2023 Kansas City National Conference

October 25-28, 2023

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Rooms and times subject to change.
62 results
Save up to 50 sessions in your agenda.

Evidence-Based Teaching in Chemistry

Saturday, October 28 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2208


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Research has proved that active learning is more effective than traditional lectures. However, active learning requires additional support in addition to the textbooks. For example, POGIL needs workbooks to assist students' learning. Flipped classroom needs clickers to collect students' responses. This talk will discuss what kind of support is required by active learning, specifically for flipped classroom and Just-in-time learning from a practice standpoint and a technology standpoint. After the presentation, the attendees will be able to design their own material for their classroom teaching. After the presentation, the attendees will have skills to design their own material for their classroom teaching. For example, the attendee can prepare teaching material before class, during class, and after class for flipped classroom and Just-in-time learning. The attendees will also learn how to choose technologies to assist their implementation of their chosen teaching pedagogy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn a new tool to improve the teaching/learning efficiency of the classroom teacher AND reduce the workload of the teacher.

SPEAKERS:
Jack Huang (associate professor: Jacksonville, FL)

Author: Exploring the Three Dimensions with the NSTA Atlas and Quick-Reference Guide

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

This session will involve a synthesis of my two accepted conference sessions, each of which deals with a different NSTA Press Book.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Silver Spring, MD)

Science in Our Community: An Interdisciplinary STEM Unit on Viruses, Wastewater, and Public Health

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


STRAND: STEM Haven | STEM

Show Details

Part of an NIH Initiative, participants will engage in an interdisciplinary, phenomenon-based high school science unit composed of six 3-D lessons. Aligned with the NGSS, the lessons focus on viruses, wastewater, and public health, and aims to support students in making informed decisions about science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engage in a series of interdisciplinary 3-D lessons on science, technology, and public health using relevant phenomena like COVID-19, water quality, & wastewater treatment. All supporting documents and activities will be shared with the participants. Examples of student artifacts will be showcased.

SPEAKERS:
Sahar Alameh (University of Kentucky: Lexington, KY)

Quick Activities to Increase Data & Graph Literacy (Grades 3-10)

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


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Data is key to NGSS, yet many students struggle to make sense of it. Many of us are confused about how to help our students (especially post-pandemic learning) build and strengthen these skills. These classroom-ready, quick activities are based on what research says about how students learn from data! Come discuss strategies and access ready-to-use activities to integrate these skills into whatever your curriculum or platform is, as Do Nows and Exit Tickets. These strategies both foster science sensemaking for all students and increase students' interest in working with data (from Pre-K to 8th). Let’s set ourselves and our students up for success by building strong foundations... without having to reinvent the wheel ourselves or take away lots of time from the rest of our instruction!

TAKEAWAYS:
Access ready-to-use activities to build your students' data and graph skills, without taking a lot of time from the rest of your curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hunter-Thomson (Dataspire Education & Evaluation, LLC)

Making Sense of STEM in Pre-K

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Making Sense of STEM in Pre-K
NSTA KC23

STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

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Our EDP process and STEM practices provide students with words (to develop thinking, promote planning, etc.). We support our students with an equitable, safe, and developmentally appropriate environment to foster a place for students to learn, experience failed ideas, and move toward success.

TAKEAWAYS:
The way STEM and the EDP are embedded into Pre-K environments in our school meets the needs of early intervention and provides equitable access to education for children prior to beginning kindergarten.

SPEAKERS:
Brittany Clark (McKissick Academy: Easley, SC)

Equity and Diversity in the STEM Classroom

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Famous Bridges Around the World.pdf
Here are a selection of different types of bridges from around the world.
Links to Videos on the Constellations.pdf
Here is a link to videos on constellation stories from around the world.

Show Details

Too frequently, teachers wait until Black History Month to incorporate diversity topics into their curriculum. I will be sharing how to incorporate diversity and equity topics year-round into a STEM program for both elementary and middle school students. We will examine different science topics that can seamlessly be included in the science classroom. I will be showcasing some of the work my second, fourth, and sixth grade students have completed. In addition, I will be discussing the latest addition to the sixth grade weather and climate unit: Hurricane Relief and Environmental Racism. Finally, we will be examining the stories that different cultures have composed about the origin of constellations. After taking this workshop, participants will have a much better idea on how to incorporate diversity and equity topics into their curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will see how to incorporate diversity and equity topics into their STEM classroom. They will view some of the lessons my students have experienced, and they will discover how easily it can be to adapt their lessons to celebrate the contributions of many cultures.

SPEAKERS:
Joan Gillman (The Browning School: New York, NY)

STEM Share-a-Thon

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Teacher leaders are super heros. This STEM Share-a-Thon presentation will focus on being a teacher leader for STEM education. Participants will walk away with valuable information on how they can impove STEM education by following the Teacher Leader Model Standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with valuable information on how to improve their teacher leadership skills in the area of STEM education.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Wagenmaker (Holton Middle School: Holton, MI)

STEAM-Powered Stoichiometry: Where Art and Chemistry Converge

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


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Stoichiometry is a topic in foundational chemistry that is often difficult for students to grasp. In this lesson, students learn about stoichiometry from the perspective of making paint. The lesson plan brings together many chemistry topics that are often taught in siloed chapters: types of chemical reactions, balanced chemical equations, net ionic equations, limiting reactants, molarity, and solution stoichiometry. This lesson brings these topics together and students make sense of how the different topics are conceptually bound. The art component of painting a personal tile gives each student the opportunity for self-expression and the inclusion of each tile into a class quilt makes for a unique perspective of the collective.

TAKEAWAYS:
Student engagement in learning and understanding a difficult concept like stoichiometry is buoyed by inclusion of an art component and a descriptive narrative that allows for open expression of a student's interests or culture.

SPEAKERS:
Caroline Gochoco-Tsuyuki (Archbishop Riordan High School: San Francisco, CA)

Share-a-Thon: Computational Thinking Guided By Artificial Intelligence

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Platform to create with guidance from AI
Video demo of the platform, working with AI
Create with real-time guidance from AI and practice to think like a computer scientist

Show Details

This is a Share-a-Thon presentation highlighting the learning of computational thinking with the guidance from artificial intelligence. Through a live demonstration of describing a game's logic in English, the AI will guide the user to think computationally and bring the game to fruition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to: clearly articulate programming concepts, think like a programmer, relate various aspects of each sentence to computational concepts and constructs, and apply lessons to various subjects.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Hsiao (Virginia Tech: Blacksburg, VA)

Using Booklets to Connect ELA and Science

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Primary grades (K-2) are a challenge for science education. With the focus on basic literacy and math, there is little time for stand-alone science lessons. Here is one solution. Printable booklets are widely used to teach sight words (the top commonly used 100 words) or how to decode simple letter-sound relationships. With a careful selection of vocabulary words, they can also be used to introduce science ideas. The 6-part lesson 1) practices noticing and vocabulary; 2) uses the booklet to get students to notice, wonder, and ask questions; 3) plans an investigation; 4) carries out an investigation; 5) makes sense of results, and 6) shares results with others. The approach is illustrated with two booklets and lessons. One is on different kinds of leaves (NGSS K-LS1-1) and one is on the effect of sunlight (NGSS K-PS3-1), which can tie into building a structure to reduce the warming effect of sunlight (NGSS K-PS3-2).

