2022 Chicago National Conference

July 21-23, 2022

Grade Level


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Pathway/Course

FILTERS APPLIED:9 - 12, Exhibitor Workshop, Environmental Science

 

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

Shine a Light on Photosynthesis Using BioInteractive Resources

Thursday, July 21 • 8:20 AM - 9:20 AM

McCormick Place - W474a


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Illuminate photosynthesis for your students using free, classroom-ready resources! During this workshop, we’ll build, revise, and disrupt models to help students understand photosynthesis. Model the use of BioInteractive resources using a scaffolded approach to develop and strengthen data literacy skills in students. Provide hands-on opportunities to explore Biointeractive resources that make strong connections to science practices. Inspire participants’ use of these resources in their own classrooms in multiple content areas. Model best practice pedagogical strategies to develop data literacy skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Model the use of BioInteractive resources using a scaffolded approach to develop and strengthen data literacy skills in students.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Eberhard (St. Clair High School: Saint Clair, MI), Ann Brokaw (Rocky River High School: Rocky River, OH)

Quick and Easy Photosynthesis Experiments

Thursday, July 21 • 8:20 AM - 9:20 AM

McCormick Place - W474b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: PASCO scientific

Clear up misconceptions about respiration only occurring in the dark, or that only green light is used
for photosynthesis! In this workshop, you'll learn how to use common plant leaves to illustrate how plants
convert light energy into chemical energy and carry out investigations using real-time carbon exchange data.  Attend for a chance to win equipment for your school!

TAKEAWAYS:
Enhance student understandings of photosynthesis and cellular respiration by observing carbon exchange in real time!

SPEAKERS:
Barbara Pugliese (PASCO Scientific: Roseville, CA)

Phenomenal Classroom Critters

Thursday, July 21 • 8:20 AM - 9:20 AM

McCormick Place - W471a


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Add excitement to your class with live organisms! Discover simple hands-on ways to explore evolution, adaptation, and behavior with  insects and arthropods. Learn care, handling, and integration of organisms with NGSS standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will takeaway firsthand knowledge and skills to select, handle, and successfully keep insects and arthropods in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Nixon (Watauga High School: Boone, NC)

Zombie Apocalypse!

Thursday, July 21 • 9:40 AM - 10:40 AM

McCormick Place - W194b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

Attendees will explore disease modeling through the use of real (virtual) ZOMBIES!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. This session will explore disease-spread modeling using fictional zombies; 2. Attendees will also see how using Hollywood themes combined with actual STEM careers can be a fun way to engage students in learning science and STEM; and 3. Attendees will find out about free science and STEM lessons from Texas Instruments.

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

Rethinking the Climate Change Paradigm to Engage and Inspire the Next Generation

Thursday, July 21 • 9:40 AM - 10:40 AM

McCormick Place - W190b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Earth Overshoot

Teaching climate change as a symptom of planetary health using the overshoot model gives students a deeper understanding of environmental science and inspires hope and meaningful action.

TAKEAWAYS:
A more comprehensive systemic approach to our global environmental emergencies that concentrates on the interconnected causes instead of a narrow climate change focus gives students a broader and deeper understanding of our current environmental challenges and sets them up for successfully solving them.

SPEAKERS:
Terry Spahr (Earth Overshoot: Ardmore, PA)

Urgent Lessons: Measuring the Effects of Climate Change

Thursday, July 21 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

McCormick Place - W471b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Software & Technology

Learn how to introduce new scientific concepts to your students through the lens of climate change. We will discuss experiments that let students study climate change in the classroom using data-collection technology, such as an investigation into the effect of carbon dioxide on ocean and freshwater pH. All activities are available as a free download for attendees.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Gain experience with hands-on technology that encourages students to explore and test different solutions and make connections to the real world; 2. Get access to free resources to keep students engaged while learning key scientific concepts either remotely or in the lab; and 3. Gain hands-on experiences with innovative products that increase student engagement, promote creativity and collaboration, and develop problem-solving skills.

SPEAKERS:
Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Teaching with Co-Lob-Orate

Thursday, July 21 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

McCormick Place - W192b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Fisher Science Education & Aldon

Looking for ways to connect your classroom, regardless of whether students are in school or at home? Co-lab-orate is an innovative digital lab notebook that allows educators to easily create, assign, and grade lab reports, while helping students communicate with their classmates and teachers. Co-lab-orate can be used to complete hands-on activities done individually or in a group setting, when working at school or remotely. Join Fisher Science Education and Aldon as we conduct an experiment while showcasing Co-lab-Orate’s game changing and cost-effective teaching platform!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will perform a lab experiment and record the results on their own device experiencing the full power of Co-Lab-Orate.

