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: Laveen, AZ), Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Long Beach, CA), Jody Bintz (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Bianca Deliberto (Central Community School System: Baton Rouge, LA), Jim Short (BSCS Science Learning: Ridgefield, NY), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Waldorf, MD)

Navigate your first National NSTA Conference with ease! Join our session for an orientation to the conference, tips on selecting sessions, and an opportunity to meet other first-time attendees. We will share a few insider tips from experienced conference attendees and give an overview of the conference app. This session is structured so you can learn why you belong at NSTA.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to get the most out of your conference experience in addition to becoming an engaged learner.

SPEAKERS:
Julie Luft (University of Georgia: Athens, GA)

Explore the NSTA website with us and learn how to maximize your member benefits! NSTA provides high-quality digital resources and opportunities—all within a professional community—that supports professional learning and classroom instruction. NSTA staff will be available to answer questions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will become knowledgeable about their member benefits, the plethora of digital resources available on NSTA’s website, about the live events, and professional learning community that can help them enhance their knowledge and improve their teaching practices.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Owings Mills, MD)

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: Derwood, MD)

Experience the impact of science instruction that directly engages and affirms the student scientists in your classroom. Learn how to ground daily lessons in meaningful community issues without overhauling your curriculum. Enable all students to advocate and create changes in their community.

TAKEAWAYS:
We'll share two strategies for grounding lessons in relevant contexts: (1) Anchor the lesson in a question and (2) Connect daily lessons to meaningful community issues using a three-step process. Participants practice both strategies and leave with an adapted meaningful lesson.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Harrell (UnboundEd: West Orange, NJ), Amber Woods (UnboundEd: Glen Burnie, MD)

The NGSS requires students work with big datasets. Yet time constraints limit trials during the hands-on labs that excite our students. You needn’t sacrifice one for the other! Join me to generate a robust dataset from a collaborative lab and to craft prompts about it that foster data literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the importance of having students interact with more robust datasets, how to efficiently pool student-collected data, and how to prompt students to practice skills needed by STEM professionals, such as questioning, describing variability, and identifying relationships.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Foran (Tuva)

Participants will collaboratively engage in a series of model activities to increase discourse in middle school science classrooms. These strategies will help foster regular talk opportunities that honor student voice and increase student engagement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding and internalize discourse strategies that enhance student talk to increase engagement and instill ownership in their science learning. These strategies can be easily adapted for any content area and topic.

SPEAKERS:
Ryan Gracia (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL), Amy Brady (Dept. of STEM, CPS Bridgeport: Chicago, IL)

This hands-on session explores innovative techniques to incorporate data visualization tools into science curriculum. From artistic graphs to creative infographics, participants will learn fun ways to unleash the power of data, fostering critical thinking and inquiry-based learning among students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will gain confidence in designing data visualizations activities that ignite curiosity and deepen understanding of scientific concepts, and walk away with a toolkit of resources that can be modified to fit a wide range of classes and topics.

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

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about creating a culture and instructional strategies to support all students and the assets they bring into the classroom through science sensemaking discourse and notebooking.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will first experience an anchor from OpenSciEd 6.4 unit to create their model to describe their thinking in a notebook and then use the discussion diamond to come to a consensus and revise. Educators will review different student samples and discuss how these support all students' ideas.

SPEAKERS:
Christy Krenek (Santa Fe Public Schools: Santa Fe, NM)

When students encounter intriguing phenomena, their innate instincts to question and explore are activated. To truly grasp this concept, you have to experience it! We're going to go through a set of learning experiences (shortened for time) that are based on a phenomenon.

TAKEAWAYS:
This immersive journey into the heart of science education, where phenomena are the gateway to deeper understanding and lifelong curiosity, can be integrated into any science classroom. Invaluable phenomena resources will be shared to enrich lessons and foster a culture of inquiry.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Tolman (SET2Teach, LLC/Idaho Department of Education: Boise, ID)

Participants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the benefits and practical applications of using Native Plant Gardens and Vegetable Gardens in educational settings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Identify advantages of incorporating different gardens in teaching for middle or high school. Explain how using different gardens can enhance student student engagement and learning outcomes. How gardens align with standards. Ways to include various departments through out the school.

