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)

Does your PLC need some TLC? Come learn new strategies and approaches to enhance your professional learning community (PLC). In this workshop, participants will reflect on their previous PLC experiences, learn about the components of a community of practice (CoP), and walk away with specific strategies to revitalize and bring meaning back to their PLCs. “Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly,” (Wenger-Trayner, E. & Wenger-Trayner, B., 2015). Workshop participants will explore how to make their PLC not just another group planning session, but rather a dynamic community where members work towards specific goals for themselves and their students by incorporating elements of a CoP. By the end of this session, participants will have specific strategies they can take home and implement immediately with their PLCs.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this workshop, participants will reflect on their previous PLC experiences, learn about the components of a Community of Practice (CoP), and walk away with specific strategies to revitalize and bring meaning back to their PLCs.

SPEAKERS:
Meredith Schwendemann (Clemson University), Ashley Hunter (Clemson University: Clemson, SC), Brooke Whitworth (Clemson University: Clemson, SC), Jennifer Bateman (Clemson University)

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

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: 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.

The path to science leadership is not always a clear and direct route. Join us as we share our path to science leadership and the numerous options for supporting teachers and leaders in promoting high-quality science instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. An understanding of the science leader’s role in putting the pieces of the NRC Framework together for a coherent science program; 2. Ways to strategically plan and prioritize professional learning based on system and individual teacher needs; and 3. Developing a strategic and personal plan to adv

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

STEP UP is a national community of physics teachers, researchers, & professional societies. We design research-based materials to empower teachers, change culture, & inspire young women to pursue physics. The poster presents the research behind the design, evidence of impact and propagation model.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about research behind the design, and evidence of effectiveness behind classroom interventions that you can use to expand the narrow perceptions of physics and promote supportive classroom cultures to facilitate physics identity development, particularly for women.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Murawski (Royal Oak High School (retired))

The work of a science education leader involves growing capacity in others to provide quality instruction to positively impact student achievement. Come learn how to develop a coaching mindset and utilize strategies to coach science educators through change to improve science teaching and learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
In short, adults learn differently than our students. So science education leaders need an aligned mindset and appropriate skills to coach science teachers through any change needed to improve.

SPEAKERS:
Derek McDowell (Frisco ISD: Frisco, TX)

STEP UP is a national community of teachers, researchers, and professional societies. We design high school physics lessons to empower teachers, create cultural change, and inspire young women to pursue physics in college. Come learn about the free lessons, materials and supports for your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Research shows classroom teachers play a pivotal role in their students’ physics identity development. Learn about actions you can take every day to support cultural change in your classroom and the field of physics. We will share our resources to support you with these student-centered lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Murawski (Royal Oak High School (retired))

This session discusses the benefits of integrating a historical approach to learning scientific principles by eliciting empathy through historical and cultural perspectives, while designing history lessons around scientific milestones furthers integration of science into the general curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Taking a historical role-playing approach to the sciences can enhance the understanding and excitement of scientific discovery, as well as provide an avenue to place students into a mindset that sets the science in historical and cultural perspective.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Wong (Mercy Academy: Louisville, KY)

Sponsoring Company: National Science Foundation

Join the National Science Foundation as we share professional development opportunities for teachers within the federal government and hear from Presidential Awardees about their experiences and benefits received from the PAEMST program.

SPEAKERS:
Gianluca Grignoli (NSF Event Lead: Philadelphia, PA)

Applying design thinking, students, educators, and community members collaborate to solve issues facing our community.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Encourage your students to engage in community partnerships to promote student learning; 2. Provide strategies to increase scientific literacy through socio-scientific issues; and 3. Facilitate an inclusive culture through student agency.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Joslyn (Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow: No City, No State)

NSTA volunteers have amazing opportunities to collaborate with other educators, practice leadership skills, and give back to the teaching profession. Learn more about how to get involved and provide input into some of the proposed changes coming to NSTA governance.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about NSTA and how to get involved with the Association

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Mulkerrin (Science Olympiad: No City, No State), Elizabeth Allan (University of Central Oklahoma: Edmond, OK), Erika Shugart (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

As a NOAA Planet Steward Educator you can become a STEM agent of change in your school and community. Learn how to access professional development opportunities, education resources, and funding, to increase students’ science literacy, and have them respond to real world environmental threats.

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Moravchik (NOAA National Ocean Service: Silver Spring, MD), Symone Barkley (Education Specialist: Silver Spring, MD)

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

As a NOAA Planet Steward Educator you can become a STEM agent of change in your school and community. Learn how to access professional development opportunities, education resources, and funding, to increase students’ science literacy, and have them respond to real world environmental threats.

SPEAKERS:
Bruce Moravchik (NOAA National Ocean Service: Silver Spring, MD), Symone Barkley (Education Specialist: Silver Spring, MD)