SPEAKERS:
Kymberly Hall , Alex Molinich (Aldon Corporation: Avon, NY)

Rethinking the Climate Change Paradigm to Engage and Inspire the Next Generation

Thursday, July 21 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

McCormick Place - W190b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Earth Overshoot

Teaching climate change as a symptom of planetary health using the overshoot model gives students a deeper understanding of environmental science and inspires hope and meaningful action.

TAKEAWAYS:
A more comprehensive systemic approach to our global environmental emergencies that concentrates on the interconnected causes instead of a narrow climate change focus gives students a broader and deeper understanding of our current environmental challenges and sets them up for successfully solving them.

SPEAKERS:
Terry Spahr (Earth Overshoot: Ardmore, PA)

Next Level Learning: Using Interactive STEM Cases to Power Up Thinking!

Thursday, July 21 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

McCormick Place - W190b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: ExploreLearning

STEM cases are an integral part of meaningful inclusive and authentic learning. They can range from community awareness to global crises. Students can instantly make socio-emotional connections to the cases as the phenomenon they are reviewing can be happening just beyond the walls of their classrooms. (And studies show that when students make emotional connections, they are able to redirect more content into long-term memory storage!) In addition, STEM cases can support all students by differentiating delivery and assessment, using technology (which has its own modifications and accommodations), and by also providing handbooks for educators and students to create additional in depth pedagogy and experiences. Because we focus on the process, educators can assess science and engineering skills over time as students complete more than a dozen standards-based studies. Session Outline: 1) Participants will learn more about the value of providing a career-readiness approach to STEM learning. 2) We'll review the research behind an effective program like Interactive STEM Cases. 3) Participants will see how we can see real-time data collection and see how this approach makes sense to pause if we need to support a challenging concept 4) Participants will have an opportunity to jump into an Interactive STEM Case to get excited about adding this resource to their students’ tool kit.

TAKEAWAYS:
The purpose of providing students with real-time scenarios to engage STEM enthusiasm.

SPEAKERS:
David Kanter (ExploreLearning: Charlottesville, VA)

Teaching Conservation Genetics with the Duke Lemur Center

Thursday, July 21 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

McCormick Place - W476


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Bring your students on an expedition to Madagascar! Analyze morphological data and run electrophoresis gels to determine whether researchers have rediscovered a species of lemur once thought to be extinct. Your students will analyze actual field data, construct phylogenetic trees from DNA sequence data, and compare generalist and specialist species facing ecological change. This collaboration with the Duke Lemur Center was designed with the goal of bringing molecular techniques to Ecology and Evolution units and is based directly on their published and unpublished data. As either a quick, single-period gel electrophoresis lab or a weeklong mini-unit, this lab offers flexibility, engagement, and high-quality curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Bring molecular approaches to ecology and evolution units by exploring authentic data from researchers at the Duke Lemur Center

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Bryan (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

SGI Biology: Looking for Patterns in Species Diversity

Friday, July 22 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

McCormick Place - W470b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

Look for patterns in species diversity in coral reef ecosystems and other animals to determine cause and effect of relationship and understand how ecosystem interactions affect patterns of biological diversity. Takeaways: 1. Compare maps showing the geographical ranges of several different species and several different abiotic factors; 2. For each species, determine which abiotic factors correlate with species diversity and which do not; and 3. Consider the importance of species diversity to an ecosystem.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Compare maps showing the geographical ranges of several different species and several different abiotic factors; 2. For each species, determine which abiotic factors correlate with species diversity and which do not; and 3. Consider the importance of species diversity to an ecosystem.

SPEAKERS:
Wendy Jackson (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Stream Ecology: Slimy Leaves for Healthy Streams

Friday, July 22 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

McCormick Place - W473


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: LaMotte Company

Help students discover the value of aquatic macroinvertebrates as living indicators of water quality. Determining the biotic index helps students connect the dots between water quality chemistry tests and what is actually living in that body of water. Creates opportunities for mapping skills, observation, reading, art, and math skills. Students can develop their own experiments. Observe aquatic macroinvertebrate specimens, conduct activities, learn classification skills and calculate a biotic index in this hands-on introduction to stream ecology. A totally flexible tool that can be adapted for varying time limits, number of students and grade levels.

TAKEAWAYS:
Help students discover the value of aquatic macroinvertebrates as living indicators of water quality. A totally flexible tool that can be adapted for varying time limits, number of students and grade levels.