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to create or recognize science literature that clicks with a teacher focused on reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Use that literature to craft a lesson that explicitly connects teaching ELA to student ideas, science ideas, science practices, and sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Jan Weaver (Retired)

Science Practices Innovation Notebook: Guiding Student Data Practices

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

SPIN, a FREE web-based notebook created with funding by NSF, has three customizable lessons for data-focused investigations in Earth Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. Teachers can also input their own lessons into SPIN. One of the teachers and one of the researchers who created the lessons in the notebook will be presenting. Teachers will see how SPIN works and how students can use the notebook and the metacognitive support features such as the Communication Hub, I’m Stuck button, and SPAARC prompts. Experiences of teachers and students who have used SPIN will be discussed. Teachers can customize a lesson in SPIN or input their own lessons with help from the presenters. By the end of the session, teachers will be able to use SPIN effectively with the ability to share the notebook with all of the teachers at their school. Use of SPIN is free and is found at https://spin.cehd.gmu.edu/login.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to use SPIN to download and edit a lesson from the Global Marketplace, or create their own lesson in SPIN. Teachers who have used SPIN note that this has helped their students understand data practices explicitly.

SPEAKERS:
Erin Peters-Burton (George Mason University: Fairfax, VA)

Build a Better Future Activity

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Build a Better Future Activity

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Engineers, architects, and builders design ways to make structures more durable, accessible, safer, and better. How can you build a better future? 1. Brainstorm: Use your imagination to design a structure for one of these scenarios. (K-2-ETS1-1) (3-5-ETS1-1) • Environmentally friendly design (K-ESS3-3) (5-ESS3-1) • Durable design to withstand a natural disaster (3-ESS3-1) (4-ESS3-2) • Improve an existing place to be more accessible. 2. Design: Draw a picture of your solution to the challenge. (K-2-ETS1-2) 3. Create: Build a model to represent your solution using only the pieces provided. (2-PS1-3) 4. Share: Think about your answers to these questions. Record your responses or share your answers. (3-5-ETS1-1) (3-5 ETS1-2) • What problem did you solve? • Explain how your solution solved the challenge. • What constraints did you have to follow in this activity? • If you could choose any materials, how would you modify and improve your design? • Brainstorm solutions for the other sc

TAKEAWAYS:
You will do a STEM challenge that uses the engineering design process in an easy and fun way with just a small bag of LEGO elements. You will receive a NGSS-aligned student challenge activity card as a takeaway, as well as a bag of LEGO elements!

SPEAKERS:
Tammy Pankey (Director of Education)

In-Class or Home School Integrated Math & Science Chemistry Research Projects

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
0-Workshop NSTA VitC Titration Handout GraphPaper.pdf
Workshop Vitamin C Lab - Graph Paper
0-Workshop NSTA VitC Titration Handout Instructions.pdf
1-NSTA Vit C Titration Handout.pdf
2-NSTA Vit C Clock Handout.pdf
Vitamin C Lab
3-NSTA Red Cabbage Handout.pdf
4-NSTA Foot to Hand.pdf
5-NSTA Milk Lab Handout.pdf

Show Details

This presentation revolves around the development of two distinctive research projects: Vitamin C Project and the Carbon Dioxide Project. In the Vitamin C project, participants extract juice from fruits and determine the vitamin C content using common household chemicals. In the Carbon Dioxide Project, participants quantitatively determine the amount of carbon dioxide and water produced when mixing specified amounts of baking soda and vinegar. The capture of carbon dioxide and water in clear balloons is an engaging way to apply basic mathematics to a chemical reaction. Embracing an integrative approach to teaching science and mathematics helps bridge the gap between knowledge learned and knowledge applied. This presentation will provide educators with innovative, standards-aligned projects that foster student interest in science and mathematics. For 3rd - 6th graders, these research projects can be delivered through storybooks!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain full activity descriptions and handouts for at least three projects and learn how to integrate math skills into research projects that promote critical thinking and discovery (targeting 3rd - 12th grade).

SPEAKERS:
Sharron Jenkins (Georgia Gwinnett College: Lawrenceville, GA)

Creating Equity For Black Science Students

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


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In this presentation, I will describe how an action research study with a phenomenological qualitative design can be used to examine reasons that reluctant Black students use to not register with advanced science classes. My session will describe how to employ a community of inquiry to identify and remove barriers for underrepresented students. Qualitative data from focus group interviews with student participants will be presented, and I will show how a community of inquiry can analyze data. Attendees will learn about school changes proposed by a community of inquiry to reduce or mitigate barriers that underrepresented students encounter. I will also explain the benefits of iteratively revised proposals based on student participant feedback. Additionally, the implementation of proposed school changes will be discussed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Qualitative research provides educators with direct knowledge from reluctant participants. This session provides attendees with tools to assist in problem-solving and removing barriers for underrepresented students in advanced science classes.

SPEAKERS:
Diane Vrobel (Archbishop Hoban High School: Akron, OH)

Clean Cut - Learning about Simple Machines and Engineering Design

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
CleanCut

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Simple machines are historically a difficult subject to teach due in part to limited integration with other content. The Clean Cut unit is suitable for upper elementary students and combines the concept of the wedge and the engineering design process. The goal is not only to introduce students to simple machines but also to introduce them to the nature of engineering design. Throughout the unit, students learn that one perfect solution does not exist; instead, they learn to tolerate and learn from failures. The students learn why simple machines are used in everyday life and design a solution to a problem while learning about and using an engineering design process. The students refine their design to fit within the constraints and criteria set by a client. Students test the design and collect qualitative data to refine their design. The unit includes a summative assessment in the form of a letter to the client describing what was learned about simple machines and engineering design.

TAKEAWAYS:
The context of the lesson is designing a tool to split soap for use by people who have been through a natural disaster. Participants will learn about the integrated approach using engineering design and simple machines, experience part of the unit, and receive the handouts for use in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
William Walker (Assistant Director, CATALYST: No City, No State), Sopheak Seng (Mr.: Lafayette, IN)

S.O.S. [Science Olympiad Success] => Start Up-Survival-Standards

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
S.O.S. (Science Olympiad Success)
Link to our presentation, helpful documents and National Sci Oly links.

