Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Learn fun strategies for using informational texts to support your young learners’ sensemaking. Investigate supports with these texts that help students gather more information, use new vocabulary, and experience new ways of talking about their ideas about the world of science around them.

SPEAKERS:
Jen Gutierrez (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

Step-through BIOZONE's activities and learn how to utilize our unique pedagogical approach to engage students and streamline lessons. See how to integrate BIOZONE'S rich collection of digital assets into your lessons. Attendees receive a FREE print title & 90 day digital access to a title.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Stilwell (BIOZONE Corp.: Naples, FL)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify Science

Through reflecting on our own personal ‘why’ for teaching science, we’ll consider how to spark a love of science for the next generation of solution seekers. Using exemplar activities and teacher moves, explore ways to celebrate student thinking, be responsive, and promote deep scientific thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Cross (Albert Einstein Academy Middle School: SPRING VALLEY, CA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Arts integration is a holistic approach that enables students to access the curriculum while developing scientific skills needed for the twenty-first century. Learn how poetry, music, storytelling, drama, visual art, and creative movement can be meaningfully embedded within the science curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Walters (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Come experience the Carolina Certified Version of OpenSciEd for Middle School and High School. See how the new Carolina Certified Edition enhances these high-quality instructional materials and makes OpenSciEd even better! Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Decode concealed clues and unveil invisible evidence using spectroscopy! This demonstration will cover how students can use the Go Direct® SpectroVis® Plus Spectrophotometer and Vernier Spectral Analysis® app to capture and identify the spectra for invisible ink in a note left at a crime scene.

SPEAKERS:
Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Earth faces pressing challenges: rising temperatures, extreme weather, resource strain, and pollution. Unfairly, students must tackle these, but solutions exist. Teachers play a vital role in providing students with academic tools, fostering confidence and hope for them to shape a sustainable future

SPEAKERS:
Michael Wysession (Washington University in St. Louis: Saint Louis, MO)

Many schools need high-quality units to meet their state standards or localize phenomena. BSCS Science Learning has extensive experience with designing, adapting, and localizing. In this session, apply a BSCS design tool, and learn about a suite of tools to use for large-scale design or adaptation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience with a tool to unpack target standards by clarifying key ideas, listing prerequisites and challenges, and considering what students should “figure out” and not just “learn about.” Consider and share how to apply tools and processes for designing and adapting HQIM in your local context.

SPEAKERS:
Jean Flanagan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Elaine Klein (BSCS Science Learning: Houston, TX)

In today’s fast-paced world, chronic stress is common, but your mind and body can pay a high price. Learn to recognize overwhelming stress—and what you can do about it. Most importantly, learn how to use the power of your senses to relieve stress on the spot and stay calm, productive, and focused.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to manage stress.

SPEAKERS:
Azra Chughtai (NSTA: McLean, VA)

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

Teach astronomy and space science using the most effective and recognized tool available - Starry Night. We invite teachers to see our newest, browser-based NGSS aligned edition. We'll show the lessons, exercises, simulations and interactions along with the assessments and teacher materials.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Goodman (Simulation Curriculum: Hopkins, MN)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Get a close look at the pedagogical strategies of a highly acclaimed Earth Science book. Developed by the American Geoscience Institute, this book relies on student-centered activities, students doing science! Take part in several activities and connect with other earth science teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Gary Curts (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify Science

How do we uncover and leverage the wealth of background knowledge and experiences students bring to science classrooms? Join UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science for strategies and examples of how student-centered experiences can spark curiosity, empower students, and lead to deeper learning.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Curley (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Daniel Alcazar-Roman (University of California, Berkeley: Belmont, CA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Come learn how to use effective literacy strategies so that students can better understand science content. Student understanding and critical-thinking skills will improve with these techniques. Join our constructivist approach that promotes literacy in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Thompson (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Join our interactive science workshop where literacy meets exploration! Immerse yourself in a world of discovery as we blend scientific concepts with the power of language. Through engaging activities, see how students will not only unravel the wonders of science but also enhance their literacy skills. Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Cranford, NJ), Dr. Sarah Glassman (Smithsonian Science Education Center: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Wondering how to get started with Vernier technology? Explore three of our most common sensors for chemistry, biology, and physics and learn about resources and support available to you from Vernier. Walk away with data collection tips and best practices to incorporate in your classes.

SPEAKERS:
David Carter (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP Science

Looking to help students develop science inquiry skills and think critically about scientific concepts? Join our session on Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER), the framework that helps students make sense of the world around them and leave with an in-depth understanding and practical strategies.

SPEAKERS:
Kelsie Stocz (BrainPOP: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Scientific perspectives and data should help economic decisions, guide government policy, and improve health. Yet denial of science is everywhere. Evolution. Climate change, Vaccination. GMOs. We will analyze the causes of science denial, and discuss what can educators can do about it.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Levine (Savvas Learning Company: Concord, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Legends of Learning

Forget boring! Ignite learning with Legends of Learning's Game Based Adventures! Embark on an immersive learning experience. Active, engaging, unforgettable. Unleash the learning within!

SPEAKERS:
Sean Reidy (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD), Jonathan Gerlach (Legends of Learning: Laurel, MD)

Calling all Science Supervisors, department heads, principals, school coordinators. Please join us for a roundtable discussion on curriculum, resources and supervision of science departments. Participants will be adding to and have access to a shared Padlet full of various ideas and resources!

PAEMST Awardees are invited to a celebratory reception of the 40th anniversary of the PAEMST award. Come and meet your fellow alumni!

Take a deep dive into the practice of developing and using models! We’ll explore how creating and using models help students build science ideas and can support students’ in developing and writing explanations. Experience the power of building science ideas together as part of a learning community.

TAKEAWAYS:
Developing models individually, in groups and as a class makes all students essential members of the knowledge-building community.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Freeport, IL), Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Great Minds

Join us as we review the parameters of three-dimensional assessments and practice screening assessments for three-dimensionality. In this session, we'll brainstorm ways to work with system leaders to strategically plan around curriculum embedded assessments and uncover supports for every child.

SPEAKERS:
Madeline Cronk (Great Minds: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Learn how to enhance students’ overall communication in and out of the science classroom throughout their learning. Delve deeper into topics that include listening using classroom norms, strategies that help students with short response, and how to enhance students’ use of CER!

