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 (Retired Educator: National City, MI)

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)

How can career and technical education support science learning? How can science support career and technical education? Student understanding of how science is integral to success in their chosen career pathway is critical in many CTE programs, but oftentimes these connections are overlooked.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will reflect on strategies for how to engage students in using scientific and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts in career and technical education courses. And participants will discuss how to engage students in developing college, career, and life skills in science courses.

SPEAKERS:
Bridina Lemmer (Illinois Science Teaching Association: Jacksonville, IL), Chris Embry Mohr (Olympia High School: Stanford, IL)

This session will provide teachers, school leaders, and administrators a basic framework to implement an inclusive standards-based educational experience that addresses the whole child in a science lab setting through a typical peers/peer facilitation model to build equity in education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be presented a step-by-step model that builds equity and implements special education science standards so students of all abilities can “do science” in a safe and trusting environment. Starting small and building relationships is essential to creating program sustainability.

SPEAKERS:
Katerina Flanders (Lambert High School: Suwanee, GA), Mary Nicoletti (Special Education Teacher), Brittney Cantrell (Forsyth County Schools: Cumming, GA)

Sponsoring Company: Bio-rad Laboratories

Taxonomy in action: use visual cues and biotechnology techniques to sort bumblebees into separate species. Experience how PCR, sequencing, and bioinformatics help scientists distinguish bee species.

Sponsoring Company: MiniOne Systems

In this hands-on lab, you'll use scientific reasoning and experimental design to determine the source of a real-life foodborne outbreak with gel electrophoresis.

Sponsoring Company: Anatomy in Clay

In this workshop, attendees will build replicas of human anatomy using clay and a specially designed skeletal model in a class-room setting. Educators will learn how to implement a unique curriculum system which helps students create a kinesthetic map of the human anatomy.

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

Sponsoring Company: Bio-rad Laboratories

Experience CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing experiments designed for your students' learning! In this hands-on workshop edit a chromosomal gene, complete with essential experimental controls, using the same cut-and-repair technology used in medicinal and agricultural applications.

Students will present this poster that describes how they design, 3D print and solder lights for their global peers who are living in light poverty. The Design Thinking Process begins with empathize, so students interact with peers living in light poverty to understand their realities. This connection changes the learning from something that the teacher is doing to them to something they are doing for their new friend. The remainder of the Design Thinking Process encourages communication, critical thinking and creativity along with STEM skills to produce a new custom-made light. At the end, not only do more students have clean lights to continue their studies, but the presenting students believe that they can make a difference in the world and are empowered to act when they see problems rather than wait for someone else. Large percentages of females who participate in CurrentGeneration.org alter their trajectories and attend engineering programs at post-secondary.

TAKEAWAYS:
Solving real problems for real people brings motivation and excellence to learning across many disciplines. Students are able to uncover new skills and passions while developing their STEM skills and sense of global citizenship. They are empowered to act to solve problems rather than wait.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Ryan (PhD student/Research Associate: , NB), Ian Fogarty (Riverview High School: Riverview, NB)

Engage in conversations for how to use the three dimensions of the NGSS and the NRC Framework, storylines, driving questions, formative and summative assessments, and hands-on activities to learn science and engineering skills while making sense of one of our most basic needs – FOOD.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in a morsel of a storyline on producing the perfect apple. In this storyline, students notice and wonder about different varieties of apples and are challenged to explain why it took 30 years for the Honeycrisp apple to be available to consumers.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Chris Embry Mohr (Olympia High School: Stanford, IL)

Sponsoring Company: Bio-rad Laboratories

Genetic engineering in medicine and agriculture can be achieved with various techniques, all of which require secondary experimental confirmations. In this workshop learn how to use models to teach CRISPR gene editing, experimental controls, and various techniques for validating observed results.

Sponsoring Company: Bio-rad Laboratories

Two out of three drug overdoses are due to opioids. Understanding the environmental & genetic links to drug dependency can reduce risk when opioids are prescribed to high-risk patients. Discover how math, genetics, & personalized medicine can determine the likelihood of addiction.

Sponsoring Company: Bio-rad Laboratories

Put your epidemiologist hat on and determine the transmission mode of a new virus using molecular data, patient histories, and clues hidden in a restaurant.

Is a field trip enough? Connect your science students to STEM career opportunities found within their own community by helping those businesses solve challenges they already face! Participants will gain insight on planning STEM project-based learning units for science courses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Those attending this session will come away with unique ideas about how to connect their students to the STEM community in which they live through problem-based learning units that bring the content to life for the learner and give back to local businesses through student-led problem solving.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Rushing (PhD Candidate: , VA)

Have you heard of FIRST, NMSI, the SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program, MATHCOUNTS or SeaPerch? With opportunities across the country, DoD STEM supports these and many other programs for students and educators. Attendees will learn about these programs and resources to improve STEM learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will come away from this session with classroom resources for STEM lessons, curriculum and hands-on projects. Attendees will also learn about local and national programs supporting STEM initiatives including after-school programs, mentorships & fellowships.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Childress (Teacher)

Apply science in a real-world activity and combine science skills needed by CSIs in this activity. Students take on the role of a CSI, become part of the story , walk around and engage with classmates, faculty and staff while competing to see who can solve the mystery.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will analyze blood stain patterns in order to determine the mechanism by which the patterns are created. identify the red blood cell antigens and antibodies in human blood types and will demonstrate proper evidence collection techniques at a crime scene.

