Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

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)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

In this session you will learn how to use a simulation of an aquatic ecosystem to help students see the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors such as dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature. The simulation makes it possible to model environments that would otherwise be very difficult to monitor and experiment with. Plus, the fish animations are really cool!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Using simulations with students can help them better visualize the mechanisms behind phenomena; 2. Simulations are a great complement to hands-on learning and work best when hands on isn't possible/practical; and 3. Effects of changes to certain variables in aquatic ecosystems can have negative effects on the organisms that live there.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Kohout (Howard County Conservancy: Woodstock, MD)

Sponsoring Company: PAEMST

Come learn about the highest recognition for STEM educators in the United States. We will discuss eligibility criteria, nomination, application, and review process for the awards. Awardees receive a certificate; a $10,000 award; a trip to Washington, DC, for a recognition event; and access to over 5,100 award-winning teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How you can win $10,000; 2. How you can apply for this prestigious award from the U.S. Government; and 3. The benefits of applying for this award.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Mayes (National Science Foundation: Alexandria, VA)

Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific, Inc.

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)

Sponsoring Company: Animalearn

Discover how you can make your dissection lab dynamic and innovative after COVID-19! Learn about new life science resources, including mixed reality (AR/VR) education technology; and explorative, hands-on teaching tools that will amaze and engage your students. Participants will be entered to WIN FREE PRIZES like dissection resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Life science resources; 2. Education technology; and 3. Hybrid classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Green (Animalearn: Jenkintown, PA)

Sponsoring Company: uHandy Mobile Microscope

Since History and English classes teach students how to read and analyze primary sources, why can't Science classes do the same? In this workshop, you will learn how to teach NGSS using research articles and how to seamlessly tie it all into a lesson, with the help of some pond protozoa.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to: 1. teach NGSS using research articles; and 2. seamlessly tie it all into a lesson, with the help of some pond protozoa.

SPEAKERS:
Evelyn Wong (Science with Evie: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Shell Science Lab

Come start your winning application for one of three Shell-sponsored programs. We'll walk through the application step by step and you'll be able to begin your application or nomination form live.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn: 1. tips to complete a successful application; 2. who's eligible to apply; and 3. how to nominate a deserving teacher.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Ruud (Cleveland State University: Cleveland, OH), Amanda Upton (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Sponsoring Company: American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History teaching cases are curriculum materials designed to facilitate student exploration of sets of data they did not collect themselves. Participants will use videos, essays, and analysis tools to investigate how blue whales, the largest animal to ever live, survive by eating some of the smallest.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about: 1. how blue whales have evolved into the largest animal to have lived on Earth; 2. the AMNH teaching case model designed to contextualize large sets of data for students; and 3. opportunities to explore AMNH teaching cases with other teachers.

SPEAKERS:
David Randle (American Museum of Natural History: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Use the short film The Biology of Skin Color to practice argumentation skills of developing claims with supporting evidence and reasoning techniques. This content can easily connect to learning in units of genetics, evolution, or cellular structure from middle school through AP/IB courses. Scaffolds and online learning suggestions included.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Biological traits are not inherently good or bad. Some traits can provide an advantage to an organism in certain environments but be a disadvantage in other environments; 2. Different human populations living many generations in a particular part of the world may have different variations in certain traits. In spite of these differences, all humans are very closely related and share most traits; and 3. A claim is a statement that answers a question using clear and supporting evidence connected by reasoning.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Hedeen (Oregon City High School: Oregon City, OR), Kathryn Fisher Hedeen (Oregon City High School: Oregon City, OR)

Sponsoring Company: FDA/ Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Join us in exploring FDA's free curriculum designed for middle level and high school students. The Science and Our Food Supply series provides hands-on lessons in food safety, nutrition, and agricultural biotechnology…and provides a bridge for students to experience science in the real world.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will: 1. explore the variety of lessons found in the FDA curriculum; 2. understand how this curriculum can be integrated into a variety of science classes; and 3. be exposed to how this curriculum can be adapted to both hands-on and distance learning.

SPEAKERS:
Elena Stowell (Kentwood High School: Kent, WA), Laurie Hayes (Retired Biomedicine Teacher: , CA)

Sponsoring Company: MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling

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 (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Many viral diseases are spread by vectors like the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Various factors are increasing the spread of these vectors and the diseases they carry. Use free HHMI BioInteractive resources to explore how scientists are using biotechnology to reduce the number of infections by reducing mosquito density. You’ll experience how your students can analyze and interpret data to support an argument based on evidence.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Analyze and interpret data from a controlled experiment to support an argument related to the effectiveness of modifying mosquitoes genetically to reduce population density and spread of disease; 2. Explain advantages, disadvantages, and unintended consequences of mosquito reduction strategies; and 3. Apply understanding of human impacts on ecosystems to the increase in spread of infectious disease.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Parfitt (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI), Amy Fassler (Marshfield High School: Marshfield, WI)

Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific, Inc.