SPEAKERS:
Jackie Scott (Mann Magnet Middle School: Little Rock, AR)

Participants will explore the BioEd Online website’s free STEM+M (medicine) classroom learning resources created and/or curated by Baylor College of Medicine’s Center for Educational Outreach, engage in activities from a student lens, then complete a scavenger hunt to identify/organize resources.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will explore BioEd Online and leave with free STEM+M (medicine) learning resources ready to be implemented into their classroom instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Jimmie Thomas (Baylor College of Medicine: Houston, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Retro Report

Discern how to use short-form documentary films in the Environmental Science classroom to drive the inquiry process. Explore Retro Report’s free, high quality instructional resources. Retro Report is an independent, nonprofit, non-partisan news organization.

SPEAKERS:
Jeremy Wang (Saint Thomas More Catholic School: Saint Paul, MN), Derek Dubossi (Laguardia High School: New York, NY), Filiz Yargici (Retro Report: New York, NY)

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 (Granger Middle School: Aurora, IL), Tracy Marmolejo (Activate Learning: Richardson, TX)

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)

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:
Richard Allan (BIOZONE International Ltd.: Hamilton, New Zealand)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Energize your science classroom and foster deep scientific thinking! Through exemplar activities and teacher moves, discover actionable strategies for fostering a classroom culture that celebrates student thinking, promotes risk taking, and cultivates student growth.

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

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

Learn how to inspire elementary and middle school students to see themselves in STEM careers. We’ll explore STEM professionals’ stories and share classroom resources co-created with experts in racing and ocean advocacy to bring hands-on, playful learning to life.

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 on discussion types used to help draw out student ideas, negotiate and refine them, and support communicating in scientific ways.

SPEAKERS:
Brian Klaft (Granger Middle School: Aurora, IL), Tracy Marmolejo (Activate Learning: Richardson, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Class CrunchLabs

Join us for an exciting dive into Mark Rober's Class CrunchLabs! We'll explore our innovative instructional model with hands-on walkthroughs of cool example lessons. Plus, you'll get to share your thoughts, helping us make sure this model rocks for ALL students and supercharges learning!

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.

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

How can we ensure the science instructional materials we’re using will lead to learning gains? Get practical tips and ‘look fors’ when evaluating whether or not your science instructional materials will have a positive impact on student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Leslie Stenger (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Santa Rosa, CA), Suzanna Loper (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA)

Sponsoring Company: Science Bits

Learn to double student learning gains by increasing fidelity to the 5E instructional model in your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Charlene Wetzel (Archbishop Rummel High School: Metairie, LA)

Finding authentic, relevant & engaging phenomena that requires students to use key science ideas to explain them is challenging & timely. Step into prompt engineering to discover how to use AI to help find phenomena to redesign/adapt learning experiences to increase equity & student interest.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use a new phenomenon heuristic and AI to generate ideas of phenomena for your classroom and learn some strategies to help learners use both the phenomenon heuristic and AI as tools for their sense-making.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE), Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL)

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

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: Derwood, MD)

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)

Reading and writing skills are best developed when students are able to practice these skills across all content areas. Come hear from an experienced science and special education teacher about how to easily add literacy activities to your science curriculum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with multiple examples of in class activities that can help students develop reading comprehension and writing skills within the science content areas. These activities are easy to implement, are low cost, and supported by current research.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Zito (Miller School of Albemarle: Charlottesville, VA)

In this workshop, you will learn about our "Students as Scientists" unit, the science process, & how to help your student's questions get off the ground. Asking testable questions will help your students launch interesting, relevant, & achievable investigations.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to help their students think like a scientist and move from a curious question into a testable question that will launch a student-led investigation.

