The 5E is effective for learning most concepts, but not for processes. Other models may need to be included within the 5E.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Clearly understand the various instructional models and the best practice for their uses; 2. The learning objective must be clearly identified as a concept of a process to correctly identify the best practice and instructional model; and 3. Use other best practices such as moving instruction from the known to the unknown or concrete to pictorial to abstract or limiting objectives within a 5E.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra West (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

Practice hands-on strategies for engaging students with scientific notebooks, letters, photos, and drawings, highlighting scientific practices, nature of science, and connections between science and society.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Access to millions of free digitized primary sources the Library of Congress has for K–12 science educators, including Thomas Jefferson’s weather journal, Robert Hooke’s first drawings of cells, photographs from the Dust Bowl, historic newspaper accounts about lead paint and electric cars, and much more!; 2. Multiple hands-on strategies for integrating science-related primary sources in the K–12 classroom to facilitate student engagement, critical thinking, and student-centered construction of knowledge; and 3. An understanding of how primary source analysis can lead to unique insights related to the Nature of Science, such as how scientists and engineers think, practice, and apply scientific principles and discoveries in the real world; how scientific ideas evolve over time; and how science and engineering are related to society.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Apfeldorf (Library of Congress: Washington, DC), Lesley Anderson (Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow: Washington, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

How do crosscutting concepts link the ideas and practices of science across different domains and over time? We’ll show you practical examples to see how crosscutting concepts provide a foundation for student sensemaking of phenomena and problems. Leave with classroom resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Defining the seven crosscutting concepts; 2. Learning strategies to incorporate crosscutting concepts into science lessons; and 3. Understanding how crosscutting concepts support student sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Estes Industries

Ready to take STEM learning to new heights? Join Estes and build a FREE rocket and learn model rocketry basics!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Model rocketry provides a relevant, hands-on, and engaging vehicle to hold students accountable for their knowledge in the classroom; 2. Participants will learn model rocketry basics and how to successfully set up a launch site; and 3. Estes Education provides interdisciplinary STEM resources and tools to educators that give them the skills and confidence necessary to elevate learning.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Bayeur (Estes Industries: , United States)

Sponsoring Company: Beyond Labz

Built on a platform developed over 20 years, Beyond Labz creates an open-ended environment providing students the opportunity to experiment, practice, fail, discover, and learn.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Beyond Labz simplifies and reduces the cost and expertise needed to provide crucial laboratory experiences and practice for Secondary and Higher Ed students; 2. Attendees will learn how the labs are used for pre- and post-lab experiences, credit recovery and lab make-up, student engagement in class, and meeting NGSS standards; and 3. Basic onboarding and startup instructions will be provided for drop-in solutions, and instructions for using some of the more sophisticated features will also be described.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Woodfield (Brigham Young University: Provo, UT)

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

Build STEM culture through community engagement! Develop interest and awareness, leading to increased demand for STEM programming and STEM career pathway courses.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn strategies for hosting community engagement events, including family STEM nights; 2. Explore the role of partnerships in supporting engagement events; and 3. Walk away with resources to support establishing and hosting community engagement events.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Blank (Watertown City School District: Watertown, NY), Tiara Davis (Teacher: Charlotte, NC), Heather Overkamp (Portsmouth Public Schools: Portsmouth, VA), Patty Brunet (Cypress High School: Cypress, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education

Start your day with the DE team and a hands-on immersion into the wonderful world of Phenomena! Please note that attendees must preregister for this workshop here.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn and experience how to incorporate everyday phenomena into meaningful science lessons; 2. experience how to utilize hands-on activities to introduce phenomena ; and 3. explore scientific concepts using phenomena from across all grade levels K–12.

