 3. Shortcomings of models.

Speakers

Emily Abbott (American Chemical Society: Lake Worth, FL)

NESTA and CLEAN 2: How to Teach with Climate Data and Tools

Experience tools and data sources that help learners connect climate science content to local and global phenomena.

Note: Attendees will need the ability to stay in the virtual session while exploring new tools online simultaneously, so split-screens or multiple monitors would be helpful but are not required. Presenters will not have the ability to correct internet issues or the inability of attendees to access resources presented that might arise due to time limitation. So please keep in mind firewalls and administrative privileges before the session.

Takeaways: Participants will: 1. walk away with peer- and science-reviewed resources they can immediately integrate into their teaching; 2. walk away with strategies for engaging students in collaborative explorations of climate data; and 3. experience materials as learners that help make thinking visible.

Speakers

Lin Andrews (National Center for Science Education: Oakland, CA), Jessica Bean (University of California, Berkeley: Berkeley, CA), Mark Chandler (Columbia University: New York, NY), Louise Huffman (U.S. Ice Drilling Program: Hanover, NH), Cory Forbes (University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Lincoln, NE)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Doing Science According to the Next Generation Science Standards

This workshop will focus on how to provide all students opportunities to use the science practices to understand things of interest to them and to construct knowledge. Ideas for simple hands-on activites, how to use digital media, and how to build straightforward simulations with free spreadsheet programs will be presented.

Takeaways: How to: 1. do NGSS-aligned science; 2. promote scientific thinking skills in students; and 3. use hands-on activities, digital media, and spreadsheet programs to make science accessible to all students and to construct knowledge.

Speakers

Mike Marvel (Flinn Scientific, Inc.: Batavia, IL)

Day in the Life of a Robotics Engineer at Amazon

Interested in exposing your students to the careers of the future? Join three Amazon Robotics Engineers as they discuss what it's like to build a future in technology. Then, sign up for our Class Chat Program to bring a virtual speaker to your classroom this spring!

Takeaways: Attendees will learn: 1. what a robotics engineer does day to day at Amazon; 2. an idea of the potential career path required to become a robotics engineer; and 3. how to sign up to bring a speaker to their class.

Speakers

Erica Aduh (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Joe Lee (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Mikell Taylor (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Hilah Barbot (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA)

Beyond a Test: Alternative Assessments in Science

Attendees will learn about unique and interactive assessments that go beyond multiple choice tests. These options offer learners a variety of ways to demonstrate their mastery of content. Varied assessment options will be explored, including alternative testing questions, interactive assessments, concept maps, and projects.

Takeaways: 1. Attendees will learn about alternate ways of assessing student learning that allows all learners to demonstrate mastery of content; 2. Alternate midterm and final exams options will be shared; and 3. Attendees will learn how to create valid assessments for English Learners.

Speakers

Stephanie Matson (Thomas Worthington High School: Columbus, OH), Kimberly Thesing (Thomas Worthington High School: Columbus, OH)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Combating Ableism in the Biology Classroom by Teaching Disability as a Natural Form of Human Variation to Promote an Inclusive Classroom and School Environment

Unsure how to address disability in biology? Learn models of disability, identify ableism, and learn how to accept disability as a natural form of variation.

Takeaways: Attendees will: 1. be able to identify and remedy common examples of ableism, while learning about the beliefs and practices of the ability-inclusive mindset to promote an inclusive classroom and school environment; 2. be provided a set of slides that teach how disability is a natural form of human variation, the other above concepts in the context of a biology lesson on the natural sources of variation (meiosis, mutation, sexual reproduction); and 3. learn about the positives and negatives of the social, medical, inspirational, and social justice models of disability.

Speakers

John Gensic (Penn High School: Mishawaka, IN), Katy Fattaleh (The Nora Project: Highland Park, IL), Lainey Bristow (Penn High School: Mishawaka, IN)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

NASA GLOBE Cloud Resources for Synchronous and Asynchronous Learning

NASA GLOBE Cloud resources provide a variety of ways for diverse learners to engage in the science process in their local community through citizen science.

