2023 Atlanta National Conference

March 22-25, 2023

All sessions added to My Agenda prior to this notice have been exported to the mobile app and will be visible in your account when the app launches. Any sessions added now, will also have to be added in the app.
Grade Level


Topics























Strands














Session Type














Pathway/Course

FILTERS APPLIED:9 - 12, Curriculum and Assessment, Biology

 

Rooms and times subject to change.
192 results
Save up to 50 sessions in your agenda.

Using Zebrafish as the hook for increasing students’ scientific curiosity and advancement - special focus on English Learners.

Thursday, March 23 • 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B314



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Video links Zebrafish.doc.pdf
ZSI Flyer-23.pdf

STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

Explore the use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) a freshwater fish at the forefront of biomedical research and easily maintained in a classroom aquarium, to spark ALL students’ curiosity and scientific engagement with real-life science experiences through multiple-learning modalities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learning how zebrafish and low-budget pet store supplies can be used to engage diverse learners in multimodal (visual, kinesthetic) real-life science learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Vinita Hajeri (The University of Texas at Dallas: Richardson, TX)

Elevating Sensemaking in High School Biology: A partnership story between Wicomico Public Schools & Inner Orbit

Thursday, March 23 • 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - A315


STRAND: Leadership and Advocacy

Show Details

Looking for more in your partnerships with edtech providers? Join InnerOrbit and Wicomico Science Leaders as we unpack our partnership providing sensemaking supports for science educators. We aim to provide the inspiration and structures to shape the landscape of edtech and district partnerships.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave this session with a replicable structure of partnership between a Technology Provider and District to move the needle on Sensemaking in High School. Additionally, lessons learned will be shared to give attendees a strong foundation to build upon in their future partnerships.

SPEAKERS:
Hemalatha Bhaskaran (Wicomico County Public Schools: Salisbury, MD)

Misconceptions in Biology Quantified

Thursday, March 23 • 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B315


STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

Data from exams over the last several years has revealed what we maybe already knew. Students have misconceptions about Biology content. This session will illuminate what those misconceptions are and what data tells us about what the students really think.

TAKEAWAYS:
The main takeaway from this session will be how to meet student misconceptions head-on and help guide students away from their confusion and towards correct knowledge.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Neesemann (Bay Ridge Prep: Brooklyn, NY), Catherine Walsh (College Board: Alachua, FL)

Folding and Molding: Hands-on Protein Structure

Thursday, March 23 • 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B201


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

What's in the Trunk? Elephant Conservation Using Electrophoresis

Thursday, March 23 • 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B215


Show Details

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: No City, No State)

Left at the Scene of the Crime: High School Forensics

Thursday, March 23 • 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B202


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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.

Student-friendly Approaches to Colorimetry, Beer's Law, and Kinetics

Thursday, March 23 • 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B213


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

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

BIOZONE launches BIOZONE World - an stunning new science content delivery platform

Thursday, March 23 • 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - A311


STRAND: Technology and Media

Show Details

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.

Genes in Space: A free experimental design competition

Thursday, March 23 • 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B204


STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

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)

Creating a Culture of Safety in High School Science Courses

Thursday, March 23 • 9:45 AM - 10:45 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - A312


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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.

Sickle Cell Surveillance

Thursday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B215


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Sweet Science: Exploring Complex Mixtures with Biotechnology

Thursday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B202


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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.

Biology: Quick and Easy Photosynthesis Experiments

Thursday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B213


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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.

From Circuits to Molecules: Biotech basics for middle school and general bio

Thursday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B204


STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

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)

Climate, COVID, Conspiracy, and Classrooms: Supporting scientific literacy by fighting science denialism

Thursday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B216


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Dynamic Demonstrations from Flinn Scientific

Thursday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A312


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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.

Living Drugs: Fighting Cancer with CRISPR-engineered CAR-T Cells.

Thursday, March 23 • 11:40 AM - 12:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B201


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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.

