Sponsoring Company: TCI

Learn to promote interest and engagement while helping students achieve specific learning objectives with games. Join us as you learn simple and valuable ways to gamify your lessons. We will be sharing a few creative game ideas for building relationships and reviewing and learning content.

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.

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)

Research has shown that real-world performance is how students learn best. Using Performance Assessments allow teachers to genuinely assess students with a task that closely mirrors the responsibilities of a scientist and elevates the learning to higher-order thinking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Speakers will identify the goals of performance-based assessments, provide structure and examples for development, and discuss the real-classroom applications. Participants will work to develop a performance assessment that can be used in the classroom of the core sciences.

SPEAKERS:
Megan Judd (Bishop McNamara High School: Edgewater, MD)

Sponsoring Company: Kognity

Through this session, you'll gain valuable insights into our development process, from initial concept to final implementation, and discover how Kognity's unique tools can revolutionize your teaching methods. Engage with our experts, ask questions, and explore real-world applications that can enhance your educational practices.

SPEAKERS:
Grace Boersma (Kognity: Stockholm, Sweden), Wayne Wright (Kognity: Stockholm, Sweden)

Sponsoring Company: Lessi AI

Lessi AI helps science teachers find and customize high-quality open science resources. This workshop will help participants learn to build, extend, and adapt freely available NGSS-aligned lessons and assessments to meet the needs of all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Patrick Marcotte (Lessi AI: Saint Paul, MN)

Many high-quality curricula use transfer tasks, phenomenon-based assessments where students demonstrate their three dimensional understanding while exploring a novel scenario. In this session, educators will work through an example of a transfer task and an activity structure.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with an understanding of what transfer tasks are and an activity structure to use with students learning how to engage in this assessment practice.

SPEAKERS:
Kate Henson (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Melissa Campanella (University of Colorado Boulder: Baltimore, MD), William Penuel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

Sponsoring Company: TCI

Learn to promote interest and engagement while helping students achieve specific learning objectives with games. Join us as you learn simple and valuable ways to gamify your lessons. We will be sharing a few creative game ideas for building relationships and reviewing and learning content.

Memes are a powerful learning tool, helping teachers assess understanding and drive deeper learning through Bloom’s taxonomy. Memes challenge students to articulate and audit their understanding through powerful puzzles. Explore how to use memes in your classroom as a formative assessment tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, participants will gain an introduction to memes as a learning tool, see good and bad examples of memes in learning, and explore three unique meme activities that can be used in your science classroom to support the development of NGSS Science and Engineering Practices.

SPEAKERS:
Jonathan Libov (CEO: Chappaqua, NY)

How do we know which students of our students are figuring things out that they care about? Which students are contributing to knowledge-building in small groups? Join us to learn about a simple approach to using data from exit tickets with research-based strategies to promote more equitable partici

TAKEAWAYS:
Making formative use of exit ticket data on student experience can help all students experience instruction as more relevant and coherent from the student perspective. Key to improvement is testing research-based strategies for promoting more equitable participation in class.

SPEAKERS:
William Penuel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Melissa Campanella (University of Colorado Boulder: Baltimore, MD)

Want to improve learning through common assessments? To do so, you need a way to design assessments efficiently that cover a wide range of standards and a way to score assessments that fits your capacity as a school or district. In this workshop, join us to explore practical common assessment design.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a process for designing, administering, and scoring common assessments that require students to apply three dimensions of science to explain phenomena and solve problems that are meaningful to students and important to their communities.

SPEAKERS:
Abraham Lo (BSCS Science Learning: Ambler, PA), Kate Henson (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), William Penuel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

Integrating authentic and meaningful hands-on maker projects into science classes can be challenging, but rewarding for both students and teachers. These types of projects offer us the opportunity to alternatively assess student learning, infuse creativity, and focus on student choice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will participate in the engineering and design process and will leave with successful example projects, a working knowledge of the project-design process and can utilize the various strategies for implementation of maker projects in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Catherine Bischoff (Rye Country Day School: Rye, NY)

Learn how student interest & identity are co-equal dimensions with disciplinary core ideas, science & engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts when designing phenomenon-driven assessments. Participants will learn how to use tools to elicit information about students for use in design.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators engage with the 5D Assessment Project's tools to elicit and use information about students' interests and identities to design meaningful, phenomenon-driven assessment opportunities. Work with examples of meaningful assessment aligned to the elements of the NGSS.