Takeaways: 1. NASA GLOBE Cloud resources are free and flexible and allow diverse learners to engage with content in many ways; 2. A NASA scientist will discuss why citizen science observations are important to NASA; and 3. Learners can actively participate in citizen science in their own community.

Speakers

Janet Struble (The University of Toledo: Toledo, OH), Angela Rizzi (NASA Langley Research Center/ Science Systems and Applications, Inc. (SSAI): Hampton, VA), Elizabeth Joyner (NASA Langley Research Center: Hampton, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

ASTE-Sponsored Session: The Birth of a Movement

How did the Environmental Justice movement begin? Come discover how science inquiry and justice-oriented practices support teachers and students as changemakers in their communities.

Takeaways: Attendees will learn: 1. that research supports connecting science content and opportunities for students to serve their communities as an essential facet of culturally relevant science instruction; 2. how to support students’ and teachers’ understanding of systemic inequities through science practices; and 3. how to create a critical inquiry instructional case study for students engaged in virtual or face-to-face instruction.

Speakers

Lenora Crabtree (The University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Charlotte, NC)

Making Science Inquiry Work for Emergent Bilinguals

Learn how the language and structure of your inquiry activities can produce roadblocks for emergent bilinguals, and how subtle shifts dramatically increase engagement and success.

Takeaways: 1. A resource versus-deficit perspective and building lessons around abilities; 2. Breaking down language barriers in student-student collaborations through effective modeling; and 3. Using multiple representations in science, utilizing emergent bilingual's strength with translanguaging.

Speakers

Christopher Moore (University of Nebraska Omaha: Omaha, NE)

CRISPR as an Adaptive Immune System in Bacteria

Explore CRIPSR as an adaptive immunity system in bacteria using 3DMD’s new Adaptive Immunity Kit©. A classic 2012 paper proves how this system works and will give your students practice in interpreting scientific data. Model how restriction enzymes connect to a CRISPR endonuclease for editing the human genome.

Takeaways: 1. Learn about CRISPR as an adaptive immunity system in bacteria; 2. Give students practice interpreting scientific data; and 3. Use modeling to connect restriction enzymes, CRISPR, and genome editin.

Speakers

Tim Herman (MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling: Milwaukee, WI)

Lab Safety Protocols with Flinn Scientific, the Leader in Safety!

Please join Flinn for a quick refresher on common safety concerns and issues that arise in the classroom and remote settings. This is a must-attend session for new teachers and experienced teachers alike who want to deliver the most comprehensive and safe program possible! Come for an overview of best practices in the lab with Flinn!

Takeaways: 1. Refresher on science safety best practices; 2. Safety awareness culture; and 3. Practical :what to do in case of emergency" trainings.

Speakers

James Palcik (Flinn Scientific Canada, Inc.: Hamilton, ON)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

CRISPR Cas9: A Powerful new Tool for Editing the Human Genome

Using 3DMD’s new CRISPR Kit©, explore the Cas9 endonuclease’s unique ability to recognize a statistically unique site in the 3.2 billion base-pair human genome, before moving to an accurate 3D-printed Cas9 model to explore enhancements of the system that become an even more powerful genome editing tool.

Takeaways: 1. What is CRISPR?; 2. Explore the CRISPR Cas9 endonuclease and its role in genome editing; and 3. Learn how scientists have enhanced Cas9 to make it even more powerful in genome editing.

Speakers

Tim Herman (MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling: Milwaukee, WI)

Eye Love Dissection

Have you missed dissections? Sign up and receive a Carolina’s Perfect Solution® cow eye dissection kit, including PPE! We’ll dissect during this hands-on workshop and construct a Scienstructable 3D Eye Dissection Model®. Have your colored pencils and glue sticks ready! See how dissection and NGSS converge; you won’t believe your eyes! Limited quantity available—sign up now! Open to continental U.S. residents only.

Takeaways: 1. Eye dissection techniques; 2. How dissections correlate to NGSS standards; and 3. Dissection safety.

