2023 Atlanta National Conference

March 22-25, 2023

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PLI-5: Designing Equitable, 3D, Curriculum-Anchored Assessments

Wednesday, March 22 • 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B407

Add to Cart Ticket Price: $150 (Full-day)
96 tickets available



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA 2023 Landing Page
Resources Landing Page
Resources Landing Page
Resources Landing Page

Show Details

Join us to design a prototype for a classroom task using our new Task Design Workbook. We will highlight key elements of 3D assessment design (i.e. problematizing phenomena, centering sense-making, and accessibility features). These high-leverage components of task development prepare you to adapt & design assessments that center your students and engage them in 3D sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Van Horne (Concolor Research: Orlando, FL), Aneesha Badrinarayan (Learning Policy Institute: Washington, DC), Sara Cooper (Contextus), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL)

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)

Digging Deeper into Modeling: The Power of Classroom Consensus Models

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B402



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Digging Deeper into Modeling_ The Power of Classroom Consensus Models.pdf

STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

In this session we will look at how engaging students in the practice of Developing and Using Models over the course of a unit can be used for different purposes. Participants will experience building a consensus model and reflect on how building a class consensus model is an important step in ensuring that all members of the learning community can contribute to the knowledge building and that ALL students have access to the ideas the class agrees moves the understanding forward. We will also highlight how models are a powerful way to uncover new questions students may have, requiring students to dig for a deeper understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
Developing and using scientific models allows all students to be integral members of the knowledge-building community.

SPEAKERS:
Holly Hereau (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Aligned to What? Assessment Systems that are “Born” Instructionally Relevant

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B407



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Resources Landing Page

Show Details

What would it look like if we designed all aspects of the assessment system to prioritize impact on instruction and students? We will discuss key principles for designing systems, and examples and implications for state, district, and classroom assessments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Systems of assessment can center students and instruction, and simultaneously surface trustworthy information for decision-making–if they are intentionally designed to do so.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Cooper (Contextus)

Making Real and Accessible the Wonder of Science for All Students: It’s Why We Teach!

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

Georgia World Congress Center - C213



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Making Real and Accessible the Wonder of Science for All Students
SIPS Assessments Project_2023 NSTA Presentation.pdf
SIPS Assessments Project_2023 NSTA Presentation.pdf

STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

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)

Supporting Equitable Classroom Practices Through Alternate Assessment

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

Georgia World Congress Center - A405



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Presentations and Other Resources
Here you will find copies of our presentations and links to supporting blogs and podcasts.

STRAND: Equity and Justice

Show Details

We will share how we implemented current educational research to create a learning environment that supports learners of all abilities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will understand the educational research supporting a shift away from traditional grading and describe methods of implementation that address issues of equity, differentiation, peer interactions, and more.

SPEAKERS:
David Frangiosa (Pascack Valley Regional High School District: Montvale, NJ)

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)

Working Smarter not Harder - Grading that's Good for Students and Teachers

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B405


STRAND: Avoiding Teacher Burnout

Show Details

Grading that supports student sensemaking doesn't have to keep you at school all night. Learn approaches to grading that prioritize 3D sensemaking and utilize technology, collaboration, and existing resources so you have can your evenings back.

TAKEAWAYS:
The process of giving feedback and assigning grades is easier when there are strong materials and assessments to build from and technology can help make it faster without decreasing effectiveness for students.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Delaney (OpenSciEd: San Carlos, CA)

Assessing notebooking through the practices

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

Georgia World Congress Center - A407



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
3-5 Notebooking Assessment tool
6-8 Notebooking Assessment Tool
9-12 Notebook Assessment Tool
K-2 Notebooking Assessment Tool
Slide deck includes all links to resources
TOOL for notebook assessment 3-5
TOOL for notebook assessment 6-8
TOOL for notebook assessment 9-12
TOOL for notebook assessment K-2

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Science notebooks can be a powerful tool for students to capture their thinking and chart growth in learning. But, how can notebooks be assessed to help students grow in their science and engineering practices? Proficiency rubrics will be shared to allow teachers and students to assess notebooks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave this session with 4 different proficiency scales to assess student notebooks through the science and engineering practices. While notebooks should not be assessed as “right and wrong,” they can be used to help students grow in their science and engineering practices.

SPEAKERS:
Chelsie Byram (Central Rivers Area Education Agency: Cedar Falls, IA), Mandie Sanderman (Central Rivers Area Education Agency: Cedar Falls, IA)

Lessons Learned in 3D Assessment Development

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B407


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

In this interactive session, we share important lessons learned through our work with states, educators, and developers to support equitable systems of science assessment. These lessons can help us develop better 3D assessment tasks, processes, and systems that lead to better outcomes for learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Three dimensional assessment design is tricky - come join us to discuss how we can take a systems approach and develop better 3D assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Katie Van Horne (Concolor Research: Orlando, FL)

Assessment 3.0: Introducing The Learning Progression Model

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B312



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Resources and Artifacts

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

We have developed a flexible, equitable assessment strategy that can be applied to all levels, grades and courses, that keeps students engaged and accountable. Even better, it can be scaled: used by an individual or by an entire district. We call this the Learning Progression Model.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will understand how learning progressions are used to assess student learning, provide descriptive feedback, set goals, evaluate teaching, and report out achievement.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore (Pascack Hills High School: Montvale, NJ)

Did I really just flip this classroom?

