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: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

NGSS Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts are applied to the DCIs of Heredity and Ecosystems in two hands-on activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to: 1. incorporate phenomena into life science lessons; 2. construct models and explanation for inheritance using Wisconsin Fast Plants®; and 3. use a cell phone spectrometer to gather data.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Risko (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

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: The Climate Initiative

Come walk through exciting free climate change learning modules. Engage your students in hands-on activities and get them starting conversations in their communties.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Walk through the six-lesson module and learn how to use it with your online or in-person classroom; 2. Participate in a communication activity and learn how to conduct community converations that empower student voice and make them change agents in their local landscape; and 3. Learn how to incorporate Climate Change from the three lenses (Economic, Ecological, and Sociocultural) to encourage students to understand the issues from a local to global scale.

SPEAKERS:
Leia Lowery (The Climate Initiative: Cape Porpoise, ME)

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)

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)

Sponsoring Company: Legends of Learning

With the amount of time for science instruction constantly under scrutiny, developing experiences that are engaging and develop understanding is critical. Learn how to leverage game-based learning to introduce, review, and deepen student content understanding. Through student-driven learning, Legends of Learning helps educators ensure not a moment of time is lost.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Understanding of how game-based learning (GBL) can enhance a 5Es lesson; 2. Understanding of unique ways to integrate GBL into instructional practices; and 3. Understanding how GBL allows for easier differentiation and builds an inclusive classroom learning environment.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Gerlach (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD), Sean Reidy (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD)

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)

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

Students investigate the use of reactions with three metals for reducing copper waste and reclaiming copper from a used copper etching solution. Students use data from their investigation and text sources to develop an evidence-based argument for which metal is the best choice for recovering copper from the waste solution.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Develop an evidence-based argument for which metal is best for removing copper from liquid wastes; 2. Chemicals such as copper and its compounds react in characteristic ways to form new substances with different properties; and 3. Decisions involving resource use should be made with an understanding of the trade-offs involved.

SPEAKERS:
Cindy Lilly (Ocean Bay Middle School: Myrtle Beach, SC)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Join the Savvas team for a hands-on workshop on a three-dimensional classroom experience based on the new Texas Standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Incorporate science and engineering practices into your lessons; 2. Build dynamic science lessons aligned to the TEKS; and 3. Transform the new TEKS into student-centered performance expectations.

SPEAKERS:
Chuck Kremer (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ), Manuel Romo (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE

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

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 toolkit augments the worktext and supports teachers in delivering a flexible and engaging program; and 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.

SPEAKERS:
Pam Temons (BIOZONE International Ltd.: Hamilton, New Zealand)

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)

Creative writing assignments can better reach students with differing learning styles. The incorporation of creative writing exercises into introductory chemistry courses and their effects on student performance will be described.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Creative writing is an effective way to cement understanding of chemistry concepts; 2. Engaging in creative writing leads to better exam performance; and 3. Creative writing exercises increase critical-thinking skills.

SPEAKERS:
Donald Carpenetti (Craven Community College: New Bern, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Edulastic

NGSS lessons by students, for students—how cool is that?! Hear the STEAM Team’s story, discover their suite of activities, and get free classroom tools!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn: 1. about what inspired a group of high school students to create engaging and fun STEAM lessons for middle school students; 2. how to access student-created digital learning lessons to help teach science to their own students; and 3. how to locate NGSS-focused assessments and create their own assessments in Edulastic, and assign them to their students.

SPEAKERS:
Ileana Betancourt (GoGuardian + Pear Deck + Edulastic: El Segundo, CA)

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)

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.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Koker (Lab-Aids, Inc.: Ronkonkoma, NY)

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Engage students with data-driven NGSS-focused interactive online lessons, visualizations, and role-playing activities to explain what sea level rise is, why it is so dangerous, and how we can address it.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will: 1. learn about climate change–driven sea level rise and its impacts to their coastal communities and nationally; 2. explore NOAA’s classroom-ready Data in the Classroom module: Investigating Sea Level Using Real Data; and NOAA’s Sea Level Rise Viewer, learn how students can use NOAA satellite and coastal station data to analyze how sea level is changing, its impacts on U.S. Coastal areas, and how they can integrate its inquiry-based resources into their classrooms immediately; and 3. play NOAA’s role-playing game Beat the Uncertainty: Planning Climate-Resilient Cities, and learn how to use it with their students.

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Moravchik (NOAA National Ocean Service: Silver Spring, MD), Symone Barkley (NOAA National Ocean Service: Silver Spring, MD)

Discover several strategies for developing well-written multiple-choice questions that can assess higher levels of Bloom’s taxonomy.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Multiple-choice exams can assess higher-order cognitive skills and increase student learning gains; 2. Developing these types of multiple-choice questions is easier than you might think; and 3. Our higher-order multiple-choice questions are practically "Google proof,” making them ideal for online exams.

SPEAKERS:
Tarren Shaw (The University of Oklahoma: Norman, OK), Donald French (Oklahoma State University: Stillwater, OK)

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

Explore the use of a Driving Question Board (DQB) as a tool to make the phenomena meaningful and connected to science content. Using an example activity from Ecology, we will model the DQB at the start of the unit, then jump to an activity to make connections to the phenomena and content. Pro-tips and full exemplary DQB walkthrough with our experienced classroom trainers.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Develop a DQB to help drive phenomena throughout a unit of study; 2. Develop a model of an ecosystem; and 3. Determine how an introduced species affects the flow of energy and cycling of matter throughout an ecosystem.