Speakers

Candace Berkeley (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Proteins—Now That Everything Has Changed

Using engaging and powerful kits, model how proteins are simply long linear sequences of amino acids that spontaneously fold into complex 3-D shapes, following basic principles of chemistry. Then explore how a stylized enzyme model can help students understand basic concepts while an accurate model leads to increased levels of complexity.

Takeaways: 1. Teach protein folding with models; 2. Explore enzymes using models; and 3. Learn how AI is assisting in determining the shape of complex proteins.

Speakers

Tim Herman (MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling: Milwaukee, WI)

Virtual Amazon Fulfillment Center Tour

Give your students real-world computer science and career exposure through Amazon Future Engineer's new live, virtual, and interactive Fulfilment Center Tours! From our online store to doorstep, students will discover how computer science, state-of-the-art engineering, and incredible people deliver customer orders at Amazon.

Takeaways: Attendees will learn: 1. how Amazon uses computer science, engineering, and amazing people to deliver customer orders around the globe; 2. how algorithms, sensors, cloud computing, machine learning, databases, and more all help make Amazon possible; and 3. what it's like to be an engineer at Amazon.

Speakers

Tony Wallin (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Hilah Barbot (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Trinidad Cisneros (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA)

Experience Kinematics: Using Data to Understand Motion

Learn what representations and data your students can use to bridge phenomena and mathematics, and how to assess kinematics understanding, as opposed to rote algebra skills.

Takeaways: 1. Using authentic data from real, open-access journal articles to model motion; 2. Students using multiple representations to shift back and forth from pictures, graphs, and math; and 3. Assessing students' understanding through their performance using real data.

Speakers

Christopher Moore (University of Nebraska Omaha: Omaha, NE)

Keynote Presentation: The Challenge of Creating Equity in Science Education

Science advocates discuss the challenges of creating equitable opportunities for teaching students in science education. We all know that it is a challenge, but through this dialogue, implications and considerations will be highlighted to provide participants ideas for overcoming this challenge and successfully educating underrepresented students.

Speakers

Sharon Delesbore (Hightower High School: Missouri City, TX), Alicia Conerly (Monticello Elementary School: Monticello, MS)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Marketplace Partner Keynote: Computational Thinking: Riding the Next Wave of Student Engagement

How do we capture the attention of our digitally tuned students today? The answer came from an experiment in 2013 called “an hour of code.” Today, coding and computational thinking is the new wave that is capturing students’ attention worldwide. New approaches in the U.K., Sweden, Norway, and even the U.S.’s NGSS all use this cleverly disguised critical-thinking skill to excite, engage, and educate the future generations. We will investigate this new instructional wave together.

Speakers

JP Keener (PASCO Scientific: Roseville, CA)

Fast-Tracking Artificial Selection Investigations with a New Wisconsin Fast Plant Trait

Carolina and Wisconsin Fast Plants® are introducing a new easy-to-observe trait to make artificial and natural selection studies easier. We will present how to set up experiments and demonstrate options for a fast-track selection timeline that can be used effectively in either remote- or classroom-based contexts.

Takeaways: 1. Introduction to new WFP varieties; 2. How to use WFP to teach artificial selection; and 3. Data analysis to support or refute the hypothesis of artificial selection.

Speakers

Julie Stubbs (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Day in the Life of a Software Development Engineer at Amazon

Interested in exposing your students to the careers of the future? Join four Software Development Engineers as they discuss what it's like to code at Amazon. Then, sign up for our Class Chat Program to bring a virtual speaker to your classroom this spring!

Takeaways: Attendees will learn: 1. what a normal day looks like as a software developer at Amazon; 2. potential career paths that can lead to becoming a software developer; and 3. how to register to bring a virtual guest speaker to your class to talk about careers in technology!

