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: Nashville, TN)

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: No City, No State)

This session takes attendees on a journey using their premade avatar or sprite from Pixel Art and integrating it into their own nostalgic video game using Microsoft Make Code!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave knowing how to insert graphics created in Pixel Art into an online game creator. It can be implemented as an alternative to a standard formative or summative assessment.

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

Building student capacity in 3-D design is an opportunity to prepare our students for the future. 3-D design is not just for engineers but used by STEAM professionals. Bring your laptop and learn how Tinkercad can be used with your students while you create African masks.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this workshop participants will learn how to ​3-D ​design and print using Tinkercad and learn how​ to use Tinkercad as a virtual manipulative in classes. We will create A​frican Masks, looking at possible math and technology standards as we learn 3D design.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Yoo (STEAM Specialist)

Participants will explore scientific tools and digital interactive slides to provide meaningful data collection opportunities from a variety of ecosystems not always available to all students. They will also learn how to design their own interactive slides suitable for all grade levels and content.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will use tools such as a photometer, infrared thermometer, and watt meter to collect data, and enhance this experience with digital interactive slides providing additional data.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Tonkinson (eesmarts: Hartford, CT), Karin Jakubowski (eesmarts: No City, No State), Sharyon Holness (eesmarts: No City, No State)

This workshop will provide you with various resources that you can take back to your classroom to provide your middle schoolers with engaging STEM activities that address the Engineering Design Process. Walk away with many hands-on project ideas, coding and gaming activities and online 3D design.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to incorporate the Engineering Design Process into every STEM lesson they create. Materials and worksheets provided.

SPEAKERS:
Jacie Veno (Plymouth Public Schools: Plymouth, MA)

Creating an inclusive learning environment requires dedication and creativity for incorporating the success skills (21st Century Skills) such as citizenship with culturally relevant education for crafting STEAM and science curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Main goal of the workshops is using the CRE into STEAM or science lesson or unit plan on any topic or subject matter.

SPEAKERS:
Jenniffer Stetler (Chamblee Middle School: Chamblee, GA)

Teams use a programmable robotic ball to design solutions and simulate an unmanned aerial vehicle entering a disaster zone. Set in a post-natural-disaster scenario, students will find solutions to problems that first responders may face. This standards-aligned activity will help students explore challenges engineers face throughout different phases of NASA missions as they conduct research, propose solutions, create designs, build their designs and test their solutions to a set of given problems. Students will investigate how their designs in each stage of the challenge lead to their final design solution. With these activities, students will: Apply the steps of the engineering design process to successfully complete a team challenge. Conduct research, write a proposal and create a basic budget. Program a spherical robot using JavaScript (JS) or block programming to complete various leveled challenges. Design, build and test solutions to each problem. Create a presentation and share.

TAKEAWAYS:
Bring the world of advance air mobility to life in your own classroom. Transform your students into ground pilots and open up the door to their future STEM career.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Dotson (NASA Office of STEM Engagement-GoH: Kennedy Space Center, FL)

Explore how computational thinking can enhance students’ engineering designs and science sensemaking. You’ll engage with two middle school modules that develop computational thinking practices and skills as they bolster engineering understandings and solutions related to thermal energy transfer.

TAKEAWAYS:
Computational tools are increasingly used by scientists and engineers. Hands-on engineering design challenges provide an authentic and motivating context for students to practice and apply computational thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Dzaugis (Mathworks: Natick, MA), Christine Cunningham (Museum of Science, Boston: Boston, MA)