SPEAKERS:
Lori Barber (Teacher: Quinlan, TX)

Through this workshop, participants will learn from classroom teachers and university professors on ways to incorporate your local habitat and utilize community partners to provide students with exposure to diverse job opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will share activities that demonstrate different jobs related to environmental science while addressing the need for STEM learning. Hands-on activities will be explored and connected to specific careers that can be discussed and applied with students in classrooms regardless of stream access.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Hawig (Carrollton City Schools: Carrollton, GA), Stacey Britton (University of West Georgia: Carrollton, GA), Brent Gilles (University of West Georgia: Carrollton, GA)

This presentation will cover an effective coding strategy that our team has applied to evaluate initiatory and responding practices during student teaching. Pre-service and in-service teachers are encouraged to transcribe and analyze audio recordings of classroom interactions for self-evaluation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be introduced to (1) a recommended chart for coding teacher/student interactions, and (2) the value of self-evaluation in improving teaching practices with the goal of promoting student engagement and dialogue.

SPEAKERS:
Allie Randall (7th Grade Science Teacher), Sharon Davis (Student Teacher: No City, No State), Christie Chow (University of Georgia: Athens, GA)

Agile is becoming increasingly dominant as a project-management methodology. We will share our experience with applying Agile principles in a high school setting, using a physics and engineering electricity/circuits project as an example.

TAKEAWAYS:
Exposing students to Agile can not only prepare them for internships and careers, but also help them develop better time management, self-assessment, and work evaluation skills. Learn how we adapted Agile for a high school science class, as well as general advice for applying Agile in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick McClanahan (Teacher: Suwanee, GA)

STEMCon was built on the foundation that ALL students should have access to the opportunities that STEM careers and fields can hold for them. Our mission is simple: get our students and community excited about STEM. We believe when that happens, students will see all the doors that can be opened for them in STEM fields. Our goals are twofold: 1. Get more students excited about STEM and exposed to STEM opportunities. 2. Continue to recognize students for the excellent work they are doing in STEM fields. STEMCon is the opportunity for the students, to show off their STEM skills and passions! It's also the opportunity to see STEM demonstrations, hear from various groups and speakers, enter competitions and win prizes! Students can compete in many STEM competitions including: STEM Inquiry Presentations, Quiz Bowl, and many more. During this session, teachers will understand how they can plan and implement a STEMCon event in their District. Tools, presentations, project guidelines, & more!

TAKEAWAYS:
How to create a District-wide STEMCon event that showcases students innovative STEM projects, promotes inquiry based learning, increases student engagement, and more! Educators will be able to see the planning timeline, how to network with community members, and increase student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Horten (Desert Edge High School: Goodyear, AZ), Haley Walker (Agua Fria Union High School District: Avondale, AZ)

This session will share research collected through a study on Georgia FIRST Robotics. We will examine the benefits of FIRST Robotics for SWD, factors that create barriers to SWD involvement, strategies to mitigate these barriers, and will facilitate a hands-on activity illustrating FIRST involvement

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the benefits of STEM extracurricular programs, using FIRST Robotics as an example, and accommodation strategies for students with disabilities through a presentation and hands-on robotics activity and how educators can improve inclusion in these programs.

SPEAKERS:
Kania Greer (Georgia Southern University: Statesboro, GA), Karin Fisher (Associate Professor: STATESBORO, GA), Andre Grossberg (GeorgiaFIRST Robotics CTSO President: , GA)

The Bengal Biodiesel program was launched six years ago with a goal to help students fuel their futures by gaining professional experience while still in high school. In this elective Chemistry course, students work together to transform waste vegetable oil into a sustainable diesel substitute: 100% biodiesel. Students experience an industry-standard lab environment as they rotate through and assume the responsibilities of our five departments; Production, Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Research and Development, and Communications. This session will provide teachers an overview of the Bengal Biodiesel program, including history, key partnerships, and student impact stories (15 minutes). Teachers will also learn practical strategies for implementing student-centered experiential learning opportunities in their own courses (30 minutes). Attendees will engage in an activity and discussion throughout the session (15 minutes).

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain insight and inspiration for developing an immersive, student centered experience. Presenters will share direct student impacts of the Bengal Biodiesel program, as well as the challenges, highlights, and key partnerships that have made the program successful.

SPEAKERS:
Casey Giust (Science Teacher: Blythewood, SC), Will Epps (Science Teacher: Blythewood High School, SC)