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B313a


STRAND: Equity and Justice

Show Details

The session will consist of modeling how to flip a traditional classroom. Participants will learn how to create a Pear Deck, use Screencatisfy and EdPuzzle to flip their classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with the basic knowledge of how to flip their classroom and be able to implement the strategies immediately into their classroom so that they are able to increase equity and inclusion.

SPEAKERS:
Cecelia Gillam (Benjamin Franklin High School: No City, No State)

Author NSTA Press Session: Sense Making Structures for Uncovering Student Ideas in Science (Gr 3-8)

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B309


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Starting with eliciting students' initial ideas, experience a responsive teaching sense-making structure to take students through a process of developing conceptual understanding of core disciplinary ideas in science using NSTA's highly Uncovering Student Ideas in Science Formative Assessment Probes

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to transition from diagnostic probes to formative assessment and responsive teaching by taking students through a sense-making structure to change or further develop their initial ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: No City, No State)

Improving science achievement: A science and literacy instruction intervention with implications for research, policy, and practice.

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

Georgia World Congress Center - C212



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
A promising science and literacy instructional model with Hispanic fifth grade students.pdf
This study evaluated the Science and Literacy Instructional Model aimed at helping primarily Hispanic bilingual/English Learners (ELs) and economically disadvantaged fifth grade students with science achievement as measured by high-stakes standardized science achievement scores. The model combined purposeful planning, innovative academic vocabulary instruction, and a Lesson Design Lab. Difference-in proportions tests were used to determine if students at two school campuses showed positive achi
Interactive word wall expectations science 2023.pdf
Vocabulary planning template 2023 S&E Practices.pdf

STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

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)

Assessment Systems to Build Children’s Learning Stories

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B406a/b


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

COESEE - Join us to learn more about assessment of elementary science learning using elementary learning stories.

TAKEAWAYS:
Creating student learning stories can help support assessment in elementary classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Ewing (The Charles A. Dana Center: No City, No State)

Forewarned is Forearmed: Using Pre-AP Instructional Strategies to Better Prepare Students for AP Biology Challenge Areas

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B207


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: College Board

Come for an active conversation about helping introductory learners prepare for AP-level course work in STEM. We will align challenge areas identified using AP exam data with the Pre-AP Course Framework and explore instructional strategies to help students meet these challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Casdorph (College Board: Richmond, VA), Mitch Price (College Board: New York, NY)

How Does My 6-12 Science Classroom Fit Within an MTSS Structure?

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B316


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

A school's MTSS focus is often on math and literacy skills and scores, leaving some science teachers to wonder, "How does my science classroom fit in MTSS?". In this session, we will explore ways to identify students that need Tier 2 science supports and provide them with the assistance they need.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science teachers can utilize formative assessments, unit planning, and creative engagement strategies to provide their science students with Tier 2 support, (regardless if the school building provides an intervention period) resulting in improved student outcomes.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Moss (Northwest Area Education Agency: Sioux City, IA)

Sensemaking First: Designing Assessments to Elicit 3D Sensemaking

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B407



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Resources Landing Page

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Sensemaking with the three dimensions is the focal construct we want to measure in science assessments - not the phenomenon or problem or the three-dimensions. Join us for a deep dive into centering sensemaking in 3D assessment design.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with examples of 3D sensemaking in assessment tasks and activities for building better assessments that elicit sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Cooper (Contextus), Katie Van Horne (Concolor Research: Orlando, FL)

Authentic Learning: Minimizing Human Impact on the Environment to Save an Endangered Species

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

Georgia World Congress Center - C209


STRAND: Assessment

Show Details

Discover an NGSS-aligned, student-driven unit where students are conservation biologists who participate in rigorous opportunities by taking responsibility for their learning, reading scientific papers, analyzing real data, and developing a solution to propose in a culminating exhibition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with an understanding of how a unit can be designed with a blended approach to project-based learning, standards-based grading, and NGSS as well as with thorough unit resources such as assessments, proficiency rubrics, students exemplars, text sets, and learning tasks.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Wise (American Community School of Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)

Keeping Phenomena in Focus (GSTA)

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

Georgia World Congress Center - B308


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

What is the big deal with a phenomenon—and how is it structured for science learning? A phenomenon drives three-dimensional science instruction. Join this session to discuss the importance of phenomena as well as what it is and what it isn’t. Resources will be shared!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the importance phenomena plays in 3D Science instruction , instructional strategies to use when sensemaking. and how to assess student learning using phenomenon-based assessment tasks.