Speakers

Hilah Barbot (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Maria Rocco (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Luu Tran (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Natalie White (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA), Michael Shao (Amazon Corporate Affairs: Seattle, WA)

Modeling How Cells Talk: Making Sense of Synapses and Signals

Spark questions with the Synapse Construction Kit© and provide hands-on activities to achieve Concept Explanation and Visual Representation goals in a topic that students find intrinsically interesting. How does the neurotransmitter not only get back in the presynaptic cell, but back in the vesicle? What energy is involved in the transport of these molecules?

Takeaways: 1. Evaluating models; 2. Teaching cell communication through modeling; and 3. Teaching difficult concepts using hands on modeling.

Speakers

Karen Avery (Pennsylvania College of Technology: Williamsport, PA), Daniel Williams (Shelter Island Union Free School District: Shelter Island, NY)

Hands-On, Authentic Science for All Students  

This workshop will focus on how to incorporate more hands-on experiments into science courses in a way that connects the experiences to the broader world. The workshop will also discuss how to make the experiences doable for all students regardless of prior knowledge, training, or learning environment.

Takeaways: 1. How to do more hands-on, authentic experiments; 2. How to make experiments relevant; and 3. How digital media and adaptable platforms can help cater experiences to all students.

Speakers

Mike Marvel (Flinn Scientific, Inc.: Batavia, IL)

Using Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in Science Classes

Integrate VR/AR science modules to help your students understand complex topics in an immersive engaging environment.

Takeaways: 1. Learn the research on using VR/AR in education; 2. View sample science module content; and 3. View the teacher portal and receive immediate free access to all content.

Speakers

Doug Smith (XR Guru: Dublin, OH)

Marketplace Partner Keynote: Science Denial—From Climate to COVID: How Educators Can Make a Difference

Public opinion in the U.S. continues to demonstrate a surprising unwillingness to embrace the scientific consensus on major issues affecting the country and the world. This problem relates to popular perceptions of science and scientists, placing science educators in the crosshairs of this conflict. We will suggest ways in which science educators can play a key role in regaining the cultural high ground in American society.

Speakers

Kenneth Miller (Brown University: Providence, RI), Joseph Levine (Science Writer and Producer: Concord, MA)

The Journey Back: Leveraging Data Tools and EdTech in the Post-COVID Classroom

Engage in a lesson from NOAA’s Data in the Classroom to explore some effective engagement and assessment tools and technologies for the post-COVID classroom.

Takeaways: 1. Keep experimenting with EdTech inside and outside of your classrooms; 2. Utilize EdTech for assessment and engagement of all learners in the classroom; and 3. Access scientific data from NOAA to help students evaluate claims, construct arguments, and better understand the world around them.

Speakers

Amy Dean (Jewish Community High School of the Bay: San Francisco, CA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Keynote Presentation: The Multiplier Mindset: Cultivating a Culture of Success

In this session, we will discuss how the best leaders are multipliers who make everyone around them smarter and promote their team’s success using this strategy. The keynote will focus on how these strategies can be implemented in the PK–20 systems to cultivate a culture of success for our students and teachers.

Speakers

Maureen Stover (Cumberland County Schools: Fayetteville, NC)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Keynote Presentation: Assessing How We Test the NGSS

This presentation will focus on the current state of science assessments around the country. Particular attention will be given to the challenges for reimagining science assessments for the Next Generation Science Standards. Strategies will be included for how to develop assessments that meet the needs of classroom teachers, can measure student content knowledge on statewide summative tests, and can scale at the levels required. Specific attention will be given to addressing how assessments can be more culturally responsive to a wider range of students.

Speakers

Christopher Lazzaro (New Meridian: austin, TX)

NSTA’s “State of Education” Message

Hear about the new administration’s priorities and plans for supporting science and STEM educators and learn more about education and funding priorities in Congress. Bring your questions, and join us in this discussion about what’s going on in Washington, D.C.

