Learn a design process for creating three-dimensional assessment tasks that support student learning. We will introduce participants to each phase of the process: unpacking dimensions, developing integrated dimension maps, articulating learning performances, identifying phenomena, and designing tasks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the steps of a systematic process for designing three-dimensional tasks that align with NGSS performance expectations, take into consideration students’ diverse backgrounds, and can be used in classrooms to provide information to teachers and students to improve learning.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Krajcik (CREATE for STEM Institute, Michigan State University: East Lansing, MI), Christopher Harris (WestEd)

Come join us to see how OpenSciEd’s materials can help you reveal your students’ brilliance. This professional learning institute will simultaneously prepare you to teach the first unit in the OpenSciEd middle school program and provide the support you need to advance your practice so that learning is both driven by student questions and leads to the foundational science learning they need to be successful. To do this, this session will put teachers in the student’s seat so they can feel what it's like to be a student whose thoughts and questions are valued in the drive to figure out puzzling phenomena. We actually do science together with the facilitator acting as the "teacher" and then dig in to see the coherence across the program and the details in the first units of OpenSciEd’s program.

In the morning, coaches, admin, and teachers will be together. In the afternoon, teachers will keep digging into the materials and instructional coaches or administrators will have the option to move to a breakout room to learn more about the tools and resources that are available to support teachers in impactful implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
How OpenSciEd's free and publicly available instructional materials and professional learning can make a district's vision for science education a reality.

SPEAKERS:
Thomas Clayton (K-5 STEAM Specialist: Berkeley Heights, NJ), Heather Galbreath (Lombard Middle School: Galesburg, IL), Renee Affolter (Boston College: Chestnut Hill, MA), Alicia Wedderburn (Science Instructional Coach: , MA)

Immerse yourself in OpenSciEd's innovative learning and gain a deep understanding of the High School Biology Unit B.1 Ecosystem Interactions & Dynamics. Experience learning in the unit from students’ perspective through lesson immersions and gain a tool-kit of resources and strategies to confidently facilitate the unit in your classroom. Make the B.1 Ecosystem Interactions & Dynamics unit come alive in your high school classroom! Hybrid workshop series beginning at the NSTA National Conference Denver 24 and continuing through April 2024

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Holly Hereau (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Kate Soriano (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

Join us to learn how OpenSciEd materials can help you build high school science learning experiences anchored in compelling phenomena and meaningful community and global problems.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will gain a bird's-eye view of the structure of units for all three courses of OpenSciEd– biology, chemistry, and physics– and discuss the routines and resources that promote equitable science learning in high school. This PLI will dive into unit 1 of the OpenSciEd High School chemistry course.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Novak (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL), Nicole Vick (Northwestern University)

Join us to figure out how to adapt NGSS assessments to be meaningful and coherent for your learners, useful for communicating progress, and manageable for you to provide actionable feedback. We will analyze what task features ensure eliciting evidence related to 3D sensemaking in grade-appropriate ways and consider how to adapt/design tasks to be accessible, relevant, and meaningful to all learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
We will work together to adapt classroom tasks and plan for their implementation using the most up-to-date tools and resources from across multiple NGSS assessment leaders and projects. You will leave with a task that has been collaboratively adapted during our session that you can share with your colleagues and try with your learners, along with tools and strategies you can use to change your assessment practices in your classroom, school and/or district.

SPEAKERS:
Kelley Aitken (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA), Sara Cooper (Contextus), Abraham Lo (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Evanston, IL)

Successful implementation of open-source instructional materials for the NGSS requires adaptation for local needs. This Professional Learning Institute will engage participants in using tools to adapt an open-source middle school unit for local standards and phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
Jean Flanagan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Elaine Klein (Science Educator: , TX), Audrey Mohan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Candice Guy-Gaytán (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Zoe Buck Bracey (Senior Science Educator and Director of Design for Justice: Colorado Springs, CO), Jamie Noll (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Lindsey Mohan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Janna Mahfoud (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)

Join us at the Coloroado Convention Center for an opening reception to mark the start of NSTA Denver24! We’ll keep it casual—enjoy beverages and small bites while networking with old and new friends. The event is complimentary and open to all registered conference attendees.

Don't judge a book by its cover; the same applies to relationships. Superficial judgments may miss meaningful connections. Explore implicit biases, adjust thought patterns, and eliminate discrimination for a more enriching journey.

SPEAKERS:
Adolph Brown