SPEAKERS:
Judith Beccaro (Georgia Department of Education: Atlanta, GA)

Navigating Nature of Science

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

Georgia World Congress Center - C201


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Attendees will participate in a guided walk through the process of developing inquiries to ensure students reach mastery of critical content. This will include analyzing standard(s), participating in hands on inquiry, and using a template to create inquiries for students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will understand how to plan opportunities for students to demonstrate understanding of critical content using methods that allow educators to easily monitor student progress toward mastery.

SPEAKERS:
Ryan Carlson (Orange County Public Schools: Orlando, FL), Desiree Siegel (Program Specialist Elementary Science: Orlando, FL), Matthew Timm (Orange County Public Schools: Orlando, FL), Kimberly Seaver (Orange County Public Schools: Orlando, FL)

Empowering Educators to Impact the Direction of State Assessment

Thursday, March 23 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B407


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

The purpose of this session is to explain how NGSS-aligned state assessments are developed alongside our state partners. We will use our Item Review Framework to analyze a sample item from New Meridian and ask participants to compare/contrast that with released items from their state. This comparison will provide teachers with the tools they need to review their own state assessment content and provide evidence for the changes they would like to see enacted within their state program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with a better understanding of how state-wide assessments are created and the role educators can play in influencing the direction of those assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Lazzaro (New Meridian Corporation: austin, TX)

Effects of a Computer Aided Instructional Package to Teach Science [Biological] Concepts to Secondary Students with Extensive Support Needs

Thursday, March 23 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A405


STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

Students in the general education science classes have multiple abilities by which they learn. With more districts turning to the use of technology in the classroom for all students, targeted technology can aid in deeper comprehension and retention of biological content.

TAKEAWAYS:
Biology is a difficult science to master with its broad content and specific terminology that can be tricky to understand, however for students with moderate/severe disabilities and ASD it can be more frustrating and more extensive supports need to be put into place to allow for student success.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Minton (Houston High School: Germantown, TN)

Integrated STEM and NGSS A Winning Combination for Students

Friday, March 24 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B315


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Learn how to create NGSS-focused middle school integrated STEM projects that won’t break the bank. Take home rubrics, guides, lesson plans, timelines, and other ideas.

TAKEAWAYS:
Integrated STEM no longer needs to be a separate elective or after school activity. Integrated STEM activities can be aligned with NGSS standards and provide a unique way to assess learning while also teaching integrated STEM skills.

SPEAKERS:
Vanessa Ueltzen (Walther Christian Academy: Melrose Park, IL)

Social Emotional Learning in a Phenomena Based Learning Environment

Friday, March 24 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B405


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Looking to help your students reflect both as an individual and as a learning community as they make sense of the world around them? In this session, participants will explore tools and techniques that provide opportunities for students to develop their social and emotional skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore all of the tools and techniques that are provided in OpenSciEd units that allow students to improve their social-emotional learning skills as they reflect on community agreements, class discussions, and working as a team.

SPEAKERS:
Thomas Clayton (K-5 STEAM Specialist: Berkeley Heights, NJ)

The Importance of Students Engaging in Problematizing in 3D Assessments for Sensemaking

Friday, March 24 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B407



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA 2023 Landing Page

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Problematizing phenomena requires that tasks pose productive uncertainties related to a phenomenon or problem explicitly to students. During this interactive session, participants will analyze various assessments and artifacts for how problematizing is an integral part of the assessment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage with well problematized assessment scenarios and will have access to these assessments for future use.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL), Sara Cooper (Contextus)

Project Based Learning in the Science Classroom

Friday, March 24 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B316


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Come and learn how to transform your classroom instruction, increase engagement, and more importantly empower your students to put their knowldege into practice. In this session you will learn how to incorporate project and problem based learning into your science class, as well as see real examples

TAKEAWAYS:
How to plan for and implement project and problem based learning into the Science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Bogart (Stonecreek Junior High: No City, No State)

Ungrading in the Chemistry Classroom

Friday, March 24 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - C203


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Ungrading! Have you thought about the implications of you assigning grades to your students. What if instead you asked your students the grade themselves on their learning? This session will present the pros and pitfalls of what this looks like in the high school chemistry classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Once the stress and challenges of the teacher giving grades to the students is removed the students are allowed to focus on the learning. Imagine how your classroom will change for the better.