Speakers

Jodi Peterson (: Arlington, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Speed-Sharing Chats

Speed-sharing chat topics will include:

• Science experiments gone awry 
• Funniest teacher jokes
• Funniest administrator jokes
• “Worst day ever” experiences that you can now laugh at
• Funniest teacher sayings 
• Funniest things you’ve heard students say
• Weirdest experiment results
• Best science experiments
• If you could rename teachers, what would it be?
• If you could rename science, what would it be?
• Things you wish you would have known before becoming a science teacher
• Weird things you’ve done in class
• Weird things students have done in class
• Most hilarious things you’ve seen or heard at school
• Funniest tweets about teaching, teachers, or students you’ve ever seen.

Join in, have fun, and let loose! This event will be one you’ll never forget!

Note: This session involves Breakout Rooms. In order to participate, you must have the latest version of Zoom downloaded to your computer. Before accessing our Zoom platform, please visit Zoom.us/download, click on Download, and then click on Execute file to initialize.

Please note that these chats are available to the first 500 participants.

This event is not being recorded.

Speakers

ASTE-Sponsored Session: Methods for Methods—Elementary

Come learn from your peers and discover how you can help contribute to and curate tools and resources for teaching elementary science methods. Participants are asked to bring an idea, activity, assignment, or resource to share with colleagues.

Participants will work with technology tools only during this workshop (jamboards, etc.).

Takeaways: 1. Meet/network with other science teacher educators; 2. Learn new ideas, activities, or strategies from peers; and 3. Be able to access additional information and contribute to the 'Method for Methods' collection online.

Speakers

Debi Hanuscin (Western Washington University: Bellingham, WA), Tina Vo (University of Nevada, Las Vegas: Las Vegas, NV), Dr. Dieuwertje Kast (USC Joint Educational Project: Los Angeles, CA), Sumreen Asim (Indiana University Southeast: New Albany, IN), Nazan Bautista (Miami University: Oxford, OH)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

ASTE-Sponsored Session: Balancing Act: Bridging Content Pedagogy with Equity Issues in Methods Courses

This session will bring together science teacher educators to share strategies and resources to support the professional development of preservice middle and high school teachers.

During this workshop, participants will discuss and share ideas, syllabi, digital tools, or lessons about how to teach secondary science teacher preparation methods classes.

This session is for college faculty who prepare teachers or mentor secondary science teachers who work with preservice teachers in clinical experiences.

Takeaways: 1. Perspectives on balancing science content, pedagogical content knowledge, and methods in courses for preservice science teachers; 2. Strategies for addressing issues of social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion in preservice science education courses; and 3. Ideas for adapting these content and practices for face-to-face, hybrid, and online delivery in courses.

Speakers

Ryan Summers (University of North Dakota: Grand Forks, ND), Xinying Yin (California State University, San Bernardino: San Bernardino, CA), Lauren Angelone (Xavier University: Cincinnati, OH), Stephanie Philipp (The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga: Chattanooga, TN)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

SCST-Sponsored Session: Make Your College Science Content Relevant with Community-Engaged Learning

Community-engaged learning promotes “big picture” understanding and hands-on experiences. Through ongoing reflection, reciprocity, and dissemination, students delve deeper into content and impact local communities.

Takeaways: Community engaged learning (CEL): 1. makes content relevant for students, providing a real-world application and big picture understanding; 2. provides hands-on experiences through which students apply course content and benefit a community partner; and 3. can be incorporated into traditional, hybrid, and online classrooms; session participants will learn best practices of CEL to ensure success within all STEM courses.

Speakers

Renee Clary (Mississippi State University: Mississippi State, MS)

Preservice Day Session: Engaging in Climate Science

In this session preservice teachers will explore several activities that help them present climate science through data collection, virtual modeling, and place-based inquiry.

Takeaways: 1. Examine how increasing the amount of black carbon (soot) on Earth's surface, especially in the polar regions, can increase the amount of energy absorbed by Earth's surface; 2. Become familiar with the AMS Conceptual Climate Energy Model, a computer simulation designed to enable you to track the paths that units of energy might follow as they enter, move through, and exit an imaginary planetary climate system; and 3. Use local empirical data from the U.S. Weather Service to discover climate change at a local level.

