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)

Sponsoring Company: Museum of Science, EiE

N/A

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Cramer (ALSDE DLCS Integration Specialist: Hoover, AL), Mallory Schmidt (Museum of Science, Boston: Boston, MA)

This session provides a “snapshot” of how to use the 5E model of instruction, along with children’s literature while learning the process of coding different bots.

TAKEAWAYS:
Prepare to focus your lens with highlighted lessons in ELA, Math, and Science. This session puts the “T" in STEM into action.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Headrick (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Huntsville, AL), Charles Holloway (The University of Alabama in Huntsville: Huntsville, AL), Cayce Perry (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Huntsville, AL), Shundra Morris (AMSTI-University of Alabama, Huntsville: Huntsville, AL)

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

For over 15 years NOAA Ocean Today videos have engaged students in environmental phenomena. Watch never before seen clips of a new animated series that explores ocean, weather, and climate connections. Wherever you live, Ocean Today’s over 300 videos will be a powerful asset in your teaching toolkit

SPEAKERS:
Kurt Mann (NOAA National Ocean Service: Silver Spring, MD), June Teisan (InnovatED 313: No City, No State)

Provide students with the power of citizen science as they make scientific observations and analyze data to increase awareness worldwide about the impact of light pollution using NSF’s NOIRLab’s Globe at Night program. Students engage with authentic data to propose local solutions to light pollution

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the impacts of light pollution and walk away with resources and strategies to implement this citizen science campaign in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Sparks (NSF's NOIRLab: No City, No State), Justine Schaen (NSF's NOIRLab: Tucson, AZ)

Learn about the PrimaryAI project and how it integrates artificial intelligence and computer science education into elementary life science.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this presentation, you will learn about PrimaryAI, a project that uses a rich, problem-based learning scenario in which students are tasked to gain experience with AI and apply their knowledge to help an endangered species.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Scribner (Indiana University Bloomington: Bloomington, IN)

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)