SPEAKERS:
Brian Klaft (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

In the STEM classroom, an effective teacher selects actions that have an impact on student achievement. Come learn about the 15 STEM Teacher Actions to enhance your instructional practices and achieve improved student achievement.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Campana (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Discover new ways to help students think and work like scientists and engineers. Through a hands-on lesson, we will model instruction and resources that support 3-dimensional teaching & learning including teacher instructional slides, student friendly materials, simulations, & student investigations

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Cranford, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Discover the newest STEM solution from Vernier, built to teach and engage students in 3D science! Vernier Connections is a web-based platform that equips teachers with hands-on lessons. We will feature a lesson demonstrating the design & structures that make Connections a must for the STEM classroom

SPEAKERS:
Lori Anderson (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP Science

Modern science education goes beyond memorization and traditional experiments. Educators now aim to cultivate transferable skills for students to thrive beyond the classroom. This requires an approach where students engage in a multidimensional world of inquiry, activating their curiosity and empowering them with critical scientific and data literacy skills. Join the discussion on the evolving landscape of science education to meet enhanced standards.

SPEAKERS:
Tim Powers (BrainPOP: New York, NY), Harshil Parikh (Tuva Labs Inc.: New York, NY), Kathy Perkins, PhD (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Hannah Bonville (BrainPOP: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: TCI

This workshop offers a unique opportunity for educators to gain practical insights into integrating literacy skills within the science curriculum. Attendees will leave with tangible strategies and tools to enrich their teaching practices, fostering a more engaging learning experience for students.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Kumar (TCI: Mountain View, CA)

In this session, Colorado District Science Leaders are invited to attend our March meeting. During this time, we will network and share ideas regarding the implementation of three dimensional learning in your school, site, and/or district.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, Colorado District Science Leaders are invited to attend our March meeting. During this time, we will network and share ideas regarding the implementation of three dimensional learning in your school, site, and/or district.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos (Colorado Department of Education: La Veta, CO)

What is the connection between coherent instructional sequences from the students’ perspective and equitable access to science learning? Learn how coherent storyline units support students’ genuine engagement and perseverance as they work to explain a complex phenomenon over the course of a unit.

TAKEAWAYS:
Storyline unit Instructional routines provide a coherent path from students’ questions about a phenomenon to the explanation or model of that phenomenon.

SPEAKERS:
NSTA Online Advisors (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Holly Hereau (NSTA: Lake Angelus, MI), Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

Sponsoring Company: hand2mind

Finding time to teach science can be one of the most difficult tasks for an elementary teacher. Come experience how to engage students in phenomena-based learning in just 15-30 minutes a day using the 5E model.

SPEAKERS:
Brittany Goerig (hand2mind: Vernon Hills, IL)

Sponsoring Company: The NEED Project

Inquiry-based, hands-on STEM and critical thinking activities that help students to develop a comprehensive understanding of energy, electricity, hydropower, and emerging ocean technologies.

SPEAKERS:
Vernon Kimball (NEED Facilitator: Manassas, VA)

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

BIOZONE's innovative worktext approach delivers flexible, engaging, student-centred resources. Learn how our titles integrate into our digital platform and how the Teacher Toolkit helps teachers plan, deliver, and assess. Attendees each receive a FREE print title & 1-year digital access to a title.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Stilwell (BIOZONE Corp.: Naples, FL)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Investigate strategies and ideas for using informational texts in science. As students obtain, evaluate, construct explanations, and communicate information about the world around them, engaging with informational texts is critical for building this background knowledge and supporting sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Tracy Marmolejo (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Models are tools for representing ideas and developing explanations related to phenomena. Models can be used to deepen student understanding of scientific and math concepts. You will identify connections to the use of models in your instruction while examining your state standards and/or frameworks.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Thompson (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Grapevine, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Take a deeper dive into understanding the importance of learning progressions in 3-dimensional learning using STC Middle School. Experience the importance of a coherent story line in student understanding. Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Discovered new-to-you Vernier sensors in your classroom or storage? Join our beginner-friendly, interactive workshop to help you understand how to assess, calibrate, and start using hands-on Vernier solutions. Explore our suite of sensors and how they work with our Graphical Analysis app.

SPEAKERS:
Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Discover hands-on approaches to STEM learning that equip middle schoolers for high school and beyond. Attendees will explore updated activities with the Vernier Go Direct® temperature, light, force, and gas pressure sensors to model real-world phenomena.

SPEAKERS:
David Carter (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: BrainPOP Science

Revitalize student engagement in science inquiry! Join our session on scaffolding Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) experiences. Empower students to think critically, make sense of the world, and leave with practical strategies for a deeper understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Kelsie Stocz (BrainPOP: New York, NY)

Sponsoring Company: TCI

Join our session to learn how to harness the power of three-dimensional Performance Assessments! Beyond evaluating learning, these assessments offer students a meaningful context to demonstrate understanding. Explore the role of performance assessments in teaching core science concepts effectively.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Kumar (TCI: Mountain View, CA)

In this session, Colorado educators will have the opportunity to participate in a structured forum to share their experiences in implementing three dimensional learning and instruction as outlined in the Colorado Academic Standards for Science.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, Colorado educators will have the opportunity to participate in a structured forum to share their experiences in implementing three dimensional learning and instruction as outlined in the Colorado Academic Standards for Science.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos (Colorado Department of Education: La Veta, CO)

Get acquainted with New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas (NSTA District - 13 members) Science Teacher Association Officers and conference attendees. Learn what each state is doing to advance Science and STEM engagement in K - 16 settings.

The NSTA Research Division cordially invites all members - researchers AND practitioners- to join us for a discussion of the relationship between research and practice and how NSTA can best foster that.

Each will identify grade level, core disciplinary ideas (science content standards), Science & Engineering Practice and Crosscutting concepts. Participants will leave with lessons plans, websites, grants ideas and other resources. Over 14 PAs will bring best practices from their varied expertise.

TAKEAWAYS:
K-12 teachers will leave with lessons plans, websites, grant ideas, and other resources from Presidential Awardees.

SPEAKERS:
DeLene Hoffner (Retired & eleSTEMary: Colorado Springs, CO)

Many graduate programs include a requirement to write an article for publication. This roundtable will offer Q+A for graduate students with two professors who specialize in helping their students get published.

TAKEAWAYS:
Instructions and tips for graduate students hoping to publish in NSTA journals.