Show Details

Coaching Science Olympiad 30+ years and my science teaching cousin still a rookie, we offer tips and tricks on team startup or management. Join us to hear how I took a tiny Nebraska school to win B and C Divisions at Regionals my first year at Arcadia. Having been a veteran coach at four public schools, this amazing educational science event molded careers for my students, cousin, and four children. My cousin started a team in western Nebraska which added travel challenges across our state. We will share ideas on how to manage 2 teams of 30+ students to compete in 24+ events that coaches rarely get to see. Nebraska coaches often make tests for 2 events in 4 time slots to judge. Balancing team preparation and meeting NGSS/state science standards is a challenge while teaching a full day with 3-7 preps. The NE Director asked me to mentor more S.O. coaches so here we are. Teachers will be enlightened with a poster, slide show, paper examples and 3-D visuals to help coaches find success.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain ideas to start their own Science Olympiad Team/s. How to select students for various events to earn team points in each, make user-friendly maps with schedules, reminders and information students can follow, and build unity by wearing team designed school shirts.

SPEAKERS:
Polla Renken (Science Instructor: Kearney, NE), Stacey Bauer (Spalding Academy: Spalding, NE), Marie Wadas (Arcadia Public School: Arcadia, NE)

Leveraging AI Within The Engineering Design Process

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Leveraging AI Within the Engineering Design Process (1).pdf

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This session will showcase how artificial intelligence (AI) can be integrated within STEM-based design challenges to enhance student engagement and the 'improve' step of the engineering design process. Teachers usually stop design challenges after students test their designs. The presenter will walk participants through how to develop AI prompts, engage students in reflecting upon the AI responses, building/creating and testing the AI provided solution, and ultimately, guiding students through the reflection and optimization process. The students are challenged to "beat the computer" by utilizing data collected through the test phase to create an optimized solution that will be tested against the AI-generated solution. The presentation will take the form of demonstration, discussion, and provision of examples.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) within STEM-focused design challenges to engage in the test and improve/optimize steps of the engineering design process.

SPEAKERS:
Dennis Dagounis (Berkeley Heights Public Schools: Berkeley Heights, NJ)

Online Preliminary Course Could Increase Engagement and Retention for Incoming General Biology and Anatomy Undergraduate Students

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


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Throughout teaching Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) and General Biology, students often face academic challenges surrounding these two foundational courses. One intended method to overcome these challenges is to implement a preliminary online course that students can complete before starting the academic year. Attendees will discuss how to design their own preliminary online course through an interactive workshop (in electronic and hard-copy formats) with group-based activities (e.g., discussions and demos) for any college-level biology course. We will also demonstrate various methods and assessments (e.g., recorded videos, quizzes, virtual escape rooms) best suited for students who choose to take the prep course, through our findings at our current college. A sample of our current preliminary online courses can be found via this link: https://sites.google.com/springfieldcollege.edu/bioprepcoursessc/general-biology-online-course

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about our experience using a preliminary online course for undergraduates. Attendees will then learn how to design their own prep courses focusing on what students require in general biology and anatomy.

SPEAKERS:
Gemma Bartha (Instructor: Springfield, MA)

Latinas In STEM -- Using An Asset-Based Mindset To Encourage Latina STEM Persistence

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA KC 2023_ Using an Asset-Based Approach to Identify Sources of Persistence for Latinas in Selecting STEM Undergraduate Degrees.pdf

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The population of Latinx students is rapidly growing in the United States, yet Latinas are underrepresented in STEM careers compared to their peers of other identities. This could be in part due to the deficit-based ideology that has historically been utilized when describing this group's success in academic disciplines. This presentation will highlight the findings of a recent qualitative study that asked Latina STEM undergraduate students to reflect on their sources of persistence in high school STEM coursework. The study participants’ responses were correlated with Yosso's (2005) “Community Cultural Wealth Model" to identify their unique sources of strength and persistence in STEM. The study findings will serve as the foundation for recommendations to be made for the implementation of equitable and asset-based shifts to promote Latinas’ persistence and success in STEM at the secondary levels.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using an asset-based approach, participants will engage in social justice-themed conversations to equitably encourage Latina high school students’ persistence in STEM coursework. Ready-to-use strategies will be featured to promote greater perseverance in STEM for Latinas.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Vitello Lowell (Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy: North Windham, CT)

A New Take on STEAM – Using the Krebs Cycle of Creativity to Investigate the Intersections of Art, Science, Engineering, and Design

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

This poster presentation will use the Krebs Cycle of Creativity, as created by Dr. Neri Oxman, as a framework for a new approach to interdisciplinary sciences. I will explore the intersectionality of art, science, engineering, and design. This will include how the synergy between these disciplines creates opportunities to study how art and design affect our behavior, how design and engineering impact utility, how engineering and science creates knowledge, and how science and art portrays information. I will use examples from my own classes to highlight how the Krebs Cycle of Creativity can provide a new lens to view interdisciplinary teaching in the science discipline. This will include examples of projects, teaching materials, and student samples. Visitors will leave with a tangible understanding of how their school can move away from the siloed STEAM approach and move towards a more holistic approach that connects the many different disciplines of science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Visitors will leave with a new lens to view interdisciplinary science teaching including examples of projects, teaching materials, student samples, and a tangible understanding of how their school can move away from the siloed STEAM approach and towards a more holistic take on teaching science.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Vorel (6th Grade Science Teacher: Webster Groves, MO)

Shining a Light on the “T” in STEM-- Engaging Elementary Students in Computational Thinking Using Activities About Light.

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


STRAND: STEM Haven | Computer Science

Show Details

Even though children interact with the natural and designed worlds daily, they don’t often think and act like scientists and engineers-- who often use computational thinking. Come see how to embed computational thinking into an elementary lesson on light!

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to incorporate computational thinking into science lessons!

SPEAKERS:
Jesse Wilcox (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA)

Incorporating Appendix H Into Lessons to Build Skills in the Nature of Science

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

We’re all passionate about science, and part of that passion stems from the fact that no other discipline is exploring the entire physical universe and making sense of our world. No other discipline can make predictions as accurately as science can! It’s so powerful and engaging that some misunderstand it and use it for purposes it isn't intended to be used for. Some even manipulate our students’ misunderstandings of science, creating enough confusion that our students believe in junk science, disinformation, or even deny science! As science educators, we sometimes get distracted by all the minutia on our plates and do not directly incorporate the NGSS Appendix H: Understanding the Scientific Enterprise in our work. Students find joy in “debunking” bad science and become future citizens who can sniff out scientific misinformation. We'll enhance activities with the scientific thinking that is developed from a deeper understanding of the nature of science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Get a chance to share your questions about how to help students think like scientists, instead of letting their misconceptions lead the way in how they view the world. Bring your stories. Build a response to logical fallacies. Gain insight into Appendix H of the NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
Ericca Thornhill (Mizzou Academy: Columbia, MO)

What Pre-Service Teacher Interns want from their Field Host Teachers -- and Vice Versa

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Interviews with pre-service teachers and their host teachers inform how host teachers can best support observing pre-service teachers, and how observing pre-service teachers can authentically and meaningfully engage in the classroom. The poster will present how both parties can work together to create a learning environment that both the pre-service teacher and host teacher mutually benefit from, and address typical pitfalls causing disengagement and miscommunication in the classroom environment. The research serves to answer the questions of "What do pre-service teachers and host teachers need from each other to produce a meaningful observation experience?" in order to progress science education preparation programs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Both practicing and pre-service teacher attendees will learn how to best support each other during teacher practicum observation hours to ensure both parties mutually benefit and learn from each other.