SPEAKERS:
Tara Muenz (Stroud Water Research Center: Avondale, PA)

Learn how BIOZONE’S superb interactive texts and BIOZONE toolkit supports teachers to deliver flexible and engaging NGSS and AP programs

Friday, July 22 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

McCormick Place - W190b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE

BIOZONE’s interactive worktexts are designed to support teachers by providing tools and content to:

  • Deliver accessible content within a differentiated classroom.
  • Engage students through inquiry or phenomenon-based learning.
  • Undertake effective and meaningful assessment using curricula specific assessment tools.
  • Enhance content delivery using the BIOZONE toolkit.
  • Enable flexible delivery in remote, in class, or blended delivery environments.

During this presentation we will showcase our two NGSS series and our new AP titles.

  • BIOZONE’s two NGSS series (Standard NGSS Series and Integrated NGSS Series) have been specifically designed to fully embrace the spirit and intent of the Next Generation Science Standards. These phenomena based titles are and fully three-dimensional, the DCIs, SEPs, and CCCs are embedded within each activity, delivery of material is scaffolded using the 5Es Instructional Model, and carefully designed assessment tasks conclude each chapter. Discover which NGSS series is right for you.
  • BIOZONE’s AP Environmental Science and AP Biology are structured on the units and topics outlined in the CEDs, with the Big Ideas and Enduring Understandings spiralling across all units. Students are engaged in learning through inquiry, case studies, investigations, and second hand data analysis. Assessment tasks based on the CED stipulations conclude each chapter.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover how BIOZONE’s interactive worktexts and BIOZONE toolkit empower teachers to deliver engaging, effective programs within a differentiated classroom. 2. Discover how the BIOZONE tool kit augments the worktext and supports teachers to deliver a flexible and engaging program. 3. Learn about BIOZONE’S two NGSS series (Standard NGSS Series and Integrated NGSS Series) and our new Advanced Placement titles for AP Biology and AP Environmental Science. All workshop attendees receive a FREE BIOZONE eBook personal license and a FREE copy of the BIOZONE title of their choice.

SPEAKERS:
Lissa Bainbridge-Smith (BIOZONE Corp.: Parker, CO)

Building Meaningful STEM Learning Experiences: Using 3D and XR for Interactive Online Learning

Friday, July 22 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

McCormick Place - W192b



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Presentation Deck

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Inspirit

Recent times have called for changes in the ways students learn STEM and have exposed gaps in current virtual STEM instruction. In our session, K-12 educators will learn about and be empowered to incorporate powerful VR and 3D STEM tools into their learning systems. We will use Inspirit’s virtual labs and 3D learning content features to teach and practice this. Our content is designed to stimulate high knowledge gain, deep engagement, and critical thinking in learners through their active involvement in virtual gamified environments. We’ll also answer some fundamental questions about technology integration into the classroom: (1) What is XR? What devices do we need to improve student learning outcomes? (2) How can we align with existing agencies and beliefs to support more meaningful and long-term integration? (3) What does it take to bridge the best practices of academic research in gamifying STEM education with practical considerations for making this technology work in the real-world? Through this hands-on and discussion-rich experience, participants will gain tools to align new media technologies with diverse curriculum, standards, and desired outcomes and examine how to use virtual 3D STEM labs in meaningful ways in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to deepen the level of student engagement and critical thinking skills using affordable, accessible, interactive, gamified STEM experiences via 3D learning tools.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Taylor (Inspirit: Stanford, CA), Luke Nilles (Inspirit Learning, Inc.: Atlanta, GA), Gerry Marchand (Huntley High School: Huntley, IL)

How Much Physics Can You Do with a Meter Stick?

Friday, July 22 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

McCormick Place - W474b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: PASCO scientific

Join us for a hands-on workshop where we will use PASCO’s latest innovations to perform experiments on rotation, torque, optics, and even Lenz’s law! Learn how to perform multiple physics experiments using your most versatile physics tool, the meter stick, and PASCO’s low-cost meter stick accessories. Attend for a chance to win equipment for your school!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to perform multiple physics experiments using PASCO's inexpensive meter stick accessories.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Hanna (PASCO Scientific: Roseville, CA)

Rethinking the Climate Change Paradigm to Engage and Inspire the Next Generation

Friday, July 22 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

McCormick Place - W190b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Earth Overshoot

Teaching climate change as a symptom of planetary health using the overshoot model gives students a deeper understanding of environmental science and inspires hope and meaningful action.

TAKEAWAYS:
A more comprehensive systemic approach to our global environmental emergencies that concentrates on the interconnected causes instead of a narrow climate change focus gives students a broader and deeper understanding of our current environmental challenges and sets them up for successfully solving them.

