Designed by award-winning science educator, author, and Michigan Teacher of the Year Gary Abud, Jr. in partnership with PBS, this session will focus on instructional strategies, high impact core teaching practices, and amazing learning resources about the Great Lakes from Detroit Public Television's award-winning show Great Lakes Now. In this session, you'll learn how to help your students explore the Great Lakes like never before and engage in productive discussions, engineering challenges, and intriguing investigations that they'll never forget. From fatbergs to watersheds to invasive species, biodiversity, climate change, and much more, you'll see how the Great Lakes makes for a GREAT way to teach myriad science concepts and engage students in the science and engineering practices of the NGSS no matter where they are learning, because the blended learning activities can go with you anywhere!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to explore the Great Lakes with your students while incorporating multimedia, cognitive science, and student discourse.

SPEAKERS:
SANDRA SVOBODA (Program Director, Great Lakes Now: , MI), Gary Abud Jr (Nourish the Future - Education Projects, LLC: Columbus, OH)

With your phone camera and filters we provide, you'll make images at different wavelengths and combine them in JS9, just as astronomers do. Then, with NASA files, you'll create astrophotos expressing your interests and aesthetics. This activity works at many levels, from STEM fun to serious science.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn how to process multi-wavelength image sets to create color images from NASA and your own devices. This leads to a deeper understanding of how the spectacular JWST images were made, and prepares the participant with a classroom activity that is fun, rich and economical.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Kaiser (Stamford High School: Stamford, CT), Vincent Urbanowski (Academy of Information Technology & Engineering: Stamford, CT)

Technology has opened the pathway of art creation, making it accessible for all learners, no matter their artistic skill level. Utilizing Pixel Art, educators across the spectrum can leverage the inclusion of customized and unique artistic creations to engage the creativity of all students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain hands-on exposure creating a personal avatar with multiple modes used to construct authentic designs through Pixel Art including using various types of websites and applications but also strategies for unplugging Pixel Art with physical mediums.

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

Tired of planet projects and scale model solar systems? Rubin Observatory’s solar system lesson offers a means for students to analyze data using a three-dimensional approach to learn about the orbital dynamics and interactions of small solar system bodies and the formation of the solar system.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to access and use free interactive data-based online investigations and support materials designed to support NGSS teaching and learning, as well as teaching and assessment strategies that support inclusive techniques for building student data literacy skills.

SPEAKERS:
Justine Schaen (NSF's NOIRLab: Tucson, AZ), Ardis Herrold (Vera C. Rubin Observatory: Tucson, AZ)

This workshop will cover technology tools for teaching essential elementary science concepts and topics to students through virtual field trips. Generally, teachers use in-person field trips to expose students to otherwise inaccessible learning resources. In some cases, such field trips come with prepared teaching materials that can be used to connect the content to important science concepts. However, teachers also need to know about technologies they can use for field trips when it is not possible for students to travel to the site due to unexpected bad weather or pandemic, or long distances. During the workshop, teachers will receive resources for virtual field trips to enhance virtual science instruction and student learning. These resources have shown the potential to aid teachers in engaging students in virtual field trips.

TAKEAWAYS:
With appropriate educational technology integration and carefully planned lessons, teachers can seamlessly shift their classes to virtual field trip instruction during unexpected school disruptions without sacrificing student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
John Ojeogwu (Student: Charlottesville, VA)

Explore how to use the air sensors to demonstrate the dangers of vaping to students. Participants will see how to measure air quality around the mist expelled out of vapers in a closed system testing system, made from simple materials, in which non-nicotine vape juice is expelled.

TAKEAWAYS:
Air quality, measured in several areas such as particulate matter and AQI, can be used to show that the ingredients in vaping reduce air quality for not only the vaper, but people around them. Students will also learn how to read and analyze graphical data.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Behrle (BioNetwork: Greenville, NC)

Play a new free online science game - Wake: Tales from the Aqualab. Take on ocean-based ecosystem missions, and engage in experimentation, modeling, and argumentation around middle school life sciences content. Use a submarine to explore a kelp forest! Travel to the arctic to find a missing whale!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn ways to implement Wake in your classroom - including associated curriculum and supplemental materials. The full game can cover 10+ classes, with over 35 jobs of increasing complexity, and a fun story. Learn about our research on game-based supports for student learning of science practices.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Scianna (University of Wisconsin Madison)

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

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

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

STEM integration in the classroom can be challenging but provides rich experiences for students Bring your laptop as we show you how we used Tinkercad (coding), and 3D printers (technology) to support content (Malus's Law).