SPEAKERS:
Richard Fitzner (Chemistry Teacher: Beverly Hills, MI)

Framework for STEM Curriculum Development, K-12

Friday, March 24 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - A302



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Room Defender - Framework for STEM Curriculum Development - NSTA Atlanta.pptx

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Discover how to build a STEM curriculum from the ground up, from ideation to final product. Design an alarm to protect your stuff, meet the STEM Quality Framework and 50+ free STEM units from Pre-K to High School, and explore amazing resources from the Dayton Regional STEM Center and DoDSTEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the process of designing a high-quality STEM curriculum including; standards alignment, evaluation and improvement of curriculum and implementation within the classroom, along with a library of free, currently available unit plans and resources.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Carey (Xenia Community Schools: Xenia, OH)

Speed Sharing: Middle School Tools

Friday, March 24 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B401


Show Details

Students take ownership while working in the cycle of Obtain, Evaluate, and Communicate Information. Teachers are a facilitator, a helpful guide to support students in their sensemaking journey. While students are working independently or in groups, they may get to points where they need the support of their teacher. However, how can students get the teacher’s attention without causing a disturbance? By using everyday items like popsicle sticks, construction paper or plastic cups, this strategy called Red Light, Green Light is a way students can non-verbally communicate with their teacher about where they are at in their sensemaking journey and if they need help. A variation to this strategy is adding a yellow light. This low-risk strategy can be used by all students including students who are multilingual learners and/or students with disabilities. Teachers benefit by providing a method to informally assess their students; thus, providing immediate feedback and support.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about an informal formative assessment strategy to quickly gauge their students’ confidence level during the sensemaking process.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Canepa-Redondo (Science/ESOL Program Specialist)

Speed Sharing: Curriculum and Assessment

Friday, March 24 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B312


Show Details

Are you excited to learn strategies for science learning in the elementary classroom? Join three educators sharing three different strategies for elementary science learners, including project-based learning, place-based learning, and online assessment materials.

Free Project-Based Learning Resources for Elementary Science
Get a brief introduction to free OER integrated science curricular units for Grades 3-5 and see how well the features of Project-Based Learning provide the tools and routines to support sensemaking.

A Home for Fossils: Bringing place-based education to a museum-based program
Join education staff from Tellus Science Museum to see fossils that call Georgia home and discuss how to incorporate place-based geoscience education with elementary science standards.

Multidimensional Assessment Tasks and a Virtual Learning Community for Elementary Science Teachers
Learn about two free, complementary online resources: NGSS-aligned assessment tasks for Grades 3-5 and a website to support teachers in using the assessment tasks and participating in an online community of practice.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Codere (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University, Retired), Hannah Eisla (Tellus Science Museum: Cartersville, GA), Jeanne Di Domenico (The University of Chicago: Chicago, IL), Carla Strickland (UChicago STEM Education: No City, No State)

Empower Next Generation Science Learners through Personalized Learning

Friday, March 24 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - C203


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Looking for ways to personalize learning and implement the 5E's (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate), come learn how to use Choice & Voice, Varied Strategies, & Flexible Pacing to promote Mastery of Standards

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to see student exemplars of Choice & Voice, and PBL. They will see how ISTE, NSQ standards, 5 E's of Science come together to promote student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Gaganjot Singh (Fulton Virtual)

Knock, Knock, Chicken Who’s There? Our Assumptions and Students’ Misconceptions in Science

Friday, March 24 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B404



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA-Atlanta 2023, Knock, Knock Chicken... presentation NSTA upload, v.3.pptx
We ask kids questions to get at their understanding of science concepts but have underlying expectations of how they will respond. Be aware of what ideas your students will bring to the classroom and use to shape their ideas about science. Explore students’ ideas and misconceptions in the Physical Sciences and know some of what they bring with them before they walk in the door!

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

We all make assumptions about how we think students will respond to our seemingly basic questions on what they know. We also assume that they are thinking what we are thinking – until they tell us.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn to work with research-based misconceptions that students hold across grade bands in the physical sciences in order to incorporate those into assessment.

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

Author NSTA Press Session: Students' Ideas Matter! Linking Formative Assessment to Instructional Sequence

Friday, March 24 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B309


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Learn how to use the Uncovering Student Ideas probes in an explore-before-explain instructional sequence to support a classroom where all students' ideas matter!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about a resource for formative assessment and explore-before-explain teaching.

SPEAKERS:
Page Keeley (NSTA Past President: No City, No State), Patrick Brown (Fort Zumwalt School District R-II: O'Fallon, MO)

I Want to See Me in My Science Learning…Using Literacy to Meet the Needs of All Science Learners

Friday, March 24 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B308


STRAND: Equity and Justice

Show Details

This session is presented by members of the Georgia Science Teachers Association Board of Directors and shares ways to incorporate literacy in science lessons using inclusive teaching strategies. The session will be a panel presentation that addresses using a broad range of analogies, a mix of textual and visual representations, inclusion of examples that include both women and ethnic minority groups, students with disabilities, use of funds of knowledge, a variety of learning exercises and assessments and the use of rubrics. Justin Harvey (GSTA Director) is submitting this proposal on behalf of the GSTA Board, but he is not one of the presenters. The panel of presenters include: Teresa Massey, GA District 10 Director Robert Bice, GA District 1 Director Jane Reed, District 2 Director Michelle Thompson, District 8 Director Kathryn Mullen, District 12 Director Melissa Niemi, GSTA President-Elect

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will see how the need to consider diversity is important for all students learning science. Participants will gain research-based strategies for integrating diversity in science lessons that meet the needs of all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Teresa Massey (Graduate Student), Michelle Thompson (Effingham College and Career Academy: No City, No State)

Using Rubrics to Grade Lab Reports and Projects

Friday, March 24 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - Exhibit Hall, Poster Session Aisle


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Rubrics are great assessment tools when grading lab reports and projects. Rubrics help to clarify expectations, inspire students to set goals and give educators a way to improve feedback that stimulates student reflection. Emphasis is on application and analysis not getting the right answers.

