Come for a quick peek at the fascinating history of science education and reforms as it relates to defining scientific literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Scientific literacy may mean many things to different people and groups but, in general, a scientifically literate person is one who uses science in everyday decisions and understands the interrelationships between science, technology, and society; 2. Historical events such as Sputnik and the Vietnam war have influenced the focus of science education over time, shifting the emphasis back and forth between more rigorous and more relevant; and 3. A human-centered approach to science teaching and learning is more equitable because it emphasizes student voice and choice, creativity, and self-value.

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

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)

The Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science provides teachers with an entire unit of instruction that includes a variety of assessments, free and available for download.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The units created by the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science (TIES) can be presented to a whole class, small groups, or can be assigned to individual students. They are teacher-guided or student-guided. 2. The TIES units can be easily downloaded for free and meet or exceed the evolution standards of every U.S. State. 3. The TIES units contain a variety of assessments, including online games, video questions, data analysis, puzzles, and formal assessments. They include a student response sheet, rubric, and formal assessments.

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

Learn how graphical reasoning helps students bridge the STEM gap. Gain tools to help students become proficient at graphing, making predictions, and deepening content understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Help students who lack algebraic fluency bridge the gap between science and mathematics; 2. Gain tools and tips to help students become proficient at creating graphs, identifying common graph shapes (e.g. linear, inverse square), linking graphs with their algebraic representations, making predictions, and deepening content understanding; and 3. With hands-on demonstrations, data from our research studies, and lesson plans, teachers can utilize the information shared in this session to better support their students.

SPEAKERS:
Janice Gobert (Rutgers Graduate School of Education: New Brunswick, NJ), Michael Sao Pedro (Inq-ITS by Apprendis: Berlin, MA)

Turning on a string of electric lights is the anchoring phenomenon in this storyline. Students ask questions about electricity sources, production, and uses.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. The system of producers and consumers of electricity we call the power grid is changing, and users are becoming more active participants; 2. Generators use magnetism and mechanical turning to create electricity, and burning carbon-based resources provides much of the energy that powers these generators; and 3. Energy efficiency and renewable and clean energy sources are important to the energy system of the future.

SPEAKERS:
Jana Sebestik (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Champaign, IL), Christina Tran (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Urbana, IL)

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)