Speakers

Richard Jones (University of Hawaii-West Oahu: Kaploei, HI)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

So You Want to Teach? Examining Perceptions of Careers in STEM Education

Through research conducted by the Growing Future STEM Teachers in Maine grant, this presentation explores the upsides, downsides, and enticements of secondary STEM teaching.

Takeaways: Participants will: 1. explore perceptions of careers in STEM secondary education; 2. understand factors that influence interest in STEM fields; and 3. identify evidence-based practices for preparation and retention of high-quality secondary STEM teachers.

Speakers

Patricia Waters (Saint Joseph's College of Maine: Standish, ME)

Preservice Day Session: Making Science Fairs More Equitable Online

Come hear how preservice teachers organized and hosted a virtual science fair that aligns with the NGSS science practices—and learn how to do this yourself!

Takeaways: Learn how: 1. to hold a science fair virtually; 2. to align the traditional science fair project with the NGSS science and engineering practices; and 3. preservice teachers can learn from this real-world practicum experience.

Speakers

Debi Hanuscin (Western Washington University: Bellingham, WA), Isabel Martian (Western Washington University: Bellingham, WA), Emily Moran (Western Washington University: Bellingham, WA), Shannon Sandburg (Western Washington University: Bellingham, WA), Ruby Pappas (Western Washington University: Bellingham, WA), Emily Barr (Western Washington University: Bellingham, WA), Andrew Bumgarner (Western Washington University: Bellingham, WA), Kady McCartney (Western Washington University: Bellingham, WA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Preservice Day Session: Developing Leadership Through NSTA Student Chapters

Discover how an NSTA student chapter on your campus can support your professional growth and development! We’ll share tips for growing or starting your student chapter!

Takeaways: 1/ Learrn how to organize and start an NSTA student chapter for preservice teachers at your college or university; 2. Discover the wide range of activities that a chapter can organize for professional growth and development; and 3. Find out how NSTA is rebuilding our student chapter program at the National level.

Speakers

Donna Governor (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA), Debi Hanuscin (Western Washington University: Bellingham, WA), Robbie Higdon (James Madison University: Harrisonburg, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Featured Panel: Network Around Preparing STEM Teachers for High-Need Schools: Join the ARISE Community

ARISE, an initiative of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, funded by the National Science Foundation, provides resources, tools, and a community to foster research and evidence-based innovation in STEM teacher education. We invite you to learn about ARISE (Advancing Research & Innovation in the STEM Education of Preservice Teachers in High-Need School Districts) and its resources and join our community—almost 10,000 strong!

Speakers

Jennifer Carinci (AAAS: Washington, DC), Lauren Manier (AAAS: Washington, DC), Betty Calinger (AAAS: Washington, DC)

Gender-Inclusive Biology Curriculum: Small Tweaks and Big Shifts

Integrate gender diversity into your teaching for accurate, inclusive, NGSS-focused, and future-ready biology lessons! Participants will explore our free framework, example lessons, and resources.

Takeaways: 1. Biology teaching presents many opportunities to teach about gender, sex, and sexuality; 2. We can support our LGBTQ+ students and all students by discussing gender-diversity in an evidence-based, ongoing, and positive way; and 3. Gender-inclusive teaching creates opportunities to engage in the NGSS science and engineering practices.

Speakers

Sam Long (St. Vrain Valley Schools: Longmont, CO), Lewis Steller (Academy for Precision Learning: Seattle, WA), River Suh (Leadership High School: San Francisco, CA)

An Overview of NSF Funding Opportunities to Support STEM Teacher Preparation Efforts

Overview of NSF funding opportunities to support science preservice and inservice teacher education.

Takeaways: 1. Gain knowledge about NSF funding opportunities for STEM teacher educators; 2. Know do's and don'ts for submitting NSF proposals to Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE); and 3. Identify STEM teacher education priority areas for DUE submissions.

Speakers

Sandra Richardson (National Science Foundation: Alexandria, VA)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Bringing Indigenous Ways of Knowing into Place-Based STEM Projects

Explore with Indigenous Knowledge Keepers how and why to include Indigenous Ways of Knowing and voices in your place-based STEM projects.