SPEAKERS:
Brooke Whitworth (Clemson University: Clemson, SC), Colby Tofel-Grehl (Utah State University: Salt Lake City, UT), Peter Lindeman (NSTA: Arlington, VA)

NextGen TIME is a free suite of tools and processes that supports districts in preparing to evaluate instructional materials for quality and design for the NGSS. This collaborative process helps you plan for next steps, including customization to improve student outcomes and effective implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how NextGen TIME supports the evaluation of current instructional materials to strengthen their design for NGSS, and how NextGen TIME tools and processes can serve as critical components of curriculum-based professional learning. You’ll walk away with free access to NextGen TIME resources.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Long Beach, CA), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Waldorf, MD)

Sponsoring Company: LaMotte Company

Water is the single most valuable resource essential for life on Earth, yet is subject to increasing scarcity, pollutants, and overuse. The Tapwater Tour curriculum makes the real world connection between the phenomena explored in the lesson and actual hands-on laboratory activities.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Evans (Kent County High School: Worton, MD)

Sponsoring Company: Penda Learning

Penda is a high-quality, gamified intervention and instructional resource that is phenomena-based and 3-D with tools for differentiation and is engaging for all students. Customizable reports and assessments assist with progress monitoring. Penda is handcrafted for NGSS, Texas TEKS and FL SASS.

SPEAKERS:
Mindy Pearson (Penda Learning: Ruskin, FL), Taylor Willis (Penda Learning: Tampa, FL), Kathryn Kypreos (Penda Learning: Savannah, GA)

Sponsoring Company: Estes Rockets

This session highlights a model rocket mission simulation where students work together to complete a successful launch of the New Shepard rocket. Students consider thrust, altitude, and velocity to determine the best engine for the launch.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Freyschlag (Estes Industries: Colorado Springs, CO), Kristen Yip (Club for the Future: Seattle, WA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Have you wanted to implement a Project-Based Learning unit in your classroom? Equity through Science Education (ESE) provides interdisciplinary science units for Grades 6-8. Experience hands-on lessons that deepen sensemaking for ALL students.

SPEAKERS:
Pam Richards (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Experience how science lessons can be structured using teacher instructional slides, where students work in groups, with specific roles, to develop claims [about how motion energy moves and changes] based on evidence observed through hands-on experiences. Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Cranford, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Students can become crime scene investigators analyzing and defusing a “bomb” using their knowledge of half-lives! Attendees will use the Vernier Go Direct® SpectroVis® Plus Spectrophotometer to gather decay data and apply mathematical thinking to determine when the device was set to detonate.

SPEAKERS:
Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

High-quality investigations of science phenomenon are the perfect foundation for meaningful learning experiences that bridge content areas. Join us as we explore how to use science as an authentic context to motivate, review, and expand student’s knowledge and practice in English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, the Arts, and more! You’ll leave with practical strategies to apply in your own lessons as well as planning tools to help your grade level team brainstorm new applications.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Forsythe (Texas State University: San Marcos, TX)

CANADIAN DELEGATES WHO ARE ATTENDING THE NSTA NATIONAL CONVENTION ARE INVITED TO AN INFORMAL SOCIAL. PLEASE JOIN US AND SPEND SOME TIME NETWORKING AND GETTING TO KNOW OTHER TEACHERS FROM ACROSS OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

Come network with your fellow Colorado Science educators and representatives from many Colorado Science Education Organizations, including CAST, CSEN, CSC, CAEE, CDE and others!

This meeting is open to NMLSTA members and those invited by a current board member.

Deep dive into phenomenon-based learning! In this immersive workshop, participants will experience phenomena, collaborate with other educators, and develop a toolkit of ways to captivate students’ curiosity. Instructors will model examples and offer time to connect around ways to elevate engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will walk away with an understanding of how phenomena can drive high-quality instruction, and a real-time toolkit of resources to support them moving forward. Using the Next Generation Science Standards framework, teachers will collaborate around student engagement in a meaningful and authentic way.

SPEAKERS:
Pam McWilliams (Cherry Creek Schools: Aurora, CO), Rebecca Rolater (Cherry Creek Schools: Aurora, CO)

This project is to create a synchronous online instructional model that integrates academic coaching to enhance the learning experience of future elementary teachers regarding diverse cultures.

TAKEAWAYS:
This project is to create a synchronous online instructional model that integrates academic coaching to enhance the learning experience of future elementary teachers regarding diverse cultures.

SPEAKERS:
Jiyoon Yoon (The University of Texas at Arlington: Arlington, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

See our newest Interactive Anatomy & Physiology curriculum where we'll demonstrate its latest lessons, simulations and interactions. Correlated to standards with LMS compatibility and free resources make this edition the most effective, interesting and engaging for instructors and students alike.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Goodman (Simulation Curriculum: Hopkins, MN)

Sponsoring Company: LaMotte Company

Participants will learn how to use simple unit dose tablet reagents to assess water quality. Discover lesson ideas to turn your students into citizen scientists and advocates for their local watershed. Hands-on activities, curriculum connections and assessment ideas will be provided. Take aways.

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Evans (Kent County High School: Worton, MD)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Models are tools for representing ideas and developing explanations related to phenomena. Models can be used to deepen student understanding of scientific concepts. You will identify connections to the use of models in your instruction while examining your state standards and/or frameworks.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Thompson (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Grapevine, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Come experience a model lesson from OpenSciEd for High School and see how the new Carolina Certified Edition makes these high-quality instructional materials even better! Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Find out how you can set up simple circuits in a safe, effective way! We’ll walk you through guided-inquiry simple circuit lessons, with attention to both the student experience and the teacher’s view. You’ll be able to customize the lessons to feature the sensors and software you already have!

SPEAKERS:
Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), David Carter (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: ExploreLearning

This interactive session will explore a digital interface that develops models to capture students' thinking when designing and testing solutions to real-world problems. We will immerse ourselves in solving a puzzling STEM Case to develop a model and use it to optimize a solution.

SPEAKERS:
Carrie Adler (ExploreLearning: Silver Spring, MD), Lauren Schetne (ExploreLearning: Heber City, UT)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

The DQB is an essential tool used throughout OSE units to generate, keep track of, and revisit student questions around the anchoring and related phenomenon. Join the collaborative fun finding ideas for developing, maintaining, and revisiting this exciting representation of students’ learning.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Klaft (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Ever wondered where to find FREE Federal STEM education resources that can provide authentic learning experiences for your K-12+ students? Join Federal agencies, including but not limited to the Dept of Education, NASA, NOAA, EPA, NIH, USGS, USPTO and NSF to learn more & to receive a resource guide!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn about FREE K-12 STEM learning resources offered by federal agencies. In addition, teachers will engage in two-way conversations with federal representatives about the STEM resources, programs, and opportunities that are available and leave with a one-page resource guide.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Nickelsen (Forest Service/ Natural Inquirer: Bogart, GA), Rachel Crowley (NIGMS, National Institutes of Health: Silver Spring, MD), Eleanour Snow (U.S. Geological Survey: Reston, VA), Bekkah Lampe (NOAA Office of Education: College Park, MD), Kayla Smith (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Silver Spring, MD), Miranda Fike (NASA Marshall Space Flight Center: Huntsville, AL), Jorge Valdes (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Alexandria, VA), Patti Curtis (U.S. Department of Education: Washington, DC), Melissa Anley-Mills (U.S. EPA: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

How do you enhance critical thinking skills in your classroom? Using research-based instructional strategies, we will model ways to create a classroom learning environment and culture where thinking is valued.

