2024 New Orleans National Conference

November 6-9, 2024

All sessions added to My Agenda prior to this notice have been exported to the mobile app and will be visible in your account when the app launches. Any sessions added now, will also have to be added in the app.
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FILTERS APPLIED:6 - 8, Curriculum and Assessment, Biology

 

Rooms and times subject to change.
64 results
Save up to 50 sessions in your agenda.

Forensic Escape Room: Design Your Own Biotech Adventure

Thursday, November 7 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 256


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Explore the world of forensic science with these fun and exciting escape room activities! Try forensic blood detection and agarose gel electrophoresis experiments, decipher clues, and solve puzzles. Learn to design your own escape room to have students unravel the evidence and free the innocent.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Brian Ell (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

From Atoms to Oceans: Modeling the Properties of Water

Thursday, November 7 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 242


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Dive deep into water's secrets! while harnessing the power of physical 3D models to unravel states of matter, polar covalent bonding, and beyond in an immersive journey from atoms to oceans.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Arnholt (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Biotech Basics

Thursday, November 7 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 257


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Link physical science concepts like circuits and charged particles to the essential biotech method gel electrophoresis. Build a reusable gel electrophoresis system with the Bandit STEM Electrophoresis Kit, and use it to separate colorful dyes. Also, add the A to STEAM with creative pipetting art!

SPEAKERS:
Rose Chaffee-Cohen (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Journey Through the Heart

Thursday, November 7 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 260


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Take a tour through the mammalian heart and trace the path of a blood cell on its journey to oxygenation. Participants take blood pressure readings. Then dissect a preserved sheep heart to model blood flow and connect BP to heart anatomy. Don’t skip a beat - it’s going to be hands-on fun!

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Hale, MI)

Exploring OpenSciEd High School from Carolina (9-12)

Thursday, November 7 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 261


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply

Experience a hands-on model lesson from OpenSciEd for High School & discover how the Carolina Certified Edition enhanced these high-quality instructional materials, making them more accessible, user-friendly, & safer for classroom use. Participate in the Serengeti board game from the Biology 1 unit.

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

Code Breakers: Using CRISPR to Rewrite Genetics

Thursday, November 7 • 10:50 AM - 11:50 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 256


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Unleash the power of gene editing with your students using REAL CRISPR-Cas technology to knock out colorful genes in E. coli. Identify successful knockout based on the color of the cells. Experiment by switching RNA templates and analyzing results, letting your students prove the specificity of CRIS

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Brian Ell (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

Modeling Membrane Explorations: Real-World Connections with Wet Labs

Thursday, November 7 • 10:50 AM - 11:50 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 242


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Dive into modeling the movement of ions and nutrients across membranes. Help your students connect theory with the results from popular homeostasis labs.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson (3D Molecular Designs: Westmoreland, KS)

Oodles of Labradoodles: A gel electrophoresis lab to explore Mendelian inheritance with dog genetics

Thursday, November 7 • 10:50 AM - 11:50 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 257


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Molly the Labradoodle has surprise puppies. Students use Punnett squares and DNA gel electrophoresis to track the furnishings trait and determine the father. Mendelian genetics has never been this cute!

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hennessy-McDonald, PhD (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Building High-Quality 3-D Assessments

Thursday, November 7 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 283



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Building High Quality 3-D Assessments

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Join us to participate in providing educators with the skills and knowledge needed to create authentic and engaging assessments that truly measure student understanding of the 3-D science standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will utilize the NGSS standards, the Louisiana Achievement Level Descriptors, and high-quality curriculum items to develop and evaluate 3-dimensional assessment items.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Shirley (Teacher: Natchitoches, LA), Sheena Prelow (Natchitoches Parish School Board: Natchitoches, LA), Paula Callender (Natchitoches Central High School: Pleasant Hill, LA), Jessie Church (Natchitoches Parish School Board: Natchitoches, LA)

Uncooking the egg – Modeling protein folding and denaturing

Thursday, November 7 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 242


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

What happens when you cook an egg? Is it possible to un-cook it? Investigate the characteristics of amino acids, the levels (and rules!) of protein folding, and how denaturing a protein alters its function in an engaging investigation of the Amino Acid Starter Kit.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Arnholt (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Wrongfully Convicted? A forensic investigation examining DNA evidence with gel electrophoresis

Thursday, November 7 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 257


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Use gel electrophoresis to investigate if someone was wrongfully convicted. Based on the principles from the FBI’s CODIS system, this forensics investigation allows your students to make connections between DNA analysis and its uses in the criminal justice system. Inspired by the Innocence Project.