Wonderfully Weird and Wild Phenomena - Using CER and Live Animals to Achieve 3-D Learning in Biology

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - Dogwood A


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Want to make phenomena come alive for your students? Well use live animals for your phenomena! In this session, Samuel Pruitt will show how to use the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) teaching strategy and an array of live reptiles as phenomena to teach biology and environmental science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) and live animals in biology and environmental science phenomena can provide critical to learning and can be motivational to students. This session will blend the CER teaching strategy with the interest that comes from using live reptiles in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Samuel Pruitt (Biology/Environmental Science Teacher: , GA)

Instructional Routines for Belonging in Science -- How can Crosscutting Concepts Support this Work?

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - International Ballroom E


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Experience two novel instructional routines supporting the integration of NGSS Crosscutting Concepts; learn how these routines can be used to foster belonging in science classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will come away with a deeper understanding of how to use the CCCs to foster belonging in science classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Joy Otibu (Mott Hall Bronx High School: Bronx, NY), Andrea Sau (Mott Hall Bronx High School: Bronx, NY)

Explore Moon to Mars: Radiation & Humans in Space

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B310



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
23_Additional Resources_Explore M2M Radiation Humans in Space.pdf
23_Materials List_Overview_Explore M2M Radiation Humans in Space.pdf
Deep Space Hazards Radiation CRE Extensions.pdf
Hazards to Deep Space Astronauts Activity Guide.pdf
NASA Space Faring The Radiation Challenge Yeast Activity Guide.pdf

STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

Beyond Earth, cosmic radiation is a substantial challenge to astronaut health. Biomedical research is critical to success of NASA’s Artemis, and unraveling the genetic riddles of aging and disease. In this session, participants explore radiation biology through NASA research and hands-on activities.

TAKEAWAYS:
To offer participants resources and strategies for developing radiation biology units that integrate hands-on NASA education activities and cutting-edge scientific research, with particular attention to benefits for Earth-based medicine as well as optional connections to the humanities.

SPEAKERS:
Anne Weiss (Educator Professional Development Specialist)

DNA Forensics Solves the Murder Mystery of Dr. Ward

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B215


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Examining Enzymes: Interactive, Inquiry-Based Activities

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B211


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Epigenetics: Tweaking Your Genetic Destiny

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B201


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Modeling Ocean Acidification: A Hands-On Approach

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B213


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: PASCO Scientific

Modeling Ocean Acidification: A Hands-On Approach

Got Milk?: DNA, Enzymes, and Lactose Intolerance

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B208


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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 (Chemistry Teacher: Boone, NC)

Introducing Your Students to Gene Editing with CRISPR

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B202


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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.

Hands-on genetics labs for middle school learners and general bio

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B204


STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

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)

BSCS Biology: Understanding for Life by Kendall Hunt

Thursday, March 23 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A312


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

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: Colorado Springs, CO)

Phenomenal Firsts: Using 3D Instruction to Define Life

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - International Ballroom E



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Phenomenal Firsts Google Drive Folder
Within this folder, you will find the conference presentation, two versions of the inital model activity, one student handout for data collection for one phenomenon, and a unit plan linking other resources.

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Join us to learn how to introduce the practices of modeling and scientific argumentation at the beginning of the school year by using phenomenon-based instruction. We will share how our Biology PLC helped students to define a model for life that could be used to determine if a virus is living .

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomena can serve as a way to introduce and build skills in the science practices. Students will develop a model based on one organism and use that model to construct an argument about whether a virus is living.

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

3-Dimensional Science Rubrics for Backward planning and Student Success

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B311



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Presentation
Here you will find a copy of my presentation!

STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

In this session we will showcase how to unpack the NGSS Science Standards to develop transparent rubrics. We will showcase how to use the rubric for backwards planning and what formative process to follow so students can set their own success criteria.

TAKEAWAYS:
Setting students to be successful in your Science Classes by Backward planning and setting success criteria.

SPEAKERS:
Rodrigo Diaz (Science Teacher: Managua, 0)

Developing Communities Through Personal Botanical Histories

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C202


STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

This session will focus on sharing instructional modules that have been developed to facilitate relationships between herbaria and high school students to highlight the importance of plants and preserving botanical specimens.

