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.

Speakers

Jessica Kohout (Howard County Conservancy: Woodstock, MD)

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

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)

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)

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)

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)