TAKEAWAYS:
The Poster will highlight best practices for creating and using rubrics to grade lab reports and projects. The poster will include best practices, main components of a rubric, tips for creating rubrics and well as best practices for feedback and grading using rubrics.

SPEAKERS:
Kimberly Morton (Instructional Coach)

Limitations of the CHLT-6 as an Assessment in a STEM Laboratory Experience

Friday, March 24 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - Exhibit Hall, Poster Session Aisle


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Although cancer biology is an important topic with the study life science, the definition of cancer literacy has been ill defined. This project demonstrates limitations of using one measure of cancer literacy, the Cancer Health Literacy Test-6, within the scope of a cancer biology outreach program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Cancer literacy has been broadly defined and assessed. Assessment of cancer biology knowledge may be best suited by the use of instructor-prepared, lesson-specific assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Heath (Student: Warrenville, SC), Kamani Barnes (Student: Warrenville, SC), Alexandria Martin (Student: , SC), Christie Palladino (Teacher: Warrenville, SC)

Improving science achievement: A science and literacy instruction intervention with implications for practice.

Friday, March 24 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - Exhibit Hall, Poster Session Aisle


STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

This session presents a science and literacy instruction intervention aimed at helping improve student achievement on high-stakes standardized tests. This study found statistically significant results with medium to large effect sizes at multiple campuses. Findings contribute to research and practice by demonstrating how to make science education accessible to all students, including minorities, economically disadvantaged, English learners, and At-Risk students. It also advances knowledge about effective science and literacy instruction interventions. Participants in this session will learn how to strategically target academic vocabulary, visually display connections between inquiry activities and vocabulary, explore opportunities for students to experience vocabulary in context, actively process word meanings, and practice using vocabulary to speak and write sentences. Easily replicable classroom strategies and examples that may be used to facilitate implementation will be shared.

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)

STaR- Science Teacher Residency Professional Development Outcomes

Friday, March 24 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - Exhibit Hall, Poster Session Aisle



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
ArizonaScienceCenter_NSTA-STaRProgram.pdf

STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

The Science Teacher Residency (STaR) Program was launched in 2018 in response to the need to expand access to high quality professional development for science teachers in Arizona. It is designed for third through eighth grade teachers from Title 1 designated schools, and provides instructional tools and resources to participants for free. The program is designed around its Theory of Change, which involves four facets: pedagogical approaches, content learning, access to expertise, and materials and resources. The program is externally evaluated by the Lawrence Hall of Science. Data on content knowledge level, fascination level, interest level, and intention to pursue science will be featured on the poster. Our target audience is for professional development providers.

TAKEAWAYS:
STaR expands access to high-quality teaching practice in science education for Arizona teachers. PD facilitators can obtain new ideas for research-based implementation of pedagogy, content learning, access to expertise, and materials and resources.

SPEAKERS:
Brenna Chambers (Manager of Professional Learning), Judith Lozoya (Professional Development Facilitator: Phoenix, AZ), Jennifer Petersen (Professional Development Facilitator: Phoenix, AZ)

Designing Classroom Assessments to address NGSS Performance Expectations

Friday, March 24 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B303



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Slides and Resources

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

In this session, we will share how to use NGSS performance expectations to design classroom assessments. Sample assessments will be provided that require students to incorporate models and use evidence to support their responses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will come away with both examples of assessments and tools for developing their own three-dimensional assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole McRee (KCSD#96), Tracy Eschrich (KCSD96)

Building Literacy through Lab Reports

Friday, March 24 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C203


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Teaching literacies in your secondary classroom is not typically on top of your to-do list, but they are equally important, so we will share how we build various literacies into our lab reports. Strategies will be backed by cognitive and science education research and rubrics will be provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will be able to develop, implement, and evaluate a lab report utilizing various literacies and a deeper understanding of the Nature of Science.

SPEAKERS:
Althea Roy (Clemson University: Clemson, SC), Tiffany Jones (South Cobb High School: Austell, GA)

Note-booking for Meaning, Making Meaning in Notebooks

Friday, March 24 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B310


STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

This session will introduce teachers to a variety of note-booking techniques that will increase student engagement and excitement for learning. Students will take pride in their notebooks and therefore increase the level of effort they put into their work.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will provide teachers and administrators with various strategies to differentiate learning for English Language Learners, Special Education Students, and General Education Students and accurately assess student learning through note-booking. By using our notebook format students will d

SPEAKERS:
Darren Wells (Mather Elementary School: Dorchester, MA), Karen Ziminski (EMK Academy for Health Careers: Boston, MA)

Claim, Evidence and Reasoning; Assessing Student Understanding

Friday, March 24 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A401


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Claim Evidence and Reasoning a strategy to increase engagement and assess student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will use the Claim Evidence and Reasoning protocol to check student content knowledge, increase discourse and improve literacy.

