A step-by-step explanation of how to implement FLORES (Family Learning and Outreach for Research and Education in STEM) in your elementary school. The program builds content knowledge and confidence in both parents and students, as they learn STEM together in their native language.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the positive research results form this program, how to implement FLORES and how to access the materials used to run the family sessions.

SPEAKERS:
Anny Vanegas (Columbus Elementary School: New Rochelle, NY), Amanda Gunning (Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry Campus: Dobbs Ferry, NY)

The Stackable, Instructionally-embedded, Portable Science (SIPS) Assessments project is applying current research, theory, and best practice to establish replicable and scalable processes and resources to drive shifts to science instructional practice and assessment as envisioned by the Framework.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators’ ability to design and implement high quality 3-dimensional science instruction, evaluate student learning, and make appropriate instructional decisions will be modeled. Beneficial tools and resources will be shared to ensure a coherent system of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Charlene Turner (Senior Associate: Laramie, WY), Mary Nyaema (University of Illinois Chicago: Chicago, IL), Rhonda True (Nebraska Department of Education: Lincoln, NE), Bill Herrera (edCount, LLC: No City, No State)

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)

This intervention combined purposeful planning and innovative academic vocabulary instruction. Easily replicable classroom strategies and examples will facilitate implementation and demonstrate how to make science accessible to all students, including minorities, economically disadvantaged, English

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will strategically target academic vocabulary, visually display connections between inquiry activities and vocabulary, and explore opportunities for students to experience vocabulary in context, actively process word meanings, and practice using vocabulary to speak and write sentences.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Jackson (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

Stories from Chemical Insights Research Institute’s “research to impact” process will be shared from their work on a variety of emerging technologies and topics such as 3D printing emissions, an economical approach to improving indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events, and more.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will discuss how “research to impact” is or might be used in their schools and collaborate to create their own research to impact story they can share to engage students in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Cristi Bell-Huff (Research Manager), Holley Henderson (Chemical Insights Research Institute: Marietta, GA)

We will share a model of science home/school partnership, focused on families of young multilingual learners (MLs) that fuels their science and language learning across contexts, sparks their interest and self-efficacy in science, and can be leveraged to support their school science learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with concrete strategies, tools, and resources for building science partnerships with families of MLs that support language-enriched science experiences at home and mutually reinforce children's NGSS-aligned science and language experiences at school.

SPEAKERS:
Mandell Academy (Connecticut Science Center: Hartford, CT), Rachel Shurick (Connecticut Science Center: Hartford, CT), Becky Fahey (Connecticut Science Center: Hartford, CT), Cindy Hoisington (Education Development Center, Inc.: Holbrook, MA)

Jason will explain what Science Ninjas is, why King’s College, London undertook this research and what it’s taught them about supporting teachers to plan effective active learning lessons and developing professional learning programs that lead to sustained improvement.

TAKEAWAYS:
The kinds of support that elementary teachers needed in order to make inquiry and hands-on learning effective in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Jason Harding (Teacher Educator)

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 100% of the top ten fastest growing occupations between 2020-30 are STEAM-related professions! NOW is the time to leverage our students' learning tools to help them maximize their scientific literacy! Let's use what matters to them to inspire them!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn tangible strategies to utilize in their classrooms TOMORROW in order to appeal to their STEAM learners and inspire them to engage in STEAM content in meaningful, creative, and solution-oriented ways!

SPEAKERS:
Shaneka Bullins (Founder and Owner: , CA)

Calling all ASTE California members! All researchers and educators are invited to share their current research, project, or teaching resources with ASTE members.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will provide networking and sharing space for ASTE California members with all other researchers and educators to share their own practices, research, and gather new ideas for research and teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Gina Childers (Texas Tech University: Lubbock, TX)

Students and presenters will share how they are making a positive impact in their community through interdisciplinary research and design thinking. During this interactive session you will learn how to teach students interdisciplinary research, interview skills and host a community showcase.

TAKEAWAYS:
It is hard for students to learn about complex problem such as climate change, water security through STEM fields only. By combining STEM research with other disciplines, students learning is deepened and it gives teachers a chance to collaborate with colleagues from other disciplines as well.

SPEAKERS:
Jim Birdsong (Monta Vista High School: Cupertino, CA), Kavita Gupta (Monta Vista High School: Cupertino, CA)

This talk will describe ways in which science educators can utilize the science of early adversity and resilience to improve their classroom culture, mitigate the effects of early adversity on student performance, and provide students with strategies to improve their educational outcome.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the basics of the science of early adversity and resilience through the 6 pillars of trauma-informed care proposed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). An emphasis will be placed on strategies and suggestions educators implement.