SPEAKERS:
Rose Chaffee-Cohen (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Urgent Lessons: Measuring the Effects of Climate Change

Thursday, November 7 • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 262


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Why are some coral and fish species disappearing? In this 3D lesson, students investigate how climate change impacts interdependent relationships in aquatic ecosystems. Help your students ask questions, define problems, and use sensors to investigate how excess CO2 affects ocean and freshwater pH.

Flight, Forces, Fruit, and Fowl: Exploring Wing Loading in a Hands-On Lesson for Physical and Life Science Classrooms

Thursday, November 7 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 294


STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

Discover how the concept of wing loading influences the physics of airplane flight, bird wings, and wind-dispersed seeds. From aerodynamics to ecological adaptations, this hands-on lesson will explore the interconnectedness of flight across diverse organisms and systems.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to calculate and apply the concept of wing loading to the flight dynamics of airplanes, birds, and wind-dispersed seeds. Life science and physical science teachers will leave with lesson plans and resources to take back to their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew McVay (Clinical Lecturer: Auburn, AL)

Put the M into STEM: Quantitative Techniques for Biotechnology

Thursday, November 7 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 256


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

You’ve planned the experiment and collected data, now let’s discuss the best way to analyze it. In this workshop, we’ll use PCR and ELISA to bring quantitative data analysis and statistics to the lab. Mastery of these skills is crucial to prepare students for careers in biotechnology and STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Brian Ell (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

From Code to Construction: Modeling Transcription and Translation Essentials

Thursday, November 7 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 242


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Model how DNA is transcribed into mRNA and how mRNA is translated into a protein - the final stages of the flow of genetic information.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson (3D Molecular Designs: Westmoreland, KS)

Sickle cell genetics: Using gel electrophoresis to investigate inheritance

Thursday, November 7 • 2:20 PM - 3:20 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 257


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Teach topics ranging from protein function to genetic diseases with this engaging hands-on activity. It only takes one class period! Students help a fictional family obtain molecular diagnoses using gel electrophoresis. Bonus: a free hands-on activity to model sickle cell gene therapy treatments.

SPEAKERS:
Ally Huang (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Making Sense Relevant: How to connect science concepts to students’ lived experience

Thursday, November 7 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 274


STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

Come engage in an earth science activity about geologic time periods (MS-ESS1-4) and a biology activity about cell membranes (MS-LS1-2) to explore how to make science relevant for their students. We will also demonstrate and discuss strategies for increasing the relevance of any NGSS lesson.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience two examples of how we make science relevant for our students. We will also discuss tips and strategies for increasing relevance in any lesson.

SPEAKERS:
Alexa Clements (Associate Professor: Cedar Falls, IA), Jesse Wilcox (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA)

Heavy metal: Investigating the effects of environmental toxins on C. elegans

Thursday, November 7 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 256


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Unlock biology's mysteries with model organisms! Join our workshop to learn how to culture and study C. elegans in your classroom laboratory. Explore heavy metal effects using a simple locomotion assay. Integrate STEM concepts, data collection, and statistics for an enriching learning experience.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Brian Ell (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

Biotechnology Equity: Making biotechnology accessible through modeling and design challenges

Thursday, November 7 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 242


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Empower your high school students to unlock the secrets of enzyme specificity through hands-on biotech design challenges

SPEAKERS:
Mark Arnholt (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Bacterial transformation made easy with True Blue

Thursday, November 7 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 257


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Experience an easy-to-implement genetic engineering lab with simple teacher prep - no starter cultures or incubator required! This robust lab allows students to visualize the transformation of bacteria from white to bright blue using a protocol that can be completed in a 45-minute class period.

SPEAKERS:
Kristin Hennessy-McDonald, PhD (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Next Generation Dissection: Form, Function, and Frogs!

Thursday, November 7 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 260


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

With the transition to 3-dimensional learning and NGSS,is there still a place for dissections in the classroom? The answer is yes! As you dissect a frog,we will demonstrate how to integrate the 3 dimensions of learning while highlighting adaptations and relationships between structure and function.