SPEAKERS:
Lindiwe Ngubeni (Atlanta Public Schools: Atlanta, GA), Felicia Pratt (Atlanta Public Schools: Atlanta, GA), Warren Edwards (Atlanta Public Schools: Atlanta, GA)

Forewarned is Forearmed: Using Pre-AP Instructional Strategies to Prepare Students for AP Chemistry Challenge Areas

Friday, March 24 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B202


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: College Board

Come for an active session about helping students prepare for AP-level course work in STEM. We will align challenge areas identified using AP Chem exam data and correlate these with the Pre-AP Chem Course Framework and explore instructional strategies to help students meet these challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Casdorph (College Board: Richmond, VA), Mitch Price (College Board: New York, NY)

Assessment of Sensemaking Through the Crosscutting Concepts

Friday, March 24 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B401


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

This is session #4 in the PL Committee CCCs Pathway and is designed to support K-12. The crosscutting concepts provide a consistent language for student communication. When teachers’ assessment prompts are designed with the crosscutting concepts, the focus of student thinking can be directed to different aspects of the phenomenon or, the system being investigated. Patterns may be used as evidence to support explanations or arguments for the causes of a phenomenon. Participants will explore the progression of Crosscutting Concepts throughout a student’s K-12 career. They will consider phenomenon and discuss several appropriate prompts that bring different CCCs to the forefront (patterns, scale, systems). Participants will engage with the process of developing assessment prompts which use the Crosscutting Concepts to initiate student sensemaking responses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participant will leave with resources that guide their development and use of Crosscutting Concepts to focus student sensemaking on assessments. These can be integrated with assessments prompts which are aligned to Science and Engineering Practices and Disciplinary Core Ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Leah Litz (Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium: No City, No State), Christopher Soldat (Grant Wood Area Education Agency: Cedar Rapids, IA)

Grade less to learn more! How shifts toward ungrading free your students to focus on STEM.

Friday, March 24 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B303



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1hTRjQ9t8MOGWBbTfgWssVckYZfmEdCWC?usp=share_link
Here is the link to my Ungrading Toolkit folder.

STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

You made the learning three dimensional in your classroom; now it's time to do the same for your grading.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Ways to help students focus on learning more than gradesl 2. Systems of efficient grading that make meaningful feedback possible; and 3. Tips to have students participate in telling their learning story.

SPEAKERS:
Hannah Kiser (Pullman High School: Pullman, WA), Johanna Brown (Washington State OSPI)

Biological Equity for Special Education

Friday, March 24 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A404


STRAND: Equity and Justice

Show Details

Equip all students with the ability to succeed. Two high school teachers pair up to create lessons for special education biology students to focus on student achievement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain ideas and strategies to help reach all students at all levels of learning.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Minton (Houston High School: Germantown, TN)

Integrating NGSS Engineering Design in the High School Physical Science Classroom

Friday, March 24 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C208



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Energy Storyline Physical Science
Energy Storyline Physical Science
Unit Lesson Files

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Feeling timid about embracing the challenge of engaging students in fun and creative engineering design challenges? The presenter will share a method for structuring, scaffolding, and assessing student growth and learning during NGSS aligned engineering design challenges.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engaging students in the engineering design process fosters life long skills such as problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. Assessment of engineering design should focus on these skills rather than the overall success or failure of a student designed project.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Stasi (Retired Secondary Science Educator: , IL)

It’s Not Just Algebra: Assessing Student Thinking in Physics Problem-Solving

Friday, March 24 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B216


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Good problem-solving in physics is more than algebraic manipulation. Students can learn and you can assess problem-solving through multiple avenues, including graphs, representations, and more.

SPEAKERS:
Christopher Moore (University of Nebraska Omaha: Omaha, NE)

Phenomenal CER Writing

Friday, March 24 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - C210


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Learn strategies for introducing CER writing and strengthening students’ CER writing skills through scaffolded training, peer feedback, teacher feedback, and revision. Rubrics, task templates, and sample tasks will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn strategies for training their students to effectively write CER responses, how to best format practice tasks, and how to provide feedback on responses.

SPEAKERS:
Steve Kuninsky (Science Teacher/Instructional Coach: Lawrenceville, GA)

Incorporating CER Responses into Your Elementary Classroom

Friday, March 24 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - A412



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Connect with Me!
Materials from this presentation will be uploaded via a Google folder within 24 hours of the presentation finishing.
Google Folder Link
Here are all the materials from my sessions! Feel free to make copies of any item for your own use.