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Klein (BSCS Science Learning: Houston, TX), William Penuel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Abraham Lo (BSCS Science Learning: Ambler, PA)

Explore and apply methods to restructure 3D HQIM assessments and grading guidance to efficiently and objectively grade student responses and offer clear, concise feedback. Participants will also engage with an evaluation tool to ensure that restructuring the assessments and grading guidance does not change the integrity, rigor, and 3 Dimensional quality of the tasks.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will walk away with an understanding of the process behind the LDOE/NSTA Partnership and explore practical strategies for using NSTA resources to build science leader capacity. Attendees will walk away with skills and tools necessary for restructuring the format and grading guidance of HQIM embedded assessments in a way that ensures maintenance of rigor and standards alignment.

SPEAKERS:
Jill Sutton (science teacher/instructional coach: Ruston, LA), Molly Talbot (Louisiana Dept. of Education: New Roads, LA), April Winstead (District K-12 Science Facilitator: Ruston, LA)

We live in a 3D world. Do your assessments? Come learn how to measure the dimensionality of your assessments and how to write two- and three-dimensional questions. Participants will be given time to apply their learning to their own assessments to integrate the CCCs and SEPs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to write two- and three-dimensional questions and edit current assessment questions to integrate the cross-cutting concepts and science and engineering practices.

SPEAKERS:
Laura Cohen (Lake Zurich High School: Wauconda, IL), McKenna Serowka (Lake Zurich High School: Lake Zurich, IL)

Want to create 3D assessment tasks that students enjoy completing and leave wanting to learn more? Join us for this session where we will explore three different approaches to choosing phenomena and problems for assessments that align to standards and connect to students’ interests and identities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will leave with a plan for learning about your students’ interests and the priorities of their communities pertaining to a 3D standard you are teaching and assessing next semester.

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Klein (BSCS Science Learning: Houston, TX), William Penuel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Abraham Lo (BSCS Science Learning: Ambler, PA)

Discover how sensemaking mini-projects can be used to engage students in the world around them. Learn how using non-traditional assessments helps students with obtaining and communicating high-level information. Strategies for assessment development will be shared with an emphasis on SEPs and CCCs.

TAKEAWAYS:
Discover strategies for authentic assessment of high-level concepts through phenomena-based mini-projects. Explore pre-developed earth science projects and student examples showcasing mastery of science and engineering practices. Gain tips for crafting NGSS-aligned assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren LaSota (Adlai E. Stevenson High School: Tower Lakes, IL), Molly Sponseller (Adlai E. Stevenson High School: Lincolnshire, IL)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

The classroom has changed A LOT in the last few years. Distractions are everywhere all the time. It's no wonder that students are having a much harder time focusing on tasks. This session will use technology that your school may already have and get students back in the game!

This goal of this session is to give teachers the tools they need to adjust to the addition of Fluids to the AP Physics 1 curriculum. During this session, we will reinforce content understanding, and provide classroom-ready resources such as instructional materials, labs, and more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will walk away with alleviated anxiety about the addition of a new unit to AP Physics 1, and perhaps even excitement! Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of fluids concepts, labs, problems, modeling activities, as well as finding a new group of collaborative friends!

SPEAKERS:
Oather Strawderman (Lawrence Free State High School: Lawrence, KS), John Pinizzotto (Director, AP Physics: Whitman, MA)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

Do you feel like you are forced to teach to the test? Do you despise the end of course or state exam? Let me show you how to use technology in a way that keeps your students engaged in LEARNING science while also preparing them for the dreaded end of year exam.

Embrace a competency-based approach to any Advanced Placement science course by focusing on the practices without sacrificing content or pace. The strengths-based, feedback-oriented assessment approach supports student success on the AP exam, transitioning from a traditional grading to the LPM.

TAKEAWAYS:
Create learning progressions based on the SEPs and adjust the target levels to provide enough time for students to grow to AP expectations. Attendees will leave knowing how they can implement this consistent, reliable method immediately in their classrooms even in a traditional grades school.

SPEAKERS:
Elise Naramore (Pascack Hills High School: Saddle River, NJ)

How do you teach logical writing? What structures do you use to support students who just “don’t get it” when constructing explanations? We’ll share our philosophy, graphic organizer, sample tasks, student work, manipulatives, connections to CCC’s, and a gradual release model that builds student pro

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave our session with a model of how to support struggling learners with constructing explanations for SEP6. This includes a graphic organizer that can be adapted for any topic area as well as a gradual release model of how we walk our students up to proficiency in constructing explanations.

SPEAKERS:
Andy Fitz (Adlai E. Stevenson High School: Libertyville, IL), Josh Bozeday (Adlai E. Stevenson High School: Lincolnshire, IL), Kristy Wrona (Adlai E. Stevenson High School: Lincolnshire, IL)

In our presentation, we'll show how a standard five-section lab report is divided into chunks with clear prompts for clarity, grading, and executive functioning support. As students improve in technical writing, scaffolding is phased out, building confidence and improving communication skills.