SPEAKERS:
Patti Kopkau (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Hale, MI)

Enzymatic Explorations: Why Does Ice Cream Make Me Gassy?

Thursday, November 7 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 262


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Help students explore why dairy can cause digestive discomfort! This 3D investigation looks at lactase enzyme function and sugar metabolism in yeast and builds an understanding of molecular structure, function & energy transfer while connecting to real-world health issues like lactose intolerance.

Field Studies in the Bahamas: Travel to the Gerace Research Institute (GRI) in San Salvador to learn the mechanics of setting up your own trip with students.

Thursday, November 7 • 3:40 PM - 4:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 244


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Terra Science and Education

Spend a week learning how to set up and run a Bahamas trip. Snorkeling and evening classes mirror the trip you can run for students. The goal is to gain the knowledge and skills needed to work with Terra to run a program that is safe, exciting, and rigorous. Room and board is free for all attendees

SPEAKERS:
George Wolfe (Retired: Walworth, NY)

Listening to the Ocean - Soundscapes of Coral Reefs

Friday, November 8 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 399


STRAND: STEM Haven

Show Details

Attendees use acoustic data from marine soundscapes to assess the ecological dynamics, functions, and resilience of coral reef ecosystems. The activities incorporate concepts from physics, technology, and biology enabling learners to address conservation challenges using authentic data.

TAKEAWAYS:
Sounds can be analyzed by frequency and amplitude - measures that serve as a “fingerprint” of a sound’s source including species identification and behavior. Because ecosystem health is entwined with biodiversity, bioacoustic monitoring is especially effective in marine environments.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Miller (E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation: Chapel Hill, NC)

Introducing Your Students to CRISPR with Sickle Cell Gene Editing

Friday, November 8 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 256


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Explore Nobel Prize-winning CRISPR in our hands-on electrophoresis workshop! This powerful biotechnology breakthrough is making dramatic changes to human health RIGHT NOW. Dive into CRISPR biology with quick experiments modeling cures for genetic diseases like Sickle Cell Anemia and Cystic Fibrosis.

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Brian Ell (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

Investigating Evolution through the Phenomenon of Elephant Tusklessness with BioInteractive

Friday, November 8 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 243



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Participant Materials

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Join us as we explore a lesson sequence that utilizes multiple BioInteractive resources to explore the phenomenon of tusklessness in elephant populations. We'll model how to have students explain the effects of a selective pressure on the Gorongosa elephant population.

SPEAKERS:
Dionne Reid (Teacher - Science: Pembroke Pines, FL)

Decoding the Past: The Pivotal Role of DNA Technology in Forensic Breakthroughs

Friday, November 8 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 252


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Dive into forensic science's role in justice with our workshop. Study a cold case solved by DNA based technologies like RFLPs & PCR, and its legal implications. Ideal for law and science enthusiasts.

A hands-on lab to teach the central dogma of molecular biology

Friday, November 8 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 257


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

Investigate transcription and translation without culturing cells! In this inquiry-based lab, RNA glows green and protein glows red, so you can see gene expression happen in a test tube. Use experimental data to test hypotheses about variables that affect transcription and translation.

SPEAKERS:
Ally Huang (miniPCR: Cambridge, MA)

Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration: Teaching Common Biology Concepts with Alginate Beads

Friday, November 8 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 260


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Participants will make and use alginate beads containing algae and alginate beads containing yeast. They will learn how the beads can be used to model the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration.

SPEAKERS:
Crystal Risko (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Burlington, NC)

Using Maggots, Flies, and Flesh to Solve a Mystery!

Friday, November 8 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 255


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

A decomposing corpse is found in a field. Four possible missing persons fit the description. But who is it? Using clues near the scene will help determine identity. Forensic anthropologist Diane France helped to develop this free middle school and high school forensic science lesson.

From Atoms to Oceans: Modeling the Properties of Water

Friday, November 8 • 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 242


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Dive deep into water's secrets! while harnessing the power of physical 3D models to unravel states of matter, polar covalent bonding, and beyond in an immersive journey from atoms to oceans.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Arnholt (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

Building District Capacity to Design and Use Common Assessments for 5D Science

Friday, November 8 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 391



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
5D Assessment Website
This website has links to tools for designing common assessments that are "5D" -- that is where students use all three dimensions of science to explain phenomena that connect to students' interests and identities
Slides

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

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)

Let it Grow, Let it Grow...

