How can we use high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) to design more equitable systems? Join us to consider how leaders rally interest and build internal capacity for the selection and effective implementation of high-quality instructional materials. Work with other leaders to consider strategies to make the case for change toward more equitable systems that support all learners in the system and the role of HQIM in leading ongoing science improvement efforts.
Ticketed event - register here: https://my.nsta.org/event/2024NEW_LEADERSHIP

TAKEAWAYS:
Consider how high-quality instructional materials can be used to design more equitable systems. Discuss how to share the vision, support implementation, and build internal capacity for ongoing support for curriculum implementation.

SPEAKERS:
Janna Mahfoud (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jody Bintz (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Bianca Deliberto (Central Community School System: Baton Rouge, LA), Jim Short (Carnegie Corporation of New York: New York, NY), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)

Our innovative approach to science and STEM engages students through hands-on and minds-on physical computing. Through this approach you can enable students to leverage Computer Science to investigate, develop models and ultimately enact local and global change.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to effectively bring Computer Science and programming into the middle school classroom, based on curriculum add on units developed by Schoolwide Labs at the University of Colorado Boulder. Our place-based focus is a powerful promoter of equity for all students.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Henson (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Greg Benedis-Grab (CU Boulder: No City, No State)

Teachers spend about 7-12 hours per week searching for & creating instructional materials. In this session we’ll hear from teachers about how using vetted, high quality materials as a starting point opened up new possibilities and helped them to be the teacher they always wanted to be.

TAKEAWAYS:
Using high-quality instructional materials in your classroom can shift your role as teacher from "creator" to "innovator" and allow more time for supporting students and improving outcomes.

SPEAKERS:
Erika Palys (OpenSciEd: No City, No State), Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: New York, NY)

NextGen TIME is a free suite of tools and processes that supports districts in preparing to evaluate instructional materials for quality and design for 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:
Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)

This workshop addresses the NGSS by showcasing how designated ELD standards are embedded in an 8th grade integrated course and a 9th grade Physics in the Universe course. Both NGSS and ELD standards are in the model provided to the participants.

TAKEAWAYS:
Long term English Language Learners are marginalized as they are denied elective courses by being placed in an ELD class. Research also shows that language is better acquired through experience, of which an NGSS class is the perfect setting for both science and language.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Shay Fairchild (Norwalk La Mirada Unified School District: Norwalk, CA)

This new version of the Quick-Reference Guide (aka The Purple Book) is a must-have reference tool for working with NGSS and other Framework-based, 3D standards. This session will review the features of the book and show how to use the tools and resources in it to unpack the crosscutting concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to unpack the three dimensions using the tools and resources in the Quick-Reference Guide and will gain insights into the meaning of the crosscutting concepts.

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

This session provides 5 lessons for 4th and 5th grade classrooms that supports students' awareness and making sense of lived experiences with climate change and climate change disasters toward development of 3D understanding of standards-aligned science knowledge.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to apply NGSS (and other standards frameworks) for a student-centered approach to science learning about local climate change hazards, solutions and concerns, while supporting conversations about community resilience.

SPEAKERS:
Ayca Fackler (University of Missouri: Columbia, MO), Julie Luft (University of Georgia: Athens, GA)

Claims regarding NGSS alignment are prevalent in science materials. This session will focus on how to identify phenomena, problems, and sensemaking in K-12 lessons and materials, to support participants to make informed decisions on using and adapting materials to best meet students' needs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain an understanding of the characteristics of phenomena/problems and sensemaking opportunities and how to identify them in materials. With example lessons, they will use tools to evaluate materials for NGSS-aligned instruction in order to effectively identify aspects of quality.

SPEAKERS:
Shannon Wachowski (EdReports.org: Fort Collins, CO)

Are you an educator eager to use podcasts in your classroom but aren’t sure where to start? Tinkercast will present practical tips on why and how to include podcasts in your science curriculum, including an introduction to TinkerClass, our FREE, easy-to-use NGSS-aligned Project-based learning tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how and why podcasts are so engaging, to ask questions about using podcasts in the classroom, and to leave the session feeling empowered to incorporate podcast learning into their classrooms right away.