SPEAKERS:
Susan Licher (Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Blacksburg, VA)

Assessing student sensemaking can be time-consuming, and applying standards-based grading can seem overly vague. In this session we’ll analyze 3D assessment scenarios to uncover their scaffolded structure, and use that structure to develop leveling rubrics that quickly convert to traditional grades.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with samples of high-quality, scaffolded three-dimensional assessment scenarios, and strategies to make standards-based grading quick and consistent.

SPEAKERS:
Barbara McIntyre (Michigan Technological University: Midland, MI), Chris Geerer (Mi-STAR: Rochester, MI)

Remix CER to drive inquiry-based learning with the Question, Evidence, Claim, Reasoning (QECR) approach! Use science skills, like analyzing data and arguing with evidence, to solve a mystery in a sample lesson, and access more samples, student work, tools, and resources to design your own lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
A comprehensive toolkit including digital sample lessons, student samples, editable templates, and tips and tricks for QECR lessons that integrate phenomena, SEPs, science ideas, and students’ ideas and critical thinking in engaging and hands-on ways.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Jack (Humble ISD: Humble, TX), Elissa Griffin (Humble ISD: Kingwood, TX)

Educators of all levels will learn how to create equitable STEM opportunities for girls of urban backgrounds. In addition, suggestions will be given on how ensure that urban girls sustain an interest in STEM which will results in them choosing STEM related college/university majors and careers.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of representation and how to reverse the narrative when it comes to teaching STEM to African American girls.

SPEAKERS:
Carla Neely (Warrensville Heights Middle School: Lyndhurst, OH)

Sponsoring Company: Simulation Curriculum

Unlock the cosmos for your classroom with our tailored workshop for teachers! Discover teaching methods, explore resources, and delve into the latest astronomical discoveries. Gain confidence and tools to ignite students' curiosity about the wonders of the universe, fostering a passion for science.

Sponsoring Company: Great Minds

Come along as we undergo a rigorous student experience to work through a complex investigation. Throughout the course of the session, participants will discover the importance of fostering an environment that encourages challenge where students can struggle in a safe space.

SPEAKERS:
Koi Beard (Great Minds: Washington, DC), Nicole Harvey (Zachary High School: Zachary, LA)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply

Immerse yourself in a world of discovery as we blend scientific concepts with the power of language. Through engaging activities, such as designing a hand pollinator, students will not only see how to unravel the wonders of science but also enhance their literacy skills. Get classroom resources.

SPEAKERS:
Hoover Herrera (Carolina Biological Supply Co.: Cranford, NJ), Melissa Rogers (Smithsonian Science Education Center: Davis, WV)

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

How can we equip students with future-ready skills in a world of evolving technology? This hands-on session with LEGO® SPIKE™ Prime shows how students can analyze data, find patterns, and build evidence-based conclusions to tackle real-world challenges and excel in their future careers.

Sensemaking with the three dimensions is the focal construct we want to measure in science assessments - not just the phenomenon or problem or the three-dimensions. Join us for a deep dive into how we center sensemaking in 3D assessment design for more equitable learning experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with examples of 3D sensemaking in assessment tasks and tools for building better assessments that elicit student sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL), Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE), Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA)

Explore how leaders can use the new BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning (AIL) instructional model to support teachers in creating learning experiences that motivate students with significant, real world phenomena and problems! Learn how AIL cycles of inquiry and sensemaking culminate in student agency!

TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and forms the basis for high-quality instructional materials. Leaders can leverage this model to support teachers in creating a student centered classroom that provides effective teaching and learning for all.

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Steamboat Springs, CO)

You have a coherent phenomenon-based learning plan for your students, and midway through, you get sick or jury duty - now what?!? This session will highlight approaches to substitute plans that are flexible, easy to implement, and support student learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
When students are tasked with sensemaking and figuring out day in and day out, it is easier to have that happen without the teacher present. Utilizing a quality curriculum that supports student coherence and phenomenon-based learning is the best tool to make that a reality.