SPEAKERS:
Brad Fountain (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD), Justin Karkow (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Sponsoring Company: Green Ninja

This session will share a framework for how to create compelling learning experiences where students use science and engineering concepts to solve local environmental problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. be able to create a storyline and lesson sequence outline that focuses on a local environmental issue of interest; 2. be able to bundle different science TEKS using a storyline; and 3. develop experience using localized phenomena to create student-oriented instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Eugene Cordero (Green Ninja: Mountain View, CA)

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

Engage the power of visible thinking to heighten learning through scientific inquiry and authentic questioning while fostering connections with and between students in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. understand and explain visible thinking; 2. describe multiple benefits of applying visible thinking in the classroom; and 3. learn strategies to apply visible thinking in inquiry-based science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Blank (Watertown City School District: Watertown, NY), Patty Brunet (Cypress High School: Cypress, CA), Tiara Davis (Teacher: Charlotte, NC), Heather Overkamp (Portsmouth Public Schools: Portsmouth, VA)

This session focuses on the core messages of the book Crosscutting Concepts: Strengthening Science and Engineering Learning, published by NSTA Press in 2021.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The power of crosscutting concepts is most fully realized when they are used in conjunction with science and engineering practices and disciplinary core ideas; 2. Crosscutting concepts serve as lenses on phenomena, supporting all students in question-asking and sensemaking; and 3. Teacher leadership is critical to realizing the power of crosscutting concepts in practice.

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Nordine (The University of Iowa: Iowa City, IA), Okhee Lee (New York University: New York, NY)

Astrobiology Learning Progressions support the creation of units that are relevant and motivating through the lens of the search for life in the universe.

TAKEAWAYS:
K–12 teachers, curriculum directors, and other science communicators will take away from this session: 1. what is the scientific search for life in the universe—Astrobiology, how it is interdisciplinary, and how it can be combined within STEM, ELA, art, engineering, and more; 2. how they can use the excitement and motivating topics in Astrobiology to leverage learning in a variety of science concepts throughout the NGSS; and 3. the know-how to navigate and use the Astrobiology Learning Progressions ( https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/education/alp/ )to find information, context, and resources to create their units and lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Dani Leach (Lakewood High School: Arlington, WA)

Connect your school with local colleges and STEM employers using relevant, standards-based, hands-on activities that spark interest in science and STEM careers. Sample activity included.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to identify and reach out to potential community and industry partners; 2. How to build a program or event that meets the needs of all stakeholders; and 3. How to develop authentic learning experiences to impact student perspectives of locally available STEM careers.

SPEAKERS:
Bethany Kenyon (BioNetwork: Greenville, NC)

This session introduces a way to create in-person and remote learning experiences that give all students a chance to learn how to use the DCIs, CCS, and SEPs to make sense of the world around them.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to make in-person and remote learnings experience more meaningful, relevant, and equitable for students; 2. How to give students an opportunity to use their own ideas along with the DCIs, CCs, and SEPs in the service of sensemaking; and 3. How embedded formative assessment during an investigation can be used to examine student sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX)

Learn how to apply for NMLSTA’s Classroom Teacher Awards and Hurd Award. This interactive workshop will provide information and an opportunity to begin an application.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. NMLSTA Classroom Teachers awards provide up to $200 to support science in your classroom and has a quick and easy application. 2. The Hurd Award is for exemplary science teaching performance including leadership in sharing these ideas and a great way to showcase what you are doing in science education. 3. This workshop will cover eligibility, requirements, and timelines along with how to write a successful application, an opportunity to brainstorm ideas and start an application.

SPEAKERS:
Alison Seymour (Science Teacher: Winchester, 0)

Lead the PBL charge from the science classroom with simple changes to your 5E lesson/unit plans that drive the question, provide instruction, and build interdisciplinary integration.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Changing a 3-D learning claim to a guiding question; 2. Structuring Explore in research and the first phases of the EDP; and 3. Creating an interdisciplinary project in Elaborate that acts as an Evaluation.