SPEAKERS:
Chelsea Robertson (Assistant Professor), Cheryl Robertson (University of Tennessee, Knoxvile)

Advanced spatial thinkers do well in science, and building spatial skills can improve achievement. In this session, we will explore why science teachers should care about spatial skills, pedagogical tools to build these skills, and how they can be put into practice to build scientific knowledge.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will (1) gain an understanding of what spatial skills are and why they are important to success in science learning, courses, and careers; and (2) learn how to incorporate five spatial “tools” into their pedagogy and their students’ activities during science instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Gagnier (Senior Research Scientist: Arlington, VA)

Find out how to use explore-before-explain learning to flip the traditional teaching script and promote long-lasting understanding in physical science.

TAKEAWAYS:
How you do it—ready-to-teach lessons that use an explore-before-explain sequence to provide an experience that meet the Next Generation Science Standards and make interdisciplinary connections to the Common Core State Standards.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Brown (Fort Zumwalt School District R-II: O'Fallon, MO)

This session will provide resources for real life research and curriculum building opportunities in STEM. Come experience the passion of a veteran science educator who is continually finding new ways to enhance her own learning and wants to share her success with you!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with resources and ideas on how to synergize their own professional practices by participating in hands on research and learning opportunities that will provide them the tools to successfully introduce real- life STEM concepts into their own teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Camie Walker (Weber School District, Ogden, Utah: No City, No State)

We are sending them into their own classrooms, but do they know their science? Are emerging science teachers aware of their students’ ideas and misconceptions?

TAKEAWAYS:
Characteristics of pre-service science teachers and their content knowledge and knowledge of students' misconceptions.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Crockett (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian: Cambridge, MA)

Our session introduces an open-source data visualization tool, Map Spot, which creates spaces for participants to draw together personal and public accounts to illustrate claims about the places they live. Research shows that visualization tools can help youth understand the effects of disasters, the value of resilience, and how infrastructural improvements can support or even alleviate existing community resilience strategies. Besides Map Spot, we will demonstrate YARDs, a 14-session curriculum for middle school youth to advocate for building community resilience. Youth advocacy is an effective intervention for improving individual and group-level psychosocial outcomes and also built environment and community change. Our presentation will show how these two tools can help youth reflect on the effects of disasters in their communities, imagine what resilience to these disasters might mean, and advocate for infrastructural projects that will benefit themselves and the region.

TAKEAWAYS:
Besides Map Spot and YARDs, participants will learn how advocacy work can increase self and collective efficacy and connect youth to a broader network of local allies. In addition to the potential for infrastructural change, these social and individual psychosocial changes can enhance resilience.

SPEAKERS:
Mohsin Yousufi (PhD Student: Atlanta, GA), Allen Hyde (Assistant Professor)

By presenting students with science concepts and then assisting them with designing inquiry labs and models, students develop better mental models of how science theories and concepts operate.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to design student led inquiry projects that allow students to create conceptually correct mental models of how different science theories work. Computer simulations and physical models provide students with actual experience manipulating variables to see the results.

SPEAKERS:
Carolyn Mohr (University Center of Lake County: Grayslake, IL), Tina Harris (Bedford North Lawrence High School: Bedford, IN)

We present results of a national survey (of 6,044 beginning college students at 59 institutions) that assesses the influence of in-school computer science experiences on students’ career intentions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn what works--and what does not work--in boosting students' computer science-related career interests.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Sadler (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian: Cambridge, MA), Susan Sunbury (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory: Cambridge, MA), Gerhard Sonnert (Harvard College Observatory: Cambridge, MA)

Professional learning is critical for identifying and using high-quality instructional materials and can be provided in multiple ways. Join us as we examine criteria for choosing high-quality professional learning experiences in K-5 science. Participants will explore useful tools and just-in-time supports for personal professional learning that meet teachers where they are. We will collaborate to refine expectations for professional learning that supports K-5 learning. Participants will have a different lens for knowing the types of support that are critical when evaluating and implementing high-quality instructional materials Brilliance and Strengths Report: Recommendation 10, 12, 14

TAKEAWAYS:
Professional learning should be connected to curriculum materials and be flexible enough to meet teachers needs.