SPEAKERS:
Zipporah Miller (Educational Consultant: Bowie, MD)

Do you or the educators you work with have questions about what science teaching and learning look like in classrooms implementing your state standards? Join us for a session where you will receive support to lead this module using classroom video of contemporary research-based teaching in action.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will build an understanding of sensemaking and receive a toolkit to lead this session with other educators.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Mathews (NSTA: Skokie, IL), Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific

Middle Schoolers lover Hands-on Science! Flinn Scientific presents a variety of easy to perform and exciting demonstrations. Come see Flinn’s new demonstrations and some of your old favorites—all guaranteed to make your science classroom come alive. Handouts provided for all.

SPEAKERS:
Jillian Saddler (Flinn Scientific, Inc.: Batavia, IL)

Sponsoring Company: BIOZONE Corporation

Discover BIOZONE’s new platform that combines digital replicas of our highly acclaimed print titles together with Presentation Slides , 3D models, and curated videos - thereby providing powerful options for delivering your high school science programs. Attendees each receive a FREE 1-year licence.

SPEAKERS:
Kim Stilwell (BIOZONE Corp.: Naples, FL)

Sponsoring Company: Imagine Learning

Discuss strategies to support STEM classroom experiences that position all students as thinkers and problem-solvers, reflect on peer experiences as you consider your own implementation of ideas that ensure the inclusion of all learners in authentic STEM focused tasks, and identify success criteria.

SPEAKERS:
Kristen Biadasz (Senior Product Marketing Manager: Scottsdale, AZ)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify Science

How do we know if the science instructional materials we’re using will lead to student learning gains? Explore the teacher moves and student investigations in the approach developed by UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science that are proven effective to lead to positive impact on science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Suzanna Loper (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Daniel Alcazar-Roman (University of California, Berkeley: Belmont, CA), Leslie Stenger (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Santa Rosa, CA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Come learn how to use effective literacy strategies so that students can better understand science content. Student understanding and critical-thinking skills will improve with these techniques. Join our constructivist approach that promotes literacy in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Heather Thompson (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Inspire your students’ curiosity about the world around them through hands-on activities using Vernier Go Direct® sensors. See how age-appropriate, sensor-based experiments teach students about data collection and analysis, encourage inquiry, build STEM literacy, and boost test scores.

SPEAKERS:
Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Join our interactive science workshop where literacy meets exploration! Immerse yourself in a world of discovery as we blend scientific concepts with the power of language. Through engaging activities, see how students will not only unravel the wonders of science but also enhance their literacy skills. Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Cranford, NJ), Dr. Sarah Glassman (Smithsonian Science Education Center: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: InnerOrbit

In this session we’ll provide concrete strategies to use throughout each of your units to help students engage with phenomena and sensemaking consistently, so they can more confidently approach the phenomena-driven tests or new units of instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Giulia Mota (InnerOrbit: Thousand Oaks, CA), Brendan Finch (InnerOrbit: Thousand Oaks, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Come join us to look at helping elementary students shift from learning about to figuring out. Meaningful conversations and ideas about what that might look like with 3-dimensional teaching and learning.

SPEAKERS:
Tracy Marmolejo (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT), Jen Gutierrez (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Join us for this hands-on session. We will make low-cost, time efficient models you can easily pre-assemble or that your student will enjoy building for an active learning experience.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Espinosa (Savvas Learning Co.: Paramus, NJ)

Working meeting for the NSTA Early Childhood and Elementary Science Committee. Early childhood and elementary educators are welcome to join us if they are interested in learning about this NSTA standing committee and the work we do.

The NSTA Sensemaking Tool can be used in coaching cycles that support implementing high-quality instructional materials. Gain experience using the tool to identify sensemaking “look and listen fors” in classroom observations and how to use those observations to facilitate productive discussions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use the NSTA Sensemaking Tool to support productive coaching cycles.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ), Emily Mathews (NSTA: Skokie, IL), NSTA Online Advisors (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Holly Hereau (NSTA: Lake Angelus, MI), Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

Annual luncheon for Presidential Awardees and guests.

Explore 10 strategies to cultivate an immersive classroom measurement climate full of application opportunities that reinforce scale, proportion, and quantity. This poster shares solutions to build all students proficiency as they apply the International System of Units (SI) measurements in STEM.

TAKEAWAYS:
It’s easy to learn and teach the metric system. Participants will identify how to obtain a free NIST SI Teacher Kit, supplemental learning activities, and other digital resources.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Benham (National Institute of Standards and Technology: Gaithersburg, MD)

The TeachEngineering Digital Library is a free, online collection of K-12 curricular STEM resources. Our goal is to help educators put the ‘E’ in STEM— by making applied science, technology, and math come alive through engineering design and design thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
TeachEngineering provides 1,850+ free STEM curricular resources focusing on hands-on, standards-aligned activities for K-12 students.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Kracha (Teach Engineering), Dua Chaker (Teach Engineering: No City, No State), Ellen Parrish (Teach Engineering: ERIE, CO)

This action research investigates the impact of job-embedded professional learning (focused on using science and literacy strategies in the science classroom) on the performance and achievement of students, and the effectiveness of the science teacher.

TAKEAWAYS:
The key takeaways will include a suite of strategies and interventions that can be implemented district-wide or at the classroom level. These strategies focus on the intersection of science and literacy, and how they interplay in the science classroom and curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Marissa Murdock (Dekalb County School District: Conyers, GA)

The poster will highlight and discuss some of the valuable technology resources that played a key role in allowing teachers to provide students with an equitable learning experience during the pandemic and how they can continue to be utilized as we return to the post-pandemic classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
The poster will discuss strategies using tools such as Classkick, Gimkit, Blooket, and Edpuzzle to differentiate instruction in the classroom while encouraging persistence and achievement in students.

SPEAKERS:
Selene Verhofstad (Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship: Pasadena, TX), Faryal Shaukat (Dobie High School: Houston, TX)

Deep dive trainings in strategic communications; focused on the use of digital and social media tools to reach broader audiences and on persuasive writing tips and techniques. Trainings will be followed by a panel of state teams who completed the trainings and are using the skills locally.