SPEAKERS:
Cindy Lilly (Ocean Bay Middle School: Myrtle Beach, SC)

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Find out how to become a NOAA Planet Steward Educator and access professional development opportunities, education resources, and funding. Increase your students’ science literacy and have them respond to real-world environmental threats.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn about the goals, methods, and outcomes of NOAA’s Planet Stewards program; 2. learn about the range of NOAA Planet Stewards professional development opportunities and how to participate in them, including live and archived webinars, a monthly book club, as well as face-to-face and distance learning workshops; and 3. engage in a dialogue with educators who have received funding through the program and successfully carried out Planet Stewards projects.

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Moravchik (NOAA National Ocean Service: Silver Spring, MD), Symone Barkley (NOAA National Ocean Service: Silver Spring, MD)

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Cultivate a sense of belonging in your classroom with conservation, stewardship, and climate science using educational resources from NOAA and other socially conscious organizations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. identify at least three affinity groups focused on marine/environmental science; 2. identify at least three marine/environmental science resources by affinity groups to use in instruction; and 3. draft one lesson or activity that includes a NOAA resource and a resource by an affinity group.

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Moravchik (NOAA National Ocean Service: Silver Spring, MD), Symone Barkley (NOAA National Ocean Service: Silver Spring, MD)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Get hands-on experience on how to teach gel electrophoresis and DNA fingerprinting in a single classroom session.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to use the MiniOne Electrophoresis System in biology and environmental science classes; 2. Determine the parentage of a baby whale using electrophoresis; and 3. See how engaging and reliable hands-on labs excite students for careers in environmental and conservation sciences.

SPEAKERS:
Whitney Hagins (Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

Journey to the abyss with NOAA Ocean Exploration as we investigate deep-sea phenomena using the student sensemaking instructional model and hands-on demonstrations.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Covering 70% of Earth, the ocean is rich with complex natural phenomena that can be used in the classroom to engage students in science learning as well as foster curiosity and interest about the ocean, ocean exploration, and stewardship; 2. Instructional strategies that support student sensemaking also support student equity and inclusion in the classroom by ensuring that every student has a voice; and 3. NOAA Ocean Exploration provides numerous educational resources that support current education standards and modern classroom pedagogy.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Hoadley (NOAA Office of Education: Dauphin Island, AL)

Sponsoring Company: Seven Sides Publishing

Seven Sides Publishing will show how our investigation manuals provide an easy and efficient way to put science in the hands of students through Simple Investigations.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. We have enough ideas for investigations to cover 100% of the science standards; 2. Investigations are so simple, students and teachers will want to use them; and 3. Simple Investigations will put science in the hands of students, efficiently increasing learning and test scores.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Garside (Seven Sides Publishing: , United States)

Museum staff and education professors will present a multi-state service-learning project. Attendees will brainstorm experiential learning partnerships for preservice teacher in their own communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will: 1. learn about a multi-state service-learning project completed by elementary education preservice teachers enrolled in Creative Writing and Science Methods courses (at a rural university in Texas) for a Musuem of Natural Sciences (in North Carolina), completed entirely online during the global pandemic; 2. learn about the benefits of service-learning projects for future science educators, local organizations, and local communities…including how the PSTs’ lesson plans met Next Generation Science Standards; and 3. be prompted to consider possible experiential learning partnerships for preservice teachers based on the known needs of their local community organizations. Presenters (including museum staff and university professors) will offer tips for those ideas shared.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Burrow (Stephen F. Austin State University: Nacogdoches, TX), Tonya Jeffery (University of Houston - Downtown: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Analyze authentic field data, run electrophoresis gels, build phylogenetic trees, and explore ecological data to decide whether an extinct species of lemur has been rediscovered.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Bring molecular approaches to ecology and evolution units; 2. Explore authentic data from researchers at the Duke Lemur Center; and 3. Use genetic tests to examine species differences.

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Bryan (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Bring real-world conservation to biology students using electrophoresis and an elephant database to analyze DNA profiles from confiscated ivory tusks.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how to use the MiniOne Electrophoresis System for reliable labs that can be completed in a classroom period; 2. Explore how genetics can be used in modern conservation efforts ; and 3. Explore a real-world conservation lab from MiniOne, along with resources from the Science Education Partnership, that can enrich AP Biology and AP Environmental Sciences classes.

SPEAKERS:
Erika Fong (MiniOne Systems: San Diego, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Lab-Aids

Look for patterns in species diversity in coral reef ecosystems and other animals to determine cause and effect relationships 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.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Koker (Lab-Aids, Inc.: Ronkonkoma, NY)

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)

Sponsoring Company: Summit K12

Engaging evidence-based best practices that accelerate learning through an innovative eighth-grade STAAR Review Process that optimizes by class or through Individualized Learning Plans. See how this process ensures growth at the Masters, Meets, and Approaches levels.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Teachers can meaningfully connect Benchmark Results to a customized STAAR Review Plan; 2. Students will be able to accelerate their learning through a customized learning path and plan; and 3. Students are guaranteed to excel in Science.

SPEAKERS:
Edna Carter (Summit K12 Holdings, Inc.: Austin, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Brandwein Institute

Henry David Thoreau was a climate change scientist! For the past 19 years, Professor Richard Primack and his team have been using Thoreau’s records from the 1850s and other Massachusetts data sources to document the earlier flowering and leafing out times of plants, the earlier flight times of butterflies, and the more variable response of migratory birds. Most noteworthy, plants in Concord are also changing in abundance due to a warming climate. This work has received extensive media coverage as an example of the biological effects of climate change, and is now being extended to the neglected autumn season. What would Thoreau tell us to do about global warming if he were alive today?

NSTA wishes to thank Brandwein Institute for sponsoring Richard Primack’s talk.

SPEAKERS:
Richard Primack (Boston University: Boston, MA)