Sponsoring Company: Milestone C & STEMI

This essential Foundations of Tech will provide an introduction to areas of new-age tech that are embedded in Industry 4.0, including design, robotics, and AI. Let's work together to make students developers, instead of consumers, of tech and STEM for their future and ultimately, career choices.

SPEAKERS:
Dave Conelias (Milestone C LLC: Shelton, CT)

Sponsoring Company: Milestone C & STEMI

Bring AI tech to your classroom in an engaging way!  Visit this workshop to learn about how this technology is influencing and controlling our lives and how educators can teach your students so they are prepared and connected to the jobs of the future that are waiting for them.

SPEAKERS:
Dave Conelias (Milestone C LLC: Shelton, CT)

STEM educators often teach in traditional settings without exposure to innovative teaching methods. Traveling nationally or internationally can offer valuable insights into how other STEM educators use local experiences to teach. This session covers topics such as applying for national and international STEM professional development programs, benefits for educators and students, and strategies to broaden global perspectives through PBL. Participants will also learn how to apply for grants to fund classroom activities and potentially send students on the same experiences. The session provides practical examples and insights to empower participants to take action and apply their newfound knowledge in their communities. By attending, educators can enhance their teaching skills and create long-lasting lesson plans.

TAKEAWAYS:
Enhance teaching skills and knowledge in STEM subjects for better student learning outcomes with effective strategies and resources. Attend this session to discover the benefits of national and international educator study tours for professional development.

SPEAKERS:
Oktay Ince (Horizon Science Academy Columbus High School: Columbus, OH)

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Join us for this fun, interactive workshop in which you will apply a molecular diagnostic test, basic principles of virology, and clues hidden within a restaurant to track the chain of infection of a novel norovirus. The results may just make you want to wash your hands…

SPEAKERS:
Leigh Brown (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA), Tamica Stubbs (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Dissect several mammalian organs and explore links between anatomy and physiology. Examine real-world examples while connecting structure with function of engaging organs including the cow eye, sheep heart, and bull testicle. Use these workshop objectives to bolster your 3-dimensiona instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Patricia Kopkau

I Was A Kid: How people in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math/Medical Fields Got from There to Here This presentation introduces teachers to the purpose and concept underlying this new program devoted to demonstrating pathways into STEAM advanced education and professional fields.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science identity is the first step to a future in STEAM; observing the process of entering the fields and seeing problems/solutions modeled through multimodal presentations is also key.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Romano Young (Science communicator: Bethel, CT)

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)

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 (Associate Professor of Instruction: No City, No State), Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN), Kelli Feldman (Professor and Associate Dean: Lawrence, KS), Hannah Koford (Research Assistant: Provo, UT)

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)

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)

Join us for a fast-paced session where you'll learn about a variety of tech tools, and STEM Night Ideas that can help you engage your elementary students in science. This session is designed to be informative and interactive, so come prepared with questions. We'll also have time for a Q&A at the end. Enhancing Teaching Efficiency and Personalizing Learning: The Advantages of ChatGPT for Teachers' Lesson Planning This proposal emphasizes the benefits of AI, specifically ChatGPT, in teaching practices. ChatGPT reduces the workload and stress of lesson planning, and offers personalized resources that can enhance teaching efficiency and improve student engagement and achievement. Flippity: A go to versatile tool to increase engagement Flippity can "easily turn Google™ spreadsheets into flashcards and other cool stuff." This session will highlight three go to interactives to increase student engagement with one another and with content. Consider bringing a device to practice creating one or two of these cool things. Family STEM Nights Participants will gain insight into how to plan a school site or district wide STEM Night. Grant writing, community partnerships, do’s and don’ts, creating engaging, interactive booths for students, and timeline for planning the event will all be discussed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Join us for a fast-paced session where you'll learn about a variety of tech tools that can help you engage your elementary students in science. This session is designed to be informative and interactive, so come prepared with questions. We'll also have time for a Q&A at the end.

SPEAKERS:
Li Zhu (PhD student: , IA), Hye Ryung Won , Lauren Wagner (Ph.D. Candidate: , FL), Hyesun You (University of Iowa: Iowa City, IA), Simone Nance (University of Southern Indiana: Evansville, IN), Jeff Thomas (University of Southern Indiana: Evansville, IN), Krissy Johnson (Midwest City-Del City ISD #52: Oklahoma City, OK)