Friday, November 8 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 294



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Let It Grow.pptx

STRAND: No Strand

Show Details

Participants will be able to examine several practical (and budget-friendly) models for classroom hydroponics and consider ways to adapt them to fit age-appropriate lesson plans to make this activity suitable for any learning stage.

TAKEAWAYS:
Everything you've ever wanted to know about hydroponics but were too afraid to ask! This session is designed for anyone looking to implement hydroponics into either the formal or informal learning environment, appropriate for all ages of learners.

SPEAKERS:
Caleb Bagby (Senior Director of Engineering, Technology, and Design: Chattanooga, TN), Jessica Dobrin (McCallie School: Chattanooga, TN)

Lion Family Reunion: Conservation Biology Genetics

Friday, November 8 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 256


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Edvotek

Wildlife conservators often return captive-bred animals to their native habitats to rewild the area. In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore the use of RFLP analysis and phylogenetics in conservation biology to analyze the DNA samples of two lions. Can we return them to their ancestral home?

SPEAKERS:
Danielle Snowflack, PhD (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC), Brian Ell (Edvotek Inc.: Washington, DC)

Making the Cut with CRISPR that Changes Lives

Friday, November 8 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 242


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Discover how modeling with interactive, collaborative tools can help your students learn about this new gene editing technology. Hear how the treatment has helped people.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson (3D Molecular Designs: Westmoreland, KS)

Heating Up: Connecting Climate Change and Coral Bleaching with BioInteractive

Friday, November 8 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 243



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Participant Materials

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Scientists collect data to create models and develop solutions. We'll explore free HHMI BioInteractive resources that ask students to analyze authentic data in order to connect how climate change impacts coral bleaching and understand the effects of increasing global temperatures.

SPEAKERS:
Chi Klein (Saint Stephen's Episcopal School: Bradenton, FL), Cathy Sammons (Teacher: Lexington, KY)

Determination of Biological Sex with the Bradford Assay: A Forensic Approach

Friday, November 8 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 252


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Discover forensic biotech in our workshop. Perform Bradford Assay for biological sex identification from fingerprints, and delve into biochemical analysis with practical skills.

Bring molecular genetics to your biology classroom with PTC tasting

Friday, November 8 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 257


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: miniPCR bio

PTC tasting is a classic way to link genotype and phenotype. Use PCR and gel electrophoresis to determine if students have taster or non-taster alleles for bitter perception. Learn about our all-new curriculum and see how easy it can be to bring molecular genetics to your class!

Zombie Apocalypse!

Friday, November 8 • 9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 255


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

Bring a friend with you to attend, "Zombie Apocalypse!". Just make sure you can run faster! Zombies provide a great way to get students interested in understanding how diseases move through a population. Great for middle and high school students.

DNA Unplugged -- Using Multiple Physical Models of DNA to Teach Structure and Function

Friday, November 8 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 242


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Explore DNA and RNA with three different physical models. Discover strategies to help students learn about nucleotide structure, base-pairing, DNA directionality, and even Epigenetics!

SPEAKERS:
Mark Arnholt (3D Molecular Designs: Milwaukee, WI)

A Hands-on Approach to Effectively Teaching Health Science

Friday, November 8 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 257


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Anatomy in Clay

They will acquire the knowledge to engage science students with immediate, hands-on learning using a proven method that is nationally recognized to increase student retention and test scores. Come build the rotator cuff with us!

SPEAKERS:
John-Paul Theriault (ANATOMY IN CLAY Learning Systems: Loveland, CO)

An Evolutionary Tree? Constructing Explanations about Natural Selection with BioInteractive

Friday, November 8 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 243



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Participant Materials

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Do your students struggle with constructing scientific explanations? We'll explore free BioInteractive resources featuring authentic data about the evolution of Caribbean anoles and discuss how students can utilize multiple sources of evidence, such as phylogenetic trees, to support their claims.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Eberhard (St. Clair High School: Saint Clair, MI), Dionne Reid (Teacher - Science: Pembroke Pines, FL)

Ozempic and Semaglutide Science: Mastering Diabetes and Weight Loss

Friday, November 8 • 10:40 AM - 11:40 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 252


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Join our workshop to explore Ozempic's dual action on diabetes and weight loss. Learn about semaglutide's role in blood sugar and appetite regulation through hands-on ELISA simulations.