SPEAKERS:
Claire Williams McGee (Metro Nashville Public Schools: Nashville, TN)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Come experience a model lesson from OpenSciEd for Middle School and see how the new Carolina Certified Edition makes these high-quality instructional materials even better! Leave with classroom resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Experience the pedagogy of OpenSciEd through a model lesson; 2. Learn ways to encourage equitable classroom discourse; and 3. Create a Driving Question Board to explore real-world phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge/ Shell Awards

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:
Participants will: 1. learn about the Shell Science Lab Regional Challenge competition and the two Shell-sponsored teacher awards; 2. learn how to nominate and apply for the programs that are sponsored by Shell; and 3. be able to collaborate with previous winners and judges on key elements to include in a strong application.

SPEAKERS:
Martha McLeod (Aransas County ISD: Rockport, TX), Ritu Gandhi (Morales Elementary School: Houston, TX), Ruth Ruud (Cleveland State University: Cleveland, OH), Melissa Collins (John P. Freeman Optional School: Memphis, TN)

Build a working solar oven and your students’ empathy for global issues in this inquiry-based lesson on convection, conduction, and radiation with an authentic audience!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Having an authentic, global audience for a STEM inquiry project can be engaging and inclusive for your students and can promote empathy in your classroom; 2. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals) can pair wonderfully with STEM lessons to enhance project-based lessons and make them meaningful to students; and 3. Organizations like iEARN (https://www.iearn.org/) partner with teachers to help provide platforms and opportunities for global learning.

SPEAKERS:
Kate York (The University of Texas at Dallas: Richardson, TX), Katherine Donaldson (The University of Texas at Dallas: Richardson, TX)

Sponsoring Company: DoD STEM

Hear about how DoD STEM partners with nonprofits, academia, industry, and government to work in schools and produce college- and career-ready graduates.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn: 1. about the mission and vision of DoD STEM; 2. how DoD STEM programs connect schools, students, and teachers with STEM professionals and opportunities; and 3. how they can engage with DoD STEM to support and/or enrich local programming.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Leikin (National Math + Science Initiative: Dallas, TX), Rebecca Stanley (DoD STEM/RTI International: Durham, NC), Jennifer Preston (DoD STEM/RTI International: Research Triangle Park, NC), Laura Larkin (Einstein Fellow, DoD STEM: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education

Join us for lunch and explore DE’s Texas Two-Year Science Package, which is fully aligned to the TEKS and includes ready-to-use activities and intuitive lessons from Mystery Science. Please note that attendees must preregister for this workshop here.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. dive into DE’s Two-Year Science Package that was designed to bridge the gap and prepare science teachers and students for 2024; 2. understand how DE brings science to life inside the classroom with hands-on activities connected to real-world phenomena; and 3. explore new easy-to-use lessons available through our partnership with Mystery Science.

SPEAKERS:
Brittany Lewis (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD), Raquel Gruver (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD), Justin Karkow (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Apply creative problem-solving skills and engineering practices to chemistry and physical science challenges. Experience how Carolina makes it easy to incorporate STEM into your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. engage in two different STEM challenges; 2. apply chemistry and physics DCIs; and 3. model the engineering design process.

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau (Retired Educator: National City, MI)

Sponsoring Company: eCYBERMISSION

A chance to hear from expert teachers about participation and engagement in STEM competitions.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to get all of your students excited about STEM; 2. Hearing directly from teachers experienced in STEM competitions; and 3. Information about how to engage student in authentic STEM projects.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Hartman (BrainPOP: Pittsburgh, PA), Laura Wilbanks (Southcrest Christian School: Lubbock, TX), Milene De Farias (Southcrest Christian School: Lubbock, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Zahourek Systems, Inc.

Build replicas of human anatomy using clay and a specially designed skeletal model in a classroom setting. Learn how to implement a unique curriculum system that helps students create a kinesthetic map of the human anatomy. This workshop will emphasize directional terms, planes, cavities, and landmarks on the skeletal model and then build several skeletal muscles. Emphasis will be placed on building the rotator cuff showing origin and insertion, movement, as well as a discussion of exercises to strengthen these muscles.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn how to implement a unique curriculum system that helps students create a kinesthetic map of the human anatomy; 2. acquire the knowledge to engage science students with immediate hands-on learning using a proven method that is nationally recognized to increase student retention and test scores; and 3. have fun!