Takeaways: With guidance from an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper: 1. gather examples of, and reasons for, looking at NGSS PEs, DCIs, SEPs, and CCCs through the complementary lens of Indigenous Ways of Knowing, which we call Indigenizing STEM; 2. create an ancestral land acknowledgement statement, with instructions, that can be used at your school, organization, or project site; and 3. create an honoring (blessing) protocol from the Indigenous perspective that acknowledges the respected human-environment relationship. This protocol could be done on the land of STEM project before changing or taking from the ecosystem.

Speakers

RunningHorse Livingston (Mathematize, Inc.: Madison, WI), Pte Ska Hinapa Wi Poor Bear (Indigenous Educator and Knowledge Keeper: Denver, CO), Laura Arndt (Global GreenSTEM: Franktown, CO)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Using NSTA as Your Textbook When Teaching Preservice Teachers of Science

Calling all professors to learn ways NSTA digital resources and professional learning tools are being used when teaching science preservice teachers. Professors currently using NSTA as textbook will be present to answer questions.

Takeaways: 1. Over 100 professors at more than 80 universities are using NSTA resources and online tools to effectively teach science preservice teachers; 2. Preservice teachers create a library of resources, grow their network of professional colleagues, and enhance their content and pedagogical knowledge of science by actively engaging with NSTA digital resources and online tools within the NSTA website; and 3. Participating preservice teachers experience being part of the science professional organization that is NSTA.

Speakers

Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Richard Jones (University of Hawaii-West Oahu: Kaploei, HI)

NSTA Science Update: Return of Periodical Cicadas—Fear, Fascination, and Fun in 2021

Join presenters from the University of Maryland in exploring the natural history, ecology, and behavior of the seven species of periodical cicadas indigenous to North America.

Takeaways: (1) Explore the natural history, ecology, and behavior of the seven species of periodical cicadas indigenous to North America. (2) Learn about how cicadas are unique in the insect world. (3) Learn when cicadas will appear and how they will impact humans, pets, wildlife, and plants in our region.

Speakers

Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Michael Raupp (University of Maryland: College Park, MD)

Designing Your Own Online Labs

Good data-based labs are priceless. Developing your own is hard—especially for online. Walk through the process of designing online, data-based labs.

Takeaways: 1. Identify the differences between developing online labs and face-to-face labs; 2. Become familiar with some tools and resources available to help you design your own online, data-based labs; and 3. Be able to identify additional supports students will need in online settings.

Speakers

Zack Stockbridge (Southwestern Community College: Sylva, NC)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

ASTE-Sponsord Session: Mill Mothers' Lament: Employing 3-D Learning to Support Justice-Oriented Science Teacher Education

Investigate an historic epidemic that disproportionately impacted persons experiencing poverty 100 years ago. We'll use materials designed to support preservice and inservice teachers’ critical science consciousness.

Takeaways: Attendees will learn: 1. that making connections between science and systemic inequities explicit is a culturally relevant practice; 2. how exploring systemic inequities through science practices, disciplinary content, and crosscutting concepts supports teacher candidates’ critical consciousness development; and 3. how to create a critical inquiry case study around an issue of interest in their own instructional context.

Speakers

Lenora Crabtree (The University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Charlotte, NC)

SCST-Sponsored Session: Teaching Genetics and Evolution in the Midst of a Pandemic: How a Real-World Example Helps Students Learn Better

The 2020 pandemic has given us a wealth of new applications for teaching that are personal and relevant to students.

Takeaways: For this session, attendees will: 1. learn how the novel coronavirus was woven into a freshman biology course at multiple levels (as a thematic element); 2. see examples of student activities based on this virus and subsequent vaccine development; and 3. see examples of student evaluation of this altered course design.

Speakers

Kerry Cheesman (Capital University: Columbus, OH)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Exploring Ways to Integrate Science and Literacy Learning

Share ways your students learn to speak clearly, read thoughtfully, write coherently, and create and/or critique media while learning science. Also consider examples in https://open.oregonstate.education/physicsforteachers.