Have Your Student Take on the Role of a Genetic Counselor

Friday, November 8 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Poster Session Aisle



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Genetic Counselor Challenge NSTA 2024
Student documents and teacher resources for Genetic Counselor Challenge.

STRAND: Lesson Showcase

Show Details

In this lesson, your middle or high school students take on the role of a genetic counselor. For the challenge problem, students will use their understanding of genetics to write a professional report explaining the likelihood of their patients having a child with a genetic condition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through the challenge problem, students will demonstrate their creativity, understanding of genetic terminology, Punnett squares, pedigrees and writing skills. This can be used as a summative, performance assessment. Teachers can make simple alterations to have it fit in with their curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Kaitlyn Johnson (Middle School Science Lead Teacher: San Jose, CA)

Connecting Classrooms and Colleges

Friday, November 8 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Poster Session Aisle


STRAND: Lesson Showcase

Show Details

Connecting Classrooms and Colleges showcases how to cultivate successful partnerships between the K-12 setting and higher education to improve science education for all level learners, from kindergarten to graduate school and beyond. A genetics lesson based on that collaboration will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how educators can find opportunities to cultivate partnerships with colleges that benefit all that seek to learn and improve science education. A decade long partnership between a University of Georgia Genetics Department and a middle school teacher will be featured.

SPEAKERS:
Audrey Hughes (Clarke Middle School: Athens, GA)

Creating Equitable Environments in Education for All

Friday, November 8 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Poster Session Aisle


STRAND: Research to Practice

Show Details

Wondering how to reach your neurodivergent students? Come listen to a teacher who is neurodivergent herself provide information on the innerworkings of the ASD and ADHD mind in relation to the classroom. Learn simple ways to create a classroom environment that is equitable for all brains!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with information on the mind of students with ASD and ADHD. Teachers will acquire simple, low cost ways of making their classroom environment more accessible to neurodivergent students.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Goodwin (Olive Branch H.S.: Southaven, MS)

From Code to Construction: Modeling DNA Replication Essentials

Friday, November 8 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 242


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Model how our DNA genome replicates – the first stage of the flow of genetic information and preserves genome integrity.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson (3D Molecular Designs: Westmoreland, KS)

Make a Plan: Designing Solutions to Preserve Biodiversity with BioInteractive

Friday, November 8 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 243



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Participant Materials

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

During this workshop, we'll use an HHMI BioInteractive activity to explore major biodiversity threats and design solutions for preserving biodiversity. Participants will leave the workshop with a complete activity and ways to implement it while emphasizing student inclusion and agency.

SPEAKERS:
Cathy Sammons (Teacher: Lexington, KY)

Do real hands-on CRISPR gene editing!

Friday, November 8 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 252


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

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

Science Denial: The Bitter Fruit of Scientific Illiteracy - Can science educators be part or the solution?

Friday, November 8 • 1:20 PM - 2:20 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 261


Show Details

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Whether degrading curricula, handicapping librarians, or thwarting medical and environmental educators, science denial impedes rational individual decision making, impedes environmental policy-making, and seriously threatens both individual and public health. What can we educators do about it?

SPEAKERS:
Joseph Levine (Science Writer and Producer: Concord, MA)

How Mini Grants Impact Student Learning

Friday, November 8 • 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Poster Session Aisle


STRAND: STEM Haven

Show Details

By implementing STEM related mini grants, students will be positively impacted through multidisciplinary, hands-on, and inquiry-based learning. Students benefit from experiencing mini grants in the classroom which also allows teachers to more effectively teach their students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn the specific benefits and reasons for implementing STEM mini grants throughout every grade level. Through learning the positive impacts on students, attendees will understand how to meet the specific needs of one's own classroom and their content area.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Hansen (Student: Bridgeport, CT), Adriana Piccolino (Student: Mount Kisco, NY), Jenna D'Angelo (Student: Bridgeport, CT)

Engaging Marginalized Students through Interactive Science Experiential Learning.

Friday, November 8 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 297


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Get ready to be inspired as we showcase a culture that empowers students in advancing science education. We equipped teachers to integrate immersive field experiences with state standards to foster meaningful connections and promote community stewardship among marginalized populations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Walk away from the session with hands-on activities and engaging professional learning strategies that promote student engagement, creating connections with students, and examples of student centered environmental stewardship projects.