SPEAKERS:
Chuck Roney (ANATOMY IN CLAY Learning Systems: Loveland, CO)

Sponsoring Company: National Science Foundation, Presidential Awards

Join NSF as we share professional development opportunities for teachers within the federal government and hear from Presidential Awardees about their experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Federal professional development opportunities that you may not have been aware of before; 2. The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) application process and benefits received; and 3. The paths of accomplished teachers and Presidential Awardees as they continue to grow their career.

SPEAKERS:
James Colby (National Science Foundation: Alexandria, VA)

Learn how to read the 62 maps of practices, core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and performance expectations in The NSTA Atlas of the Three Dimensions and use them and other features of this powerful navigational tool to develop and implement curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Construct an explanation for why it is important to consider learning progressions when planning curriculum, instruction, and assessment; 2. Analyze the elements of the three dimensions on a map to interpret the relationships it conveys; and 3. Obtain and evaluate information about the elements of the three dimensions in order to plan and carry out the development of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Come find out how to involve your students in learning how AI and ML can be taught to your students, how it can be used to promote equity in the classroom, and how it can make YOUR teaching job easier! If you can, bring a data set and computer.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. AI and ML can help equitize the science classroom by allowing students to participate in learning; 2. AI and ML can be taught to students in the classroom and is an excellent 21st-century skill for all students; and 3. AI and ML hold the possibility to make the science teacher's job easier.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Amerman (University of Georgia: Athens, GA), Anna Herdliska (Gwinnett County Public Schools: Suwanee, GA)

Sponsoring Company: Digitalis Education Solutions, Inc.

Use Digitalis' Nightshade NG planetarium software to target NGSS and/or TEKS at multiple age levels in various scientific disciplines.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. gain ideas about how Nightshade NG planetarium software can be used to target NGSS and/or TEKS at multiple grade levels; 2. experience how Nightshade NG planetarium software can be used to target NGSS and/or TEKS in various disciplines such as astronomy, Earth science, engineering, ecology, biology, physics, and more; and 3. learn how astronomy can be used as an anchor for interdisciplinary units.

SPEAKERS:
Karrie Berglund (Digitalis Education Solutions, Inc.: Bremerton, WA), Beau Hartweg (Tyler Junior College: Tyler, TX)

After identifying that organic waste is a community concern, an eighth-grade classroom formed community partnerships to reduce organic waste.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Encourage your students to engage in community partnerships to promote student learning; 2. Provide strategies to increase scientific literacy through socioscientific issues; and 3. Facilitate an inclusive culture through student agency.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Joslyn (Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow: No City, No State)

Learn how using NextGen TIME can help you get the best possible science instructional materials into the hands of teachers prepared to use them.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. NextGen TIME is a suite of tools and processes that support district leaders in: a. preparing to evaluate instructional materials; b. evaluating instructional materials for their quality and design for next generation science; and c. planning for next steps including customization to improve student outcomes and effective implementation in classrooms throughout the district; 2. NextGen TIME is a collaborative, evidence based suite of tools and processes for professional learning that helps teachers and others operationalize the characteristics of high-quality instructional materials designed for next generation science; and 3. Using NextGen TIME represents an investment in curriculum-based professional learning to increase the likelihood that all students and teachers have access to the best possible materials for the local context.

SPEAKERS:
Jody Bintz (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)

In this workshop, participants will experience how NGSS-focused instructional materials can create an equitable classroom that supports all students to design solutions to real-world problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. In the Next Generation Science Standards, problems are defined as “situations somebody wants to change,” which is different from construction or design projects, where the ultimate goal is achieving a design or tinkering; 2. Problems that describe real-world situations grounded in compelling contexts that students care about can create intrinsic motivation for all students to learn science and engineering ideas; and 3. The presence of an authentic and compelling problem in instructional materials is not enough; it also needs to be used in instruction in a way that will effectively support students’ learning and motivation.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Childress Self (NextGenScience: San Francisco, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Anatomage