TAKEAWAYS:
Many times, plants are overlooked and considered less significant than animals. This is known as Plant Awareness Disparity. Participants in this session will learn about free instructional modules that will help high school students connect with plants through exploring their own botanical history

SPEAKERS:
Rachel May (Graduate Student), Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN)

Using engineering practices to help engage all students in making sense of the genetics and physiology of the human body.

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - Grand Ballroom B


STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

Learn how to engage your students with the rich phenomena around the mismatch between our human body physiology and our modern environment, using a free, EQuIP-reviewed unit designed for HS NGSS.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will develop a vision for how to use engineering practices to teach genetics and epigenetics while creating a more engaging and inclusive classroom environment for all learners

SPEAKERS:
Joy Otibu (Mott Hall Bronx High School: Bronx, NY), Andrea Sau (Mott Hall Bronx High School: Bronx, NY)

Changing Classroom Ecosystems: Level Up in Science and Math Courses

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A315


STRAND: Equity and Justice

Show Details

Listen, reflect and be challenged by district leaders who are leading change in the composition of high school Science and Math classrooms. Walk in the footsteps of DAV, a Biology student, as she is introduced to an educational experience designed to challenge her and her teachers' self-efficacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
The session will addressing some of the Systemic Barriers to Advanced Placement STEM Courses and future careers in STEM fields and reflect on ways we are changing the teacher and student efficacies about “math and science persons”

SPEAKERS:
Alina Castillo (Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools: Chapel Hill, NC), Valerie Sellars (Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools)

Using Societal Challenges as Phenomena in 3D Units to Develop Student Agency

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B408



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Anchored Inquiry Learning

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Come experience how leveraging complex culturally relevant societal challenges as phenomena in 3D teaching and learning supports student motivation and engagement. Learn how the BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model develops student agency within and beyond the classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and leverages complex societal issues as anchoring phenomena/problems, culminating tasks, and performance assessments in 3D units of instruction to motivate students and develop agency in addressing these issues.

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

Achieving Equity-Mindedness and Meaningful Inclusion in Biology Lessons

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A404



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSF Final Outcomes Report: Using Lived Experiences & Narratives Black Heritage
The clarity we need for belonging
The clarity we need for belonging
Video Clips on YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@visibilityinstem
Visibility In STEM

STRAND: Equity and Justice

Show Details

Equity-mindedness and meaningful inclusion is achieved with identification and belonging in the biology curriculum. This NSF-funded research project uses the lived experiences and narratives of Black heritage and Gullah-Geechee African Americans to facilitate the learning of biology concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about the connection between identification and belonging and equitable classroom practices and science content. The research literature is used to describe how the emergent themes from the free curriculum resources shared brings equity into the biology lesson.

SPEAKERS:
Catherine Quinlan (Howard University)

From CRISPR to 23 and Me: The Revolution in Human Genetics

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - Dogwood A


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Techniques such as CRISPR, mitochondrial transfer, and mRNA therapeutics have opened up new possibilities for genetic manipulation, bringing with them new possibilities that can energize the biology curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be introduced to high interest case studies/phenomena to engage their students in human molecule biology and gene therapy.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Miller (Brown University: Providence, RI)

iTeach FORENSICS: Resources to take your Forensics classroom to the next level

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B315


STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

Engage your Forensics students with a few of my favorite labs, investigations, and activities! You will leave this session with ready-to-implement resources that you can use right when you get back to your classroom. (DOOR PRIZES)

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to engage their Forensics students with some of my favorite labs, activities, and classroom investigations.

SPEAKERS:
Dana Niblett (Teacher)

Computational Thinking Using Computer Simulations in High School Biology

Thursday, March 23 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - International Ballroom A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
2023 NSTA CT-S Student Lesson FINAL .pdf
2023 NSTA CT-S Student Lesson FINAL .pdf
2023 NSTA CT-S Teacher Lesson Plan FINAL.pdf

STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

Explore how to engage students in computational thinking using a newly developed, freely available simulation designed to address high school performance expectations in life science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to promote the science and engineering practice of computational thinking in the high school biology classroom. Participants will be introduced to a freely accessible computer simulation based on a real-world phenomenon designed to address PEs in biology.

SPEAKERS:
Maia Binding (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Ben Koo (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Wendy Jackson (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)