The 2023 NSELA Leadership Summit will center around the multidimensional system drivers at the heart of the theme  "Science Education Leadership- A Systems Approach.”

*Private function by invitation only

SPEAKERS:
Renata Casiel (Meetings Manager: Arlington, VA)

Join us to design a prototype for a classroom task using our new Task Design Workbook. We will highlight key elements of 3D assessment design (i.e. problematizing phenomena, centering sense-making, and accessibility features). These high-leverage components of task development prepare you to adapt & design assessments that center your students and engage them in 3D sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Van Horne (Concolor Research: Orlando, FL), Aneesha Badrinarayan (Learning Policy Institute: Washington, DC), Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL)

Come join us to see how OpenSciEd’s materials can help you reveal your students’ brilliance. The first full day of the professional learning institute (PLI) will simultaneously prepare you to teach the first unit in the OpenSciEd middle school program and provide the support you need to advance your practice so that learning is both driven by student questions and leads to the foundational science learning they need to be successful. To do this, this session will put teachers in the student’s seat so they can feel what it's like to be a student whose thoughts and questions are valued in the drive to figure out puzzling phenomena. We actually do science together with the facilitator acting as the "teacher" and then dig in to help you see the coherence across the program and the details in the first units you will be teaching.

The follow-up sessions you can attend throughout the conference will dig deeper into phenomena-based learning and provide practical strategies for implementing OpenSciEd in your classroom.

• Unpack WHY phenomena-based learning is so important and HOW to make it a reality in your classroom
• Takeaway grading strategies to support 3D learning while avoiding teacher burnout
• Gain tools for planning discussions and getting your students talking

SPEAKERS:
Erika Palys (OpenSciEd: Palatine, IL), Thomas Clayton (K-5 STEAM Specialist: Long Valley, NJ)

Shifting from traditional professional learning to curriculum-based professional learning is a simple concept but complex to design and execute well. At its core, it means teachers experience the same kind of three-dimensional, phenomenon-driven science learning we expect them to provide their students and are supported over time as they take on new practices in their classrooms. It means leaders apply a systems approach to professional learning. This approach is grounded in high-quality instructional materials and the instructional model, routines, and practices consistent with the design of the materials. The Carnegie Corporation of New York report, The Elements, identifies a core set of research-based actions, approaches, and enabling conditions that effective schools and systems have put in place to reinforce and amplify the power of high-quality curricula enacted by teachers prepared to use the materials. In this session, you’ll immerse yourself in the Elements and consider strategies for applying them to your plans for professional learning.

SPEAKERS:
Jody Bintz (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jim Short (BSCS Science Learning: Ridgefield, NY), Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Long Beach, CA), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Waldorf, MD), Lindsey Mohan (BSCS Science Learning: Burnet, TX), Zoe Buck Bracey (Senior Science Educator and Director of Design for Justice: Colorado Springs, CO)

Come join us to see how OpenSciEd’s materials can help you build science learning experiences anchored in compelling phenomena and in important community and global problems. This professional learning institute (PLI) will simultaneously prepare you to teach the first unit in the OpenSciEd biology course and provide the support you need to advance your practice so that learning is both driven by student questions and helps them develop proficiency with targeted three-dimensional science standards in life sciences and Earth and space science. To achieve this goal, this session will put teachers in “student hat” so they can feel what it’s like to be a student whose thoughts and questions help drive learning forward in the unit. We actually do science together with the facilitator acting as teacher and reflect on coherence in the unit by unpacking the storyline for the unit. We will open up and explore the structure of units for all three courses of OpenSciEd–biology, chemistry, and physics–and discuss the routines and resources to promote equitable science learning in high school. Follow-up sessions you can attend throughout the conference will dig deeper into other courses in OpenSciEd and provide practical strategies for implementing OpenSciEd in your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Henson (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), William Penuel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

What is an approach that science educators can use to create assessment tasks that support instructional practice and students’ three-dimensional learning?
 
Assessment tasks for NGSS classrooms are different from the typical tasks that require students to just recall what they know. With three-dimensional tasks, the expectation is that students will use and apply the three dimensions of science proficiency together to make sense of compelling phenomena and solve complex problems. This course is designed to introduce participants to the Next Generation Science Assessment (NGSA) design approach that can be used to design three-dimensional assessment tasks for classroom use with an emphasis on assessment for teaching and learning. A good assessment task should provide actionable information of value to teachers and students. Importantly, it should provide insight into how students are building toward an NGSS performance expectation or bundle of performance expectations.
 
Participants will learn the NGSA approach for designing 3-dimensional tasks for classroom use that will help their students build toward the NGSS performance expectations. This course is ideal for those who want to learn a systematic process for how to create tasks that can be used over again across classes and years. Each step of the process provides an opportunity for learning that will increase your knowledge for three-dimensional instruction and assessment. While we will focus on middle grades, the approach is applicable for K-12 science instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Harris (WestEd: Menlo Park, CA), Joseph Krajcik (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University: East Lansing, MI)

The Consortium for Open Equitable Science Education in Elementary (COESEE) is creating open education science learning experiences that more flexibly use time, while re-envisioning critical components of phenomenon, embedded ELA resources, equity, professional learning, and assessment. Elementary science learning demands the investigation of phenomena across time - weeks and months, not days -to use data and first-hand experience to see patterns, trends, and eventually build concepts. Our place-based Weather and Climate units in kindergarten and third grade require the collection, documentation, and analysis of weather data over many months to 1. observe patterns in the data, and 2. ask and answer highly-relevant questions about those patterns that can only be investigated over time. We will share one of our place-based, multiple-month units and unpack the ways exemplar units help to redefine elementary science learning experiences to elevate the brilliance of students and strengths of teachers. Participants will engage with materials developers and diverse and accomplished elementary science scholars and have an immersive experience wearing both their teacher and student hats.

Each session in this PLI strand will elevate Recommendations from the NASEM consensus report “Science and Engineering in Preschool through Elementary Grades: The Brilliance of Children and Strengths of Educators (2022).

SPEAKERS:
Shelly LeDoux (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX), Carla Zembal-Saul (Penn State: State College, PA), Heidi Carlone (Vanderbilt University Peabody College: Nashville, TN), Miranda Fitzgerald , Tia Madkins (Notre Dame Center for STEM Education: Notre Dame, IN), Mary Starr (Michigan Mathematics and Science Leadership Network: Plymouth, MI), Mike Ryan (The Learning Standard (retired Georgia Tech): Atlanta, GA), Molly Ewing (The Charles A. Dana Center: Austin, TX)

Understanding the three dimensions of teaching and learning science is the first step toward implementing the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and other state standards based on A Framework for K-12 Science Education. This course is designed to provide educators an opportunity to apply that understanding to take another big step forward in implementation —engaging students in the science and engineering practices (SEPs). Through immersion in high-quality instructional materials, classroom video and vignettes, participants will gain strategies including the use of scaffolds, discipline-specific questions, and teacher-moves to support students’ productive struggle in the SEPs. Additionally, educators will deepen their knowledge of how the SEPs work together and with the other dimensions (disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts) to make sense of the world and solve problems.

Participants will experience a deep-dive into one of four targeted SEPs during the face-to-face national conference setting: developing and using models; planning and carrying out investigations; using mathematics and computational thinking; or  engaging in argument from evidence. Watch for an email within five days of registration with directions for submitting your top two SEP choices.

See below for follow-up professional learning opportunities around the science and engineering practices that are included with this short course registration.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Hereau (NSTA: Lake Angelus, MI), Edel Maeder (Rochester City School District: Hilton, NY), Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Freeport, IL), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ)

Join us at the Georgia World Congress Center for an opening reception to mark the start of NSTA Atlanta23! We’ll keep it casual—meet new colleagues and greet returning friends while enjoying beverages and small bites and a photo opportunity with keynote speaker—NASA Astronaut, Dr. Megan McArthur. The event is complimentary and open to all registered conference attendees. Immediately following the reception, McArthur will share her thrilling experiences while working on the International Space Station in an inspirational fireside chat facilitated by NASA’s K-12 Education Advisor Cindy Hasselbring.

