Students do best with applied hands-on experiential learning. The ‘After Dark’ theme of this workshop is intended to provide tangible resources for educators to take abstract concepts from their curriculum and make them accessible to students with glow in the dark, phosphorescent activities to take.

TAKEAWAYS:
Data collection and interpretation is an essential skill that hits-home the concepts students find in their textbooks. ‘After-Dark’ makes a miniature lab-course out of many of the bio/chem/phys/eng principles in ways which are memorable/relatable taking advantage of STEM tools for data collection.

SPEAKERS:
Will Collins (BioInnovation Dir: Halifax, NS, NB)

Get hands-on with sensor technology to uncover meteorological phenomena and discover how these tools can help make connections to weather and climate literacy for students in upper elementary-high school classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
There are affordable sensor technologies available to help turn students of all ages into data-collecting scientists and meteorologists.

SPEAKERS:
Harris Muhlstein (University of North Carolina Wilmington: Wilmington, NC)

In this session, you will learn about how the Iowa Governor's STEM Council, CSTA Iowa, local area education agencies, and business partners came together to bring a collaborative approach for CS Education week to all sectors, not just educators, because CS Education week is about being all in!

TAKEAWAYS:
How to leverage partnerships to bring a collaborative, high quality computer science resources and professional development to educators as well as activities for students.

SPEAKERS:
Corey Rogers (Grant Wood Area Education Agency: No City, No State), Mauree Haage (Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council: No City, No State)

This session will explore the application of online interactive laboratory simulations in secondary science courses. The presentation will overview different approaches and best practices to introduce virtual labs in blended learning environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to implement virtual labs into their daily classroom lessons and apply different instructional practices.

SPEAKERS:
Giancarlo Perez-Flores (Teacher)

Need more support for STEM investigations and projects? Review a 3 year grant-funded STEM training to improve media specialists’ understanding of STEM as “thinking and doing.” Examine sample hands-on investigations, tools, and websites to help media specialists’ support of STEM at all grade levels.

TAKEAWAYS:
Media specialists have access to many different resources but may lack accurate understanding of STEM and the guidance students need for resources to promote STEM. This session will illustrate an effective all grades/subjects in-service program which could be adapted for use in a school or system.

SPEAKERS:
Gail Marshall (self-employed consultant: No City, No State), Melissa Johnston (University of West Georgia: Carrollton, GA), Judy Cox (N/A: No City, No State)

Participants experience three different digital design challenges using branching scenarios that provide student choice and data sets involving wind energy, electromagnetism, and the greenhouse effect. Each challenge is done in a different Google platform - Sites, Forms, and Slides.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in three digital design challenges to test the efficiency of wind turbine blades, the strength of electromagnets, and the greenhouse effect on different land surfaces (polar region, water, and desert) using Google sites, forms, and slides.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Tonkinson (eesmarts: Hartford, CT), Sharyon Holness (eesmarts: No City, No State), Kathleen Brooks (CREC: No City, No State)

Use award-winning videos, crash-science demos and teacher tip-assisted activities including paper car crashes, egg drop cushions and stretchy slime to teach science and engineering concepts related to vehicle crashworthiness and highway safety.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participant will learn how to access inquiry-based lessons and video-supported activities integrating STEM concepts with vehicle crashworthiness and crash avoidance technologies.

SPEAKERS:
Pini Kalnite (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute: Arlington, VA), Griff Jones (University of Florida: No City, No State)

In this workshop, participants will be guided through the free online module created by Underwriters Laboratories (ULXplorlabs: Fire Forensics Claim and Evidence). This module provides a unique platform for learning fire science in an investigator academy; and then applying this science to an arson investigation simulated in the labs of the UL Fire Research Institute. Participants will have an opportunity to see the potential for blending this media and technology resource with three additional modalities of learning: oral discourse, fire related investigations, and interactive notebooks. Participants will experience these modules and complementary hands-on strategies as means to engage students in sense making via analysis of real fire data.

TAKEAWAYS:
Underwriters Laboratories online ULX modules use current issues to engage and motivate learning about scientific ideas that can be applied to engineer solutions for relevant problems.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Gilbert (Griffin Middle School: Smyrna, GA)

Bring science lessons to life with the integration of augmented reality (AR) & virtual reality (VR). This session explores the use of AR & VR tools such as zSpace, Merge Edu & Oculus Quest to transform science assignments and classroom projects.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with ideas and strategies that they can immediately implement in science classroom lessons. Attendees will leave with practical examples of AR & VR tools and resources they can begin using with their students in integrated, earth & space, physical, and life science classes.

SPEAKERS:
Tommy Clay (Atlanta Public Schools: Atlanta, GA)

As educators, we strive to bring meaningful and relevant learning experiences to our students each day, to connect the dots between what we're teaching and how it applies to the real world. We need to inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers, and there are no better role models than those who are on the frontlines of researching, documenting, protecting, and exploring our planet. Every scientist and explorer remembers when it happened, when their passion for their chosen pursuit was ignited. It may have been meeting someone, seeing a documentary, reading a book, or an inspirational educator. You can spark these 'aha' moments for your students by bringing the world into your classrooms through virtual connections with leading scientists and explorers around the world, and it's easier than you think! Join educator and National Geographic Explorer Joe Grabowski and dive into exciting resources, along with tips and tricks for engaging students before and after.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover the benefits of bringing exciting scientists, explorers, and conservationists live into your classroom, while exploring how easy it is to do with exciting resources like Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants, Explorer Classroom, Google, and more!

SPEAKERS:
Joe Grabowski (Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants: Elora, ON)

This session presents an activity using the popular “escape room” format in which students solve clues using science knowledge to complete the challenge.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience and explore ideas to enhance in-person learning through competitive activities and gamification using and adapting a digital escape room format with an energy focus or their existing curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Tonkinson (eesmarts: Hartford, CT), Sharyon Holness (eesmarts: No City, No State)