SPEAKERS:
Shelly LeDoux (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX), Carla Zembal-Saul (Penn State: University Park, PA), Heidi Carlone (Vanderbilt University Peabody College: Nashville, TN), Mary Starr (Michigan Mathematics and Science Leadership Network)

We are developing a framework of pedagogical methods and professional learning, with an emphasis on equity, that can be leveraged to support teaching with the NGSS no matter what curriculum is being used. Come tell us what you think!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will gain a deeper understanding of high leverage pedagogical practices that directly support teaching with the NGSS, and strategies to implement some of these practices in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Karin Klein (Museum of Science and Industry: Chicago, IL)

Are you and your students tired of following procedures for classroom laboratories? Us too! Come join us in learning about the challenge-based learning framework and helping us redesign traditional laboratories into differentiated challenge-based learning experiences!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will conceptualize the challenge-based learning framework (i.e., engage, investigate, and act) and reimagine traditional classroom experiments into challenge-based learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Gustavo Perez (Texas A&M University: College Station, TX), Andrew Kipp (Texas A&M)

Want to strengthen learning experiences outside of the classroom? All teachers are welcome to participate in this workshop where we will practice field trip collaboration skills with experts from local informal science education centers. Opportunity for free treats from Atlanta area centers!

TAKEAWAYS:
In this workshop teachers will partner with informal educators to co-develop a plan connecting classroom learning goals with the educational opportunities offered at an informal center. Teachers will be equipped to leverage their educational expertise to better collaborate for their next field trip.

SPEAKERS:
James Ammons (Gwinnett County Public Schools: Suwanee, GA)

Minoritized students' underrepresentation in STEM are a result of cycles of marginalization that replay resounding narratives of socially constructed inferiority in STEM. Curricular experiences that counter deficit narratives support minoritized students in transforming their identitities in STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about an effective curriculum and instructional model that supports minoritized students' achievement in STEM with a specific focus on enhancing their sense of efficacy and science identity.

SPEAKERS:
Layla/Ye Zang (Virginia Tech: Blacksburg, VA), Brenda Brand (Virginia Tech: Blacksburg, VA)

This session will report findings from a study of young peoples' perceptions of school science in the UK. Focus groups revealed a general positive attitude towards the sciences but a desire to have greater variation through creative teaching and learning approaches.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will hear suggestions made by young people in the UK about what they want from school science, how they want to be engaged, and what they suggest needs to be avoided when teaching science.

SPEAKERS:
Gareth Price (Sheffield Hallam University: Sheffield, United Kingdom), Stuart Bevins (Sheffield Hallam University: Sheffield, United Kingdom)

Presentation of research findings from rural chemistry teachers in Georgia and ways to implement inquiry-based laboratory instruction in the classroom. Additionally, Georgia Department of Education will present new resources available for teachers aligned to NGSS and GSE.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with a better picture of the views of chemistry teachers in rural schools regarding inquiry-based laboratory instruction. GaDOE is giving attendees access to digital resources to help combat many of the feelings of isolation or confusion with the depth of standards.

SPEAKERS:
Keith Crandall (Science Program Manager: No City, No State), Robert Bice (Berry College: Mount Berry, GA)

A Research Experience for Teachers Program at the University of Puerto Rico (BIORETS: BioInteractions) aims to engage eight secondary school teachers in the development of standards-centered curricular materials after they participate in a summer research immersion experience. The focus of the research experiences is on the overarching theme of biological and biomolecular interactions. Teacher participants engage in a broad range of research activities: from molecular biology to ecology. Curricular materials are designed based on their research experience to promote students’ scientific literacy and foster positive attitudes towards STEM. In this session, we will share experiences from the summer research immersion experience as well as examples of the curricular materials that have been developed and tips for their implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will take away strategies to transfer scientific research experiences into their classroom to promote students’ scientific literacy and positive attitudes towards STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Diana Rodríguez-Pérez (Teacher), Brenda Lee Estévez Moreno (Science Teacher), Diana Galloza Ramirez (Teacher: Aguada, PR), Michelle Borrero (University of Puerto Rico - Rio Piedras Campus: San Juan, PR)

We have worked with more than 40 current and future K-8 teachers across our state as part of a PD and curriculum project. We used a place-based approach to explore marine science, climate change, and the NGSS. We will share our PD model and strategies for successful implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will present an overview of our PD model, which provides a series of workshops on climate change, marine science, and the NGSS K-8. Attendees will have access to our growing database of NGSS-aligned grade-level specific science lessons exploring marine science and climate change.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Madden (The College of New Jersey: Ewing, NJ)

Are you looking to integrate science fiction (sci-fi) media into your science classroom? Travel with us as we share current research regarding individuals’ interest in learning science while attending “science tracks” at sci-fi conventions and how we can integrate sci-fi into the science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants attending this session will explore current research regarding the informal learning space of science fiction conventions and how these spaces and science fiction media can be used in formal science classrooms to support the learning of science.