Join NASA Astronaut Megan McArthur as she shares her passion for science and the experiments she conducted during her stay on the International Space Station. McArthur will be joined by NASA’s K-12 Education Advisor Cindy Hasselbring for an inspirational fireside chat. They will discuss McArthur’s thrilling experiences during more than 200 days in space, lessons learned, NASA's return to the moon through the Artemis program, and much more.

Join us to find out how being mindful can reduce stress and other benefits. Share tips on how to incorporate mindfulness into your life. We will practice breathwork together and share in a meditation exercise.

TAKEAWAYS:
A sense of calm, peace, and balance.

Grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and join us for an informal get-together with your peers. Each day of the conference will feature a morning coffee chat, providing participants an opportunity to share ideas and experiences, expand their network, and connect with colleagues and friends from around the country. All are welcome to attend!

Calling all yoga enthusiasts. Regardless of whether you’re a newbie or veteran, schedule time to join Jasmine for a gentle warm-up; traditional vinyāsa-style yoga (balance poses, core, strength building); deep stretching for hips and hamstrings; and, of course, meditation for relaxation and de-stressing. Beginner friendly!

Feeling overwhelmed by all there is to see and do at an NSTA conference on science education? Join us for an interactive exploration through the conference app and NSTA’s social media. By the end of the session, you will know just how to get the most from your conference experience in addition to bu

Sponsoring Company: VEX Robotics

STEM education needs to be inclusive. This workshop will discuss research proven methods for why STEM can help improve student participation in the classroom. Jason McKenna, Director of Education at VEX Robotics, will include examples and techniques that teachers can use in their own classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jason McKenna (VEX Robotics: Pittsburgh, PA), Drew Ostry (Marketing Director: Greenville, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education, Inc.

Start your day with the Discovery Education team as they take you on a high energy and hands-on immersion into the wonderful world of Phenomena!

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Engage students in authentic research through Genes in Space: the experimental design competition that launches experiments to the International Space Station. Learn about free educational resources, including lesson plans, classroom activities, explainer videos, and biotechnology equipment loans.

SPEAKERS:
Katy Martin (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

What's so phenomenal about phenomena? Join the Savvas science team for an engaging, hands-on workshop as we explore the purpose of phenomena, the power of using it to drive your instruction, and the way it will support your students as they bring their own life experiences into your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jessi Davis (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: LaMotte Company

Water is the single most valuable resource essential for life on Earth, yet is subject to increasing scarcity, pollutants, and overuse. The Tapwater Tour curriculum make the real-world connection between the phenomena explored in the lesson and actual hands-on laboratory activities.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Evans (Kent County High School: Worton, MD)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Asking questions and defining problems provides students with an authentic and meaningful entry point into science and engineering. Experience a puzzling chemistry phenomenon and learn how to elicit, organize, and revisit students’ questions so that students feel ownership over their own learning.

SPEAKERS:
Tracy Marmolejo (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific

The persistence of laboratory incidents injurious to high school students demonstrates the need for work towards implementing strong safety cultures in our school science labs. Please join us to learn about simple things you can do to make the laboratory a safer environment for your students.

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Let’s explore several intervention strategies to help struggling students in STEM. Let's move beyond differentiation and scaffolding. Come learn other proven intervention techniques to help students. Let’s modify our traditional outreach to connect with students so that they gain greater understandi

SPEAKERS:
Stacey O'Connor (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Ashley Mathis (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

High quality instructional materials are essential for equitable access to science, but materials are only the start of the instructional journey! Examine the importance of YOUR role as a teacher in leveraging NGSS-designed curriculum to inspire your students to figure out phenomena.

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Introduce students to the relationship between solution concentration and light absorption through hands-on experimentation.

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Teachers will be introduced to the four elements of the anchoring phenomenon routine from OpenSciEd for Middle School. Teachers will experience how an anchoring phenomenon can motivate students to explore & explain real-world phenomena, & develop strategies for creating a driving question board.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC), Hoover Herrera (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Cranford, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Ready for a dissection that is cutting edge? With this “real” classroom autopsy, revitalize your mammalian structure and function lesson to 3-dimensional instruction while addressing important standards. Participants dissect a Carolina’s Perfect Solution® pig by modeling the protocols of a professio

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Hale, MI)

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

Discover BIOZONE WORLD - a new platform bringing all our digital resources together for easy access and delivery. Incorporating BIOZONE’s eBooks with our rich collection of presentation slides, 3D models & curated videos, it provides powerful options for delivering your high school science programs.

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Transform your classroom into a forensic lab with this whodunit-themed experiment. Guests at a party are getting sick, and a few have even succumbed to the illness. Using spectroscopy and Beer’s law, your students will uncover the truth in this active, inquiry-based learning experiment.

SPEAKERS:
Nüs Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP Science

How to make the learning process as important as the product? Create a visible learning process and practice strategies to remove the fear of failure. Participants will be exposed to different levels of instructional feedback, standard-based grading, assessment, and feedback tools.

SPEAKERS:
Mike Jones (Illinois State University: Bloomington, IL)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Bring real-world conservation to biology students to analyze DNA profiles from confiscated ivory tusks. Fits with Environmental Science and the Africa Storyline.

SPEAKERS:
Sherri Andrews (At Retired: Greensboro, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Do your students struggle with the meaning of the slope of a graph? We'll demonstrate how to use all the sensors in a Go Direct® Sensor Cart to explore kinematics, force, and mass. These engaging, hands-on experiments will give your students multiple ways to practice working with these principles.

SPEAKERS:
Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

Experience Simulation Curriculum’s award-winning Starry Night Curriculum featuring classroom-ready, standards-based, interactive lesson plans. Covers grades K-4, 5-8 and 9-12 with engaging simulations, jaw-dropping interactions, activities and comprehensive teacher support resources!

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

There’s a break-in at the lab. Your students become forensic scientists as they walk into a crime scene. Analyze samples for blood and then catch the criminal with DNA fingerprinting. This exciting workshop will include ways to incorporate biotechnology and gel electrophoresis into your classroom.

Look across three elements, Learning Designs, Beliefs, and Models, to figure out how leaders use them together to support teachers in making the shifts called for in NRC’s Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
concrete ideas about how you, as a leader, can plan for effective curriculum-based professional learning. excerpted chapter(s) of the new book by Jim Short and Stephanie Hirsh, Transforming Teaching through Curriculum-Based Professional Learning.

In today’s fast-paced world, chronic stress is common, but your mind and body can pay a high price. Learn to recognize overwhelming stress—and what you can do about it. Most importantly, learn how to use the power of your senses to relieve stress on the spot and stay calm, productive, and focused—no matter what life throws at you.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to manage stress.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Azra Chughtai (NSTA: McLean, VA)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Journey through protein folding and its implications for human disease in this hands-on engaging investigation of the Amino Acid Starter Kit. Empower your students to make connections between amino acid sequences, final protein shapes and the effect a "simple" mutation can have on a human life.

SPEAKERS:
Dan Williams (Teacher: Shelter Island, NY)

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

How can we integrate climate change into different biology units? We'll use data-rich HHMI BioInteractive resources to demonstrate how to incorporate this topic across scales.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Eberhard (St. Clair High School: Saint Clair, MI), Samantha Johnson (Arroyo High School: Oakland, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Great Minds

In this workshop, participants dive into a 2nd grade module on Matter. Using the six steps of the Engineering Design Process, participants will ask, imagine, plan and test a solution to the real-world problem: How can you design and build a shelter that provides protection from rain?

Designed by award-winning science educator, author, and Michigan Teacher of the Year Gary Abud, Jr. in partnership with PBS, this session will focus on instructional strategies, high impact core teaching practices, and amazing learning resources about the Great Lakes from Detroit Public Television's award-winning show Great Lakes Now. In this session, you'll learn how to help your students explore the Great Lakes like never before and engage in productive discussions, engineering challenges, and intriguing investigations that they'll never forget. From fatbergs to watersheds to invasive species, biodiversity, climate change, and much more, you'll see how the Great Lakes makes for a GREAT way to teach myriad science concepts and engage students in the science and engineering practices of the NGSS no matter where they are learning, because the blended learning activities can go with you anywhere!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to explore the Great Lakes with your students while incorporating multimedia, cognitive science, and student discourse.

