2022 Houston National Conference

April 31-2, 2022

All sessions added to My Agenda prior to this notice have been exported to the mobile app and will be visible in your account when the app launches. Any sessions added now, will also have to be added in the app.
Grade Level


Topics




















Strands





Session Type









Pathway/Course

FILTERS APPLIED:6 - 8, Hands-On Workshop, Developing Accountability Systems for Expanding STEM Participation, Physics

 

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

NSTA Press Session: Crosscutting Concepts: Strengthening Science and Engineering Learning

Thursday, March 31 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 352F


Show Details

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)

Sowing SEEDs, Cultivating Community Partnerships, and Nurturing STEM Careers

Thursday, March 31 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 362B


Show Details

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)

How to Make In-Person and Remote STEM Instruction Meaningful, Rigorous, and Equitable for Students

Thursday, March 31 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 332B


Show Details

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)

What Do I Do with This? Making Sense of Your Assessment Data

Thursday, March 31 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 342B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Session Resource Document Form
Click on this link to access the Resource Document for the session. This will ask for your email so that I can share the slide deck following the session based on how the conversation unfolds.

STRAND: Promoting Effective Assessments in the STEM Classroom

Show Details

We are awash in assessment data, but often it’s overwhelming to make sense of it. Join us to learn tips and strategies for wrangling data.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore new ways to organize data collection and raw data to aid in exploring the data for stories after it is collected; 2. Acquire skills in tying questions, data types, and data visualizations to enhance your ability to make sense of your assessment data; and 3. Identify next steps to better utilize and leverage your assessment data to help you measure students’ learning and know what steps to consider next.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson (Dataspire Education & Evaluation, LLC)

NMLSTA-Sponsored Session: NMLSTA Awards: Come Learn About Two Awards for Middle Level Science Teachers!

Thursday, March 31 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 322A


Show Details

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)

Going Global with Solar Ovens: Teaching Convection, Conduction, and Radiation with Inquiry and Global Education in Mind

Thursday, March 31 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 361B


Show Details

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)

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning—The Future Is NOW!

Thursday, March 31 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 332C


Show Details

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)

NextGen TIME: A Toolkit for Materials Evaluation

Friday, April 1 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 370 A/B


Show Details

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)

Physically Active Modeling for Comparing States of Matter

Friday, April 1 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 332A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Contact Information Ellis NSTA 2022.pdf
NSTA Handout Students As Particles Solid Liquid Gas Comparison.pdf
NSTA Presentation.pptx
Physicall Active Modeling States of Matter.pptx

Show Details

Discover low-cost, easy-to-construct, physically active lessons that help students understand solids, liquid, and gases at the particle level and the forces between particles.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to model the attractive forces between particles in a gas, liquid, and solid to help explain the difference in properties of the different states of matter; 2. Learn how to construct these activities using the materials and spaces they already have; and 3. Receive ideas and opportunities to modify the depth to make the activity more appropriate for the student population.

SPEAKERS:
Clark Ellis (The Kinkaid School)

Landing on Mars: Applying Engineering Practices

Friday, April 1 • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 361E



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Landing on Mars Session Handout
Download the handout for the Space Lander STEM challenge and an overview of Space Club!
Updated - Landing on Mars Session Handout

Show Details

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)

NMLSTA-Sponsored Session: Meet Me in the Middle, Lite: A Share-a-Thon

Friday, April 1 • 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - Grand Ballroom A/B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
DNA cheek swab
Recipe for DNA Traits

Show Details

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)

Demystifying Models in the Science Classroom

Friday, April 1 • 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 361B


Show Details

Join us for a hands-on experience and discussion about modeling! It will feature quick-start guides, student work examples, and modeling assessment strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn how to use a model with a given natural phenomenon; 2. learn how to scaffold models for all diverse learners; and 3. be given ready-to-use resources to start modeling in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Brittany Blair (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT), Nicole Vitello Lowell (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT)

Scaling the Universe: Classroom Modeling of the Smallest to Largest Building Blocks of the Cosmos