SPEAKERS:
Gina Childers (Texas Tech University: Lubbock, TX), Rebecca Hite (Texas Tech University: Lubbock, TX), Kania Greer (Georgia Southern University: Statesboro, GA)

Spend invaluable time with current Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, Candyce Curry, exploring FREE RESOURCES from the U.S. Geological Survey website. This workshop will give teachers insight on finding & using, with minimal preparation, datasets from multiple sources within the website.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be presented with methods & strategies to use readily available data from the US Geological Survey to incorporate & improve their data literacy practices. This is an introduction to content specific data, resources, and suggested methods to modify/accommodate for differentiation.

SPEAKERS:
Candyce Curry (US Geological Survey: No City, No State)

Making observations about the world around us and being able to record that in written and drawn form is a skill critical for scientists. In the elementary classroom, students comprehension greatly increases when observation skills are expanded. Learn how to increase this within your own classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to engage your students as scientists in a new way, drawing! Understand the basics of drawing and how it connects to scientific observations. These simple and easy steps will transform the scientific drawings your students are creating during class to increase their overall comprehension.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Oberdorf (Big Spring School District: Newville, PA)

Students at Ransom Everglades Middle School in Coconut Grove, Florida conducted research using iButton Thermochrons. Students used the iButtons to record heat and humidity data around campus. They then analyzed the data to determine why certain areas were warmer than others.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how this project allowed students to collect data, analyze that data, and ultimately present their research as citizen scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Robin Escobedo (Ransom Everglades School: Coconut Grove, FL)

This USDA funded project aims to develop diverse rangeland grazing systems to optimize ruminant production, reduce environmental impacts, enhance biodiversity, and improve overall health. Schools and communities partner through gardening programs to develop scientific ways of thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about a sustainable agricultural research program that utilizes garden-based and social and emotional learning through the 3-H learning model. We build science capital through an integrated STEAM curriculum, children’s literature, outreach booths, citizen science, and videos.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Trundle (Utah STate University: No City, No State), Rita Hagevik (The University of North Carolina at Pembroke: LAURINBURG, NC)

This session will review research into creativity in science lessons identifying the key enablers and blockers. It will also look at resources and strategies that teachers can use to move towards a more creative science experience for learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the key characteristics of a creative science learning experiences revealed by research and identify some strategies to support these experiences in classrooms from K-12. They will also explore some exemplar resources designed to support more creative approaches.

SPEAKERS:
Stuart Bevins (Sheffield Hallam University: Sheffield, United Kingdom), Gareth Price (Sheffield Hallam University: Sheffield, United Kingdom)

To effectively engage audience members, we will invite them to dance with us, feel their body movements, recognize the geometrical patterns, computational arts modelling, and discuss the power of body movements in social bonding and expressing emotions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with a brief experience of the aesthetic nature of mathematics embedded in their body movements. They will be able to implement the strategies immediately in their classroom and expand them into science in STEAM education.

SPEAKERS:
Colleen Wahl (Asst Professor: , NY), Mina Sedaghatjou (Rowan University: Glassboro, NJ)

This presentation includes a research that investigated middle school science teachers' practices in engaging students in sense making tasks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn about the practices in engaging English learners to access SEPs and develop English proficiency simultaneously.

SPEAKERS:
Edralin Pagarigan (Golden Ring Middle School: Rosedale, MD)

Discover how an interdisciplinary team helped pre-service STEM teachers develop their confidence and competence in working with data and teaching data literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain an understanding of our four-session approach to integrating data literacy, real world data, and subject matter experts into a semester-long pre-service course to build confidence and competence in working and teaching with data.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson (Dataspire Education & Evaluation, LLC), Melissa Zrada (The College of New Jersey: Ewing, NJ), Michael Jabot (SUNY Fredonia: Fredonia, NY)

Participants will learn how school districts were able to increase elementary science access by establishing a District Science team grounded in distributed leadership and using the principles and tools of Improvement Science. Panelists' insights and a toolkit of resources will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how several districts developed a distributed leadership team focused on increasing access to elementary science education. They will hear from panelists and explore the tools and processes these teams used as part of their science leadership teams.

SPEAKERS:
Channon Jackson (Alameda County Office of Education: Hayward, CA), Dawn O'Connor (CSU East Bay: Danville, CA)

Join us as we explore how NOAA Teacher at Sea can bring stimulating ocean science content to the classroom through a wide range of technology and media applications.

TAKEAWAYS:
NOAA Teacher at Sea provides numerous cutting-edge strategies to make ocean science accessible to students such as Google Cardboard and various VR applications to utilizing NOAA Teacher at Sea’s rich ocean science resources.

SPEAKERS:
Spencer Cody (Edmunds Central School District: Roscoe, SD)