SPEAKERS:
Sarah Delaney (OpenSciEd: San Carlos, CA), Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD)

Come learn about the NSTA press books addressing the three dimensions: Helping Students Make Sense of the World Using Next Generation Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas: Reshaping Teaching and Learning, and Crosscutting Concepts: Strengthen Science and Engineering Learning

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn techniques to use these three books to help educators have a deep understanding of practices, core ideas, and crosscutting concepts to foster better student learning in their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Derwood, MD)

The Learning Progression Model is a flexible, equitable assessment strategy to provide descriptive feedback, set goals, evaluate teaching, and report achievement. Attendees leave knowing how they can implement this in their classrooms even in a traditional grades school.

TAKEAWAYS:
Understand how the Learning Progression Model keeps students engaged and accountable, how learning progressions are used to develop/assess skills and knowledge aligned with NGSS, and how to integrate this approach into the traditional grading system.

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

Feeling burned out by unmotivated students? Join us to reveal motivational gems hidden in your class. Attendees will gain strategies to provide SEL support, including methods allowing students to share their input and assessment practices to increase participation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will discover how things they may already be doing can be adapted to boost student motivation and build confidence. Walk away with strategies to implement tomorrow!

SPEAKERS:
Amber Richards (Chatsworth Elementary School: Chatsworth, GA)

During this interactive hour long hybrid between a professional development and research presentation participants will learn about and ideate on how to make STEM learning spaces more equitable through simple changes to classroom organization.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with strategies and resources on how to organize and decorate their classrooms to promote equity and belonging in STEM.

SPEAKERS:
Molly Novelli (PhD student: Cedar Park, TX)

Engaging middle school students.

TAKEAWAYS:
PEEPs impact student engagement resulting in increased proficiency results in science and engineering assessments.

SPEAKERS:
Carri Wissman (Hilo Intermediate School: Hilo, HI), Pascale Pinner (Hilo Intermediate School: Hilo, HI)

Unleash their potential! Middle School is an exciting time for trial and error! Students are beginning emerge into the leaders they will one day become. This session is designed to explore teaching moves to improve classroom collaboration and develop future leaders!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will walk away with a few new teaching moves for improving collaboration and discourse among students in the science classroom. The use of these moves will tap into the leadership potential inside each of your learners.

SPEAKERS:
Kat Chamberlain (Ridgetop Middle School: Silverdale, WA)

TeachEngineering will lead STEM educators through a hands-on activity that integrates engineering with science learning. Utilizing the seven steps of the engineering design process, participants see how they can combine engineering design to enhance their students' learning of scientific concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will experience the seamless integration of design and design-thinking with science learning as they use the engineering design process to ask, research, imagine, plan, create, test, and improve their own wind-powered sail cars!

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Kracha (Teach Engineering), Ellen Parrish (Teach Engineering: ERIE, CO)

How do you know if you are effectively implementing the science and engineering practices (SEPs)? What should teachers and students be doing? We will assist teachers in reflecting on their classroom activities and learn new approaches to practices, specifically questioning and engaging in arguments.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with immediately applicable strategies and ideas for evaluating their practices in alignment with the standards.

SPEAKERS:
Summer Landreth (educator: Anderson, SC), Augustine Owusu Achiaw (Graduate Assistant: Clemson, SC)

Join members of NSTA’s Professional Learning Committee for a discussion regarding professional learning! We will explore NSTA’s new professional learning statement.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave the discussion with a framework for professional learning and strategies to implement professional learning!

SPEAKERS:
Rebecca Abbott (The Lawrence Hall of Science: Berkeley, CA), Deanna Taylor (Interactive Learning Solutions LLC: Columbia, SC), Leah Litz (Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium: Omaha, NE), Jesse Wilcox (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA)

Sponsoring Company: Great Minds

Join us as we discover ways to prepare for collaborative conversations with strategies like targeted questioning, talk moves, and instructional routines. In this session, we will also practice applying these strategies to promote effective science discourse in a three-dimensional classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Kristi Madden (Success Lead: Iowa, LA), Nicole Harvey (Zachary High School: Zachary, LA)

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: LEGO Education

Experience hands-on STEAM learning with LEGO® Education! In this session, you'll explore cause-and-effect, model real-world phenomena, and analyze data to solve problems. Discover how our solutions help students understand force, motion, and energy while bringing learning to life through play.