Friday, April 1 • 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 332A


Show Details

Use everyday materials to construct models demonstrating the size and scale of atoms, planets, the solar system, number of stars in our universe, and more.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The universe at various scales can only be truly appreciated with an understanding and utilization of scientific notation; 2. “Scale” is important to grasping the bigness and smallness of various objects, events, and concepts in the universe; and 3. “Modeling” allows humans to literally “grasp” the various scales inherent of and in the universe.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Strong (SMARTCenter: Wheeling, WV), Robert Strong (SMARTCenter: Wheeling, WV)

Exploring the Practice of Developing and Using Models

Friday, April 1 • 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 351E



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Atlas Map 1.2 Developing and Using Models (MOD).pdf
Exploring the Practice of Developing and Using Models for NSTA Houston 2022.pdf

Show Details

Come explore the practice of developing and using models by analyzing maps from The NSTA Atlas of Science Literacy and developing your own models based on your own observations of a phenomenon during a hands-on activity.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explain the intended progression of learning for students in developing and using models; 2. Analyze a model to determine students' understanding of core ideas in science; and 3. Argue with evidence about students’ proficiency with the practice of developing and using models.

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

Ignite Epistemic Curiosity with a Puzzling Phenomenon

Saturday, April 2 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 352F


Show Details

Participants investigate three concepts of an anchoring phenomenon to explain why a dog can see himself and the bottom of a frozen pond simultaneously.

TAKEAWAYS:
Workshop participants will engage in and learn about; 1. a phenomenon-driven storyline focused on multiple concepts; 2. model-based reasoning and collective sensemaking; and 3. constructing explanations via developing models and forming CER statements.

SPEAKERS:
Jaclyn Murray (Mercer University: Macon, GA)

Designing a Democratic Classroom by Centering Student Voice and Sharing Authority

Saturday, April 2 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 332B


Show Details

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)

Why Do I Need to Learn This Science Stuff?

Saturday, April 2 • 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 370 A/B


Show Details

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)

You Mean 3-D Assessment Tasks Can Be Engaging?

Saturday, April 2 • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 342B



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NGSS Three-Dimensional Assessment Dashboard

STRAND: Promoting Effective Assessments in the STEM Classroom

Show Details

Discover resources and tools to aid in crafting 3-D assessments. Bring your own assessment for peer feedback or explore OERs to adapt to your setting.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Best practices in 3-D assessment design; 2. Strategies for adapting existing assessments; and 3. Resources for identifying engaging phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Becky McDowell (Independent Contractor: Springfield, PA)

Historic Observations, Physical Models, and GPS Data Reveal the Long and Short Behavior of Earthquakes in NGSS-Focused Resources!

Saturday, April 2 • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 351E


Show Details

FREE IRIS and UNAVCO resources explore how the earthquake system behaves across long and short time scales using observations; evidence; and simple, interactive physical models.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will be able to: 1. use evidence and reasoning to construct an explanation for earthquake occurrence at varying timescales; 2. model energy inputs and outputs to the earthquake cycle using a simple mechanical model; and 3. describe how the moment magnitude is calculated for an earthquake and how this relates to basic physical science principles.

SPEAKERS:
John Taber (IRIS | Earthscope Consortium: Chevy Chase, MD)

Break Through the Middle School Science Content

Saturday, April 2 • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 352F


Show Details

Discover an engaging, hands-on experience for your students that focuses on middle school science concepts using breakout and interactive games with puzzles and clues.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn: 1. how to create their own breakout room or interactive game tailored to specific student needs; 2. the benefits of using games that require the use of multiple learning styles to master content for the grade 8 science assessment; and 3. learn how to use games in the science classroom to increase scientific literacy by using thinking, reading, writing, and discourse strategies to deepen the understanding of the content.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Kramer (Dallas ISD: Dallas, TX)

NMLSTA-Sponsored Session: All Students Can Do STEM

Saturday, April 2 • 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

George R. Brown Convention Center - 360 E/F



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
All students can do STEM

Show Details

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)

Back to Top