SPEAKERS:
SANDRA SVOBODA (Program Director, Great Lakes Now: Grosse Pointe, MI), Gary Abud Jr (Nourish the Future - Education Projects, LLC: Grosse Pointe, MI)

Get hands-on with sensor technology to uncover meteorological phenomena and discover how these tools can help make connections to weather and climate literacy for students in upper elementary-high school classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
There are affordable sensor technologies available to help turn students of all ages into data-collecting scientists and meteorologists.

SPEAKERS:
Harris Muhlstein (University of North Carolina Wilmington: Wilmington, NC)

Review data analysis/collecting techniques to help students young and old to learn the relationships between types of data and analysis of it.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about "orders of variables" and how understanding these can help their students to better engage in making and interpreting graphs.

SPEAKERS:
G. Michael Bowen (Mount Saint Vincent University: Halifax, NS)

Whales are complex creatures whose adaptations and behavior can serve as engaging phenomena for lessons. The Wade Institute and New Bedford Whaling Museum invite you to explore interdisciplinary approaches to teaching with whales and participate in inquiry investigations you can do with students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Whale adaptations, behavior, and relationship with humans can serve as investigative phenomena that you can use to teach inquiry-based lessons in science and across a variety of interdisciplinary subjects.

SPEAKERS:
Sandra Ryack-Bell (Wade Institute for Science Education: Dartmouth, MA), Allison Pagliaro (Wade Institute for Science Education: Quincy, MA)

Executive function deficits are common in students and impact achievement. Come learn what executive functioning is and strategies to make your classroom executive function friendly.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain a deeper understanding of what executive functioning is and how problems with executive functioning can impact student engagement in the classroom. Through hands-on activities, participants will walk away with ready to implement strategies and ideas to reach all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Thomas (F. A. Day Middle School)

Our session will support science teachers in discovering and incorporating diverse and relevant experiences so ALL students can see themselves as scientists. We will review culturally responsive science instructional practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Explore the tenets of Culturally Responsive Science Teaching; 2. Understand how all learning is cultural and the importance of access to diverse representation; and 3. Explore the components and values of an inclusive science classroom and the need for students need to see themselves.

SPEAKERS:
Tonya Woolfolk (Houston County Schools: Perry, GA), Patricia Morgan (Georgia State University: Atlanta, GA)

Come learn how to carefully unpack elements of the Crosscutting Concepts to support the development and implementation of curriculum, instruction, and assessment using this brand-new version of the NSTA Quick-Reference Guide to the Three Dimensions. The “purple book” is now better than ever.

TAKEAWAYS:
A deeper understanding of the Crosscutting Concepts and how a well-designed reference guide can make it easier to unpack the three dimensions for work in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Derwood, MD)

CDC staff will provide a tour of CDC’s publicly available STEM resources for teachers. The session will feature the newly released CDC NERD Academy curriculum, which uses real-world COVID-19 data and scenarios to teach foundational science, math, and critical thinking skills. These lesson plans, activities, and videos are designed to include everything a STEM teacher needs, even without previous knowledge of public health. CDC staff will illustrate how Module 2: How does disease spread? can be used to teach students about the science behind prevention strategies. Attendees will also meet a diverse group of fictional characters and real CDC staff to help introduce some public health STEM careers. By session’s end, attendees will have practiced how to use one of CDC’s ready-to-go STEM resources, gained insight on how to create lessons using real CDC data and scenarios from journal articles, and gathered ideas on how to get students interested in public health careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use public health examples to illustrate key STEM concepts and skills and to introduce students to STEM careers in public health.

SPEAKERS:
Juliana Azeredo (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Atlanta, GA)

During this session, participants will discuss the significance of culture in STEAM learning. Additionally, participants will obtain and practice using a tool to include culturally inclusive practices in STEAM lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Why are culturally inclusive strategies important in STEAM classrooms? How can you synthesize strategies that challenge and engage a diverse group of learners? In this session, we will reveal a planning tool that you can use to support learner success in STEAM classroom settings.

SPEAKERS:
Deanna Taylor (Interactive Learning Solutions LLC: Columbia, SC), Regina Ciphrah (Verbalizing Visions, LLC: Columbia, SC)

"PV=NRT" is nearly 200 years old! However, the ideal gas law has remained a relevant tool that's helped us progress from Sterling Engines to Solar Panel Cars. How? Engineering. Come be a student in an engineering project based physics/ physical science class.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will have hands-on opportunity to experience engineered based lesson (mini unit). Teachers will come away with an example scope and sequence, example projects with directions, materials guidelines, and rubrics.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Clarke (Park Day School: Oakland, CA)

The design of scaffolds can support or take away opportunities for student sensemaking. We will identify scaffolds already built into high quality curriculum, like OpenSciEd, and analyze teacher designed scaffolds to determine if they support or undermine sensemaking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Before high quality curriculum, teachers had to aggressively scaffold materials. Teachers will see how the materials support sensemaking without major redesign. They will consider how additional scaffolds may support or undermine student sensemaking elevating the deep expertise of teachers

SPEAKERS:
Hillary Paul Metcalf (Stanford University: Chelsea, MA), Nicole Ruttan (Boston College: Worcester, MA), Ji-Sun Ham (School Support Specialist: Chestnut Hill, MA)

The Framework and NGSS called for phenomena-based 3D learning experiences for all students. Unpack WHY this is important and HOW to make it a reality in your classroom. Take away phenomena and storylines to try in your classroom and strategies for making every student look forward to your class

TAKEAWAYS:
The shift to phenomena-based 3D learning brings the student to the center of the learning and uses their life experiences and approaches to sensemaking to drive the learning.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Delaney (OpenSciEd: San Carlos, CA)

Construct deeper student understanding of Earth science topics. We will engage in argument-driven scaffolds for Earth and environmental science topics to critically evaluate connections between evidence and alternative scientific explanations using model-evidence link (MEL) diagrams.

TAKEAWAYS:
An introduction to instructional scaffolds designed to assist learners as they evaluate the plausibility of evidence connected to models and the research base that supports using these scaffolds & access to instructional materials.

SPEAKERS:
Lorraine Ramirez Villarin (University of North Georgia: Dahlonega, GA), Donna Governor (University of North Georgia: Pensacola, FL)

In this session we will engage participants in thinking about how they can create stronger connections to current climate change research through placed-based learning experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendee's will be able to share the benefits of place-based teaching and learning with peers and colleagues, and serve as an advocate for field experiences within the school community.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Shoer (Senior Program Manager, Education & Engagement: Somerville, MA), Elisabeth Colby (Director of Visitor Experience and Engagement Programs: Boston, MA), Holly Rosa (Boston Public Schools: Quincy, MA)

What would it look like if we designed all aspects of the assessment system to prioritize impact on instruction and students? We will discuss key principles for designing systems, and examples and implications for state, district, and classroom assessments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Systems of assessment can center students and instruction, and simultaneously surface trustworthy information for decision-making–if they are intentionally designed to do so.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE)

Learn how the STEM4Real Lesson Study (LS) can empower teachers to meet needs of diverse learners, especially those with disabilities and underrepresented communities. A case study with a court and community school shows how LS aids in the creation of NGSS-aligned culturally responsive lesson plans.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use a justice centered lesson plan template that connects to students’ lived experiences and identities, creates a learning experience where students from underrepresented communities feel seen and heard and cultivates a community affirming the inherent value of all people, regardless of background.