We will discuss the applications as well as the core scientific principals behind one of the most popular and fascinating tools in the medical field. What is light and how is it used inside of an MRI? What is precession and how do we use this to create an image? How are gradients used to localize a signal? We will discuss each of these questions and hopefully create a meaningful understanding for such a fascinating tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What a digital image is composed of; 2. How light works and is used to create images; and 3. What an MRI is actually showing you.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Perry (Anatomage, Inc: San Jose, CA)

Curricula can support all students in reaching today’s standards, including NGSS. Attend to learn about critical curriculum features and how to improve/advocate for quality materials.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Understanding the importance of high-quality materials for supporting students and teachers; 2. Understanding the features and the opportunity for feedback and input; and 3. Ability to utilize the features for improving development and selection of curriculum materials.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Childress Self (NextGenScience: San Francisco, CA), Sam Shaw (EdReports.org)

Start building or join Jeff Wheatcraft, 2019 Texas Teacher of the Year, in design challenges that push students to be engaged and included!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. What is a design challenge and how are ones you develop different from those developed by major science organizations?; 2. How you can make STEM, specifically design challenges, engaging and inclusive while still covering standards; and 3. How to start and finish a design challenge that maximizes engagement!

SPEAKERS:
Jeff Wheatcraft (Alamo Heights Junior School: San Antonio, TX)

Learn how to join NASA’s first online community of practice for STEM educators (CONNECTS) and gain access to NASA content, resources, educator community, exclusive events, and NASA experts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. receive a foam rocket activity they can implement in their classrooms using simple materials; 2. learn about the vast resources offered by NASA’s new online community of practice for STEM educators, CONNECTS; and 3. learn how they can join CONNECTS.

SPEAKERS:
Cindy Hasselbring (NASA Headquarters: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: PhD Science

Dive into a second-grade module to explore the six steps of the Engineering Design Process and test a solution to a real-world problem.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. PhD Science provides students with the opportunity for hands-on experiences that require the practical application of scientific processes; 2. “Misconceptions about the processes of science tend to occur when the processes become ends in themselves, divorced from core concepts of science.” – Rick Allen in Priorities in Practice: The Essentials of Science, Grades K–6; and 3. Core texts, an important component of PhD Science modules, allow teachers to present relatable content and inspire student learning through compelling stories while reinforcing their developing literacy skills.

SPEAKERS:
Victoria Soileau (Great Minds: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

You will learn how to build and code a four-chambered heart (no coding experience required) while learning about how the heart works. This is a great project for middle and high school science and STEM students!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. You can do STEM with your science students and science with your STEM students!; 2. Apply knowledge of science to inform an engineering design (artificial heart); and 3. Combining science, coding, and engineering design helps students get to higher-order thinking skills.

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

Sponsoring Company: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

In this session we’ll explore the importance of integrating engaging and relevant hands-on learning opportunities into your science instruction to ensure the best student outcomes.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The importance of integrating an ample amount of hands-on learning opportunities into instruction to successfully engage students in doing and learning science; 2. How to promote active learning by encouraging students to collaborate, think critically, and explore science, all within the context of a coherent phenomenon storyline; and 3. How hands-on learning opportunities support standards, make science accessible to all learners, promote deeper understanding, and prepare students for college and career readiness.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Heithaus (Florida International University: North Miami, FL)

Sponsoring Company: Milestone C

Teaching students that part of success is failing and learning from those failures is paramount to their education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Practices around rewarding failure in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Dave Conelias (Milestone C LLC: Shelton, CT)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Software & Technology

Learn how to integrate Vernier sensor data into Python coding. Explore how coding can enhance your students’ experience in the science classroom by providing another avenue of engagement. Teachers of science and coding alike will benefit from this hands-on workshop.

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. Receive hands-on experiences with innovative products that increase student engagement, promote creativity and collaboration, and develop problem-solving skills.