TAKEAWAYS:
Skills to effectively advocate for K12 science via digital and social media tools and techniques for securing OpEd/LTE and blog placements.

SPEAKERS:
Josh Parrish (Collaborative for Student Success: No City, No State), Julia Rothenberg (VP, Digital strategy, GMMB: Washington, DC), Eric Rosenberg (EMR Content + Communications Inc.: Arlington, VA), Adam Ezring (Collaborative for Student Success: Washington, DC)

Sponsoring Company: Estes Rockets

Join us to learn engaging and creative assessment strategies for your classroom. Move beyond multiple-choice tests and challenge your students to apply their learning in new ways. Learn how you can use Claim-Evidence-Reasoning, EdTech Platforms, Google Forms and more to assess student progress.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Freyschlag (Estes Industries: Colorado Springs, CO)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify Science

Unlock the powerful connections between science and literacy to improve learning outcomes in both disciplines. Experience how literacy-rich NGSS-designed learning sequences from UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science are synergistic with language comprehension goals from the Science of Reading.

SPEAKERS:
Alestra Menendez (Amplify: Fairfield, CA), Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Have you wanted to implement a Project-Based Learning unit in your classroom? Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning (ML-PBL) provides interdisciplinary science units for Grades K-5. Experience hands-on lessons that are enjoyable and intellectually satisfying for the teacher and students.

SPEAKERS:
Pam Richards (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Discover solutions for phenomenon-driven middle school curricula, including materials developed by Vernier for OpenSciEd. Bring 3D learning to life with sensor-based experiments such as Matter Cycling and Photosynthesis in this interactive session tailored for educators adopting NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Mosa Mack Science

You’ll learn how to choose and implement the best science phenomena. You’ll also receive free access to Mosa Mack Science phenomena lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Elisabeth Johnson (Mosa Mack Science: Fairfield, CT)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Take a deeper dive into understanding the importance of learning progressions in 3-dimensional learning using STC Middle School. Experience the importance of a coherent story line in student understanding. Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Learn about transitioning HS science courses to phenomenon-based instruction putting students at the center of the learning process. See how students develop explanations for phenomena by doing the science! Experience how OSE can be used to achieve the goal of moving to 3-dimensional instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Jodi Bahr (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Come meet your fellow educators in District XIV (Colorado, Utah, and Arizona)!

Society for College Science Teaching Business Meeting for members and interested educators in higher ed.

Practice activities with simple materials exploring the EM Spectrum and explanatory models that illustrate real world space science applications. Learn about the Virtual Astronomy Academy program.

TAKEAWAYS:
Practice "Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning," and a gallery walk of student work to review models; practice collaborative learning to investigate filters and wavelengths. Attendees will also learn how to join NASA's Virtual Astronomy Academy professional development program.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Marie Dubick (Cherokee County School District: Smyrna, GA), Coral Clark (SETI Institute: Agua Dulce, CA), Jenny McCall (Winburn Middle School, Fayette County Public Schools: Nicholasville, KY), P Harman (Pamela Harman: PACIFICA, CA), Brittany Chase (Mahone Middle School: Kenosha, WI), Milo Maughan (Utah State Board of Education: Salt Lake City, UT), Diane Ripollone (Cardinal Gibbons High School: Garner, NC)

While it may seem like there’s nothing you can do about stress at work and home, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control. Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly and function effectively.

TAKEAWAYS:
Tips on how to relieve pressure and regain control.

SPEAKERS:
Azra Chughtai (NSTA: McLean, VA)

Learn how to use the NSTA Student Work Analysis tool and protocol to evaluate students’ three-dimensional learning. We’ll focus our discussions on what counts as evidence of students’ ownership of targeted elements of the three dimensions and how to use collected student data to inform instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to evaluate students’ three-dimensional learning using the NSTA Student Work Analysis tool and protocol.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Soriano (NSTA: Jersey City, NJ), Kristin Rademaker (NSTA: Freeport, IL), Zoe Evans (Bremen City Schools: Carrollton, GA), Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

Sponsoring Company: Flinn Scientific

Let Flinn help you develop as a teacher. Whether this is your first-year teaching, or your first-year teaching science, this session will show you how to do science safely that will lead to better student outcomes.

SPEAKERS:
Jillian Saddler (Flinn Scientific, Inc.: Batavia, IL)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

While graphs are essential for organizing and making sense of data, students often struggle with scaling, axes and understanding variables. Come join this engaging session to see how we break down these concepts through movement and discover how students can have fun with motion sensors by capturing data and creating their own graph. Watch as understanding scales up when learning becomes a dynamic experience!

SPEAKERS:
Erick Archer (Texas Instruments: Dallas, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Aauti School

Curious about how AI can help you provide timely feedback to your students? Have you wondered how AI can help you create engaging learning experiences?? Join us during this session to see how Aauti School can automate your grading process, generate rich content, and much more!

SPEAKERS:
Robyn Cook (Aauti School: Stanwood, MI)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) is an acclaimed and highly successful instructional strategy changing how students understand scientific concepts and write explanations for phenomena. Experience how CER supports multiple elements in your science and math classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Walters (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Knowledge is the food of the soul, and these real-world food chemistry experiments cover complex concepts using science that students can see and understand. Attendees will use Vernier Go Direct® pH and CO2 Gas Sensors to explore the differences between baking soda and baking powder.

SPEAKERS:
Nüsret Hisim (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Colleen McDaniel (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Discover the newest STEM solution from Vernier, built to teach and engage students in 3D science! Vernier Connections is a web-based platform that equips teachers with hands-on lessons. We will feature a lesson demonstrating the design & structures that make Connections a must for the STEM classroom

SPEAKERS:
Lori Anderson (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR), Josh Ence (Vernier Science Education: Beaverton, OR)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Discover new ways to help students think and work like scientists and engineers. Through a hands-on lesson, we will model instruction and resources that support 3-dimensional teaching & learning including teacher instructional slides, student friendly materials, simulations, & student investigations

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Cranford, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Learn how Scientists Circles support equitable and meaningful classroom discussions. Create opportunities in your lessons in which all students’ thinking, experiences, and ideas for further exploration can be leveraged for building a culture where students are positioned as knowers and thinkers.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Klaft (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT), Jen Gutierrez (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

One of the biggest shifts involved with the continued implementation of NGSS standards is the movement to incorporate more phenomena-based and problem-based learning. To help prepare students for their next steps in school, students need to be doing science and seeing how it fits into their lives.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Padilla (retired: Athens, GA)

Sponsoring Company: Propello

PBAs can not only assess multiple standards at once, but help students build valuable communication and presentation skills. Learn how to easily incorporate this powerful learning tool into your classroom practice.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Thayne (Lead Program Manager, Science: Murfreesboro, TN), Julie Waid (Propello: Denton, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

Lab preparations can be challenging, and in the hustle of setup and procedures, our education goals may sometimes get overshadowed. Join us to explore strategies for a more streamlined and efficient approach to labs, reducing stress while enriching the outcomes for your students. Let’s lean into the idea of lean practices and discover how they can positively impact the learning journey!

