2023 Kansas City National Conference

October 25-28, 2023

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

Sensemaking in Science: How to Help Students Make Meaningful Connections

Friday, October 27 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2103 C



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Fishbowl Discussion Slides
Resource Collection
This link will take you to a Google Doc full of all the resources used to develop this hands-on workshop.
Resource Collection for the Question Formulation Technique (QFT)
This link will take you to all the resources used to develop this speed share session.

Show Details

Join us to learn how to support student sensemaking in science class. We'll explore the importance of student discussion, share strategies for facilitating productive discussions, and provide tips for helping students make meaningful connections between their prior knowledge and new learning. Fishbowls and Reflections: Making space for all voices in discussions Using the fishbowl strategy, you can turn classroom discussions into an event where students all participate, actively listen and then reflect on the conversation. This strategy works really well for engaging students who are quiet as well as moderating students dominate the conversation. Building confidence in using scientific vocabulary Scientific vocabulary is the foundation for discussing and writing in the classroom but for many of our students vocabulary acquisition stops after initial use. Start your class with some vocabulary bell ringers to prepare them for the more challenging application activities ahead!

TAKEAWAYS:
Join us to learn how to support student sensemaking in science class. We'll explore the importance of student discussion, share strategies for facilitating productive discussions, and provide tips for helping students make meaningful connections between their prior knowledge and new learning.

SPEAKERS:
Ilana Saxe (The Lawrenceville School: Lawrenceville, NJ), Adrianne Toomey (Neuqua Valley High School: Naperville, IL), Rebecca Garelli (Arizona Science Teachers Association)

STEM Education: A Speed Sharing Session for Secondary Science Educators

Friday, October 27 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2208


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Join us for a speed-sharing session with secondary (MS and HS) science educators who are passionate about STEM education. This session is sure to inspire you to take your STEM teaching to the next level! Microbiology Makerspace, one college-level biology faculty’s attempt to implement the ideas of the Framework for K-12 Science Education in a university course This formative assessment and college microbiology course project was designed to provide an opportunity for college students to learn about sustainability; reusing materials, creating art, and prokaryotic cell structures. Discussion on microbe models, concepts: core HS LSL-1-1 and cross cutting. Exploring Genetics with the Game "Animal Crossing" This session will explore the genetic basis behind hybrid flower production on the video game Animal Crossing New Horizons and how you can use this popular game to gain student interest in genetics. STREAMS - Moving beyond STEAM toward more Transdiciplinary Learning We propose the idea of "STREAMS” as a way to conceptualize the future of STEM: This conversation will be organized around STREAMS 1) Science, 2) Technology, 3) Reading/ELA, 4) Engineering, 5)Arts 6) Mathematics, 7) Social Studies and how this can push the ways we think about STEAM learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will hear about educators' innovative teaching practices, effective strategies for engaging students, and creative ways to use technology in the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Miller (Ohio Unviersity: , OH), Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN), Kelli Feldman (Professor and Associate Dean: Lawrence, KS), Hannah Koford (Research Assistant: Provo, UT)

Sensemaking in the Early Years: Supporting Student Discussions

Friday, October 27 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2105


Show Details

In this session, we'll explore the concept of sensemaking and how to create opportunities for students to make sense of the world around them through discussion. We'll also share some practical tips for facilitating student discussions. Using Booklets to Connect ELA and Science Primary (K-2) teachers already use booklets to teach reading. Why not use them to teach science and sensemaking? Booklets and lessons on different kinds of leaves (~ NGSS K-PS3-1) and sunlight (NGSS K-PS3-2) are shared. Tips and guidelines for producing booklets and lessons are included. Interactive Read Alouds and Imaginative Inquiry with Preschool Students This presentation discusses a series of interactive read alouds and subsequent activities that leveraged imaginative questions like "does earth feel?" and student initiations to engage preschool students in critical thinking, inquiry, and other skills for scientific exploration.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, we'll explore the concept of sensemaking and how to create opportunities for students to make sense of the world around them through discussion. We'll also share some practical tips for facilitating student discussions.