SPEAKERS:
Carol Compton (Chemistry Teacher: O'Fallon, MO)

STOM: Revealing Engineering in Nature

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Within collaborative groups, team members work through age-specific engineering challenges based on the natural world. Participants engage in each step of the Engineering Design Process through free online Missouri Department of Conservation Discover Nature School curriculum. The Pre-K group will use recycled materials, creating bird feeders to test quantity and strength. The kindergarten group will create a model of a bear den, testing strength and weaknesses of weather conditions. The first grade group will analyze armor and behavior of living isopods, and research other common Midwest animals with protective layers. From this research, they will create their model and test its protective nature. Using seed dispersal as a phenomenon, the second grade group will model and test different seed dispersal methods as assigned for their specific seed to explore. Participants will share how to connect engineering and ELA within their classroom through supporting trade books.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through hands-on practice and application of the engineering design process, participants will engage in asking questions, building models to test shape and function of an object, and test and identify strengths and weaknesses within grade-level groups. Utilize local nature for engineering prompts!

SPEAKERS:
Gwendolyn Parrett (Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center: Kansas City, MO), Mary Beth Factor (Discover Nature School Curriculum Coordinator: West Plains, MO)

Hands-On Titrations Anywhere: Teaching Inquiry and Scientific Practices with Paper Microfluidics

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Hands-on lab experiments are crucial for students to develop proficiency with the science and engineering practices in the Next Generation Science Standards, but traditional labs often require hazardous materials, expensive equipment, long lab times, and dedicated facilities, leaving them out of reach for many schools. Paper microfluidics provides a safe, low-cost, and easy-to-use platform to do hands-on chemistry experiments without specialized equipment or lab spaces. MICRO Project experiments use paper microfluidics to teach inquiry-based chemistry labs. Each MICRO lab is designed to engage students in science and engineering practices and includes instructor notes, customizable pre- and post-lab questions, student procedures, and background on a relevant issue of equity and justice. These labs have been used by thousands of students at universities, community colleges, and middle and high schools. Participants at the Share-a-Thon will perform a MICRO titration lab.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to integrate authentic scientific practices into safe, hands-on, low-cost lab experiments.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Roller (PhD Candidate: Mishawaka, IN)

Using Checklists For Assessment

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
2023 Checklists for Assessment NSTA.pptx

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As teachers are required to assess a student’s understanding of competencies in addition to knowledge outcomes, they have used tools more commonly used in other disciplines. For example, rubrics have been a tool used to assess many forms of student work. Their general description of each achievement level provides flexibility and personalization. This is particularly useful for essay assignments. However, in lab reports, this often leads to ambiguity. Students may not know the difference between an “acceptable” demonstration of communication compared to a “skilled” demonstration. Despite repeated instruction, the generalized description of rubrics allows room for conflict and negotiation between students and teachers. Rubrics can be redesigned into checklists to remove the ambiguity. It is clear whether or not students have demonstrated each aspect of a competency. This session will share a few of these checklists for teachers to use in their own classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Checklists can be made from rubrics. Checklists are more clear and reduce ambiguity.

SPEAKERS:
Leon Lau (Teacher: , AB)

The ASSET Program (Advancing Secondary Science Education through Tetrahymena)

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Children are naturally inquisitive about the world around them. ASSET activities nurture that innate curiosity by engaging students in an interactive, hands-on exploration of the world of biology using safe, easily manipulated live Tetrahymena. Each module introduces students to a core biological concept using an interactive approach that involves scientific observation, manipulation of experimental materials, and evaluation of results. Each module is a stand-alone unit that comes with information relating the content to core concepts and, and is supported by an equipment lending library that can provide teachers at under-resourced schools with the materials needed to carry out the modules. Comprehensive teacher guides and detailed student handouts are provided for each module to facilitate classroom implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be introduced to ASSET and will conduct modified lab activities to see how ASSET can be used in the classroom to address topics like microscope use, cell parts and processes (phagocytosis & osmolarity), and the effects of smoking, vaping, and alcohol on living cells.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Hausner (Teacher), Anne Deken (John Burroughs School: St. Louis, MO), Alexandra Forgerson (Instructional Specialist: University City, MO)

Cutting Through the Chemistry of CRISPR Cas-9.

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

The unique nature of this presentation leverages the extensive knowledge and experience of both a chemistry and a biology educator (who is also a research scientist) to show how teachers can use biotechnologies, such as DNA Fingerprinting and CRISPR Cas-9, to motivate student exploration while expanding their chemistry knowledge and inspiring them to pursue research. This topic is particularly important because CRISPR Cas-9 is at the forefront of medical breakthroughs such as CAR-T cell cancer treatments and gene therapy. Unfortunately, this topic has not yet been used to its full potential in the classroom. This presentation will raise awareness among teachers of how to explain and utilize biotechnologies in various ways. Specifically, this session will show how to use chemistry to explain CRISPR Cas-9 while emphasizing the six elements of life, functional groups, and macromolecules (using hands-on molecular models) to leverage sense making to explain these complex processes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to excite students to learn and apply the chemistry necessary to understand the latest breakthroughs in biotechnology such as DNA Fingerprinting and CRISPR Cas-9. This presentation will showcase the crosscutting concept of systems and system models.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Allison (Dawson Education Service Cooperative: Arkadelphia, AR), Patrycja Krakowiak (Biology Instructor: Hot Springs, AR)

Google Sites for the Advanced Science Lab

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Resources for Building Your Google Site

Show Details

Attendees will walk through the process of creating a Google Site specific to their classroom. They will learn how to create a master template to share with their students and how to help their students get started with the Google Site. They will also learn how to support their students as the Google Site is used to submit projects, portfolios, or lab notebooks. Attendees will learn how to insert pictures, files, and videos into the Google Site to create a more interactive resource for students. Attendees will begin to create their own template in the session with the goal of having a template ready to use in their classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Google Sites streamlines the grading process for lab notebooks and projects.