TAKEAWAYS:
Example of how to integrate science, technology, and engineering into a lesson that is normally taught mathematically.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Matsler (University of Texas Arlington: No City, No State)

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

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

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Yoo (STEAM Specialist)

Construct a photon intensity image of a supernova remnant using NASA X-ray data from Chandra and convert the image into a public release image with this STEAM activity. This introduction to imaging and image analysis involves analysis, constructing models, interpretation, and computational thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Photons of electromagnetic radiation of all wavelengths are collected by telescopes and processed using computers. Scientists use image analysis software to analyze the data and construct unique models of the data, including stars and galaxies, while maintaining the integrity of the underlying data.

SPEAKERS:
Donna Young (NASA/NSO/UoL Program Manager: Laughlin, NV)

This session will demonstrate how to bring information technologies and Instrumentation alive for students. In the activity presented, students will establish radio communication between instruments while learning to code in Python. Beginners welcome.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use Python to write the code to create a wireless data logger. We will broadcast, receive, and record readings from the technology’s internal sensors.

SPEAKERS:
Marian Prince (Andrews University: Berrien Springs, MI), Adam Pennell (Professor of Mathematics: , NC)

In this workshop, we introduce and explore applications of virtual and augmented reality (VR) learning resources as tools to help students connect with a dataset, incorporate accessible placed-based learning into classrooms, and communicate the nature of science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience and learn about three different application models of virtual and augmented reality in educational settings through examples and participate in a facilitated discussion on the practical application of VR in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Griffith (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, VT), Daniela Pennycook (Communication Specialist and Program Integrator: Boulder, CO)

In what ways can we use computational thinking to solve real world problem related to issues faced due to climate change? During this session you will have the opportunity to learn about applicable ways to integrate physical computing in science classrooms to prepare students for future STEM careers

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience and learn about the different ways to integrate physical computing and engineering design in science classrooms in engaging way.

SPEAKERS:
Dani Ward (K-5 Computer Science / Science Curriculum Developer: Bellevue, WA), Yusra Obaid (Bellevue School District: Bellevue, WA)

Attendees will learn how to collect and analyze data using sensors and technology for use across multiple Science and Engineering courses in both Biology & Engineering and Physics & Engineering cross-curricular STEM settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use sensors and available technology that allow students to collect and analyze data across multiple Science and Engineering courses in both cross-curricular Biology & Engineering and Physics & Engineering STEM settings.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Bennett (Mill Creek High School: Hoschton, GA), Mary Morris (Mill Creek High School: Hoschton, GA), Jonathan Harper (Mill Creek High School: Hoschton, GA)

Research of informal science education institutions (ISEIs) documents the expansive and multifaceted ways that such spaces work in tandem with formal learning to support science instruction and lifelong learning (Kisiel, 2013). From a sociocultural perspective, ISEIs can be leveraged to include communities and celebrate the individual’s whole self in sense-making (Dawson, 2014; Warren et al., 2001). This presentation seeks to address the gap in ISEI opportunities for marginalized communities by sharing The Whynauts, a free virtual resource available for both English- and Spanish-speaking audiences. Using the Paleontology episode, the presenters will introduce the standards-aligned, interactive video series and engage attendees in hands-on, station-based activities. Attendees will learn how to adapt the video, educator guide, and supplemental activities for classroom use. Collectively, we will identify cross-curricular connections and discuss how to scale and differentiate the content.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain access to The Whynauts and explore ways to adapt the interactive video series and accompanying educator guides for use in teaching a variety of standards-aligned science topics.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Ratanapraphart (STEM Content Manager: Dallas, TX)

NSF’s NOIRLab’s Teen Astronomy Café – To Go! program brings the excitement of scientific discovery to students by providing them with an opportunity to explore real astronomical data using Python Notebooks. Join us as we unpack all educator resources and try to break the solar system!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore the Teen Astronomy Café – To Go! activities complimentary of the US-ELTP science themes and designed to support the NGSS. They will gain confidence to help students understand and simulate astronomical phenomena as they develop critical thinking and data literacy skills.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Sparks (NSF's NOIRLab), Justine Schaen (NSF's NOIRLab: Tucson, AZ)

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

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

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