Let’s work together to figure out how to Problematize phenomena in ways that pose productive uncertainties that motivate students toward productive sensemaking throughout a task. Walk away with strategies, example problematized tasks, and tools to use in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Analyze multiple tasks to understand what it means for a task to be problematized. Reflect on how this leads to increased engagement and opportunities for more equitable access for all learners.

SPEAKERS:
Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL), Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE), Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA)

NSTA provides in-person, online, and blended personalized professional learning experiences for cohorts of K–12 educators. All programs engage educators with digital resources, virtual experiences, the larger online community, and expert staff. NSTA membership included.

TAKEAWAYS:
District and school leaders will learn about the variety of professional learning opportunities that NSTA offers, delivered in-person, online, and blended that give their teachers the power to personalize their learning as well as the ability to learn with their peers. Membership is included.

SPEAKERS:
Tricia Shelton (NSTA: Clarksville, TN), Flavio Mendez (NSTA: Owings Mills, MD)

Transform your assessment tool into a powerful instrument for enhancing learning. Designed for educators from K-16, with an aim to streamline the grading process, make rubrics strengths-based, differentiable across all levels, and centered on developing transferable skills. Bring your own rubric!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with their own revised rubric that not only simplifies grading but also fosters student engagement and achievement. They will discover ways to provide constructive, actionable feedback that drives improvement and facilitates student growth.

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

After a year of diving into the implementation of the OpenSciEd curriculum, learn about our experience. We will share reflections on the experience in implementing OpenSciEd through a curriculum-based professional learning model to foster collective efficacy and curriculum implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn pros and cons, and strategies for a “ripping off the Band-Aid” approach to curriculum implementation, including analysis of curriculum-based professional learning for student and teacher growth; partnership and coaching for ongoing implementation support.

SPEAKERS:
Matthew Wlodarczyk (Capitol Region Education Council: Wethersfield, CT), Julie Christianson (CREC Magnet Schools: Hartford, CT)

This session will center on cohorts of educators who participated in a series of learning cycles. It will showcase the purpose and outcomes of the learning cycles, which empower teachers to refine their pedagogical approaches to directly address the diverse needs of their students.

TAKEAWAYS:
By implementing learning cycle protocols, teachers refine their pedagogical approaches to better meet the diverse needs of their students. Data collection and reflection processes further enhance instructional strategies, leading to continuous improvement and informed decision-making.

SPEAKERS:
Taissa Lau (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL)

During this session, participants will discuss the significance of artificial intelligence, belonging and culture in STEAM learning. Additionally, participants will obtain and practice using a tool to include culturally inclusive practices in STEAM lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
Why are culturally inclusive strategies important in STEAM classrooms? How can you use AI and belonging strategies that challenge and engage a diverse group of learners? In this session, we will reveal a planning tool that you can use to support learner success in STEAM classroom settings.

SPEAKERS:
Deanna Taylor (Interactive Learning Solutions LLC: Columbia, SC)

As long as there have been CER templates, there have been students who struggle. What’s the difference between evidence and reasoning, or an explanation and an argument, exactly? Our Mi-STAR CER lesson and templates help answer these questions and they are open to all - join us to learn more!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with clear and concise definitions of reasoning, explanations, and argumentation, along with a lesson plan, activities, and templates to help students define and construct all three in the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Geerer (Mi-STAR: Rochester, MI)

Keep your pets safe from being left in hot cars by using automatic sensors to design an alarm that could save their lives.

TAKEAWAYS:
Solve a real-world problem with coding and engineering design; no prior experience needed.

SPEAKERS:
Stacy Thibodeaux (Southside High School: Scott, LA), Jessica Kohout (Educational Consultant: Ellicott City, MD)

Researchers at Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary have been collecting data through repetitive photographs since the 1970's to evaluate the change in the ecosystem over time. Participants will identify habitat changes in reef monitoring images and infer potential causes of those changes.

TAKEAWAYS:
Environmental monitoring is a challenging activity, especially underwater. This activity will introduce students to the methods used for evaluating underwater habitats and the kinds of information that can be learned from those efforts.