SPEAKERS:
Brodie Solomon (Physics Teacher: Ft Worth, TX), Katie Labadie (Science Department Chair: Fort Worth, TX)

Free Resources to Resolve Scientific Misconceptions in Evolution and Climate Change

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

For the purposes of the STEM Share-a-Thon, NCSE will have two mini-stations set up to provide quick, meaningful previews of our evolution and climate change lessons. We will have a variety of student and teacher handouts ready to take home for immediate use in the classroom, and a variety of SWAG to help spread the word about scientific literacy and our evidence-based approach to NGSS storylining. The National Center for Science Education's mission is to ensure all students have access to a sound science education, regardless of societally contentious regional topics like evolution and climate change. Our lessons were developed for teachers by teachers and have been extensively field-tested over the past three years. As we are a non-profit organization, all our resources are free. For more information, and to check out the variety of lessons we will have available at the Share-a-Thon, go here: https://ncse.ngo/supporting-teachers/classroom-resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Scientific literacy and critical analysis of verified evidence are more important than ever in the secondary classroom. NCSE has developed lessons to resolve common misconceptions encountered online and through social media. All resources are free, NGSS-aligned, and readily available online.

SPEAKERS:
Blake Touchet (National Center for Science Education: Oakland, CA), Lin Andrews (: Oakland, CA)

Gender Disproportionality: Observations, Initial Findings, and Action Steps to Achieve Gender Parity for Advanced STEM Courses

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Program Poster - Gender Disproportionality.pdf
Protocol and Criteria for School Counselors to Increase Female Student Enrollment in AT Physics.pdf
Protocol and Criteria for Teachers to Increase Female Student Enrollment in AT Physics.pdf

Show Details

Female student engagement in the STEM fields does not currently match the level at which male students are engaged. Whether it is in high school course enrollment, college, or careers, males outnumber females in terms of enrollment and study of advanced STEM fields, particularly physics, and engineering. Incorporating Advanced Placement Potential as a measure of demonstrated aptitude, this program will review the current research findings and intervention strategies, including action steps to reverse this trend and promote a more proportional, and equitable, enrollment of males and females in advanced STEM courses.

TAKEAWAYS:
Awareness of current enrollment trends, the phenomenology inherent in gender disproportionality, and the sharing of action steps to take to reduce gender disproportionality that are designed to increase enrollment for female students with documented individual Advanced Placement Potential.

SPEAKERS:
Richard Stec (West Windsor-Plainsboro High School: Hamilton, NJ)

Peer-To-Peer Learning From Coast-To-Coast

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Understanding environmental issues requires students to understand science and social factors. To improve student understanding of how different regions are impacted by, and seek solutions to, environmental issues, educators at three institutions connected students in General Education life science courses. Faculty from the participating institutions -- Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC), Louisiana State University (LSU), and San José State University (SJSU) -- have created a semester-long project in which students met virtually in small groups to discuss specific environmental issues. Students research local environmental issues to share and compare with their peers in other locations and create communication tools (e.g., websites, podcasts, etc.). Data collected through student surveys indicates students connected with peers in different locations have enhanced knowledge and understanding of how similar environmental issues impact people in different parts of the world.

TAKEAWAYS:
This talk will explain logistics of this multi-institution project. This includes the faculty having to coordinate instructions and due dates, policies to protect students' rights when communicating, and the use of common rubrics for assessing student work.

SPEAKERS:
Tracy Hmielowski (Assistant Profesor: Riverdale, IA)

Extreme Living: Making Sense of Changing Weather Patterns and Designing Solutions

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

This presentation will provide teachers with a ready-to-teach Unit designed to help their students experience several Physical Science, Earth-Space Science, and Engineering NGSS standards. The unit addresses global weather patterns and the impacts of potential pattern changes. It also addresses thermal energy and its applications in building design. All middle school science teachers; whether new to profession, new to phenomena based learning, or seasoned veterans will find something new and exciting to bring back to their classrooms. This Unit combines my understanding of the middle school science classroom with expertise of curriculum writers at Pacific Education Institute. Teachers will receive help planning lessons, activities, and discussions. They will also take the role of a student to have first hand experience with labs and activities. Teachers will receive a digital copy of all of the instructional materials including grading rubrics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to teach and assess a dynamic 3-D unit addressing Physical Science and Earth Space Science NGSS Standards. Teachers will leave with editable access to all Unit materials. Teachers will get time and guidance on how to adapt the Unit to their classroom and student needs.

SPEAKERS:
Kat Chamberlain (Ridgetop Middle School: No City, No State)

Power Up with Gamification

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Countless studies have found that teachers are struggling to support students in maintaining focus, finding self-worth and being intrinsically creative learners. Gamification provides the building blocks for engagement, community, healthy competition, and self motivation and works with any grade level and any subject. With gamification, students can use their creativity in learning choices and earn incentives based around curricular and extracurricular themes. Student examples from a sixth grade science classroom include review challenges that emphasize content and game elements. Participants in this session will gain the initial building blocks to create their own game for their classrooms that is manageable and can be enhanced over time. Activities will include defining gamification and creating their own game theme. During the session the participant will participate in a game challenge by using a choice board to explore and expand the strategies and methods of gamification.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will begin the journey, learning strategies of engagement in science class using gamification.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Simmons (Klahowya Secondary School: Silverdale, WA)

Applying Crosscutting Concepts and Science and Engineering Practices to Elective Courses

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


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As a district, we have worked to ensure that all courses have three dimensional standards. We currently teach all of the NGSS standards by the completion of sophomore year. Our freshmen physical science course teaches the physical science standards and one-half of the earth science standards, while our sophomore biology course teaches the biology standards and the other one-half of the earth science standards. To meet the rigor of NGSS, our elective courses such as Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Forensics Science and Plants and Propagation have all built upon the NGSS standards in content, along with identifying Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts. Our goal would be that participants would leave with a process in which they could do the same. Our process has been influenced by the 5 tools training as well as many of the NSTA publications designed to lead teachers and teacher leaders in standard development.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with examples of elective standards that are three-dimensional.

SPEAKERS:
Teresa Bender (Omaha Northwest High School: No City, No State), Jennifer Rhine (Omaha Public Schools: Omaha, NE)

3-D Instructional Materials and Assessments for Share-a-thon

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

It takes a ton of time to make your own 3-D lessons and assessments. Come learn where you can get a ton of great ones that you can use in your classroom right away. Materials for life science, physical science, and earth-space science, grades 3-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Where to find great 3-D instructional materials and assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX)

Create Interactive, Randomized, & Self-Grading Questions! (Free Tool)

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


STRAND: STEM Haven | STEM

Show Details

Create interactive questions with randomizable values for your students using our completely FREE tool!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn how to use my tool to create interactive, randomized questions to use with their students!