TAKEAWAYS:
Improving science writing skills enhances clear communication, and when scaffolded effectively, fosters inclusivity, bolsters student confidence, and encourages systems thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Hirsch (Upper School Science Teacher: Rye, NY), Jennifer Doran (Rye Country Day School: Rye, NY)

Paper labs get lost SO easily. Lab notebooks help prevent this! Come explore lab notebook templates, sample labs, and modifications that can be made to best support students and their lab experience! Labs will be Chemistry focused, but all sciences welcome!

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore a lab notebook template and its modifications that can support the needs of various learners, including IEP and English Language Learners.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Pavletich (Esperanza Preparatory Academy: New York, NY)

Explore how student self-assessment can transform STEM learning by empowering learners to reflect on and take charge of their educational journey. Gain practical strategies and tools to implement this effective approach in your classroom, enhancing engagement and understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to implement student self-assessment techniques that boost independence, deepen understanding, and increase engagement in STEM subjects.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Mawn (Roxbury High School: Succasunna, NJ)

This session examines results from a long-term research study that compares the pedagogical strategies of physical and digital model construction on the conceptual understanding of the DNA molecule’s form and function by high school biology students as measured by different assessment strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Physical model construction provides greater long-term conceptual understanding than digital model construction at the initial learning experience. Conceptual understanding is a complex construct that demonstrates a greater degree of learning than memorization and requires varied assessment tools.

SPEAKERS:
Salvatore Garofalo (Queens College, City University of New York: Mineola, NY)

Students are tasked with purifying water from a "sludge" containing a variety of insoluble solids, soluble ionic compounds and non-miscible liquids. Project worksheets and scaffolding recommendations will be shared to help with differentiating the activity for a spectrum of learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
A comprehensive lab practical is a useful way for students at all levels to apply their knowledge to a real-life chemistry challenge. It demonstrates that concepts in Chemistry are not siloed units to forget once you are done with them, but rather a building of knowledge with interlocking parts.

SPEAKERS:
Caroline Gochoco-Tsuyuki (Archbishop Riordan High School: Lafayette, CA)

"Unleash the power of chemistry with our thrilling lab-based assessments! Join us to discover engaging experiments that captivate students' imaginations while reinforcing essential concepts. Elevate your teaching and ignite a passion for science in your classroom!"

TAKEAWAYS:
At our session, attendees will gain practical insights into implementing dynamic lab-based assessments, enhancing student learning and fostering a deeper appreciation for chemistry. Plus, take home detailed lab descriptions for immediate classroom application!

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Ragusa (Neuqua Valley High School: Naperville, IL)

Do you want all students to contribute more of ideas in science class? In this workshop, we’ll present Community Agreements routines that build a culture where students feel safe sharing ideas and caring for one another. Creating a supportive classroom cuture is critical to all NGSS learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with a ready to use plan to implement community agreements in your classroom, including eliciting students’ ideas for how to be respectful, equitable, committed to community, and move science thinking forward, and strategies for student reflection on these agreements and how to assess them.

SPEAKERS:
William Penuel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Greg Benedis-Grab (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

Sponsoring Company: InnerOrbit

How do we scaffold and prepare students for 3-dimensional, sensemaking assessments? Join us to explore how Louisiana and other states are using InnerOrbit’s bank of scaffolded questions and phenomena to gather actionable data and to prepare for the LEAP and other state tests.

Want to create 3D assessment tasks that students enjoy completing and leave wanting to learn more? Join us for this session where we will explore three different approaches to choosing phenomena and problems for assessments that align to standards and connect to students’ interests and identities.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will leave with a plan for learning about your students’ interests and the priorities of their communities pertaining to a 3D standard you are teaching and assessing next semester.

SPEAKERS:
William Penuel (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Abraham Lo (BSCS Science Learning: Ambler, PA)

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 LEAP (and other state tests) and new phenomena in instruction.

Explore how student self-assessment can transform STEM learning by empowering learners to reflect on and take charge of their educational journey. Gain practical strategies and tools to implement this effective approach in your classroom, enhancing engagement and understanding.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to implement student self-assessment techniques that boost independence, deepen understanding, and increase engagement in STEM subjects.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Mawn (Roxbury High School: Succasunna, NJ)

Embark on an exploration of teacher recognition of NGSS Standards, where insights to refine science education practices, fostering deeper student engagement and enriched learning experiences. Join us to discover actionable strategies for enhancing pedagogy and igniting a passion for science.

TAKEAWAYS:
Gain actionable insights into teacher perceptions of NGSS Standards and discover targeted strategies for improving science education practices

SPEAKERS:
Stephanie Tracey (Graduate Student: Clemson, SC)