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)

Learn how the NASA TechRise Student Challenge helps students build and fly their own experiment ideas in suborbital vehicles (balloons and rockets), as well as how it helps inspire students across the nation to engage in STEM, research, and technology projects.

TAKEAWAYS:
TechRise's unique approach to STEM enables students and educators of all experience levels to learn tangible engineering skills including coding and working with electronics. The challenge aims to engage student teams across the U.S. in the technology experiment design and flight test process.

SPEAKERS:
Deanne Bell (Future Engineers: Burbank, CA), Lucas Moxey (NASA Outreach: Edwards, CA)

Go behind-the-scenes of a vehicle crash-test facility to learn about the latest research regarding equity issues and crash testing.

TAKEAWAYS:
Is crash testing biased against women? Exploring the reality of this question offers students and teachers an opportunity for real-world studies of nature of science topics such as correlation vs. causation as well as statistical data analysis techniques and other engineering practices concepts.

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

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)

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)

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)