SPEAKERS:
Marie Gorman (STEM 4 Real: Crofton, MD)

This is the first session in the PL Committee CCCs Pathway and is designed to support K-12. This session is an opportunity for members of the Professional Learning Committee to recruit and connect with fellow NSTA members. Attendees will be introduced to topics included in the pathway, highlighting how CCCs are used as tools in service of DCIs and SEPs, student sensemaking, and assessment of CCCs to guide further instruction. Using the Framework progression documents and STEM Teaching Tool #41, attendees will have the opportunity to collaborate with fellow participants to uncover vertical progressions of CCCs and leave with tools to use in the classroom to elicit student sensemaking. The PL Committee will utilize research from Jeffery Nordine and Okhee Lee’s book, Crosscutting Concepts: Strengthening Science and Engineering Learning, to ignite the call to action for realizing the power of CCCs.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session is a call to action for realizing the power of CCCs. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with members of NSTA’s PL Committee, gain an overview of the connected sessions included in the pathway, and leave with an invitation to further understandings of sensemaking and CCCs.

SPEAKERS:
Zoe Evans (Bremen City Schools: Carrollton, GA), Kimberley Astle (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Vancouver, WA), Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association: Gilbert, AZ), Holly Baldwin (Instructional Support Specialist: Syracuse, NY), Christopher Soldat (Grant Wood Area Education Agency: Iowa City, IA), Leah Litz (Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium: Omaha, NE)

Students do best with applied hands-on experiential learning. The ‘After Dark’ theme of this workshop is intended to provide tangible resources for educators to take abstract concepts from their curriculum and make them accessible to students with glow in the dark, phosphorescent activities to take.

TAKEAWAYS:
Data collection and interpretation is an essential skill that hits-home the concepts students find in their textbooks. ‘After-Dark’ makes a miniature lab-course out of many of the bio/chem/phys/eng principles in ways which are memorable/relatable taking advantage of STEM tools for data collection.

SPEAKERS:
Will Collins (BioInnovation Dir: Halifax, NS, NB)

Indigenization is receiving global attention. Why should we be concerned with Indigenizing and decolonizing our science instruction? Attend this panel discussion to learn how and why different countries are Indigenizing their science teacher preparation, science curricula, and science teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
In order to advance the process of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, it is essential that we Indigenize and decolonialize our curriculum and our teaching methodologies. This panel discussion will present ways Indigenizing the curriculum is being done in various international contexts.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Morrell (retired: Corvallis, OR)

Explore the NSTA Website with us! NSTA provides high-quality digital resources and opportunities—all within a professional community—that supports professional learning and classroom instruction. NSTA staff will be available to answer questions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will become knowledgeable about the plethora of digital resources available on NSTA’s website, about the live events, and professional learning community that can help them enhance their knowledge and improve their teaching practices.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Owings Mills, MD)

Calling all Science Supervisors, Coordinators, Department Heads, Principals, Assistant Principals and Curriculum Specialists. Please join the NSTA Committee on Coordination and Supervision for a roundtable discussion on topics that are significant to the area of science supervision in education. This meeting will be participant driven with topics such as hiring new teachers, supporting new supervisors, supporting new teachers, best practices in professional development, science safety etc.

SPEAKERS:
Renata Casiel (Meetings Manager: Arlington, VA)

Please join us for the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the exhibit hall, featuring over 240 companies.

Sponsoring Company: Great Minds

In this workshop, participants are introduced to a 5th grade module on Earth Systems to uncover a new process for developing models in science and see how the communication of ideas through models and sketches increases opportunities for student engagement.

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Be the geneticist overseeing screening and interpreting the genotypes of hemoglobinopathies for at risk newborns.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal McDowell (Greenbrier High School: Evans, GA)

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

Join us as we use Simulation Curriculum’s Layered Earth to investigate Geology including Plate Tectonics and Meteorology including Weather & Climate using our amazing interactive Earth simulator to engage and excite students!

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Scientific literacy is vital to economic and public health and security. How can we respond to forces that undermine public understanding and trust in science. We will then explore online resources and individualized teaching strategies that can overcome these challenges in our classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Levine (Science Writer and Producer: Concord, MA)

Sponsoring Company: PEER Physics

Are you passionate about engaging students in rich discourse and looking for strategies, norms, and protocols that can support this work? Join us for an interactive workshop to explore effective small-group and whole-class discourse techniques. Participants receive consensus building protocols.

SPEAKERS:
Valerie Otero (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Explore the teacher’s side and experience the student side of our IDE. While engaged in an OSE lesson we'll explore the Teacher Edition’s and its structure while also experiencing the different features that students have available to use in their interactive student edition.

SPEAKERS:
Jen Gutierrez (Activate Learning: Chandler, AZ)

Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific

Seeing is believing! Flinn Scientific presents a variety of easy to perform and exciting chemistry and physical science demonstrations. Come see Flinn’s new demonstrations and some of your old favorites—all guaranteed to make your science classroom come alive. Handouts provided for all.

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Learn how physical models can be used to introduce your students to the field of cancer immunotherapy and CRISPR-engineered T-cells.

Sponsoring Company: Estes Industries

Empower your students to become confident problem solvers by providing hands-on STEM experiences that improve their resilience and motivation through trial and error. Build a free rocket with us and walk away with great strategies to use in your classroom!

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Bayeur (Estes Industries: Pueblo, CO)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Explore the science of candy colors! We will extract food dyes from candy and separate them using agarose gel electrophoresis and paper chromatography. By separating the different colors, students learn about complicated mixtures, charges on molecules, and how science relates to everyday life.

Sponsoring Company: Bozemanscience.com, Inc

Paul Andersen will demonstrate how to use targeted mini-lessons to explicitly teach the concepts (CCCs) and practices (SEPs) of the NGSS. You will learn the main elements of an effective science mini-lesson and be provided examples of mini-lessons to deliver to your students. For grades K-12.

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Engage in strategies to help your English Learners (EL) population make sense of science concepts and apply their science knowledge to real-world applications. We will explore a variety of strategies for differentiating instruction so that ELs can build their ability to communicate science concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Stacey O'Connor (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX), Suzan Morris (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Foley, AL)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

How can a phenomena-based NGSS curriculum promote sensemaking in science and also support language development? See how embedded supports in well-designed instructional materials, along with teachers’ best practices, can create a successful science learning environment for Multilingual Learners.

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Learn how collecting carbon exchange data from plant leaves can help you correct students’ most common misconceptions about respiration and photosynthesis.

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Link physical science concepts like circuits and charged particles to the essential biotech method gel electrophoresis. Build a reusable gel electrophoresis system with the Bandit STEM Electrophoresis Kit, and use it to separate colorful dyes. Also add the A to STEAM with creative pipetting art!

SPEAKERS:
Katy Martin (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Lyricos Learning LLC

We are a STEM+Arts streaming platform that gets used in the classroom to teach hands-on projects via our standards aligned videos. During this session we will plan on hosting a hands-on project for the teachers to make while following along with the video. Example - they can make a DNA bracelet.

SPEAKERS:
Devina Bhojwani (Lyricos Learning LLC: No City, No State)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education, Inc.

Built exclusively for Florida, learn about the Discovery Education K-8 Florida Science Program delivers active science lessons designed based on the Statewide Science Assessments. Pre-registration is required and a light lunch is served first come first serve. Pre-register at bit.ly/de-at-nsta-2023

Sponsoring Company: Phenomenon Science Education

We will explore what phenomena are through hands-on activities specific to your grade band. We will look at examples and non examples of phenomena and use criteria to figure out the differences.

SPEAKERS:
Joshua Smith (Phenomenon Science Education: Orange, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Engage in a PRIME lesson to see modeling scaffolds that support student discussions and literacy strategies in the context of science. Experience incorporating academic language in written responses and oral discourse in conjunction with investigations using an interactive word wall.

Sponsoring Company: Kendall Hunt

BSCS Biology: Understanding for Life is designed for the NGSS. The inquiry-based program leverages the new BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model as well as literacy and sensemaking strategies to support all learners. Join us to explore the program’s benefits and key features.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Steamboat Springs, CO)

Sponsoring Company: TCI

Join TCI in this interactive session to learn how to integrate language skills while guiding students in developing their science knowledge.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Thomas (TCI: Mountain View, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education, Inc.

Learn how Discovery Education supports Texas educators with a Texas 2-Year Science Package that is fully aligned to TEKS and includes Mystery Science. Pre-registration is required and a light lunch is served first come first serve. Pre-register at bit.ly/de-at-nsta-2023

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

The gene-editing tool CRISPR is one of the most exciting biotechnology breakthroughs of the past decade. In fact, this technique won the Nobel Prize in 2020! In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore CRISPR biology using fast, easy experiments that model the development of a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.