SPEAKERS:
Erick Archer (Texas Instruments: Dallas, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Stile Education

Discover the transformative power of Driving Questions Boards in assessing student understanding. This session explores innovative strategies beyond traditional scoring, offering educators dynamic tools for capturing the depth of student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Shawna Jensen (Stile Education: Portland, OR)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Let’s explore several intervention strategies to help struggling students in STEM. Move beyond differentiation and scaffolding. Come learn other proven intervention techniques to help students. Let’s modify our traditional outreach to connect with students so that they gain greater understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Angela Campana (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Co.

Come experience a model lesson from OpenSciEd for Middle School and see how the new Carolina Certified Edition makes these high-quality instructional materials even better! Leave with classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Cory Ort (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Sponsoring Company: Activate Learning

Classroom communities make sense of what’s being investigated through discussions; it’s key to ensuring all students’ ideas are shared and valued. This session focuses discussion types used to help draw out student ideas, negotiate and refine them, and support communicating in scientific ways.

SPEAKERS:
Jodi Bahr (Activate Learning: Greenwich, CT)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Techniques such as CRISPR, mitochondrial transfer, and mRNA therapeutics have opened up new frontiers for genetic manipulation, bringing with them new possibilities that can energize the biology teaching. We will examine how these powerful techniques work.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Miller (Brown University: Providence, RI)

NSTA’s Informal Science Committee invites you to explore two of Denver’s most exciting informal science venues! This event is Friday, March 22 from 5:30 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and is FREE for conference attendees and family members with an NSTA conference badge. Registration is required https://www.nsta.org/national-conference-science-education-denver-2024-special-events

TAKEAWAYS:
Formal and informal science educators alike will have the opportunity to network and learn while they enjoy exploring the Zoo and Museum.

Join middle level educators and enthusiasts for a social hour. Meet old friends and make new ones! NMLSTA officers and board members will be there to answer questions you may have about the organization.

Calling all yoga enthusiasts! Regardless of whether you’re a newbie or veteran, join yoga teacher, Azra Chughtai, RYT, for a warm-up with breathwork; hatha yoga (gentle stretching exercises to wake up the body); and, of course, meditation for relaxation and de-stressing. Beginner friendly!

TAKEAWAYS:
Recharge: Energizing and Stress Relief.

SPEAKERS:
Azra Chughtai (NSTA: McLean, VA)

The radio spectrum is invisible, yet it enables our cell phones, contactless payment, and air travel. Learn approaches to facilitate diverse youth, families, and museum visitors using hands-on activities, mobile apps, and guides in Spanish and English from the NSF Making Waves with Radio project.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hands-on activity using everyday materials, conversation prompts, and mobile apps together can engage youth and families in playful experimentation to learn about the science and technology of radio waves and wireless radio communications. Get free educator guides and lessons in Spanish and English.

SPEAKERS:
Sherry Hsi (BSCS Science Learning: Berkeley, CA)

This session provides K-12 Colorado educators information about the Science Standards Review and Revision process beginning in the Spring of 2025 and concluding in June 2026. In addition to the background on the five stages of the process, educators will learn how they can apply to participate.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, participants will describe the five main stages of the Standards Review and Revision process and identify opportunities for educators to participate in the process.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos (Colorado Department of Education: La Veta, CO)

Many students struggle to become effective science communicators through writing. Our research study reveals why some life science instructors are no longer assigning traditional lab reports. Strategies to help your students with science writing are provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
A surprisingly large number of college faculty have stopped assigning traditional lab reports in introductory life science courses. Our research study reveals several barriers, some of which are quite surprising. We provide a list of classroom-ready strategies to improve students’ science writing.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Slater (University of Wyoming: Laramie, WY), Kristy Palmer (Ph.D. Candidate: Laramie, WY)

Place-based science instruction leverages students’ previous experiences, illuminates their natural world, and provides opportunities for students to learn beyond the confines of their computers. We share strategies for online course development to optimize active learning and local landscape.

TAKEAWAYS:
Place-based online science instruction promotes active learning, supports student investigations in their local environments, and builds a community of online learners as students share their experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Athena Nagel (Mississippi State University: Mississippi State, MS), Renee Clary (Mississippi State University: Mississippi State, MS)

Learn about the latest developments from NSTA, including changes in governance, volunteer opportunities, and new services and resources. There will also be an opportunity for you to provide feedback to NSTA leadership.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about ways that NSTA can help their professional journey and will provide feedback to the association.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Conerly (Marion County Schools: Bogue Chitto, MS), Elizabeth Mulkerrin (Mulkerrin Strategic Solutions LLC: Omaha, NE), Julie Luft (University of Georgia: Athens, GA), Erika Shugart (NSTA: Rockville, MD)

To bring awareness to K-12 education communities and how to utilize programs at Field-Based Science Institutions, whereas, STEM-based education opportunities could be provided in order to increase change in STEM education.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, the attendees will become familiar with the significance of heightened STEM interest via programs that support STEM education classrooms through student’s participation in FBSI programs such as zoos, museums, and botanicals.

SPEAKERS:
Dr. Michael Williams (National Louis University: Worth, IL)

Come and connect! Engage with informal science educators from museums, zoos, afterschool, media, non-profits and more. Discover resources, programs, organizations, and opportunities for science educators - formal and informal alike!

TAKEAWAYS:
You'll network with informal educational organizations from across the country, discuss best practices, and discover free, hands-on activities for your organization or classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Max Metz Jr (Shedd Aquarium: Chicago, IL), Rosie Arnold (Lincoln Park Zoo: Chicago, IL), Lindsay Milner (Mad Science Group Inc.: Montreal, QC)

Sponsoring Company: Propello

Want to get students asking more inquiry-based questions in class? We'll showcase easy tips and techniques to facilitate student questioning that guides lessons, builds engagement, and creates powerful learning experiences

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Thayne (Lead Program Manager, Science: Murfreesboro, TN), Julie Waid (Propello: Denton, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Kognity

Join Kognity as we explore the importance of having students share initial ideas, investigate, sense make, and reflect on their learning journey. We will discuss how to teach students the skills of reflection and revision while illuminating mindsets shifts in and out of the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Gabriella Holm (Kognity: Stockholm, Sweden)

Sponsoring Company: NOAA

From land to sea, join the National Earth Science Teachers Association and discover inventive ways to leverage NOAA assets in your teaching. Explore locally-focused education strategies, fostering hands-on lessons that enable students to make personal connections to natural and unnatural hazards.