SPEAKERS:
Terry Spahr (Earth Overshoot: Ardmore, PA)

Modeling Ocean Acidification: A Hands-On Approach

Friday, July 22 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

McCormick Place - W474b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: PASCO scientific

Making global phenomenon feel local is key to supporting student understandings of climate change. In this workshop, we'll share activities that make climate change meaningful. Join us to learn how to monitor local CO2 levels, model ocean acidification, and use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to explore (and create) global data sets with free classroom-ready resources. Attend for a chance to win equipment for your school!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to monitor local CO2 levels, model ocean acidification, and use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to explore (and create) global data sets with free classroom-ready resources.

SPEAKERS:
Roger Palmer (PASCO Scientific: Roseville, CA)

Rethinking the Climate Change Paradigm to Engage and Inspire the Next Generation

Friday, July 22 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

McCormick Place - W190b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Earth Overshoot

Teaching climate change as a symptom of planetary health using the overshoot model gives students a deeper understanding of environmental science and inspires hope and meaningful action.

TAKEAWAYS:
A more comprehensive systemic approach to our global environmental emergencies that concentrates on the interconnected causes instead of a narrow climate change focus gives students a broader and deeper understanding of our current environmental challenges and sets them up for successfully solving them.

SPEAKERS:
Terry Spahr (Earth Overshoot: Ardmore, PA)

Gamifying Energy and Climate Change Education

Friday, July 22 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

McCormick Place - W473


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Generation Atomic

Teachers will learn how to play MegaWatt, a new card game designed in the UK by engineers, and then how it can be utilized in the classroom to build students' understanding of how the electricity grid works and the array of externalities that can cause power outages or derail progress towards a clean energy future. The game is 3-5 plays and requires about 30 minutes to play, making it a great fit for most classroom sizes and blocks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teaching systems thinking with a well-designed card game can be done easily and engage students in a new and exciting way.

Protecting Local Pollinators and Exploring Their Local Ecosystems

Saturday, July 23 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

McCormick Place - W474a


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Educational resources can help students understand the importance of local pollinators, and do their part to support them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educational resources can help students understand the importance of local pollinators, and do their part to support them.

SPEAKERS:
Alex Duckles (Digital Media & Impact Producer), Katy Fenn (World Wildlife Fund: Washington, DC), Alexandra Pearson (Impact Producer)

Rethinking the Climate Change Paradigm to Engage and Inspire the Next Generation

Saturday, July 23 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

McCormick Place - W190b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Earth Overshoot

Teaching climate change as a symptom of planetary health using the overshoot model gives students a deeper understanding of environmental science and inspires hope and meaningful action.

TAKEAWAYS:
A more comprehensive systemic approach to our global environmental emergencies that concentrates on the interconnected causes instead of a narrow climate change focus gives students a broader and deeper understanding of our current environmental challenges and sets them up for successfully solving them.

SPEAKERS:
Terry Spahr (Earth Overshoot: Ardmore, PA)

3D Models for 3D Instruction: How models enhance storylines

Saturday, July 23 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

McCormick Place - W475b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Participants will explore how phenomenon-driven inquiry is enhanced using rich 3D models that let students figure out answers to their own questions while engaged in science practices. First, anchor-level and lesson level storylines familiar to participants will be identified. Then questions students generate will be explored while noting instructional routines that help maintain inquiry are discussed. Models that can help students investigate cellular processes like signaling, differentiation, growth, repair, and reproduction, at the microscopic and molecular levels will be used for participants to interrogate their own conceptual models and reflect on their learning. Strategies for capturing and monitoring student learning will be shared along with suggestions for summative assessments that are three dimensional.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore how phenomenon-driven inquiry is enhanced using rich 3D models that let students figure out answers to their own questions while engaged in science practices.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Parfitt (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Transform Your Environmental Science & Earth Science Classrooms With Active Learning Through Scientific Phenomena

Saturday, July 23 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

McCormick Place - W192b


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Pivot Interactives

As veteran teachers, we know how challenging it is to create an active learning environment using phenomena & science practices on your own. Pivot Interactives makes active learning throughout the learning cycle easy with a dynamic platform that invites students to explore scientific phenomena freely. Teaching environmental science & earth science while actively & frequently engaging students meaningfully doesn’t have to be just a dream. Come learn about the newest ways Pivot interactives helps you overcome the challenges you face as an environmental science or earth science teacher, so you can create the classroom you’ve always envisioned. Hear from fellow teachers about how they transformed their classroom with active learning, scaffolding, personalized feedback, phenomena-based assessments, increased use of science practices, and increased access to phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, environmental science & earth science educators will see the newest ways Pivot Interactives gives them effective, streamlined tools to engage students with phenomena & science practices through active learning.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Friberg (Pivot Interactives: Minneapolis, MN)

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