SPEAKERS:
Venicia Ferrell (Research Assistant Professor: Norfolk, VA), Alexis Tharpe (ODU Research Foundation TCEP: Norfolk, VA 23508, VA), Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA)

Climate Extremes: Investigating Evolutionary Change in Anole Lizards with BioInteractive

Friday, November 8 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 243



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Participant Materials

Show Details

Sponsoring Company: HHMI BioInteractive

Extreme climate events are driving evolutionary changes in anole lizards! Use BioInteractive resources to help students develop data literacy skills in analyzing data from the primary literature and practice writing scientific explanations about how climate affects gene pools.

SPEAKERS:
Mark Eberhard (St. Clair High School: Saint Clair, MI)

Investigate Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration with Algae Beads

Friday, November 8 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 252


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Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Discover the role of Scenedesmus obliquus in biotechnology, from biofuels to wastewater treatment and microplastics detection. This hands-on workshop includes a powerful teaching lab for photosynthesis and cellular respiration, and allows students to engage in structured and open inquiry

Introduction to Wisconsin Fast Plants®

Friday, November 8 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 260


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Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply Company

Get students of all ages doing hands-on plant science: learning life cycles, genetics, evolution, and ecology. Wisconsin Fast Plants® make teaching life sciences interactive and practical. Learn planting, pollination, and more with these versatile organisms.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Nixon (Watauga High School: Blowing Rock, NC)

From Code to Construction: Modeling Transcription and Translation Essentials

Friday, November 8 • 2:40 PM - 3:40 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 242


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Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

Model how DNA is transcribed into mRNA and how mRNA is translated into a protein - the final stages of the flow of genetic information.

SPEAKERS:
Ruth Hutson (3D Molecular Designs: Westmoreland, KS)

Have Your Students Take on the Role of a Genetic Counselor

Saturday, November 9 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 387



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Genetic Counselor Challenge NSTA 2024
Student document and teacher resources for the Genetic Counselor Challenge.

STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

In this session, you will help your middle or high school students take on the role of a genetic counselor. For the challenge problem, students will use their understanding of genetics to write a professional report explaining the likelihood of their patients having a child with a genetic condition.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through the challenge problem, students will demonstrate their creativity, understanding of genetic terminology, Punnett squares, pedigrees and writing skills. This can be used as a summative, performance assessment. You can make simple alterations to have it fit in with your curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Kaitlyn Johnson (Middle School Science Lead Teacher: San Jose, CA)

My Future in Biotech

Saturday, November 9 • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 297



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Facilitator Manual Project PC5.2-202.pdf
-ball pumps -basketballs (not inflated) -safety goggles Participants will fill up small 7 inch basketballs as part of the activity using mechanical hand held ball air pumps. Safety glasses will be provided in the unlikely scenario a ball is overinflated and pops.
NIIMBL My Future in Biotech_General.pptx
Participant Guide Project PC5.2-202.pdf

STRAND: STEM Haven

Show Details

Under a NIIMBL grant, NC biopharma industries combined with NC STEM outreach organizations to create a fun and interactive activity to showcase the biotech career pathway.

TAKEAWAYS:
My Future in Biotech is a comprehensive pilot program which addresses the unprecedented growth and demand for a skilled workforce in the biomanufacturing industry. This presentation will go through the pilots, the activity, and what we've learned from the experience and students and teacher feedback.

SPEAKERS:
Courtney Behrle (BioNetwork: Greenville, NC)

Expanding the Pathways to Biomedical Research through Inquiry-Based Instruction at the Middle-Level

Saturday, November 9 • 8:45 AM - 9:15 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 399


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

There is a critical shortage of professionals in the healthcare industry. This has increased efforts to attract people to the field at many levels, the most significant of which is the middle school years. This presentation focuses on engaging middle-level students in biomedical research.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session provides attendees with in-depth content and engaging pedagogy related to inquiry-based biomedical science. This is conveyed through exemplar classroom-ready, hands-on lessons that align with actual biomedical research and the Next Generation Science standards.

