NSTA Engage: Spring21 - Sessions

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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