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

At the elementary level, having students explain what they are observing and learning in science class can be challenging. Using a strategy such as a claim, evidence, and reasoning (CER) to guide explicit instruction and student responses can immensely impact their understanding of the curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to use silly commercials to engage your elementary science students into creating detailed written responses to what they are learning in class using the CER strategy. CER will help them unlock their thinking skills in a way that can then be easily transferred to classroom content.

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

Q & A with NSTA Professional Learning Facilitators - Elementary (K-5)

Friday, March 24 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B402


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Join NSTA Professional Learning Facilitators for informal conversations about science teaching and learning. Bring questions and ideas to explore and discuss — no topic is too big or too small! Let’s work together to make science learning engaging, important, and accessible to all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
We’ll draw on the expertise of NSTA professional learning facilitators and educators in the room to answer questions, provide research-based feedback, and share resources to help you continue to shift your practice toward three-dimensional teaching and learning.

Inclusive Grading in Science

Friday, March 24 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B407


STRAND: Student Learning and Inclusion

Show Details

Gradebooks can be a powerful tool for communicating student learning with students & families. Using open-source lessons, I will share a gradebook build design I have used to offer a fairer, comprehensive record of student learning with three-dimensional standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gradebooks are not a "necessary evil" for 3D learning. You will see a model gradebook and complete an example analysis of student work and practice with a gradesheet.

SPEAKERS:
Kerri Wingert (Good Question Research: Boulder, CO)

“Using Feedback” how to get students to actually read feedback in order to improve and grow.

Friday, March 24 • 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Georgia World Congress Center - B301



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Resources and Artifacts

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Have you given back assignments, after spending hours writing detailed comments, only to have students look at the grade, shrug, and stuff them away? Using feedback is an important and teachable skill. I will describe several effective approaches to get students to read and use that feedback.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will develop of research-based rationale for practicing the skill of “Using Feedback”, that can be used to create a scoring rubric to guide student growth in this area. They will examine several examples of student work, and score them using the rubric.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore (Pascack Hills High School: Montvale, NJ)

Using Virtual Reality (VR) as a Supplement to Lab Activities in Chemistry Classes: Effects on Student Self-Evaluation of Lab Skills

Saturday, March 25 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - C211



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
All talks for NSTA March 25.pdf

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

A virtual reality chemistry activity was evaluated as a supplement to laboratory instruction for first-year college chemistry classes. Student self-evaluation of confidence in certain lab activities was surveyed prior to and post VR session.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Virtual reality offers an engaging and kinesthetic way to supplement lab-based instruction; 2. The virtual environment can evaluate student lab performance on a level that can't be duplicated in a laboratory setting; and 3. VR offers an effective source of remediation for students lagging in labo

SPEAKERS:
Donald Carpenetti (Craven Community College: New Bern, NC)

Using assessments to increase equity in the classroom

Saturday, March 25 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - Grand Ballroom A


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

This session will go over formative assessment techniques that will improve student participation and reflection. A year long study performed on this homework technique indicated 99% student homework completion and an over 80% reattempt rate on assignments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with the knowledge of how to create formative assessments to increase participation and reflection in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
James Evans (Professor of Chemistry)

Public Comment on the 2028 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Science Framework Recommendations

Saturday, March 25 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B405


Show Details

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Frameworks are developed through a comprehensive, inclusive, and deliberative process​. The frameworks describe the content and format of a NAEP assessment​ including: (1) what to measure at each grade​, (2) how to measure it​, and (3) how achievement levels are to be represented. ​The frameworks are written for a diverse audience of educators, policymakers, and the public​. The NAEP Science Assessment covers: Physical Science, Life Science and Earth and Space Sciences. It includes four science practices (1) Identifying Science Principles (2) Using Science Principles (3) Using Scientific Inquiry (4) Using Technological Design. Results for grades 4, 8, and 12 are reported. In this session, members from the NAEP Steering and Development panels will give an overview of the recommendations for the NAEP Science Framework, gather ideas, answer questions, and provide information about submitting public comment.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will have an understanding of NAEP, the recommended revisions to the NAEP Science Framework, and how to submit public comment on the proposed revisions.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Morley (Science Teacher: Hinesburg, VT)

Driving Student Growth with Standards Based Grading

Saturday, March 25 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B204


STRAND: Assessment

Show Details

Learn how communicating student progress with standards based grading can improve achievement and drive student growth for all learners in science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how standards based grading can be applied in their individual classroom setting, regardless of grade level, subject, or local school grading policies, and how targeted feedback improves instruction and increases learning.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Kelly (Teacher: No City, No State)

Incorporating ONLE (online network learning environment) strategies in your classroom and discover how it supports your learners

Saturday, March 25 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B212


STRAND: Professional Learning

Show Details

An online network learning environment (ONLE) is one built and run by instructors and educators to create a network for students and their PLE's (personal learning environments). ONLE strategies allow for collaboration and enhanced learning communities. Strategies such as creating a participatory web environment, widget and social-network linkages, and use of IvfoViz will be explored. This style of learning supports both constructivist and connectivist learning theories. Explore a model lesson using these strategies. Be ready to walk away with ways to include these strategies in your own lessons whether you have in-person or online students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to infuse ONLE strategies in your lessons which support various learning needs and enhance collaboration. These strategies support in-class and online learners. Discover how they can support your students.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Williams-Clermont (Science Teacher), Nikki Gutierrez (Science Teacher: No City, No State)