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)

Sponsoring Company: MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling

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 (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Whether breaking bonds, dissolving NaCl, or exploring states of matter, your students will be captivated by 3D Molecular Designs’ magnetic Water Kit©. The versatile kit will engage students in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, Earth science, or physical science and its usefulness spans from middle and high school to college.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Teach bonds and bond strength with models; 2. Teach solutions and states of matter with models; and 3. Teach polarity with models.

SPEAKERS:
Jim Lane (Mahtomedi High School: Saint Paul, MN)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

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)

Sponsoring Company: MSOE Center for BioMolecular Modeling

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 (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

A decomposing corpse is found in a field. Four possible missing persons fit the description. But who is it? Using clues near the scene will help determine identity. Forensic anthropologist Diane France helped to develop this free middle school and high school forensic science lesson.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Forensic science is a great career field that combines science with criminal justice; 2. Natural processes of decomposition of flesh can be clues to determining cause of death; and 3. Storytelling is a great way to engage students in science.

SPEAKERS:
Jeffrey Lukens (Retired Science Teacher: Sioux Falls, SD)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

In this hands-on interactive workshop, participants will learn how to utilize physical phospholipid and transport protein models to explore the structure of the cell membrane, the role of transport proteins in moving ions and small molecules across membranes, and how defects in transport proteins can cause diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Teach membrane transport with models; 2. Teach the role of transport proteins with models; and 3. Teach how defects in transport can cause diseases.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Chou (Longmont High School: Longmont, CO)

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Make science class phenomenal! Engage in an ecology lesson using HHMI BioInteractive Phenomenal Images as an anchor and learn strategies to help students use the science practices and crosscutting concepts to make sense of phenomena. Consider how to design phenomena-based lessons using free resources associated with the images.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Using phenomena provides an anchor for understanding and explaining science concepts and is a pedagogical practice supported by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) that connects learning with the natural world; 2. Using the science practices of Modeling and Asking Questions can support students in engaging with phenomena; and 3. The crosscutting concepts are a lens through which students can deepen their understanding of phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Natalie Dutrow (Salt Lake City School District: Salt Lake City, UT), Helen Snodgrass (YES Prep North Forest: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

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)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

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)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Explore and compare mitosis and meiosis in this hands-on interactive workshop. You will see how the Chromosome Connections Kit© and Chromosome Student Modeling Pack© can take your students from the cellular scale to the molecular scale connecting DNA nucleotides to chromosomes, whether modeling mitosis or Punnett Squares.

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

SPEAKERS:
Chris Chou (Longmont High School: Longmont, CO)

Sponsoring Company: Ward's Science

How do we get students engaged and inspired in hands-on labs and experiments while learning remotely without access to classroom equipment and supplies? Microscopy can be especially difficult for students who can't touch or adjust the microscope the same way as if they were sitting right in front of it.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. An affordable solution for sharing microscopy techniques and images in person or remotely; 2. Entire class benefits from seeing the image as it should appear; and 3. Included software enables instructors and students to view, capture, share, save, annotate, and manipulate images.

SPEAKERS:
Joyce Dorsey (Ward's Science: West Henrietta, NY), Chris Nutting (Ward's Science: West Henrietta, NY)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Inspire curiosity, questions, and discussion with 3DMD’s hands-on DNA modeling kits. Students will discover the dynamics of DNA—twisting, untwisting, separating for replication and transcription, and coming back together. Upon examining the intricacies of DNA anatomy, students can analyze the crosscutting relationship of structure and function.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Eliciting questions through modeling; 2. Crosscutting relationship between structure and function of DNA; and 3. Teaching the dynamics of DNA for replication and transcription.

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

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Don a “biohazard” suit and join us to track an infectious disease outbreak. In this session we will introduce you to HHMI BioInteractive’s Ebola: Disease Detectives activities that highlight how nucleotide sequences can be used to track the evolution and spread of disease variants (a model for tracking SARS COv2 variants).

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Patterns in nucleotide sequences represent shared derived and shared conserved characteristics that can establish relatedness and groupings; 2. The differences in nucleotide sequences also allow scientists to establish an order of “appearance” for variants; and 3. This is a model for the processes being used to track our current SARS CoV2 outbreak. Genetic change in virus strains can result in phenotypic changes that affect pathogenicity.

SPEAKERS:
Katherine Ward (Aragon High School: San Mateo, CA), Mark Eberhard (St. Clair High School: Saint Clair, MI)

Sponsoring Company: FDA/ Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

Join us in exploring FDA's free curriculum designed for middle level and high school students. The Science and Our Food Supply series provides hands-on lessons in food safety, nutrition, and agricultural biotechnology…and provides a bridge for students to experience science in the real world.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will: 1. explore the variety of lessons found in the FDA curriculum; 2. understand how this curriculum can be integrated into a variety of science classes; and 3. be exposed to how this curriculum can be adapted to both hands-on and distance learning.

SPEAKERS:
Elena Stowell (Kentwood High School: Kent, WA), Laurie Hayes (Retired Biomedicine Teacher: , CA)