SPEAKERS:
Jan Weaver (Retired), Joseph Spurlock (The Ohio State University: Columbus, OH)

Sensemaking in Science Education: A Speed Sharing Session for High School Educators

Friday, October 27 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2207



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
2023 Checklists for Assessment NSTA.pptx
One Page Summary “OPS” NSTA 2023.pptx

Show Details

This session is designed to be brief and to the point so that you can take away practical strategies for supporting student sensemaking in your own classroom! Using Cooperative Assessment to Support Student Understanding and Promote Retention of Learning in Science Take a look at cooperative assessment as a way to improve students’ understanding and retention of key science concepts in your classroom. We'll discuss the possible formats associated with cooperative assessment including timing, group arrangements, and scoring rubrics. Using One Page Summaries (OPS) to synthesize and encode information Learn how students can create one-page summaries to synthesize large amounts of information into a single page. This session will include research into drawing, color coding, dual encoding, and synthesis. We will have many examples to share from many different classes and age groups. Using checklists for assessment The use of rubrics is widespread in education. However, their general nature allows for ambiguity and conflict when students do not agree with how they were assessed. Checklists provide a clear alternative to rubrics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Topics include how students construct their own understanding of science; the role of prior knowledge in sensemaking; strategies for supporting student inquiry; and tools and resources for helping students make sense of complex concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Becky Sparks-Thissen (University of Southern Indiana: Evansville, IN), Kelly Sparks (University of Southern Indiana: Evansville, IN), Kirsten Landry (Kent Denver School: Englewood, CO), Leon Lau (Teacher: , AB)

STEM and Student Ideas: A Speed Sharing Session for Informal Science Educators

Friday, October 27 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2206


Show Details

Join us for a speed-sharing session on the innovative STEM ideas of students. This session is a great opportunity to learn from your peers and get inspired by the creativity of students.

You mean to tell me... Social media can improve [science] literacy?
Students already spend so much of their time on social media, so why not use it to our advantage? Learn strategies to increase literacy and engagement in science through the social media accounts of science organizations such as the ocean-drilling research vessel JOIDES Resolution.

Nature Journaling: 1 book, 5 ideas, 10 minutes
Be introduced to a free nature journaling curriculum and several activities to get started using nature journaling to enhance science notebook routines in your classroom. Tips will include ways to integrate the SEPs and CCCs , as well as math and ELA, with nature journaling.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hear from informal science educators about how they have incorporated these ideas into their programs and how you can do the same.

SPEAKERS:
Maya Pincus (Columbia University / U.S. Science Support Program: Palisades, NY), Dana Atwood-Blaine (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA)

Sensemaking and Phenomena: Engaging Secondary Science Students in Learning

Friday, October 27 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2203



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Handout - Spoiler Alert!
Shared in NSTA Session
Science Scope Article Spoiler alert!
Bergman, D.J. (2021). Spoiler alert! Avoiding hazards to science inquiry and classroom creativity. Science Scope, 45(1), 10-14. Available at https://www.nsta.org/science-scope/science-scope-septemberoctober-2021/spoiler-alert