SPEAKERS:
Tom Smith (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Milestone C

Come learn how to expose your students to a wide variety of Tech/STEM by establishing a foundation of skills inside a classroom. Make students developers instead of consumers of Tech/STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Core skills all students should be learning and how to bring these into your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Dave Conelias (Milestone C LLC: Shelton, CT)

Explore NSTA’s new Professional Learning Units. Discover these bite-sized asynchronous professional learning experiences that support student sensemaking to earn credit to submit to your school or district.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover how NSTA can provide asynchronous and bite-sized continuing education credit options (2 hours per PLU); 2. Explore how each PLU contains reflections or tasks connected to the classroom that are submitted to NSTA for review or feedback; and 3. Explore how we can support professional learning for individuals or schools/districts, including the flexible options available for Professional Learning Unit topics, and how these fit into our Professional Learning pathways.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

A physics teacher and a makerspace specialist team up to apply physics concepts with design, testing, iteration, and data analysis in their schools’ Innovation Lab.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn: 1. how to combine standard laboratory techniques with engineering projects 2. how to use several different software packages (most freely available online) to design and simulate project performance; 3. how classroom teachers and makerspace specialists can work together to design integrated projects; and 4. how data analysis can influence both physics labs and engineering projects.

SPEAKERS:
Kris Swanson (Pine Crest School: Boca Raton, FL), Andrew Leeds (Pine Crest School: Boca Raton, FL)

Can you land on Mars? Join us for a hands-on engineering design challenge that explores shock absorption and air resistance while making connections to careers and real-world experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Understand NGSS engineering practices about design, testing, and developing models and solutions for elementary and middle school students; 2. Learn effective teaching strategies to engage students in engineering practices that promote critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity; and 3. Learn how to motivate students with space exploration, including exciting current events and careers.

SPEAKERS:
Natasha Wilkerson (Texas A&M University: College Station, TX)

Discover accessible three-dimensional–aligned instruction and instructional strategies that are beneficial for diverse student groups, including English learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Discover the successes and challenges in a three-dimensional science classroom; 2. Instructional strategies to integrate the disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts that are beneficial for all students; and 3. Strategies that can immediately be implemented into a three-dimensional learning experience.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Salak (Bryan Middle School: Omaha, NE)

Sponsoring Company: AeroTech/Quest

Explore the differences between aerospace-grade solid composite propellant model rocket motors and traditional black powder model rocket motors in science education, and assemble a Quest Astra III model rocket kit during the workshop to take home.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The differences between solid composite propellant model rocket motors and traditional black powder model rocket motors; 2. Why solid composite propellant model rocket motors represent the future of model and hobby rocket flight; and 3. How composite propellant model and hobby rocketry can lead to aerospace careers in engineering, propulsion, aerodynamics, telemetry, payload design, mission planning, and much more.

SPEAKERS:
Dane Boles (AeroTech / Quest Divison of RCS Rocket Motor Components, Inc.: , United States)

Sponsoring Company: XR Guru

Join us for this hands-on presentation to experience Virtual Reality science content.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Understand and experience virtual reality science content; 2. learn the research on integrating virtual reality in the classroom; and 3. learn how to create your own virtual reality content to share with students.

SPEAKERS:
Doug Smith (XR Guru: Dublin, OH)

Engage in a variety of activities, collect information and resources, and network with middle level leaders from NSTA and NMLSTA. Discover new ideas and materials that you can use next week.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. have networking opportunities with other middle level science educators; 2. discover resources to help them in all aspects of their teaching; and 3. engage in a variety of new activities to use with their students.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Lou Lipscomb (National Middle Level Science Teachers Association: Naperville, IL), Rebecca Kurson (Collegiate School: New York, NY), Wendy Abshire (American Meteorological Society: Washington, DC), Alison Seymour (Science Teacher: Winchester, 0), Bruce Boehne (Zion Lutheran School: Dallas, TX), Marissa Nalley (The Algae Foundation: Midland, TX), Abigail Stimach (American Meteorological Society: Washington, DC), Kylie Wynaker (The Algae Foundation: Midland, TX), Amanda Clapp (The Catamount School: Sylva, NC), Covey Denton (Greenfield School: No City, No State), Katy Garvey (The Source for Learning, Inc.: Reston, VA), Edralin Pagarigan (Golden Ring Middle School: Rosedale, MD), Emily Ong (Girls Who Code: New York, NY)

Do you impact your school and community with STEM? If you teach K–12, come learn how to apply to win up to $15K through this teacher competition.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to apply for the Shell-sponsored teacher competition; 2. Begin your application or nomination of a Shell-sponsored program and receive a prize; and 3. Collaborate with past winners and judges to learn how to strengthen your application.