SPEAKERS:
Natalie Macke (Pascack Hills High School: Franklin Lakes, NJ), Peggy Steffen (Ready, Set, STEM: West Liberty, IA), Margaret Holzer (none: Somerset, NJ), Bruce Moravchik (NOAA National Ocean Service: Rockville, MD)

Sponsoring Company: Stile Education

Join our heroic mission to revolutionize grading! Discover how standards-based grading can empower and accurately assess students, turning challenges into triumphs of learning.

SPEAKERS:
Mel Horton (Oregon Science Education Lead: Portland, OR)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) is an acclaimed and highly successful instructional strategy changing how students understand scientific concepts and write explanations for phenomena. Experience how CER supports multiple elements in your science and math classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Walters (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Accu-Scope Inc.

ACCU-SCOPE would like to offer a professional class instructing teachers the best techniques for acquiring images on items that are part of their curriculum. These classes will discuss mitosis slides, contrast methods for seeing live water organisms, polarizers, phase contrast, photosynthesis, etc.

SPEAKERS:
Jeremy LeBlanc (Accu-Scope: Commack, NY)

The Little Shop of Physics at Colorado State University has always been a hands-on program, something that sets it apart from other science engagement programs. We teach that science is something anyone can do, anywhere, with anything!

TAKEAWAYS:
Come explore our hands-on experiments built out of everyday objects. Then ask us how to start a similar program or maker space at your school or institution!

SPEAKERS:
Cherie Bornhorst (Teacher in Residence: Fort Collins, CO)

Looking to pinpoint free supplemental interdisciplinary learning resources? Find real-world connections, internships, PD opportunities, classroom tools & swag; help students see themselves with diverse career role models, & more at the NIST Educational STEM Resource (NEST-R) registry session!

TAKEAWAYS:
Quickly find content that brings STEM curriculum to life, sparks interest, & keeps students engaged with NEST-R, a free, publicly available website! Real-world applications on topics like the metric system, engineering, and physics help students make sense of the interdisciplinary nature of science.

SPEAKERS:
Cara O'Malley (National Institute of Standards and Technology: Gaithersburg, MD)

The Exploratorium, located in San Francisco, CA, is a hands-on science museum. If you can't visit the museum in person, join us at NSTA Denver to explore a few of our hundreds of online hands-on science activities, known as Science Snacks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will discover a wealth of online resources available through the Exploratorium Teacher Institute.

SPEAKERS:
Eric Muller (Exploratorium: San Rafael, CA)

Connected Science Learning (CSL) is one of five journals produced by NSTA and is the perfect place for informal science educators to publish their work or serve as a peer reviewer. Attendees will learn about the journal's author guidelines and peer review process from the journal's field editor.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about NSTA's journal Connected Science Learning and how it is a great resource for the informal science educators – especially those that collaborate with schools and teachers. Information about writing and peer reviewing for CSL will be provided.

SPEAKERS:
Beth Murphy (Science from Scientists: Barnes, WI)

By learning new skills and continuously gaining knowledge, teaching and learning can be easier than ever!! After 25+ years in the classroom, I will share a toolbox full of shortcuts & techniques to make the planning & implementation of your content more efficient and effective.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will take away an abundance of ideas that will maximize time and minimize effort in planning and implementing activities and lessons. The presented ideas will make the classroom more teacher-facilitated, focusing on student-driven learning.

SPEAKERS:
Tracy Rodgers (Northside High School: Northport, AL)

Scientific caricatures (SCs) serve as unique instructional and assessment tools to engage students in online classrooms and promote critical thinking. Learn how to incorporate SCs in YOUR classrooms! Resources provided.

TAKEAWAYS:
In online science classrooms, scientific caricatures (SCs) offer an innovative and creative assessment tool for students to imaginatively apply science content, optimize their critical thinking skills, and engage their online peers.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Clary (Mississippi State University: Mississippi State, MS)

Learn about the collaboration of university and industry-based researchers with K-12 educators in creating science learning opportunities through community centered STEM lessons and activities that highlight local STEM research.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how the SciREN project supports a collaborative relationship between K-12 Teachers and STEM researchers by providing a platform for researchers to translate their local research into K-12 lesson plans under the guidance of K-12 teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Joni Lakin (University of Alabama at Birmingham: Tuscaloosa, AL), Komanci Love (Northside High School: Northport, AL)

In this session, you can drop in to meet Sam Agoos the Science Content Specialist for the Colorado Department of Education. This time will provide opportunities for networking as well as space for important conversations regarding the status of three dimensional learning in your school or district.

TAKEAWAYS:
Build relationships with Sam Agoos the science content specialist at the Colorado Department of Education.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos (Colorado Department of Education: La Veta, CO)

The Story Behind the Story engaged college students of diverse identities with an often-untold history of mineral exploration/exploitation, and connected them with professional societies to help broaden participation. Join us to explore what worked—and what challenges remain.

TAKEAWAYS:
In an interactive session, participants discuss the effectiveness of the history of science/geoheritage to broaden participation—and explore avenues of how college science instructors can facilitate diversity in the sciences.

SPEAKERS:
Renee Clary (Mississippi State University: Mississippi State, MS)

This session will provide K-12 Colorado science teachers support with aligning classroom instruction to the Colorado Academic Standards for Science by unpacking the components of the standards and providing free, evidence-based instructional resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of this session, participants will recognize the three dimensions of the Evidence Outcome Statements outlined in the Colorado Academic Standards for Science and leave with evidence-based instructional resources to support them in aligning their science instruction with the standards.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Agoos (Colorado Department of Education: La Veta, CO)

STEM approaches and outreach are incredibly unique in one of North America’s largest geographical school divisions. Explore Sub-Arctic STEM with hands-on activities, resources to implement into your classroom, and continued global STEM opportunities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will acquire both inspiration and practical ideas to implement into the classroom with no delay. Participants will be engaged in approaches to Science that are unique to the North, and adaptable to any classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jacqueline Monteith (Frontier School Division: Winnipeg, MB)

We invite educators from both formal and informal science learning environments to come and engage with the Informal Science committee. Learn how the committee can support you, and connect with professionals from museums, zoos, aquaria, out-of-school-time programs, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Meet the Informal Science Committee, and find out how to connect with them in their work to support informal educators, expand the role of informal learning institutions, and strengthen the bonds between formal and informal science learning.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Hays (Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance: Denver, CO), Lindsay Milner (Mad Science Group Inc.: Montreal, QC)

“Those who can do; those who can’t teach.” Sorry, that quote does not resonate with my teaching story. Learn the power of storytelling and how it can help transform your class and school through building better student relationships, creating student voice, and increasing student engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn benefits and strategies for creating and telling stories in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jeremy Harden (Dallas ISD: Dallas, TX)

Track Stars is a transformative professional development session that not only empowers teachers with data-driven strategies but also harnesses the competitive spirit of students, ultimately leading to improved academic outcomes and a culture of excellence in secondary education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Track Stars is a dynamic professional development program tailored to secondary teachers, designed to equip them with practical data-tracking strategies that can revolutionize their classrooms into highly effective and competitive data-driven environments.