SPEAKERS:
Jack Replinger (FormerTeacher / Founder: , WA)

Fly Into Science and Engineering Practices with Birds

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Birds provide an accessible context for student science investigations and creative engineering design projects. From building a bird feeder from recyclables, to building nest boxes for specific species, to thinking critically about bird adaptations, using citizen-science projects to inspire authentic questions and original scientific studies… we aim to help creative students engage in STEM! During this workshop, I will provide free resources to help teachers develop students’ science and engineering practices—while also supporting a connection to the local environment. During this time, teachers will: • Work to create a bird feeder and chat about the factors that make a successful design • Design a well-adapated bird that can survive in a challenging habitat

SPEAKERS:
Susan Licher (Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Ithaca, NY)

Integrating Culturally Responsive Literacy Instructional Strategies with 3-D Science Teaching in K-3 Learning Spaces

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


STRAND: STEM Haven | STEAM

Show Details

In this interactive workshop, new science teachers will explore ways to implement the 3-D Science Teaching Framework and the tenets of Culturally Responsive Literacy Instruction (CRLI) to build equitable learning experiences in literacy and science for young learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will provide opportunities for young learners to apply literacy skills while learning science concepts that relate to real-world experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Cletis Allen (CLETIS Education Consulting LLC: No City, No State)

The Influence of In-School Computer Science Experiences on Students’ Career Intentions

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

We report results from a large-scale nationwide study titled “Researching Pre-College Factors that Lead to Persistence in Computer Science,” which has been supported by the National Science Foundation. This retrospective cohort study, including data from 6,044 students at 58 institutions of higher education across the U.S., investigated, among other questions, the effects on students’ computer science related career intentions of designated computer science classes in high school, and the teaching of computational thinking in high school classes other than computer science classes. We specifically looked at the effects of various types of in-school computer science classes (AP CS A, AP CS Principles, non-AP courses), of grades received, and of specific pedagogies in computer science classes, as well as in other classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
What difference do various "flavors" of in-school computer science classes (AP CS A, AP CS Principles, non-AP courses) make?

SPEAKERS:
Gerhard Sonnert (Harvard College Observatory: Cambridge, MA)

Assessing Preservice Teachers’ Knowledge and Experiences: A National Study

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


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The Science Education Dept. at Harvard University conducted a nationwide study, over the course of three semesters, on the strengths and weaknesses of STEM, and on the teaching knowledge of preservice educators who will soon enter the STEM teaching workforce. By examining pre-service teachers’ experiences before and during their preparation program, we’ll share our findings about experiences that optimize teacher knowledge for effective science teaching. The study also characterizes two essential types of teacher knowledge: 1) subject matter knowledge; and 2) pedagogical content knowledge concerning the common preconceptions and misconceptions held by learners, reflecting stages in student learning progressions. This research helps identify promising features of undergraduate PST programs for future implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn what factors impact preservice teachers’ interest in teaching, the status of teacher education programs, and what are the strong and weak STEM content knowledge areas of preservice science teachers, including the prevalence of learning about students’ misconceptions.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Sadler (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian: Cambridge, MA), Cynthia Crockett (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian: Cambridge, MA)

How to Identify and Provide Actionable Feedback for STEM Instructional Practices

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA Poster Session Oct 2023.jpg

Show Details

A quality STEM program is key to developing within students the skills needed to be happy, healthy, and productive citizens. This requires quality STEM instructional practices to be employed in our classrooms. The majority of school districts in Indiana have a single evaluation instrument to evaluate all certified teachers, with no specific focus on STEM instructional practices. Providing teachers actionable feedback, specific to STEM instructional practices, is a critical component of this work. The tool created for this work can be adapted to any local teacher evaluation instrument.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with a tool, that they can adapt to their own district, to support identifying and providing actionable feedback for STEM instructional practices.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Hilton (Central Indiana Educational Service Center: Indianapolis, IN)

Using Coding in the Science Classroom

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Using TI Nspires, Rovers, Hubs, and arrays attendees will learn how a science teacher from South Arkansas incorporated simple coding into his science classroom. We will draw VSEPR molecular models with Rovers, see how hubs and arrays can "brighten" up the electromagnetic spectrum calculations of wavelength, frequency, and energy with sound, pictures, and color. No coding experience necessary.

TAKEAWAYS:
Ideas on how you may incorporate simple coding into the science classroom and give topics new life.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Coker (Camden Fairview High School: Camden, AR)

What Science Standards and Science Content Look Like If We Take Inclusion Seriously

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Article: Framing and determining science content and standards for cultural repr
Visibility In STEM
YouTube Channel: Visibility In STEM

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This presentation disperses the published findings of the science standards and science content research for including the lived experiences and narratives of African American Gullan/Geechee and Black heritage, and situates the lived experiences and narratives of Black people in the science curriculum content. The author has created lessons and implemented these by looking at the pre- and post- changes in students’ understandings of the nature of science. This particular presentation shares and unpacks these science standards and provides resources that can be used to carry out these activities. Multimedia products have been used as an engaging context to lead inquiry explorations using best practices in science education pedagogy, such as argumentation. This work provides takeaways that bridge theory and practice in science education. For example, framing includes, but is not limited to, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Understanding by Design to show the thinking and rationale.

TAKEAWAYS:
Practical inclusive science standards that benefit all and considers best practices in science education pedagogy. A different way of thinking about inclusion by considering how we approach the science content and what science content is included.

SPEAKERS:
Catherine Quinlan (Howard University)

CONSTRUCTing Effective Assessment Questions using the NGSS DCIs

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


STRAND: STEM Haven

Show Details

Using the Disciplinary Core Ideas and a research-based “citizen science” approach, science educators contributed their own test items, and helped to revise existing test items in order to address crucial issues such as difficulty, gender, and racial/ethnic bias that were present in the item analysis characteristics. We share the analysis and results of these efforts so that educators can assess their own test items to be more inclusive of all students’ understandings in one of the dimensions of the 3D-approach to learning. Learn what changes contributed to improvement of the item as well as what types of changes or revisions made the item worse than before. We also share results of field testing of these items in student classrooms and discuss the importance of incorporating students’ misconceptions into the response choices to capture their true understanding of science concepts as outlined in the DCIs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn to evaluate assessment questions that you use to assess students’ sensemaking of elements outlined in the NGSS DCIs. Are the questions free of bias, not too difficult, indicative of overall student performance? Do they include common misconceptions that students hold? Utilize a free resource.

SPEAKERS:
Philip Sadler (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian: Cambridge, MA), Cynthia Crockett (Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian: Cambridge, MA)

Georgia State University Summer Teacher Radon Research Workshop

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Prolonged exposure to radon, a colorless, inert noble gas, is the second-leading cause of lung cancer. Researchers at Georgia State University and Perimeter College are conducting research to measure and monitor the levels of radon gas in metro Atlanta through support from USDA and NSF grants. This project will detail the partnership between Georgia State University and DeKalb County Public Schools to provide an authentic experience by hosting a radon research summer workshop for 6-12 grade STEM teachers in 2022 and 2023. The teachers conducted hands-on laboratory experiments that modeled the research that is being conducted by the Georgia State University researchers and toured the sampling sites. The workshop received positive feedback from both cohorts. The workshop will detail how universities and school districts partner to strengthen the STEM pipeline and incorporate university-level research in a secondary classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how universities and K-12 school districts can partner to provide authentic science experiences to transfer high-level university research to a secondary classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Andrews (GSU Perimeter College)

Get Ready for the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

The workshop will provide participants with the following information and learning experiences: 1.) Where and when the solar eclipse will be visible, including how to find what will specifically happen in their location. 2.) Three-Dimensional learning strategies to use with their students to understand what causes both lunar and solar eclipses, including what causes lunar phases and how knowing what causes lunar phases is key to knowing when eclipses occur. 3.) How to safely observe the eclipse using a variety of observing strategies 4.) Suggestions for how to make the most of the eclipse as a school and/or community-wide event. 5.) What overall resources that NSTA has to help them make the most of this celestial event.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with links to 3-D teaching strategies for students to understand the science behind eclipses, plus safe viewing strategies and ways to make the event a school-wide experience.