Science educators will share their favorite tech tools for teachers and students. Learn about tools for interactive simulations, virtual field trips, data collection, and more. This is a great opportunity to discover new tools and learn how to use them in your own classroom. ASTE: Assistive Technology, Students with Learning Differences & Achieving Scientific Literacy A presentation of the findings from a study addressing the impact of audio technology to uncover the ideal devices that best advance scientific literacy and comprehension for students with learning differences. How science really works: Enhancing instruction with the Science Flowchart interactive Find out how to modify your current instruction to better communicate the dynamic process of science using an interactive tool from the Understanding Science website. Help students recognize science as a dynamic, exciting, creative, and intensely human endeavor! Tech Tools to Improve Student Data Fluency from Rubin Observatory Rubin Observatory has applied multiple strategies to improve student data fluency and self-efficacy in the design of its free online astronomy investigations. These investigations feature interactive tools and innovative authentic data representations designed to address common topics in astronomy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Science educators will share their favorite tech tools for teachers and students. Learn about tools for interactive simulations, virtual field trips, data collection, and more. This is a great opportunity to discover new tools and learn how to use them in your own classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Clement Gomes (CUNY Guttman Community College: New York, NY), Felicia Mensah (Teachers College, Columbia University: New York, NY), Lindsey Roy (Science and Digital Learning Coordinator: Lincoln, NE), Betsy Barent (Lincoln Public Schools: No City, No State), Ardis Herrold (Vera C. Rubin Observatory: Tucson, AZ)

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Is your food genetically modified? Learn three different hands-on activities that explore this topic. First, simulated PCR analysis using pre-amplified DNA (no thermal cycler needed), then DNA extraction and PCR, and next, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Bonus activity: use ELISA to detect GMOs!

SPEAKERS:
Tamica Stubbs (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA), Leigh Brown (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Two out of three drug overdoses are due to opioids. Understanding the environmental & genetic links to drug dependency can reduce risk when opioids are prescribed to high-risk patients. Discover how math, genetics, & personalized medicine can determine the likelihood of addiction.

SPEAKERS:
Leigh Brown (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA), Tamica Stubbs (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA)

Food is a basic necessity of life, yet in the United States there are over 6,500 food deserts affecting 19 million people. Food deserts are geographic areas that lack access to affordable, healthy food options. During this session, participants will engage in conversations for how to address this inequity with students as they engineer food producing hydroponic systems. The Hydroponics storyline is the third in a series being developed by a group of 25+ educators from the midwest for science and agriculture teachers that engage students in developing explanations for agricultural phenomena and solving real-world problems. Students utilize the three dimensions of NGSS in each of the storylines as they learn about food systems, or the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food products and interactions with the natural environment. Specific emphasis is placed on developing skills related to the Scientific & Engineering Practices and building Crosscutting Concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about a new storyline on hydroponics that explores food deserts which are geographic areas that lack access to affordable, healthy food options. Attendees will discuss one option for addressing this inequity with students as they engineer food-producing hydroponic systems.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Embry Mohr (Olympia High School: Stanford, IL)

STEM SAIL Ohio project team members will share how this grant-funded work is supporting science education in Ohio through focused regional partnerships. The discussion will include topics like: The Appalachian STEM Collaborative, a STEM Ecosystem that serves some of Ohio’s neediest students and has demonstrated exceptional growth in the wake of COVID-19. The DreamSTEM Educator Summer Externship Program, where teachers participate in business and industry activities and learn how those roles connect with their own content area. “STEM Stories” of teachers like Mark, a computer science teacher at an Ohio high school whose Game Design students are developing job training simulations for a local factory. Participants will see the immense value of cross-sector collaboration to advance classroom and workforce connections in STEM fields. They will be inspired to seek professional and industry connections to strengthen the classroom-workforce pipeline in their own schools and communities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the STEM SAIL Ohio project from the perspective of program designers, STEM ecosystem partners, and Ohio educators. They will hear examples of activities designed to support teachers and student success, and will be encouraged to connect with their nearest STEM ecosystem.

SPEAKERS:
Sadie Norwick (TIES: No City, No State), Christa Krohn (Director of Learning Systems: , OH)

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Experience CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing experiments designed for your students' learning! In this hands-on workshop, edit a chromosomal gene, complete with essential experimental controls, using the same cut-and-repair technology used in medicinal and agricultural applications.

SPEAKERS:
Tamica Stubbs (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA), Leigh Brown (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Students often struggle to tie cellular respiration and photosynthesis together. Come and experience how algae beads help students easily visualize both processes in one experimental system. They can then extend their learning by changing light intensity, light color, and temperature...."

SPEAKERS:
Leigh Brown (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA), Tamica Stubbs (Bio-Rad Laboratories: Hercules, CA)

Mankind will not survive without water. It has been a quest for centuries to find clean and safe water to drink. The team gathered samples of water from nine (9) sources. Using the HACH Arsenic Test procedures, results show that all of the waters sources have an arsenic level of 30 parts per billion (ppb) which means that IF LEFT UNTREATED, water will NOT be SAFE for drinking, mixing into beverages, cooking, washing fruits and vegetables, or for animals to drink; but SAFE for all other domestic uses, including bathing, washing dishes, doing laundry or irrigating gardens. This has a negative impact on human health, the environment, and to the economy. It is recommended that the Zuni community should have a water treatment plant that will support reverse osmosis technology, and an iron oxide filter system, or they should switch drinking water sources.