Sponsoring Company: Proteus VR

Using the Meta Quest Pro and Quest 2, participants will explore and try the world's first chemistry lab in augmented reality. Pros and cons of the technology will be demonstrated, and real-life implementation will be discussed, as well as virtual reality vs. augmented reality in the classroom.

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

A purrfect introduction to genetics! Track inheritance in a family of cats using Punnett squares. Then, use gel electrophoresis to examine the gene that controls that trait. Students connect Mendelian genetics with our modern understanding of genes! No stains or extra visualization equipment needed.

SPEAKERS:
Katy Martin (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA), Katy Martin (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

N/A

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Forsythe (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

Sponsoring Company: The National WWII Museum

When students investigations began with a real story from history, with true situations and high stakes, science learning can be everything we want it to be. Learn about using our free activities to teach science the NGSS way, and integrating science. literacy, and social studies.

Sponsoring Company: Stile Education

The NGSS calls for a shift from knowing to doing. This includes analyzing real-world data and using that analysis to create models. Join us as we talk about tangible classroom strategies that meaningfully improve students' skills with data and receive the award-winning game, CHARTY PARTY!

SPEAKERS:
Julianna Jimenez (Stile Education: Los Angeles, CA), Hailey Vogel (Head of Teaching and Learning: Los Angeles, CA)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

This session will introduce teachers to physical models of DNA base-pairs that highlight the epigenetic modification of DNA and its impact on gene expression.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Herman (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Sponsoring Company: EarthScope Consortium

Explore our new web-based interactive earthquake lab! Have your students learn and practice earthquake location and analysis techniques with real seismic data! Bring a laptop/ipad!

SPEAKERS:
Michael Hubenthal (EarthScope Consortium: Port Crane, NY)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Students get engaged with practical and inquiry-based engineering experiences by using the DIVE-in method. This program was developed with the New York Hall of Science. Transform your classroom into an authentic makerspace with the DIVE process. Learn how to use the design process through consensus.

SPEAKERS:
Stacey O'Connor (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Modeling Ocean Acidification: A Hands-On Approach

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Students can drive their learning through hands-on activities integrated with digital and print resources. Learn how using Smithsonian Science for the Classroom engages students with science and engineering practices and promotes scientific literacy for all students. Take home materials available.

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Cranford, NJ), Melissa Rogers (Smithsonian Science Education Center: Davis, WV)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Take a new look at enzymes through historical, cultural, and economical lenses. Students use the lactase enzyme to produce lactose free milk in an easy to perform lab and then modify experimental conditions to design and test their own procedures to maximize production of lactose free milk.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Nixon (Watauga High School: Blowing Rock, NC)

For anyone that has excitedly explained the power of phenomenon-based instruction or 3-dimensional learning and been met with a blank stare – this session is for you! Led by communication experts, this session is designed to help you create K-12 Science messages in succinct, compelling ways.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn new ways to describe and explain the importance of 3-dimensional instruction and phenomenon based learning to key audiences, including parents and communities, lawmakers, and non-science educators.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Ezring (Collaborative for Student Success: Washington, DC), Josh Parrish (Collaborative for Student Success: No City, No State), Michelle Austin (Managing Director, SVP: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Develop data-literate students! We'll use BioInteractive resources to model instructional strategies that incorporate the science practices and improve scientific thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Orr , Ann Brokaw (Rocky River High School: Rocky River, OH)

Sponsoring Company: Great Minds

In this workshop, participant explore parts of a 4th grade module on Energy to see how hands-on experiences and other modes of discovery enable students to build knowledge and gather personally meaningful evidence to support their scientific explanations.

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Using the MiniOne System, develop an understanding of forensic science and gel electrophoresis while investigating the mystery of who killed Dr. Ward.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Mirakovits (Kalamazoo Valley Community College: Kalamazoo, MI)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Do you have Vernier equipment but don’t know how to get started? Do you have questions but aren’t sure whom to ask? Learn about the resources and support available to you from Vernier Science Education and gain confidence to use our technology with your students!

SPEAKERS:
David Carter (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Wondering how to teach your students about enzymes? Leave the liver behind and bring complex concepts to life with hands-on experiments. Vernier biology expert Colleen McDaniel will walk you through an inquiry-based experiment that explores the different variables that affect catalase.

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

While it may seem like there’s nothing you can do about stress at work and home, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy life. Effective stress management helps you break the hold stress has on your life, so you can be happier, healthier, and more productive

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to relieve pressure and regain control.

SPEAKERS:
Azra Chughtai (NSTA: McLean, VA), Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

COESEE - Join us to learn more about assessment of elementary science learning using elementary learning stories.

TAKEAWAYS:
Creating student learning stories can help support assessment in elementary classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Ewing (The Charles A. Dana Center: Austin, TX)

Soils are vital to sustaining life. What makes this natural resource so special? Join us for an active session that digs into numerous soil science concepts and vetted teaching resources connected to the geosciences, biology, chemistry, and physics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Soils are the foundation upon which life exists on Earth. The life that teems below ground supports the life above ground. Understanding the ecosystem services provided by soils requires cross-disciplinary thinking and reveals how vital soils are to our existence.

SPEAKERS:
Margaret Holzer (none: Somerset, NJ)

Participants will learn about block coding, physical computing, and how small microcontrollers can be used with middle school students to conduct inquiry investigations using a computational thinking approach.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the basics of block coding (using either Scratch or the web-based emulator for a widely available microcontroller) & the principals of physical computing/computational thinking as applied to science classrooms to help students conduct better inquiry investigations.

SPEAKERS:
Susan German (Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: Hallsville, MO), G. Michael Bowen (Mount Saint Vincent University: Halifax, NS)

In this unique curriculum, called BioScann, students become science experts, interpreting data to address a real-world challenge from their expert perspective. Students share their expertise in teams where communication and collaboration are essential to finding a final class solution to the problem. By showcasing a broad array of careers that require a range of training and education, we expose students to science careers that are in high demand; a major point being that STEM is for everyone! BioScann modules are web-based and free. The workshop will showcase a 3-day module designed for grades 7-9, but additional modules that focus on plastic pollution and antibiotic resistance are under development. And are expected to be released in 2023. Evaluations of the original BioScann module indicate that students show dramatic and sustained increases in life sciences interest and career awareness and demonstrate an increased ability to read graphs and interpret complex data.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engage in web-based curriculum that introduces students to a wide range of science careers. You will first experience the curriculum from the student perspective but will also be coached to deliver this free curriculum in your classroom. This curriculum is compatible with google classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Maggie Keeler (Senior Curriculum Specialist: Winchester, MA), Michelle Mischke (VP of Biotechnology Education Programs: CAmbridge, MA)

Climate change is a crucial subject for all ages. Come explore classroom strategies for supporting learners’ climate science knowledge and action-oriented responses to the climate crisis.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to leverage resources to design science learning opportunities that are place-based, experiential, multidisciplinary, action-oriented, community-centered, and personally relevant, so that all learners are capable of learning about climate science and climate justice.