SPEAKERS:
Dennis Schatz (Institute for Learning Innovation: Beaverton, OR)

"H-Two-Poo": Contextualizing High School Science Through Wastewater Testing and Public Health

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


STRAND: STEM Haven

Show Details

In this session, participants will experience part of an NGSS-aligned unit on wastewater testing and COVID-19. This six-lesson unit utilizing the 5E learning approach was developed through the collaboration of educators, engineers, scientists, medical doctors, and public health experts within an NIH-funded project. Attendees will participate in the fourth lesson of the sequence, entitled “H-Two-Poo.” Participants will first test the quality of different water samples to answer the driving question “how do you know if water is safe to use?” Participants will then learn about sources of wastewater, methods of wastewater management, and the development of a wastewater testing protocol to detect the presence of COVID-19. The experiences of high school students and teachers who have participated in the implementation of this phenomenon-based unit will be shared, including data from student surveys and handouts, along with photos of field trips to the community wastewater treatment facility.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will utilize science and engineering practices to collect and analyze water quality data. They will further learn how science and engineering have been used to develop wastewater testing techniques that inform public health decisions in our communities.

SPEAKERS:
Sagan Goodpaster (University of Kentucky: Lexington, KY)

Putting It All Together With PBL

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


STRAND: STEM Haven | STEAM

Show Details

During this session, participants will discover how our school utilizes all resources to make PBL a learning experience like no other! Learn how our school collaborates with experts and stakeholders throughout the community to bring experiential learning to our students in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how our school implements PBL through cross-curricular concepts using art, technology, and research integration as well as bringing in community experts to make for an immersive learning experience.

SPEAKERS:
Tyler Lappe (Instructional Coach: Cape Girardeau, MO)

Identifying Schoolyard Opportunities For Authentic Science Investigations

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Schoolyard Resources Folder

Show Details

In this interactive presentation, the presenter will share a schoolyard science template and guide attendees through how to customize the template for their local community. The presenter will share examples and resources to support each component of the schoolyard science template including (a) the use of satellite imagery and schoolyard assessments to identify existing schoolyard resources, (b) connecting 3-D learning standards to place-based schoolyard science opportunities, and (c) opportunities for stewardship and civic engagement. The presenter will share several strategies to engage students with the SEPs in the schoolyard as they observe, measure, monitor, and experiment with their local environment. The schoolyard science template was developed as part of Advancing Science’s NOAA-funded grant to develop an environmental literacy plan in collaboration with Adams County, PA school districts.

TAKEAWAYS:
The ability to customize a schoolyard science planning template for their local community. Connect local schoolyard resources with the DCIs and SEPs to help students make sense of their local environment while learning science content.

SPEAKERS:
Valerie Stone (Gettysburg College: Gettysburg, PA)

A STEM Education Center's Eclipse Outreach for 2023 and 2024

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

This STEM Share-a-thon session acts as a come-and-go session where attendees can learn about our outreach for the 10/14/23 eclipse. Our goal with this outreach was to reach most, if not, all 5th grade students in Lafayette County, MS. In Mississippi, students learn about eclipses in the 5th grade. In this session, we will share what we did, how we were able to get all the moving parts in place, and what we learned while conducting this outreach. Attendees will also learn about our partnership with our local library for a public viewing party on the day of the eclipse. Attendees will receive a handout detailing how we conducted and met both outreach goals. Attendees will also see photos from our events and resources that influenced our outreach. Presenters will be available for questions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will receive a handout detailing a report of our outreach in Lafayette County, Mississippi. Attendees will also be able to see pictures of our events, and receive ideas about how they might conduct their own public outreach for the April 2024 eclipse.

SPEAKERS:
Alice Steimle (Director: University, MS), Christian Clark (University of Mississippi: University, MS)

Elementary STEM Unit: Lessons and Insights

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
STEM Share-a-thon Poster

Show Details

Explore an innovative K-2 STEM unit by Elaine Makarevich. Discover engaging lessons and resources tailored for young learners. Gain insights from the teacher/author on the creation and development process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain access to STEM lessons and resources, and hear from the teacher/author who wrote the lessons on how she developed them.

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Makarevich (SubjectToClimate)

Community Science Data Talks

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

N/A

TAKEAWAYS:
You will takeaway teacher tools to support planning and implementing each flexible practice, along with understanding how these practices have played out with teachers and students. These takeaways will be supported by student and teacher examples of work with, and reflections on, these practices.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Lawson (Teaching Assistant Professor)

Equity In STEAM

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

How to organize and plan a school-wide STEAM event that provides opportunities for all students to engage richly with STEAM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Identify the components to include in your own STEAM event in order to provide all students with an equitable learning experience.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Bartol (Hillside Elementary School: Montclair, NJ)

Engaging Middle School Students in Blackout Poetry

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

To some students, poetry may seem daunting. But if we look at poetry as writing in short lines and lists of words, it becomes less scary. In our science classrooms, students may also find that some concepts are difficult. But what happens if we give students opportunities to play with ideas and rehearse those ideas in short lines and lists, or poems, that they create? In our Linking Science, Mathematics, and Literacy for All Learners program, teachers have developed integrated literacy lessons to help students learn scientific content. As students write to learn, they are also learning vocabulary and approaches to help them read and understand complex science texts. One of these strategies is black-out poetry in which the writer is blacking out, or eclipsing, words on the page to create something new. In this session we will share how blackout poetry can be used in different ways with a variety of texts so that all learners can blend their science learning and poetry writing. We wil

TAKEAWAYS:
In this activity, students read and comprehend a scientific text, and then determine the key terms and domain-specific vocabulary. They use this information to create a poem, as well as a visual representation of the text. This is appropriate for upper-elementary through high school students.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Lannin (University of Missouri: Columbia, MO)

Wild About Science! Gaining HQIM with Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium is on the cutting edge of STEM education. We know that learning continues beyond the four walls of a traditional classroom. At Omaha's Zoo, the world is our classroom! We serve over 158,000 students annually and amplify the importance of bringing learning to life for all students. Through this share-a-thon, educators with Omaha's Zoo will offer insights into what Omaha's Zoo's students doing in our community and provide content that leads to stronger instruction, deeper engagement, and higher achievements. Participants will see how HQIM are used in our Zoo Academies, Zoo After-School Programs, Zoo Outreaches, and Citizen Science Programs. Participants will have access to grab-and-go content offered through Omaha's Zoo Education Department and gain meaningful ways to connect students to the world around them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Connect with Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium educators to uncover how we bring learning to life for all students. See what Omaha's Zoo's students are doing in our community with HQIM and take away content leading to stronger instruction, deeper engagement, and higher achievements.

