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:
Daniel Bergman (Wichita State University: Wichita, KS)

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)

Come meet the NSTA Presidents and discover how NSTA can help you on your path to becoming a teacher of science at all levels.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Meet the NSTA Presidents; 2. Learn about how NSTA can help preservice teachers; and 3. Discover NSTA resources available to you as a preservice teacher.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Allan (University of Central Oklahoma: Edmond, OK), Eric Pyle (James Madison University: Harrisonburg, VA), Dennis Schatz (Institute for Learning Innovation: Beaverton, OR), Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Donna Governor (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA)

Explore the placement of science literacy within the nature of scientific knowledge and the Next Generation Science Standards. Gain insights on implementing science literacy strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Exemplars with steps for implementing three or more literacy strategies; 2. Overview of how Science Literacy connects with the Nature of Scientific Knowledge; and 3. Overview of the position of Science Literacy within the NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Anne Royce (Shippensburg University: Shippensburg, PA), Omah Williams-Duncan (University of Houston-Clear Lake: Houston, TX)

During this session, participants will explore the use of controversial societal issues related to science to develop their students’ scientific literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn more about socioscientific issues; 2. Understand how socioscientific issues relate to scientific literacy; and 3. Learn how to address socioscientific issues in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Sami Kahn (Princeton University: Princeton, NJ)

Join us as we discuss strategies to provide ALL students opportunities for engaging in science and engineering practices individually from home and sensemaking collaboratively with their peers.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn more about inequities that virtual learning has illuminated; 2. Strategize ways to make virtual learning more equitable; and 3. Learn more about NSTA resources to support that.

SPEAKERS:
Brianna Reilly (Great Minds: Washington, DC), Jessica Holman (Boone County High School: Florence, KY), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

How do you address students’ questions on science and religion? Join me for a conversation on different ways to address science and religion in a science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn more about how teachers can: 1. address students’ questions about science and religion ; 2. better understand the relationship between science and religion; and 3. clarify the role of science teachers in helping students navigate the differences.

SPEAKERS:
Ian Binns (The University of North Carolina at Charlotte: Charlotte, NC)

Learn about implementation of culturally relevant resources in secondary science and practices to teach ELLs in elementary and middle grades science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to: 1. use bilingualism (English/Spanish) in science; 2. use and create culturally relevant resources; and 3. promote socioscientific reasoning in science .

SPEAKERS:
Max Vazquez Dominguez (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA), Lorraine Ramirez Villarin (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA)

Learn how to incorporate place-based learning within your instruction to allow ALL students to apply their factual knowledge in practical, meaningful ways within a relevant context.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Construct a deeper understanding of the content presented in state curriculum standards; 2. View experiential learning events as a critical aspect of science education in their classrooms; and 3. Discover how investigations of local natural phenomena can serve as the foundation on which investigations of more distant or abstract phenomena can be constructed.

SPEAKERS:
Robbie Higdon (James Madison University: Harrisonburg, VA)

Explore how instruction can equitably support science learning that is consequential to students and their communities while promoting a more just society and flourishing world.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn more about what equitable science teaching is; and 2. Learn how to use the STEM Teaching Tools resources to support equitable science instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Bell (University of Washington: Seattle, WA)

Join our panel of  these recent student teachers to find out how to successfully navigate your student teaching, Ask questions and interact with these graduating seniors.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Hear from recent student teachers about the challenges they faced; 2. Ask questions about what to expect while student teaching; and 3. Get advice on how to handle the unexpected.

SPEAKERS:
Caleb Holtzclaw (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA), Richard Jones (University of Hawaii-West Oahu: Kaploei, HI), Naamah Shissler (Shippensburg University: Shippensburg, PA), Makae Bythewood (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA)

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)

Next Generation Science Assessment (NGSA) consists of tasks designed to meet the Next Generation of Science Standards and for teachers to use formatively in their science classrooms. Come learn how to access and use equitable assessment tasks to engage all students in 3-D learning!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about how to assess 3-D learning; 2. Understand how formative assessment aligns with the NGSS; and 3. Learn more about resources to support equitable assessment through NGSA.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Krajcik (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University: East Lansing, MI)

In this session, learn more about safety protocols specific for science and
critical to teaching science during a pandemic from NSTA’s Safety Advisor!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about NSTA supports for safety; 2. Explore safety issues for science teaching; and 3. Learn more about pandemic-related safety issues.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Roy (Glastonbury Public Schools: Glastonbury, CT)

Don’t miss this final, short session to give feedback about the conference and  how NSTA can help you. We have some final information and door prizes as well!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Provide feedback for today’s sessions; 2. Let us know how NSTA can help you grow as a preservice teacher; and 3. Win a $25 gift card for NSTA Press.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Governor (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA), Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Ideas of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the science classroom are challenges for new teachers. Strategies, tools, and resources will be given to support preservice educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to teach for equity, diversity, and inclusion; 2. What you may not know and weren’t taught in your preparation program; and 3. Resources to help address these issues.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Conerly (Monticello Elementary School: Monticello, MS)

Collaborate and share tools that can be used either in person or in a distance-learning environment. Discover how you can use these tools in the science classroom, especially with STEM projects and competitions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Collaborate and share tools that can be used either in person or in a distance-learning environment; 2. Discover how you can use these tools in the science classroom, especially with STEM projects and competitions; and 3. Engage with educators that are interested in improving science literacy with K-12 students via interactive engagement strategies for students.

SPEAKERS:
Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Educators share challenges and strategies to enhance STEM learning in the urban environment. A variety of real-world issues and their successful solutions will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Engage with educators who have led their school systems to meet various challenges; 2. Learn from successful programs; and 3. Discuss relevant issues related to urban science educators.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Ellis (Hunter Huss High School: Gastonia, NC), Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Pat Shane (UNC-Chapel Hill Emerita: No City, No State), Brad Rhew (Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools: Winston Salem, NC), Rabiah Harris (Jefferson Middle School Academy: Washington, DC), Mary Beth Berrien (Greenfield Commonwealth Virtual School: Greenfield, MA), Charles Hayes (Highland Oaks Elementary School: Memphis, TN)