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)

The GNOu Mechatronics Apprenticeship program showcases the framework of New Orleans' premier apprenticeship programs that was created through dynamic partnerships between 2-year community colleges and the manufacturing industry.

TAKEAWAYS:
The GNOu Mechatronics Apprenticeship program will showcase the framework used to create an apprenticeship program focused on advanced manufacturing- one of the leading new employment sectors. Attendees will learn how the partnerships were formed between the industry & 2-yr colleges.

SPEAKERS:
Osmar Padilla (Director of Workforce Programs: New Orleans, LA), Daphine Barnes (GNO, Inc.: New Orleans, LA)

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)

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)

The Cellphone Holder Design Challenge is a 2-to-3-week unit that utilizes the engineering design process and entrepreneurial thinking and instills in students the importance of communication, documentation, and precise measurement in the creation of new products. During this challenge, students work with a partner and each designs a desktop holder for their partner’s cellphone per their partner’s requirements. Students must document the problem and requirements and design a solution that meets their partner’s approval. They render their design using 3-D modeling software and test the dimensions. Final solutions are 3-D printed for additional testing and presentations, and students walk away with a tangible product made to their specifications. Classroom-based research conducted as part of an NSF Math and Science Partnership has shown that the Cellphone Holder Design Challenge is a highly engaging activity for both students and teachers, and that it supports science and math learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session describes a 2-3-week unit that utilizes the engineering design process as students complete a whole product design cycle, from RFP, client interviews and defining requirements, to ideating, 3-D modeling, prototype testing, and delivering the final 3-D printed product.

SPEAKERS:
Meltem Alemdar (CEISMC, Georgia Institute of Technology: Atlanta, GA), Jessica Gale (Senior Research Scientist), Jeffrey Rosen (CEISMC, Georgia Institute of Technology: Atlanta, GA), Marion Usselman (CEISMC, Georgia Institute of Technology: Atlanta, GA)

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)

Bring your community into the classroom by engaging students with the local impacts of STEM careers. This presentation will include resources and strategies for partnering with civil engineers and other field experts in your state and local community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will have immediately actionable resources that can be used in different curricula and district guidelines including tools for classroom visits, lesson plans for learning about local infrastructure, frameworks for virtual site tours, and templates for networking with local experts.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Reed (The University of Alabama: Tuscaloosa, AL)

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)

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)

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)

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)