SPEAKERS:
ROBBIE KEUCHLER JR (Northwood Charter Academy: Philadelphia, PA)

Explore Science Near Me, a free STEM database connecting you to citizen science, museum, festival, afterschool, and maker programs to bring back to your classroom! Those with their own events to share can discover new resources, partners, and connect with the public for additional promotion.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through engagement in a hands-on citizen science project featured on Science Near Me, attendees will contribute to real scientific research while also discovering relevant STEM content, experts, field trips, and potential partnership opportunities to enrich their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Brenda Britsch (National Girls Collaborative: Seattle, WA), Karen Peterson (National Girls Collaborative Project: Snohomish, WA)

Sponsoring Company: Stile Education

Join us as we unravel the complexities of modeling under the NGSS framework. Dive into scientific modeling for classrooms, engage in collaborative learning, and discover how to integrate these methods to elevate science education.

SPEAKERS:
Hailey Vogel (Head of Teaching and Learning: Los Angeles, CA)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Engage in strategies to help your English Learners (EL) population make sense of science concepts and apply their science knowledge to real-world applications. We will explore a variety of strategies for differentiating instruction so that ELs can build their ability to communicate science concepts.

SPEAKERS:
Pam Richards (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Aauti School

Curious about how AI can help you provide timely feedback to your students? Have you wondered how AI can help you create engaging learning experiences?? Join us during this session to see how Aauti School can automate your grading process, generate rich content, and much more!

SPEAKERS:
Robyn Cook (Aauti School: Stanwood, MI)

Sponsoring Company: Mosa Mack Science

One surprising threat facing the majestic sea turtle: over 90% of hatchlings are born female. Why is this so? Explore a lesson on how genetics, environment, & climate could be impacting the turtle species forever.

SPEAKERS:
Elisabeth Johnson (Mosa Mack Science: Fairfield, CT)

In partnership with PD providers and scientists, we developed a "Data Literacy Using LTER Data" workshop series in which 9 teachers participated prior to a multi-week field research experience. A post-workshop survey showed 92% of teachers expected to integrate knowledge and practices they learned.

TAKEAWAYS:
Building partnerships to develop data literacy and research skills can influence teachers' abilities to use authentic data in their teaching practice.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Morrison (Oregon State University: Fort Collins, CO)

Top educators (PAEMST) share their FAVORITE resources for bringing best practices into the K-12 classroom. Teaching treasures will range from favorite lessons, to websites, grants, and other resources. This session includes grade-level specific sharing as well as resources for all educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn about outstanding resources that are a favorite of the Presidential Awardees (PAEMST) and walk away with QR codes, websites, grant ideas, lesson plans, and more!

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Renfrew (Wade Institute for Science Education: Milford, MA), DeLene Hoffner (Retired & eleSTEMary: Colorado Springs, CO)

Looking to pinpoint free supplemental interdisciplinary learning resources? Find real-world connections, internships, PD opportunities, classroom tools, & swag; help students see themselves with diverse career role models & more at the NIST Educational STEM Resource (NEST-R) registry poster session!

TAKEAWAYS:
Quickly find content that brings STEM curriculum to life, sparks interest, & keeps students engaged with NEST-R, a free, publicly available website! Real-world applications on topics like the metric system, engineering, and physics help students make sense of the interdisciplinary nature of science.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Benham (National Institute of Standards and Technology: Gaithersburg, MD), Cara O'Malley (National Institute of Standards and Technology: Gaithersburg, MD)

A former national science fair judge provides insights on how good titles can improve the odds of winning at science fairs based on a research project conducted on a national science fair. The poster will describe what the parts of a "good" title are & how teachers can help your students create one.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will learn the components of a good project title (from a research project on science fairs) and how to help their students develop a good title for their own project.

SPEAKERS:
G. Michael Bowen (Mount Saint Vincent University: Halifax, NS)

Using blocks teachers will find ready to use activities that will include several integral science practices students need to succeed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hands-on activities that will solidify otherwise stagnant concepts in introductory science practices.

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

Students today are more stressed and anxious than ever. A school of philosophy called Stoicism offers practical advice on how to interact with the world and come out stronger and more capable. This poster will share tenets of stoic philosophy and suggest ways to use this wisdom in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will obtain tools and strategies to improve their students' resilience, confidence, and outlook on life, as they take on the challenges of learning science.

SPEAKERS:
Ron Kinser (Senior School Science Teacher: No City, No State)

Rather than simply use an interesting news story or issue to "hook" students, I use a current issue to drive the Biology content covered in that lecture. By carefully choosing issues across all parts of Biology, I cover all content normally included in an introductory Biology class.

TAKEAWAYS:
I will provide specific guidance to transform the delivery of content to align with current, relevant issues. This includes individual variations that can either include or exclude physiology, and cover more, or less, content in specific areas of Biology.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Sawey (Texas Christian University: Fort Worth, TX)

Teacher leaders are the superheroes of education. In this session participants will investigate the Domain IV of the Teacher Leader Model Standards. In this deep dive, facilitating improvement in science instruction and student learning will be addressed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through participant dialogue, each attendee will walk away with a list of methods or practices found to be successful in the science classroom, as well as, ways to collaborate and support colleagues.

SPEAKERS:
Jenne VandePanne (Michigan Technological University/Newaygo Public Schools: Newaygo, MI), Jessica Wagenmaker (Holton Middle School: Twin Lake, MI)

Sponsoring Company: STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Looking for ways to increase student ideas in the development of investigative phenomena? We will work in collaborative teams to develop a driving question board. Let’s discuss the types of phenomena and how they can be used effectively in the STEM classroom. Bring relevancy to students’ lives!

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Thompson (Accelerate Learning, Inc.: Grapevine, TX)