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Caban (Educational Producer)

No curriculum is perfect out of the box. Explore how one district utilized a local frog expert to enhance a newly adopted curriculum. Let hands-on lessons inspire you to find your own Frog Guy, place student inquiry at the center, and go beyond a guest speaker. Extend your storyline and engagement!

TAKEAWAYS:
After a learner-lens experience with frogs, participants will gain insights in identifying areas within a unit storyline and developing customizations aligned to the NGSS and teaching practices to reach all learners. Participants will then have time to apply this process to their own organization.

SPEAKERS:
Samantha Perrelli (STEM Instructional Coach: No City, No State)

Wondering how to customize your curriculum to help more students share and build on others’ ideas? Using examples from OpenSciEd as a context, we’ll share tools & strategies for customizing curriculum to elevate student voice and perspective. Come ready to work! 90 minute session

TAKEAWAYS:
If curriculum enactment pairs great materials with support for teachers to make those materials even better, amazing things can happen. Customizing curriculum to encourage student voice repositions students as knowledge makers and support their science identity and motivation and values.

SPEAKERS:
Austin Moore (Graduate Student: , MA), Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: New York, NY), Erika Palys (OpenSciEd: No City, No State), Renee Affolter (OpenSciEd: No City, No State)

Far too often, equity efforts are relegated to the sidelines instead of being embedded in core curriculum leadership tasks. Join us to consider how anchoring science leadership in equity principles can remove barriers to science teaching and learning through curriculum implementation efforts.

TAKEAWAYS:
The implementation of HQIM can lead to more equitable systems when barriers to equity are confronted and removed. The process of confronting barriers includes collaborating for justice, taking small actions to learn, and continual reflection and revision of implementation plans based on data.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Janna Mahfoud (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)

It is powerful to connect science instruction to local phenomena and community priorities—but it is challenging work! Join us to explore benefits and cautions of adapting OpenSciEd instructional materials to local contexts and to learn multiple strategies for localization of resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with practical strategies and resources to adapt OpenSciEd effectively, making science education more culturally relevant, engaging, and impactful for their students.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Henson (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), William Penuel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

Many schools need high-quality units to meet their state standards, especially if they vary significantly from the NGSS. BSCS Science Learning has extensive experience with designing, and adapting Storylines units. Come to this session to apply a BSCS design tool that can be used for adaptation.

Please note: space is limited.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience with a tool to unpack and compare 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 adapting HQIM in your local context.

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

Join Louisiana teacher leaders in empowering educators to effectively utilize high-quality instructional materials while addressing common challenges related to classroom assessment. Participants will engage collaboratively with resources designed to support educators with this goal.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with resources and strategies to assist with addressing some common challenges with curriculum-integrated assessment opportunties including analyzing and interpreting information provided in these assessment moments in an efficient and effective manner.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Jimenez (LA Dept of Education/Evergreen Jr High: No City, No State), Loren Klein (Academically Gifted Teacher: , LA), Lauren Waguespack (Harry Hurst Middle School: Destrehan, LA), Kylie Martin (Bayou Blue Middle School: Houma, LA)

The Atlas is a collection of 62 maps of the practices, core ideas, crosscutting concepts, and performance expectations in NGSS and other Framework-based standards. The maps show how goals in science are meant to build upon each other and relate to each other over a student’s K-12 education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to read the maps and use other tools in the Atlas to understand and interpret standards and plan instructional sequences as part of their work in curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

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

Creating Regionally Relevant Lessons engage students on a personal level allowing for greater insight into where they fit and their role in their community as well as how they can impact the world around them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with plenty of ideas of how to connect what they're teaching in the classroom to their own local resources and, how bundling performance expectations can be a great way to start!

SPEAKERS:
Teresa Rockwood (Kendall Hunt Publishing Co.: Dubuque, IA)

Have you ever been to an escape room? Want to turn your classroom into the same experience and not just have kids open envelopes? This session will show you an escape room designed for the Physics classroom and tools to help build your own on a concept of your choosing in any Science classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will help you see the actual thought behind the puzzle making for a meaningful escape room and how it transforms the learning and engagement of students when you bring the room to life. This style of assessment has proved to have the best engagement of any strategy we have used.

SPEAKERS:
Gregory Brown (Gila Ridge High School: Yuma, AZ)