NSTA Engage: Spring21

May 12-8, 2021

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Rooms and times subject to change.
190 results
Save up to 50 sessions in your agenda.

Keynote Presentation: Equity-ology

Monday, April 12 • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

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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

Tuesday, April 13 • 4:00 PM - 4:30 PM


(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA State of Education Message.pptx

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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)

Using Picture Books to Make “Text to Investigation” Connections in Science

Tuesday, April 13 • 5:45 PM - 6:45 PM

STRAND: Integrating Science and Literacy

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Literacy has used “text to” connections to help students make authentic connections. Integrating picture books helps expand text to investigation connections in the science classroom.

This session is targeted for novice/intermediate attendees.

Materials needed:

  • Children's book (related to science) of your choice
  • shallow plastic tub with water (similar to plastic shoeboxes)
  • variety of different objects that can be placed in water—some that sink and some that float
  • tin foil
  • common objects for weight to be used in tin foil boat such as pennies, marbles, similar sized legos, etc.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. explore how to expand a common literacy strategy of “text to” connections when using picture books in the elementary science classroom; 2. engage in investigations that model the use of “text to” connections that help students connect their own authentic experiences and help students understand and make sense; and 3. consider criteria for the selection of books, identification of phenomena, and how the selection of investigations can be a powerful experience for students.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Anne Royce (Shippensburg University: Shippensburg, PA)

Supporting Educator Understanding of the NGSS Three Dimensions of Learning While Engaging Elementary Students in Engineering Design and Design Thinking

Tuesday, April 13 • 5:45 PM - 6:45 PM

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Learn to access hundreds of free hands-on engineering design activities that exemplify the interconnected three-dimensional elements of K–5 science learning.

For this beginner-level hands-on activity, each participant will need: 

  • 4–6 Lifesaver® mints
  • 4–6 plastic straws (with diameters smaller than the Lifesaver® mint’s hole diameter)
  • 2–4 popsicle sticks
  • 1–2 index cards (or thin cardboard or poster board scraps)
  • tape (duct or masking)
  • scissors
  • paper
  • pencil
  • ramp (made from sturdy poster board or rigid cardboard)
  • meter stick
  • 10–30 pennies

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. engage in a hands-on NGSS engineering design–aligned activity for elementary students from the FREE TeachEngineering digital library; 2. experience the integration of design and design thinking through 3-D learning while exploring a fun way to ignite student creativity; and 3. experience the interconnectivity of 3-D learning while strengthening their own ability to implement 3-D teaching and learning practices in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Dua Chaker (Teach Engineering: No City, No State), Michael Soltys (TeachEngineering: Boulder, CO), Jennifer Kracha (Teach Engineering: No City, No State)

Best Practices for Offering Remote Science Activities

Tuesday, April 13 • 5:45 PM - 6:45 PM

STRAND: Continuing Effective Distance Learning Strategies Post-COVID

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Attendees will participate in a hands-on experience as they construct an understanding of the best practices for presenting hands-on activities remotely.

This session is targeted for novice attendees.

Materials needed:

  • scissors
  • several paperclips
  • sheet of scrap paper

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover tips, techniques, and strategies for the successful facilitation of online activities; 2. Discover new activities appropriate for online delivery, including virtual field trips; and 3. Participate in an online activity to experience (as a student) what works and what doesn't.

SPEAKERS:
Michael DiSpezio (Master Educator, Presenter, and Author: North Falmouth, MA)

Using Literacy Elements as a Cross-Curricular Bridge to Strengthen Science Teaching

Wednesday, April 14 • 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM


(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
ALI All Product Overview_2021.pdf
NSTA 2021 Sessions Flyer_0412.pdf
NSTA-Mathis-Morse-STEMscopes-Literacy-Elements-Cross-Curricular-Bridge-final.pdf
Presentation slides from the session
Summer STEM Enrichment brochure.pdf

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Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes

Literacy strategies, such as analyzing, discussing, and summarizing, can be utilized while reading science-based articles, authentic science research, journals, and textbooks. The use of these strategies provides a cross-curricular bridge that not only increases understanding but also increases a student's ability to think critically. Our professionally trained STEM coaches know what it takes to effectively integrate literacy and writing into the science content. Using a constructivist approach, participants will experience hands-on learning that will give them a greater understanding of literacy in science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. work in a collaborative group to understand the importance of a constructivist approach; 2. understand how constructivist strategies provide a cross-curricular bridge that not only increases understanding but also increases a student's ability to think critically; and 3. work on an interactive activity to know what it takes to integrate literacy into the science content.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Mathis (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Jessica Morse (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Investigative Phenomena: An Equitable Approach

Wednesday, April 14 • 11:00 AM - 11:45 AM