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

Science current events journals bring real science into the classroom. Use the news to teach science content, media literacy, and analytical thinking, and to reinforce language arts.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to integrate media literacy in the science classroom; 2. Tools for differentiated instruction in science literacy; and 3. Integration of NGSS in a science literacy project.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Weissman (The Ramaz School: New York, NY)

Focusing on wetlands and the connection to flooding puts STEM in a real-world context that is relatable to students, and virtual reality makes it fun.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. gain experience in developing virtual field trips using free software and a 360-degree camera; 2. experience a virtual field trip focused on ecosystems, participate in activities covering standards related to ecosystems components, and identify ways to incorporate their local context to the virtual environments; and 3. learn about relevant local connections and partnerships that they can leverage to design a more varied student experience unique for their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Nastassia Jones (Southern University and A&M College: Baton Rouge, LA), Nikita LaCour (Scotlandville Pre-Engineering Magnet Academy: Baton Rouge, LA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMI

Join us for a breakdown of Artificial Intelligence. We'll discuss how industry is using and developing this new technology, share an experience with AI, and explore how to bring this cutting-edge subject to your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Best practices of inviting industry into your classroom via an innovative and plug-and-play STEM program. Learn how your school can become the School of the Future.

SPEAKERS:
Dave Conelias (Milestone C LLC: Shelton, CT), Marin Trošelj (STEMI d.o.o.: , Croatia)

Sponsoring Company: NOAA Office of Education

Join us for a demo and discussion about the NEW searchable database of 1,200+ educational resources from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

TAKEAWAYS:
1. NOAA has 1,200+ resources for educators, including lessons, videos, activities, posters, and more; 2. You can now search by grade, resource type, subject, and topic to find what you’re looking for; and 3. We have NGSS resources too! Search by DCI.

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Jones (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Washington, DC), Bekkah Lampe (NOAA Office of Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Undergraduate citizen science research from Peru’s Sucasari Region is brought to Iowa. Examples and connections for reference and future connections will be provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Cultures have more similarities than differences; 2. Understanding phenomena is trans-continental; and 3. Science involves questioning and researching.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Bechtel (Wartburg College: Waverly, IA), Chloe Zierke (Wartburg College: Waverly, IA), Michaela Dehli (Wartburg College: Waverly, IA)

Join us as we explore how NSTA’s three-dimensional resources can be utilized to enhance your teaching. Walk away with effective strategies for science teaching and learning and hear from educators as they provide tips for using these resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to use NSTA resources to shift your practice; 2. Leave with strategies to use in your classroom to promote student engagement in science learning; and 3. Hear from classroom teachers about how they are using NSTA Press publications.

SPEAKERS:
Wendy Binder (Program Director, STEM Professional Learning: Arlington, VA), Christine Anne Royce (Shippensburg University: Shippensburg, PA)

Democratic STEM Teaching (DST) centers student voice, creating inclusive classrooms where all students can thrive. Explore how human-centered design thinking turns DST principles into practice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will: 1. understand the DST principles and describe practical examples of student voice, shared authority, and STEM criticality; 2. develop ideas of how to use DST principles in their own classrooms in order to create a more inclusive classroom; and 3. use the design thinking approach and protocols to identify a focus area in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Houston (STEM Ed Innovators: Saratoga, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Estes Industries

Learn how model rocketry is the perfect vehicle to teach data literacy, featuring the PocketLab!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Model rocketry provides a relevant, hands-on, and engaging vehicle to teach data literacy in the classroom; 2. Participants will learn how to launch a rocket, collect flight information, and analyze data; and 3. Estes Education provides interdisciplinary STEM resources and tools to educators that give them the skills and confidence necessary to elevate learning.