TAKEAWAYS:
The audience will learn the importance of knowing the level of arsenic in water, and how this condition impacts the community and the whole ecosystem. The audience will also learn about technologies that can help get rid of/minimize arsenic contamination in water.

SPEAKERS:
Roy Basa (Zuni Public School District: Zuni, NM)

For Teachers, By Teachers -- A group of 25+ educators from the Midwest are currently developing a series of storyline units for science and agriculture teachers that engage students in developing explanations for agricultural phenomena and solving real-world problems. Students utilize the three dimensions of NGSS in each of the storylines as they learn about food systems, or the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food products and interactions with the natural environment. During this session, participants will learn about storyline #2 which challenges students to figure out how different soils affect the kinds and quantities of food commodities that can be produced. Topics include: what is soil, effects of soil on plant growth, movement of matter and energy in soil, and how to decrease human impact on soils and biodiversity. Specific emphasis is placed on developing skills related to the Scientific & Engineering Practices and building Crosscutting Concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in activities that are part of a new storyline unit on how soil affects the types and quantities of food commodities grown. Topics include what is soil, the effect of soil on plant growth, movement of matter and energy through soils, and how to decrease human impact on soils.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Embry Mohr (Olympia High School: Stanford, IL)

How do you teach students to make healthy food choices? Learn some simple hands-on activities that teach students how to understand the Nutrition Facts label to help them to make better choices when eating at home and when dining out. Content is based on the free FDA curriculum: Science and Our Food Supply: Using the Nutrition Facts Label to Make Healthy Food Choices Teachers will leave with the tools to help them teach nutrition activities, as well as learn about the newest FDA curriculum, Science and Our Food Supply: Examining Dietary Supplements. Learn how dietary supplements are defined and regulated so you can arm students with the knowledge to avoid dangers and make wise choices. Participants will engage in activities about the physiological effects of caffeine on the body. We will also look at resources to teach students about supplements banned by athletic organizations. Presenters will share with participants exciting opportunities for free professional development.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about fun hands-on labs and activities to engage students in the science of nutrition and dietary supplements, how to use free FDA resources to teach about healthy food choices, and how to engage students in activities about the psychological effects of caffeine on the body.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Hartley (Hinkley High School: Aurora, CO)

Activity – Minerals needed to power an electric vehicle and where they are mined 1. Discussion on some of the critical minerals for the green economy & how/where they are mined and provide resources to teachers to assist them in presenting this information: • Jobs of Tomorrow Video Series (https://media.smenet.org) • Minerals Education Coalition website • Educational activities and MEC Mineral Baby (minerals needed in a lifetime) and MEC Minerals Needed Each Year graphics • USGS listing of where minerals are mined (USGS Commodities Summaries) 2. Discussion on the wide array of exciting work available in the minerals industry and related resources including: a. Minerals Education Coalition website free resources about careers, including handouts, activities, videos and PowerPoints, and b. MEC new career-themed activities and new publication of information about related careers. Careers to be discussed include: • Mining Engineer • Geological Engineer • Metallurgist • Geologist

TAKEAWAYS:
Innovation, artificial intelligence, and technology are all modern mining and minerals industry hallmarks. One of the safest and most lucrative engineering careers today; mining professionals solve problems from project management to meeting mineral demands.

SPEAKERS:
C. Dale Elifrits (Northern Kentucky University: Highland Heights, KY)

Presenters will share the FREE FDA curriculum, Science and Our Food Supply: Investigating Food Safety from Farm to Table. Participants will learn about labs that are easy to conduct in the classroom, to teach students the SCIENCE behind why we wash our hands, avoid cross contamination, cook foods to the appropriate temperatures and use pasteurization. They will also learn about the most common food borne pathogens by creating their own booklet with stickers of bacteria to match the pathogens involved in foodborne illnesses. Teachers will look at the FDA’s curriculum: Exploring Food Agriculture and Biotechnology. Participants will engage in an activity regarding how new cultivars of produce are developed. They will gain the knowledge to lead their students through activities involving genetic engineering practices that affect our food supply. Presenters will also share with participants exciting free professional development opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn how to access the FDA’s FREE curriculum; ways to incorporate Food Safety and Biotechnology into your everyday curriculum, and about FREE. There will be asynchronous professional development opportunities.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Hartley (Hinkley High School: Aurora, CO)