Show Details

Join us for a speed-sharing session on how to use sensemaking and phenomena to engage secondary science students in learning. We'll explore the role of phenomena in sensemaking, share tips for selecting engaging phenomena, and discuss how to use sensemaking to support student learning. Using Images and Crosscutting Concepts to Cultivate Reasoning This session will incorporate sorting photos of different eyes to help educators and students explain their sorting choices by focusing on any of the crosscutting concepts to make sense of the images through that particular lens. Connecting precipitation chemistry to community: From modeling precipitation reactions to citizen science and service learning Presentation of lab-based modeling approach to precipitation (“double replacement”) reactions. Discussion of ways to integrate environmental science concepts, specifically biogeochemical cycles and water safety, into the chemistry curriculum. SPOILER ALERT! Avoiding Hazards to Students' Sensemaking and Authentic Science Learning "Spoilers" pervade entertainment news, social media, conversations . . . AND our science classrooms! Teachers must beware of spoilers that can sabotage, short-circuit, or short-change students' learning and sensemaking. Learn how to avoid spoilers and use alternative strategies to enhance lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Join us for a speed-sharing session on how to use sensemaking and phenomena to engage secondary science students in learning. We'll explore the role of phenomena in sensemaking, share tips for selecting engaging phenomena, and discuss how to use sensemaking to support student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Summers (Project ECHO for Education), Aaron Musson (Omaha Public Schools: Omaha, NE), Daniel Bergman (Wichita State University: Wichita, KS)

Creating a Classroom Culture that Supports Equitable Science Learning

Friday, October 27 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

Kansas City Convention Center - 2201


Show Details

Making sense of the world as part of a classroom community requires a classroom culture where all students feel like they belong and it is safe to participate, share their ideas, disagree, and productively struggle together. Participants in this session gain strategies and resources for developing and supporting the ongoing use of classroom norms.

TAKEAWAYS:
Classroom norms create a culture of equitable science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Zoe Evans (Bremen City Schools: Bremen, GA), Wayne Wright (NSTA: McLean, VA), Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Research to Practice in Secondary Science Education

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

Kansas City Convention Center - 2104 A



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
NSTA Speed Share Presentation_23.pptx

Show Details

Join us for a speed-sharing session on the latest research in secondary science education and how it can be applied to the classroom. This is a great opportunity to learn about the latest research and how it can help you make a difference in your students' learning.

STEM IRL: STEM Trailblazers for children of color
Addressing inequity in STEM professions starts with exposing students to current minority trailblazers in the field. If students see successful people who look like them, they can begin visualizing themselves in those roles, which can ignite a spark of curiosity and lead to a future in STEM.

Curricular Interventions to Improve Rural High School Students' Relatability to Scientists
Scientist Spotlights homework assignments that feature non-stereotypical scientists can help students see their possible selves in science. Students that author assignments on diverse scientists improve their science identity more than students that complete teacher-authored assignments.

Connecting electrochemistry to materials science: From modeling redox reactions to exploring materials science with dye-sensitized solar cells
Presentation of lab-based modeling approach to metal-metal ion (“single replacement”) reactions. Discussion of ways to integrate materials science concepts, specifically electrochemical cells and dye-sensitized solar cell construction, into the chemistry curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hear from experts in the field about innovative approaches to teaching science, as well as practical tips for improving your own practice.

SPEAKERS:
Christa Buccola Henriquez (MS 363 The Academy for Personal Leadership and Excellence: Bronx, NY), Fabiola Perez (Student: Edwardsville, IL), Maurina Aranda (Assistant Professor: Edwardsville, IL), Aaron Musson (Omaha Public Schools: Omaha, NE)

Discover NSTA’s High School Instructional Materials!

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

Kansas City Convention Center - 3501 F


Show Details

This session will introduce participants to NSTA instructional materials (lessons and units) designed for high school classrooms. These instructional materials are designed around the critical aspects of sensemaking: students experience a phenomenon, engage in science and engineering practices and share ideas and to build and/or apply disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts needed to explain how or why the phenomenon occurs. Sensemaking is in the vision of A Framework for K-12 Science Education - “the doing of science and engineering is highlighted as a strategy that can capture students’ interest in science and motivate their continued study.” (A Framework for K-12 Science Education, pp 42-43). NSTA lessons and units provide opportunities for all students to engage in science learning that is meaningful to them

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon-driven, three-dimensional lessons and units provide students opportunities to actively try to figure out how the world works or design solutions to problems (sensemaking).

SPEAKERS:
Holly Hereau (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

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