What is the purpose of technology? In this session we want to help you improve the time, effectiveness, and proficiency of curriculum planning, lesson delivery, and student engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
With these applications, tools, and helpful examples, we will show you how to speed up the process of curriculum planning, lesson delivery, and student engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Felicia Poole (Wilkinson County School District: Irwinton, GA), Chivas Spivey (Educational Consultant: MACON, GA)

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)

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)

Come discover how free, NSF-funded simulations and curricula from The Concord Consortium can add all three dimensions of the NGSS to your physics, physical science and chemistry teaching, with a special emphasis on the Science Practices. Bring a device and take away free resources!

TAKEAWAYS:
Strategies in the use of simulations for 3D NGSS-aligned teaching

SPEAKERS:
Chad Dorsey (The Concord Consortium: Concord, MA)

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)