SPEAKERS:
David Bakker (PocketLab: San Jose, CA), Nicole Sjoblom (Estes Industries: Penrose, CO)

Come learn about using community-based phenomena as the basis for long-term STEM projects.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. How to intergrade local phenomena into STEM projects; 2. Using eCYBERMISSION in your middle school science classroom; and 3. How to better engage middle school students with local problems.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Hartman (BrainPOP: Pittsburgh, PA)

Toshiba America Foundation wants to work together with teachers who are looking for a better way of doing the right thing.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Toshiba America Foundation objectives; 2. How to request a Toshiba America Foundation grant; and 3. Learn from fellow Toshiba America Foundation grant teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Acacia McKenna (NSTA: Arlington, VA), John Anderson (Toshiba America Foundation: Irvine, CA)

Discover the power of tiny things to promote equity through real-world problem solving with nano@stanford. Learn the biomimicry connection to water-resistant and other engineered materials being developed in nanotechnology to solve real problems that will promote equity by engaging more students.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn the biomimicry connections to water-resistant and other engineered materials that are being developed in nanotechnology to solve real problems; 2. All STEM disciplines are needed to solve real problems and nanotechnology provides the tools to develop solutions; and 3. Learn the locations of NGSS-focused activities, resources, and virtual experiences for your classroom connected to Nanotechnology Opportunities for free/ paid professional development with the NNCI and nano@stanford.

SPEAKERS:
Daniella Duran (Stanford University: Stanford, CA)

We will investigate the difference between Project-Based Learning, Problem-Based Learning, and Transdisciplinary Learning. Each model incorporates real-world, hands-on experiences aligned to STEAM integration; yet there are distinguishable characteristics that one may be preferred over the other throughout one's teaching philosophy. Join us as we explore the pros and cons of each instructional approach in conjunction to your school's STEAM initiatives!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. take away a greater understanding of the three instructional models and will determine which model (if not all) works best for them; 2. receive supplemental resources (articles/ videos) to assist them in planning for future lessons and/or units using problem-based, project-based, or transdisciplinary learning; and 3. gain understanding of how to build teacher capacity for STEM/STEAM in their schools.

SPEAKERS:
Yolanda White (Clayton County Public Schools: Jonesboro, GA), Rebecca Dorsey (Mundy's Mill Middle School: Jonesboro, GA)

This session features current science practitioners who share some common challenges faced by urban science educators as well as successful solutions from their school districts. The challenges and solutions discussed are applicable to all school settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Receive resources and strategies to promote successful science education; 2. Discuss fresh progressively thinking approaches of current science practitioners who are in the classroom and at the district level; and 3. Engage with presenters on culturally responsive tips that support and strengthen urban science education.

SPEAKERS:
Charles Hayes (Highland Oaks Elementary School: Memphis, TN), LeeAnne Jimenez (Wilson Teaching and Learning Academy: Tulsa, OK), Michelle Ellis (Hunter Huss High School: Gastonia, NC), Brad Rhew (Guilford County Schools: No City, No State), Florentia Spires (Prince George's County Public Schools: Upper Marlboro, MD)

This session will introduce the general parts and software associated with 3D printers and 3D printing, and lessons to integrate 3D printing into the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. gain a basic understanding of the hardware and software involved with 3D printing; 2. develop strategies for integrating 3D printing into their classrooms, through multiple disciplines and be provided example lessons; and 3. construct a 3D model using TinkerCAD that they can then bring back to their classroom to print.

SPEAKERS:
Kristine Wilbrecht (Swope Middle School: Reno, NV)

STEM classrooms can be exclusive if teachers do not identify the lack of prior learning opportunities and misconceptions early in the year. Come learn how one teacher uses coding to bridge the gap in her STEM classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. STEM inclusion activities; 2. Coding in the classroom; and 3. STEM project ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Youngsville, LA)