SPEAKERS:
Kenzie Meegan (Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo: No City, No State), Brian Priesman (Outreach Coordinator: Omaha, NE), Leah Litz (Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium: No City, No State)

I Don't Want To Quit, But....

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


Show Details

Teacher retention is a big topic across the nation today. While many teachers have retired early, quit in the first few years, or even in mid-career, there are many strategies to up one's classroom management game -- NGSS-style. Beyond that, we want to ensure that we are also taking care of ourselves and planning for our future. This presentation will go over a list of things we can do to stay sane now, and plan for the time when we do transition out of education. It will also give teachers, administrators, and others ways to address the root causes of the exodus. For instance, one school district worked with parents, the community, teachers, and students to implement an almost-total restriction of phone use during the school day (through the use of Faraday bags), with the result of all their schools returning to animated happy kids, eager to learn and participate in class. Other "future focused" strategies will be featured in this guided discussion of options for teachers and schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will take away strategies for successfully staying in teaching, reducing stress, and engaging in one major strategy for staying in-- planning for the future! De-stressify, and get ready for the next chapter in your life, while staying sane where you are!

SPEAKERS:
Julie A. Smith (Lennox Middle School: Lennox, CA)

Ignite STEM: Empowering Scientific Explorers Through Video Creations

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


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Join us as we take you through a hands-on journey, walking you step-by-step through the process of crafting impactful movies. Whether you’re a seasoned tech enthusiast or new to the world of video editing, this session caters to all levels of expertise. Learn how to: 1. Choose the Right Software: Explore the functionalities of iMovie, Clips, and other popular editing tools, and determine which one suits your presentation style best. 2. Plan Your Story: Dive into the art of storytelling and how to structure your presentation to convey information effectively. 3. Capture and Edit Footage: Discover techniques for capturing engaging video content and editing with precision, including adding transitions, effects, and captions. 4. Incorporate Visuals: Learn how to integrate images, graphics, and animations to enhance your message and keep your audience engaged. 5. Perfect the Audio: Understand the importance of clear audio and explore how to incorporate music, narration, and sound effects.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how to seamlessly integrate critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, information literacy, media literacy, technology literacy, flexibility, leadership, and initiative into their STEM curriculum through video-based projects.

SPEAKERS:
Tambra Clark (Birmingham City Board of Education: Birmingham, AL), Portrice Warren (William James Christian K-8 School: Birmingham, AL)

Career Info + Career Experience + Research Project + Mentor = 89% Choosing STEM Career

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


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STEM Career awareness has been done in many ways, as has STEM experiences. Students doing research projects is not new, nor is having mentors. What IS novel is how a coordinated effort to move students from career awareness, to interest, to proficiency through doing research in a mentored and well-resourced environment with extensive Teacher PD at the core, really results in 89% of the students choosing a STEM career. Based on a 12-year case study, the combination of intentional (teacher/student) support centered around a specific STEM career has outcomes tracked in a free online database. This presentation will share the formula, coach teachers to create their own implementation plan during the session, and offer web access to the free online database so teachers/students can track their own progress and benchmark it to aggregated anonymous data of others doing similar programs. Teachers are able to pull/share a PDF report of their own outcomes and as compared to others.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a written plan for their chosen career focus and lists of resource suggestions to help implement this program locally, as well as access to an online data tracking system where they can benchmark outcomes and receive tabulated reports at no charge.

SPEAKERS:
Jill Ott (Science Coach: Saint Louis, MO)

Physically Active Modeling For Comparing States of Matter

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Ideal Gas Law Students as Particles Activity Handout.docx
Physically Active Modeling Ideal Gas Laws Lesson Plan.docx
Physically Active Modeling States of Matter (1).pptx
Physically Active Modeling States of Matter Blank Handout NSTA 2023 .docx
Physically Active Modeling States of Matter Slides Handout NSTA 2023 KC.docx
QR Code Physically Active Modeling For States Of Matter NSTA 2023.png

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This activity has students/participants act as particles. To start, participants are given baseline information about how attractive forces between particles can vary from very strong to negligible, & that particles are always in motion. To model very strong forces participants link arms at the elbow, for moderately strong forces they hold hands, & for weak/negligible forces they can only hold each other’s pinky fingers. Participants start far apart & move very slowly to model a very cold temperature. At this speed, all of the participants are able to form an organized structure (solid). With each iteration the participants move faster. This results in the weak force group not being able to form structure (gas), the moderate force group being clumped together but not organized (liquid), & the strong force group still being able to form an organized structure (solid). Activity will then be modified to explain WHY gas law variables have the relationships they do (P,V,T, n).

TAKEAWAYS:
Students will not only know the properties of solids, liquids, and gasses, but will also be able to give in-depth explanations as to WHY the properties are different by behaving as the particles at different temperatures and with different attractive forces.

SPEAKERS:
Clark Ellis (The Kinkaid School)

Invention Education Lightning Round

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


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This Share-A-Thon stop will include information and free teacher materials from the USPTO's Office of Education presented by a Master Teacher of Invention Education & Intellectual Property. There will also be an opportunity for further networking with other fellow elementary teachers.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will walk away with free materials from the US Patent & Trade Office created specifically for elementary teachers, along with an invitation to explore further with a Master Teacher of Invention Education & IP.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Hoppe (STEMisED, Inc)

Corn is "A-MAIZING"!: Incorporating Agriculture in the STEM Classroom

Saturday, October 28 • 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Kansas City Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Share-a-thon Area


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This Share-A-Thon Session will feature a display that contains hands-on (Make-n-Take) projects, lesson plan ideas, student products, handouts, information about community resources and more. This PreK-5th grade presentation will highlight the need for exploring ways to incorporate agricultural literacy within STEM based lessons. This session will connect attendees with resources, such as Kansas Corn and National Agriculture in the Classroom, where they can discover ways to add the world of agriculture to their STEM teaching! Because we all rely on agriculture for food, fuel, fiber and more, combining agricultural education and STEM education are a natural fit. When agriculture is brought into the classroom, students become aware of the impact their actions have on the world and can gain an appreciation of the world around them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with a variety of activities and easy-to-implement STEM ideas that incorporate agricultural literacy. We'll also explore ways to secure community resources, materials, and lesson plan ideas. Agriculture education and the STEM fields are a perfect match!

SPEAKERS:
Nancy Smith (Heatherstone Elementary School: Olathe, KS)

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