SPEAKERS:
Jamie Rumage (Oregon Dept. of Education: Salem, OR), Peter McLaren (Next Gen Education, LLC: North Kingstown, RI), Deb Morrison (University of Washington: Salt Spring Island, BC)

This session will integrate programming/coding as a tool for use in a science classroom. Participants will use various tools, such as Scratch, to implement programming in their already designed science classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. learn how to integrate computer science into their science classroom; 2. experience resources they can use in their classrooms; and 3. develop a lesson using computer science in their classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Tammie Schrader (Level Up Education: Cheney, WA)

This is session #2 in the PL Committee CCCs Pathway and is designed to support K-12. Attendees will explore the Framework progression documents to understand what is appropriate for their grade level. They will learn about and engage in hands-on activities paired with talk strategies and protocols that focus classroom talk on making sense of observations and data using the Crosscutting Concepts. Attendees will have the chance to talk with fellow participants about how they might use these strategies and tools in their classroom or role and how they can be differentiated to be used at different grade levels. Participants will leave with a virtual toolbox of resources they can take home and apply right away in their sphere.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with discussion strategies and tools they can implement right away in classrooms to support student discourse and sensemaking anchored in the Crosscutting Concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association: Gilbert, AZ), Leah Litz (Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium: Omaha, NE), Kimberley Astle (Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction: Vancouver, WA)

Did you know that you can launch units in your science class by engaging students in the analysis of historical primary sources? Join us for this hands-on workshop, where we’ll investigate free, digitized resources to see how they can reveal phenomena linked to the content you teach.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to engage students at the start of a unit by exploring phenomena embedded in historical primary source documents. The strategies discussed will develop the critical thinking and sensemaking strategies of students.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Apfeldorf (Library of Congress: Purcellville, VA), Jacqueline Katz (Science Supervisor: Ridgewood, NJ)

Engage in active exploration of primary source materials that support sensemaking in middle level science and STEM. Leave with a plan for incorporating primary sources into your own lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Primary sources can be used to: (1) present phenomena, (2) engage students in science and engineering practices, (3) identify crosscutting concepts, (4) reinforce disciplinary core ideas, and (4) address equity through leveled resources and shared experience.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Biernat (Zanilu Educational Services, LLC: Oak Creek, WI), Donna Governor (University of North Georgia: Pensacola, FL), Loris Chen (none: Fair Lawn, NJ)

Use your position to impact more teachers and students and actualize the NGSS vision. Success stories include: launching an NGSS-aligned curriculum, forming collegial circles, hosting administrator-focused workshops, and providing assessment resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be inspired to form partnerships with formal and informal organizations supporting science education. Participants will hear success stories and receive electronic links to relevant resources.

SPEAKERS:
Harry Rosvally (Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES: Yorktown Heights, NY), David Jacob (Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES: Yorktown Hghts, NY)

Technology has opened the pathway of art creation, making it accessible for all learners, no matter their artistic skill level. Utilizing Pixel Art, educators across the spectrum can leverage the inclusion of customized and unique artistic creations to engage the creativity of all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain hands-on exposure creating a personal avatar with multiple modes used to construct authentic designs through Pixel Art including using various types of websites and applications but also strategies for unplugging Pixel Art with physical mediums.

SPEAKERS:
Claudeen Denning (Metro Nashville Public Schools: NASHVILLE, TN), Claire Williams McGee (Metro Nashville Public Schools: Cross Plains, TN)

As long as there have been CER templates, there have been students who struggle. What’s the difference between evidence and reasoning, or an explanation and an argument, exactly? Our Mi-STAR CER lesson and templates help answer these questions and they are open to all - join us to learn more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with clear and concise definitions of reasoning, explanations, and argumentation, along with a lesson plan, activities, and templates to help students define and construct all three in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Tubman (Michigan Technological University: Scottsville, NY), Chris Geerer (Mi-STAR: Rochester, MI)

Starting with eliciting students' initial ideas, experience a responsive teaching sense-making structure to take students through a process of developing conceptual understanding of core disciplinary ideas in science using NSTA's highly Uncovering Student Ideas in Science Formative Assessment Probes

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to transition from diagnostic probes to formative assessment and responsive teaching by taking students through a sense-making structure to change or further develop their initial ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: Fort Myers, FL)

Engaging environmental activities for students will develop awareness and action while providing teachers with a sense of purpose to combat burnout. These activities were developed and tested by teachers during multiple workshops that were conducted at the University of Georgia Marine Institute.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will come away with 20+ environmental activities that can be adapted for almost all life and environmental science for grades 3-12

SPEAKERS:
Shaina Otterpohl (St. Jude Catholic School: Chattanooga, TN)

In this interactive session, we share important lessons learned through our work with states, educators, and developers to support equitable systems of science assessment. These lessons can help us develop better 3D assessment tasks, processes, and systems that lead to better outcomes for learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Three dimensional assessment design is tricky - come join us to discuss how we can take a systems approach and develop better 3D assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Van Horne (Concolor Research: Orlando, FL)

Science notebooks can be a powerful tool for students to capture their thinking and chart growth in learning. But, how can notebooks be assessed to help students grow in their science and engineering practices? Proficiency rubrics will be shared to allow teachers and students to assess notebooks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave this session with 4 different proficiency scales to assess student notebooks through the science and engineering practices. While notebooks should not be assessed as “right and wrong,” they can be used to help students grow in their science and engineering practices.

SPEAKERS:
Chelsie Byram (Central Rivers Area Education Agency: Waterloo, IA), Mandie Sanderman (Central Rivers Area Education Agency: Waverly, IA)

Grading that supports student sensemaking doesn't have to keep you at school all night. Learn approaches to grading that prioritize 3D sensemaking and utilize technology, collaboration, and existing resources so you have can your evenings back.

TAKEAWAYS:
The process of giving feedback and assigning grades is easier when there are strong materials and assessments to build from and technology can help make it faster without decreasing effectiveness for students.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Delaney (OpenSciEd: San Carlos, CA)

Grounding in culturally-sustaining STEM as an asset pedagogy in context of an informal learning setting, we will focus on lessons learned in a Gullah community and share curriculum examples along with recommendations for culturally based STEM programs through the lens of our project’s stakeholders.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will (1) understand that within the STEM disciplines culture is a part of and embedded within underserved and underrepresented groups and communities and (2) identify ways to design and integrate community assets into project-based learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Fenice Boyd (Chair and Professorr: Columbia, SC), Regina Ciphrah (Verbalizing Visions, LLC: Columbia, SC)

NextGen TIME is a free suite of tools and processes that supports districts in preparing to evaluate instructional materials for quality and design for NGSS. This collaborative process helps you plan for next steps including customization to improve student outcomes and effective implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how NextGen TIME supports the evaluation of current instructional materials to strengthen their design for NGSS and how NextGen TIME tools and processes can serve as critical components of curriculum-based professional learning. You’ll walk away with free access to NextGen TIME resources.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Long Beach, CA), Jody Bintz (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Waldorf, MD)

Sponsoring Company: College Board

Come for an active conversation about helping introductory learners prepare for AP-level course work in STEM. We will align challenge areas identified using AP exam data with the Pre-AP Course Framework and explore instructional strategies to help students meet these challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Casdorph (Virginia Department of Education: Henrico, VA), Mitch Price (College Board: Portland, ME)

Sponsoring Company: Nourish the Future

Become a leader in exploring solutions with students on issues affecting sustainability, climate, environment, and food production. Test solutions to real-world problems facing food production today with 4 inquiry-based lessons in biotechnology, water/soil quality, renewable fuels and biodiversity.

Sponsoring Company: Legends of Learning

Have fun building a catapult to launch cows and learning about trajectories. After this presentation, you’ll walk away with techniques to bring an engaging gaming experience to your classroom, which your students will explore science and engineer practices through.

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Using the storyline approach, a logical sequence of lessons motivated by students’ questions arising from their interactions with phenomena, we’ll navigate through the OSE model using the five routines to help students achieve the objectives and actively work through the sense-making process.

SPEAKERS:
Jen Gutierrez (Activate Learning: Chandler, AZ)

Sponsoring Company: UL Research Institutes Xplorlabs

Over 500 fires in the last 2 years are linked to thermal runaway, a phenomenon caused by short circuits in lithium-ion batteries. Participants will learn how Xplorlabs' free online pathway supports student understanding of energy transformations and culminates with an engineering design challenge.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Sparacino (UL Research Institutes: Chicago, IL), Katey Shirey (edukatey: Washington, DC), Amy Gilbert (Griffin Middle School: Smyrna, GA), Megan O'Keeffe (senior content specialist: canton, GA)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education, Inc.

Looking to level up your teaching and learning toolkits? Don't miss this highly-rated session! Join Discovery Education as we unveil seven things that you didn’t know about your FAVORITE science learning platform, and one thing you probably did! Pre-register at bit.ly/de-nsta-2023

Sponsoring Company: Plasma Games

It's all fun and games but does it work? Take a deep dive into the difference between gamification and game based learning and how to incorporate both into your classroom for the best outcome. Bonus: Leave with an all inclusive access code to a 3D game based platform!