Takeaways: 1. Attendees will learn about ways to integrate science and literacy learning; 2. From these examples, attendees will learn about different perspectives on what it means to integrate science and literacy learning; and 3. Attendees also will learn about ways to integrate science and literacy lessons while enacting NGSS recommendations such as engaging students in the science and engineering practices of asking questions and defining problems, constructing explanations and designing solutions, engaging in argument from evidence, and obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information within the context of using relevant cross cutting concepts while exploring phenomena on which to base development of disciplinary core ideas.

Speakers

Emily Van Zee (Retired Associate Professor: Corvallis, OR)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Building the Foundations for an Equitable and Inclusive STEM Program

This session will provide a framework for how to develop a STEM program. The presentation will include an example of a STEM strategic plan that promotes equity and inclusion.

Takeaways: Session participants will learn: 1. a process for developing STEM curricula and programming; 2. how to begin to address equity issues; and 3. methods for including student voice and agency into a STEM program.

Speakers

Carol Larson (Indiana Connections Academy: Indianapolis, IN), Naomi Nelson (Christel House Academy: Indianapolis, IN)

NARST-Sponsored Session: Case Study Pedagogy and Learning Outcomes: A Framework for Teaching Biology with Narratives

Explore inclusive ways of using case studies with structured small group work/discussion, as well as aligning case studies with content goals.

Takeaways: 1. Using case studies; 2. Addressing inclusion; and 3. Achieving content goals.

Speakers

Ally Hunter (University of Massachusetts Amherst: Amherst, MA), Melissa Zwick (Stockton University: Absecon, NJ)

Presenter Materials for this Session:
(Please login with your NSTA account to view the materials)

Summer STEM Institute Goes Virtual: Creating an Engaging STEM Learning Program

We will share the strategies and activities that made our first virtual STEM institute an engaging and educational experience for diverse upper elementary and middle level youth.

Takeaways: Participants will: 1. identify best practices for engaging youth in informal STEM experiences, including an end-of-summer celebration; 2. learn how we delivered programming in STEM with multiple grade-level bands; and 3. gain a list of valuable resources we used to teach scientific concepts, including how we created and distributed kits.

Speakers

Demetrice Smith-Mutegi (Old Dominion University: Norfolk, VA)

ASTC-Sponsored Session: Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in STEM

Do you care about inspiring girls to pursue STEM careers? Then join us to learn about the IF/THEN Collection designed to help ensure equitable gender representation in STEM! The IF/THEN Collection is the world’s largest FREE library of images, videos, and other content portraying women in STEM.

Takeaways: Participants will: 1. learn about the background and purpose of the IF/THEN Collection; 2. learn how to use the IF/THEN Collection to support STEM learning programs; and 3. get hands-on experience utilizing assets from the IF/THEN Collection.

Speakers

Jessica Hay (National Girls Collaborative Project: Seattle, WA)

Continuing Collaborative Experimentation When Students Must Be Remote: Solutions and Perceptions

Struggling to deliver lab experiences simultaneously to in-person and remote students in large numbers? Come learn how we did it and share your solutions too.

Takeaways: 1. The approach one takes to delivering online/hybrid laboratory experience depends on learning objectives; 2. Course-based research experiences can be conducted through remote collaborations; and 3. Students acknowledge benefits of online/hybrid research experiences.

Speakers

Donald French (Oklahoma State University: Stillwater, OK)

Keynote Presentation: Teaching to Change the World: Using Social Justice Science Pedagogy to Empower Every Learner

When you think of social justice teaching, does science come to mind? Science involves the consistent and systematic analysis of the world we live in. However, when we think of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology we rarely examine how learning concepts in core disciplines can empower students to explain the social phenomena that frame their lives. This presentation explores what social justice science teaching looks like in science and how we can empower students to see the value of science when we center social science teaching in our practice.

Speakers

Bryan Brown (Stanford University: Stanford, CA)