SPEAKERS:
Adam Scribner (Indiana University Bloomington: Bloomington, IN), Gayle Buck (Indiana University Bloomington: Bloomington, IN)

Bridging the Gap in Middle School Science with Cancer Biology

Saturday, November 9 • 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 270


STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

I developed a cancer biology unit with the University of Chicago, enriching middle schoolers' understanding through hands-on labs. Results exceeded expectations, indicating successful intellectual growth. Presentation includes a dance activity on mitosis and scaffolded scientific writing.

TAKEAWAYS:
During the presentation, participants will engage in a dance activity, focusing on mitosis and cellular reproduction, which are core themes in cancer biology. Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to examine student work and learn specific scaffolding techniques.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Dixon (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL)

Teaching about Body Systems and the Human Body as a whole

Saturday, November 9 • 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 296



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Digestive System Review Worksheet.docx
This worksheet is based off the McGraw Hill textbook we use at Dexter Southfield and giving students some scientific writing practice.
Grade 7, Lab 4 - Skeleton Structure.docx
This lab is about building a model of the Skeletal System out of popsicle sticks and toothpicks.
Grade 7, Lab 6 - Balloon Lungs.docx
This lab is about using balloons and straws to both create a model of the Respiratory System and measuring how much air goes into the lungs based on the breath you take.
Grade 7, Lab 7 - Circulatory Straws.docx
This lab has students create a model of the Circulatory System using straws and tape. They will graph out their use of the straws and add in water in the end to see if they can make a full circulation around the model.
Pickle Dissection Practice.docx
This is a dissection lab I created with my co-workers at Dexter Southfield School. Please feel free to take it with you to consider using in your schools and districts.
Teaching about Body Systems and the Human Body as a whole.pptx
My Presentation with all of the information discussed

STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

Discussing how the body works and how it grows and changes during puberty into young adulthood can be a difficult process for students, teachers, parents, and even the school or district to navigate. This presentation would discuss tools teachers can use to both teach these subjects and create plans

TAKEAWAYS:
There are many ways to create a lesson plan on the human body and make the discussion of the changes to the body part of a larger conversation of how the body works and what to expect as you get older. Schools can teach these subjects with science and knowledge as the primary focus of the lessons.

SPEAKERS:
Charlie MacDonald (Dexter Southfield School: Brookline, MA)

Easy & Effective Uses of ARC-GIS in Formal and Non-Formal Settings

Saturday, November 9 • 10:20 AM - 11:20 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 279


STRAND: Tech Tools

Show Details

Session participants will experience the immersive Half-Earth Project map to explore our planet's richness and fragility. Then, they will learn to utilize ARC-GIS Story Maps to transform scientific content and data into compelling narratives suitable for non-formal and formal environments.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, attendees will be introduced to RC-GIS Story Maps and learn to create simple, learner-centered resources. They will also receive materials to support the continued application of this tool and facilitate student-created content.

SPEAKERS:
Claire Lannoye-Hall (Detroit Zoological Society: Huntington Woods, MI), Jocelyn Miller (E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation: Chapel Hill, NC)

Exploring Dog Genetics

Saturday, November 9 • 10:20 AM - 11:20 AM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - 272



(Only registered attendees may view session materials. Please login with your NSTA account to view.)
Dog Genetics NSTA 2024

STRAND: Students and Sensemaking

Show Details

From wolf to husky to chihuahua, the genetic relationships between wild canids and their diverse domesticated descendants provide a fascinating window into the science of evolution and heredity. We'll explore strategies for using the story of dogs to engage students and teach genetics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will walk away with lesson plans that can be used to support mastery of standards related to genetics and heredity, including how genetic variation leads to physical and behavioral differences and how evolution can only take place in the presence of this variation.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Slack (I.S. 223 Montauk Intermediate School: Brooklyn, NY)

Student-Created Posters: Unveiling Immunity Through Unique Analogies

Saturday, November 9 • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center - Exhibit Hall, Poster Session Aisle


STRAND: Curriculum and Assessment

Show Details

Learn how students create and execute immune system posters, which combine analogy, visuals, and concise explanations. This is a low-cost and creative way for students to demonstrate their understanding of the complex workings of the immune system in an engaging and accessible manner!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will see samples of student work demonstrating this approach's effectiveness in understanding the immune system. Teachers will come away with the scaffolding, instructions, and rubrics of this immune system visual/oral project to use in their own classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Beth Pethel (Science Faculty: Hudson, OH)

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