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Discover a new way to study DNA and enzymes! Use fluorescence to see changes to DNA structure and enzyme activity with your own eyes. Explore how temperature, pH, and genetic sequence affect DNA base pairing. Then, see inhibitors, concentration, temperature, and pH affect enzymatic reaction rates.

SPEAKERS:
Ally Huang (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Professor Michael Wysession will use a modern revision of an ancient concept (the Japanese “Ikigai”) to help teachers take a deep look at their teaching careers and (potentially) rediscover the balance of rewards (personal, societal, financial) of the teaching profession.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Wysession (Washington University in St. Louis: Saint Louis, MO)

Sponsoring Company: Museum of Science, EiE

N/A

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Cramer (ALSDE DLCS Integration Specialist: Hoover, AL), Mallory Schmidt (Museum of Science, Boston: Boston, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Visible Body

Lab time and access to specimens can be limited, expensive, or sometimes completely out of reach. Visible Body's 3D content and Courseware platform provide a digital alternative to wet labs and 2D textbook images and diagrams, allowing students to "cut" as many times as they need.

Sponsoring Company: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Students' lived experience of brain disorders can strengthen lessons for Middle and High School science standards on structure/function. Validation of students as personal or cultural lived experience experts sets a foundation for their future learning, that is critical to achieve classroom equity.

SPEAKERS:
Rebekah Corlew (NINDS - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Bethesda, MD), Carlo Quintanilla (NINDS - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Bethesda, MD), Diana Andriola (NINDS - National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Bethesda, MD)

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Explore how physical models foster an understanding of the importance of meiosis to the diversity seen among living things.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson (3D Molecular Designs: Westmoreland, KS)

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Neuroscience is one of science’s fastest growing fields. Students learn about the field by exploring Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s, two neurodegenerative disorders. We will analyze the Huntingtin genes using PCR and electrophoresis and explore the biology behind Alzheimer’s disease with an ELISA.

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Looking for an engaging and innovative way to get your students to understand the meaning of a word? Experience ways to zoom in and zoom out of science content using a variety of differentiated strategies. Take these ideas straight back to your classroom for immediate use or for interventions.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Arnette (STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning: Perdido, AL)

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Give your students a real-world engineering challenge! Explore the relationship between momentum and impact forces with real-time measurement of collisions.

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Why is science discourse important? How does it impact improving equity in a science classroom? How do teachers implement this strategy? Learn the answers to these and other questions as you explore engaging (STCMS) lessons from the Smithsonian. Leave with resource materials.

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

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Rockets zoom and race cars zip through hands-on activities that engage your middle and high school students. 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.

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Hale, MI)

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

Let innovative technology and simplified prep take the mess and stress out of bacterial transformation with the Let it Glow TM Bacterial Transformation MiniLab.

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Join us as we model how to engage students in data analysis using BioInteractive Data Points, a free collection of authentic scientific graphs and figures.

SPEAKERS:
Amit Morris (Science Teacher: Toronto, ON), Brian Mason (Teacher: Eagle River, AK)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Discover hands-on activities using temperature probes and other Vernier sensors that will excite your students. See how age-appropriate, sensor-based experiments teach students about data collection and analysis—practices that promote scientific inquiry, build STEM literacy, and boost test scores.

SPEAKERS:
David Carter (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Python is a dominant programming language, and we have created libraries and sample code so that you can use most of our sensors in Python programs. Web VPython even allows you to read our Go Direct® sensors without installing anything, and it works on Chromebooks, PCs, and Mac® computers.

SPEAKERS:
Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Frances Poodry (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Participants will investigate relationships between variables such as barometric pressure and precipitation, using data from a wide range of geographical stations in the United States. Selected stations represent sites with contrasting latitudes, altitudes, proximity to water bodies, and other elements, in order to best study the effect of these variables on weather and climate. The session will analyze data to look for patterns of change over time and to investigate regional patterns and region-specific effects of climate change. Data from Los Angeles & San Diego weather stations will also be included. The graphing tool is a freely accessible webpage that works on laptops, desktops, smartphones, and tablets. An internet connection at the session would additionally allow for participants to see a live demonstration as well as explore their own investigation questions. http://uanyc.science/pwc

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session attendees will learn to analyze and interpret weather and climate data using a custom designed graphing tool that simplifies visualizing and analyzing data on time scales of hours, days and weeks (weather) to decades and centuries (climate).

SPEAKERS:
Rachelle Travis (IS 281: Joseph B. Cavallaro (NYC Department of Education): Brooklyn, NY)

Play a new free online science game - Wake: Tales from the Aqualab. Take on ocean-based ecosystem missions, and engage in experimentation, modeling, and argumentation around middle school life sciences content. Use a submarine to explore a kelp forest! Travel to the arctic to find a missing whale!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn ways to implement Wake in your classroom - including associated curriculum and supplemental materials. The full game can cover 10+ classes, with over 35 jobs of increasing complexity, and a fun story. Learn about our research on game-based supports for student learning of science practices.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Scianna (University of Wisconsin Madison: Fitchburg, WI)

This session will focus on using the CER Framework, Scientific Argumentation and virtual simulations to support literacy in science lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will build their capacity to increase students' literacy skills using virtual simulations to support science lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Ramon Reeves (North Atlanta High School: Atlanta, GA), Karin Mason (Atlanta Public Schools: Lithia Springs, GA)

Design a multi day STEM project that incorporates wind energy. Participants would learn how to do a unit that incorporates a virtual lab as well as physically building wind turbine blades to generate energy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with a multi-day (3+week) ready to use engineering design process unit on wind energy.

SPEAKERS:
Heidi Webster (Teacher: Michigantown, IN), Allison Clegg (7th Grade Science Teacher: Lafayette, IN)

Learn how to better integrate local phenomena into classroom learning through the use of long-term projects and the eCYBERMISSION STEM competition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn strategies to use student-chosen local phenomena as the basis for long-term projects and participation in a national STEM competition, eCYBERMISSION.

SPEAKERS:
Carey Dieleman (National Science Teaching Association: Bettendorf, IA), Kathryn Lasky (NSTA/Army Educational Outreach Program: Crofton, MD)

This presentation highlights 10 unique and unusual science-based examples of solar system modeling that use simple materials and all activities stress the use of decimals, fractions, and proportions in a scalable, adaptable, and fun exploration of the planets, distance, time, density, and scale.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will view the solar system in new ways through hands-on activities addressing geologic age, light distance, object ratios, density, gravity, and travel time.

SPEAKERS:
Martin Horejsi (University of Montana: Missoula, MT)

This session will describe the Science Curriculum Adaptation Project for Special Educators, in which science specialists and special educators adapted an NGSS badge unit for students with moderate to severe disabilities. We outline the program structure and share examples of adaptations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about the structure of a program designed to support special education teachers in using the high quality “Garbage” unit with their students, discuss the UDL framework as a part of this work, and see examples of adaptations that can be used with students with moderate to severe disabilities.

SPEAKERS:
Casandra Gonzalez (Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: Everett, MA)

Explore how to use the air sensors to demonstrate the dangers of vaping to students. Participants will see how to measure air quality around the mist expelled out of vapers in a closed system testing system, made from simple materials, in which non-nicotine vape juice is expelled.

TAKEAWAYS:
Air quality, measured in several areas such as particulate matter and AQI, can be used to show that the ingredients in vaping reduce air quality for not only the vaper, but people around them. Students will also learn how to read and analyze graphical data.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Behrle (BioNetwork: Greenville, NC)

Want to teach climate literacy but don’t know where to start? NOAA offers lesson plans, videos, data, webinars, and more to inform and inspire students.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to improve climate literacy and discuss climate and climate change in your classroom with free resources from NOAA.

SPEAKERS:
Frank Niepold (NOAA Climate Program Office: Silver Spring, MD)

Get ready for the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses. See how learning activities about the Earth, Moon and Sun provide three-dimensional learning experiences that connect to these events that will be more spectacular than the 2017 eclipse.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have a better understanding of what is meant by three-dimensional learning, see how 3D learning can lead to knowing what causes lunar phases and eclipses, and be prepared to enjoy the solar eclipses in 2023 and 2024.