Maximize Your Students’ Science Conversations with Cooperative Group Structures

Saturday, March 25 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B316


Show Details

Join us and learn how to incorporate Kagan cooperative grouping structures into your science curriculum. Your students will benefit from these research-supported strategies that are easy to implement and flexible enough to meet your needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will model each structure as our participants join in. This experience will help participants develop a sense of efficacy and confidence to add these structures to their own programming. Each participant will leave confident in his/her ability to use three different cooperative groups structures.

SPEAKERS:
Traci Kell (Assistant Professor of Education: , AL), Grace Langston (Student: , AL), Tami Shelley (Auburn University at Montgomery: Montgomery, AL), Nicholas Bourke (Auburn University at Montgomery: Montgomery, AL)

Peer-teaching in general chemistry: Benefits to information retention and lowered student test anxiety

Saturday, March 25 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - C211



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
All talks for NSTA March 25.pdf

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Students in the first semester of the General Chemistry sequence participated in a peer-teaching exercise and were subsequently evaluated for information retention and test anxiety. Students participating in peer-teaching scored on average 20% higher on a final exam question.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students participating in peer-teaching scored on average 20% higher on a final exam question than those who participated in a non-peer-teaching review. This increased retention was shown to carry over into the subsequent semester in students participating in General Chemistry II.

SPEAKERS:
Donald Carpenetti (Craven Community College: New Bern, NC)

Teaching Students to Draw Like a Scientist

Saturday, March 25 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B310



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Connect with Me!
Materials from this presentation will be uploaded via a Google folder within 24 hours of the presentation finishing.
Google Folder Link
Here are all the materials from my sessions! Feel free to make copies of any item for your own use.

STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

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)

Writing to Learn: The Use of Low Stakes Writing to Improve Scientific Writing and Critical Thinking Skills

Saturday, March 25 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - C207


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Research shows that writing enhances learning outcomes. In place of long research papers, low stakes writing was incorporated in an online geoscience course. This presentation will demonstrate various strategies to incorporate low stakes writing in an online course to facilitate learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Low stakes writing assignments (worth a small percent of the final grade) are a great way to increase student engagement with the material, apply topics to a student's local area, increase critical thinking and improve scientific writing skills.

SPEAKERS:
Christa Haney (Mississippi State University: Mississippi State, MS)

Increasing Student Engagement through Self-Evaluation Practices

Saturday, March 25 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - A410


STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

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)

Explainers! Getting Students to Show and Tell You What They Know

Saturday, March 25 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Omni Atlanta Hotel at CNN Center - International Ballroom A


STRAND: Sensemaking

Show Details

Describing, producing, and brainstorming the creative concept of Explainer Sheets as a way to engage all students and assess their understanding of the science standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Bring the freedom of creativity into the everyday science lesson!

SPEAKERS:
Matt Brady (Atkins High School: Winston-Salem, NC)

Reassessment: Closing the Learning Gap

Saturday, March 25 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B204


STRAND: Assessment

Show Details

How can we, as educators, promote life-long learning and a growth mindset? Provide opportunities for reassessment. Give students the chance to demonstrate their new learning of concepts and skills. This is not a retake or a “do-over”, but an honest demonstration of proficiency.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with an understanding of the importance of reassessment and tools for managing and facilitating the process in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Allison Wise (American Community School of Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)

Developing Visible Learning in Science Through Reflective Practice

Saturday, March 25 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - A313



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
https://www.canva.com/design/DAFcn1ihjA8/TamxOzNBXwpixe96Duk8ow/view?utm_content=DAFcn1ihjA8&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice

Show Details

Through the reflective process students have the opportunity to grow as learners. Using this contemplative tool, students develop a deeper understanding of their own learning process and how to grow as a result of the reflection.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will receive a tool to support student growth as learners and contemplate applicability to their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Tara Bonebrake (The Summit Preparatory School: Springfield, MO)

Collaborating with Students to Assess Talent Development in Young, Gifted Scientists

Saturday, March 25 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B311


STRAND: Assessment

Show Details

Gifted students are a unique population we rarely have time to focus on while common misconceptions often prevent them from reaching full potential. This session offers an assessment tool to help students capitalize on strengths and realize their own potential in a STEM classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
A Total Talent Portfolio can be used to identify students’ interests, preferred learning styles, and expression styles to leverage motivation, engagement, & autonomy. A Talent Portfolio also serves as an assessment tool teachers can use to document talent development throughout the year.

SPEAKERS:
Bailey Nafziger (Georgia Southern University)

Building K-12 Literacy Skills for STEM Career Success

Saturday, March 25 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

Georgia World Congress Center - B210