SPEAKERS:
Dennis Schatz (Institute for Learning Innovation: Seattle, WA)

Have you wondered how to develop capacity and support teachers around the shifts in the Framework and the NGSS? This session will dive into how one teacher discovered the NGSS, moved from novice to apologist and works with teachers to continue to realize the vision of the Framework for Science Ed.

TAKEAWAYS:
This will largely focus on how to support teachers from a leadership perspective to help students engage in all three dimensions of the NGSS. How can we talk with and work with teachers to help them make shifts while developing the needed capacity and not devalue their expertise.

SPEAKERS:
Spencer Martin (Kansas City Kansas Public Schools: Kansas City, KS)

Discover an NGSS-aligned, student-driven unit where students are conservation biologists who participate in rigorous opportunities by taking responsibility for their learning, reading scientific papers, analyzing real data, and developing a solution to propose in a culminating exhibition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with an understanding of how a unit can be designed with a blended approach to project-based learning, standards-based grading, and NGSS as well as with thorough unit resources such as assessments, proficiency rubrics, students exemplars, text sets, and learning tasks.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Wise (American Community School of Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)

As education professionals seek to engage with Tribal entities to support Youth, they need resources to help ensure that they are stepping respectfully and intentionally. Learn about an Un-guidebook, supported by 100kin10, to help non-Native education professionals engage with Tribal entities.

TAKEAWAYS:
After this session, STEM educators will know more about building relationship with indigenous communities, and how both formal/OST, educators can use the Un-guide to create the first steps of a relationship with Tribal entities in their community and better support Tribal learners, especially youth.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Hoppe (STEMisED, Inc: Rio Rico, AZ), Melinda Higgins (U.S. Dept. of Energy - Fossil Energy & Carbon Management: Washington, DC)

Sensemaking with the three dimensions is the focal construct we want to measure in science assessments - not the phenomenon or problem or the three-dimensions. Join us for a deep dive into centering sensemaking in 3D assessment design.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with examples of 3D sensemaking in assessment tasks and activities for building better assessments that elicit sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE), Katie Van Horne (Concolor Research: Orlando, FL)

Students will gain a deeper knowledge about sustainable energy generation / conservation and architectural ecology through hands-on, collaborative labs, which use on-campus student-built green roof models, a green roof section on our middle school, and ground-level on-campus solar panels.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn how to identify a key sustainable energy or ecological practice that fits your school culture. We'll show you how to design labs and select equipment that will engage the students in learning about sustainability. You'll identify learning objectives and assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Ward (Strath Haven Middle School: Wallingford, PA)

Flight is amazing! Even more amazing is the fact that students at any level can understand how flight works. In this session, we will share resources and strategies to teach aviation in any educational setting and how you can inspire students to pursue STEAM careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will share strategies, conduct hands-on STEAM activities, and provide a range of activities, developed by NASA, for all ages and all educational settings. Come have some fun and leave with useful resources you can use right away.

SPEAKERS:
Steve Kirsche (NASA Headquarters: St. Johns, FL)

Three-dimensional science instruction puts students at the center of the learning. In this session, we will share how educators statewide engaged in a three-part book study featuring Helping Students Make Sense of the World Using Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices. The three courses are organized around the Investigating, Sensemaking, and Critiquing Practices. Educators explore and demonstrate through a Plan-Do-Study-Act how the Science and Engineering Practices are interwoven in their instruction, focusing on small shifts at a time. Opportunities for collaboration and reflection with other science educators help further individual implementation. We will share strategies, examples, and teacher experiences for engaging and supporting students in sensemaking discussions, developing, using and revising models, and making claims and explanations. In shifting to 3D learning, quick strategies will be shared that build toward more complex classroom shifts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will access teacher professional learning resources including implementing a Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle, embedding instructional coaching, and providing a collaborative space to share classroom practice.

SPEAKERS:
Hope Garton Brown (Eagle Grove Community School District: Fort Dodge, IA), Christopher Soldat (Grant Wood Area Education Agency: Iowa City, IA), Beverly Berns (Keystone Area Education Agency: Decorah, IA)

Much of the technology around us has been designed for persons with different needs. We can now set an alarm just by asking a device to do so. We can enter stores without touching doors, and read captions for the news on television while listening to music on earbuds. Online curriculum needs to mirror this type of access to give all students the ability to engage with content. Can the visually impaired student in a biology classroom use a microscope? Where are videos with captions for hearing impaired students? Can a student with limited dexterity independently access interactive slides? Deliberate planning of online lessons and selective use of virtual resources can help foster your students’ independence and alleviate barriers. Come learn from the experts.

TAKEAWAYS:
All students have unique needs in regards to online learning. Deliberate planning of online lessons and selective use of virtual resources can help foster your students’ independence and alleviate barriers.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Like (Iowa Department of Education: Bettendorf, IA), Jennifer Bliss (Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Iowa City, IA)

Coffee/Tea and Southern pastry break for residents of NSTA District 1 (CT, MA, RI) to connect and refresh and learn about inter-state initiatives

SPEAKERS:
Renata Casiel (Meetings Manager: Arlington, VA)

Sponsoring Company: Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers

Capture high school chemistry students’ interest by inviting them into a phenomenon-based curriculum! Perform a periodic table card sort and learn how to build an understanding of whether it is possible to turn a copper penny into gold. Presented by Living by Chemistry author, Dr. Angelica Stacy.

SPEAKERS:
Angelica Stacy (University of California, Berkeley: Berkeley, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Experience a novel approach to Earth science. This pedagogy uses a “systems” approach for plate tectonics, astronomy, natural resources, geology, and paleoclimatology. There will be several take-home activities and ideas to implement or augment your existing Earth science curricula.

SPEAKERS:
Gary Curts (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: Werkz Publishing Inc.

N/A

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Gullotti (US Lead Sales Team & Trainer: New Smyrna Beach, FL), David Gentry (Stem Teacher: Franklinton, NC), Amanda Hightower (4th grade Math and Science: Spring Hope, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Imagine Learning | Twig Education

Join world class designers and engineers as we dive in to explore hydroelectricity and the growing need to harness force and motion found in the ocean. Participants will experience a simulated lesson, make a 3D model of a water turbine, and use it to investigate the relationship between force and motion.

Sponsoring Company: Project WET

People learn better when they are having fun. This session will use Project WET’s guide—Climate, Water and Resilience—to effectively teach about local and global climate change using fun, hands-on, interactive lessons for middle and high school educators.

SPEAKERS:
Julia Beck (Project Wet Foundation: Bozeman, MT)

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Add a hands-on lab to your study of the central dogma! With the cell-free BioBits® system, students can watch as polymerases transcribe RNA and ribosomes translate it to make protein, all using fluorescent indicators. Now you can experiment directly with transcription and translation!

SPEAKERS:
Ally Huang (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Come hear how you can easily and effectively incorporate nature of science in your lessons through numerous strategies and examples.

SPEAKERS:
Jesse Wilcox (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA)

Sponsoring Company: Discovery Education, Inc.

Join Discovery Education, Mystery Science, and Pivot to unlock student-centered, inquiry-based learning opportunities that transform your ordinary science lesson to a phenomenal experience for students in a fun escape activity! Spots are first come first serve; pre-register at https://bit.ly/de-at-nsta-2023

Sponsoring Company: Kognity

Come experience the best of pedagogy and technology for your high school science classroom! Our digital-first platform is designed for real-world application, elevating students’ natural curiosity about the world around them through the investigation of real-world phenomena.

Sponsoring Company: Propello

In this workshop, Propello's team of NGSS curriculum experts will provide an overview of the cross-cutting concepts, how they help students make sense of science phenomenon, and share tips and techniques for embedding cross-cutting practice into all of your science lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Justice Ejike (Educator: Stone Mountain, GA), Lisa Thayne (Lead Program Manager, Science: Murfreesboro, TN), Julie Waid (Propello: Denton, TX)