SPEAKERS:
Taylor Galaviz (Constituent Engagement Specialist: Galveston, TX), Sandra Metoyer (Environmental Institute of Houston at University of Houston Clear Lake: Galveston, TX)

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 (Granger Middle School: Aurora, IL), Tracy Marmolejo (Activate Learning: Richardson, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Carolina Biological Supply

Through a hands-on lesson, we will model instruction and resources that support 3-dimensional teaching and learning and actively engage students in the use of the Science and Engineering Practices. Resources include teacher instructional slides, student-friendly investigation materials.

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

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)

The Framework and NGSS called for phenomena-based 3D learning experiences for all students. Unpack WHY this is so important and HOW to make it a reality in your classroom. Take away phenomena and storylines to try in your classroom and strategies for making every student look forward to your class.

TAKEAWAYS:
The shift to phenomena-based 3D learning brings the student to the center of the learning and uses their life experiences and approaches to sensemaking to drive the learning.

SPEAKERS:
Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD)

Looking for ways to enhance a high-quality curriculum? This session provides teacher-tested strategies that can be used to augment a curriculum without adding more to a teacher’s plate. Come experience these practical, engaging strategies that help bring a curriculum to life!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will engage in a variety of classroom-tested strategies that can expand the menu of options for student-centered learning while covering the same material required within the curriculum used to teach standards.

SPEAKERS:
Missy Wooley (Louisiana Tech University: Ruston, LA), Cathi Cox-Boniol (Louisiana Tech University: Ruston, LA)

This session will introduce teachers to a variety of note-booking techniques that will increase student engagement and excitement for learning. Students will take pride in their notebooks and therefore increase the level of effort they put into their work.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will provide teachers and administrators with various strategies to differentiate learning for English Language Learners, Special Education Students, and General Education Students, and accurately assess student learning through note-booking by tracking student thinking/understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Darren Wells (Mather Elementary School: Dorchester, MA), Karen Ziminski (EMK Academy for Health Careers: Boston, MA)

Come see how you can make a shift to storylines in your classroom where students make sense of phenomena, see how this motivates them to engage in science and engineering practices, and learn disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
How having students make sense of phenomena leads to greater engagement and better understanding.

SPEAKERS:
Ted Willard (Discovery Education: Derwood, MD)

Immerse yourself in the power of explore-before-explain, even during "notes" days! Discover the magic of student-driven learning as we guide you through a sample lesson featuring an AI chat space and innovative note-making strategies. Transform direct instruction into dynamic, active learning!

TAKEAWAYS:
Toolkit with engaging strategies, intentional chunking, and AI tools, enhancing student sensemaking, particularly during direct instruction. Gain access to digital sample lessons, templates, and implementation tips for maximum impact and effectiveness.

SPEAKERS:
Elissa Griffin (Humble ISD: Kingwood, TX), Laurie Jack (Humble ISD: Humble, TX)

In this session teachers will focus on implementing anchor charts into instruction to develop deeper scientific reasoning skills for students. Participants will create and modify anchor charts to show the progression of student learning and the deepening of scientific reasoning during learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Anchor charts can increase student scientific reasoning skills and teachers ability to assess student learning when used effectively. This session will demonstrate how to use anchor charts to increase student scientific reasoning skills.

SPEAKERS:
Morgan Dallas (Caddo Parish Public Schools: Shreveport, LA)

Dialogues are a conversation among two students. There are a number of ways dialogues can be presented. This session will show how dialogues can be used to find student preconceptions, misconceptions, introduce environmental issues, bring in historical events, and introduce concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn about the different types of dialogues and how to use them in the classroom from introducing a topic or as an assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Ray Scolavino (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: East Troy, WI)

Create large scale models and diagrams on a wide variety of subjects in open spaces both on inside floors and outdoors. Learn how to get the most out of your school building spaces and engage your students’ interests using inexpensive materials and kinesthetic activities!

TAKEAWAYS:
You and your students will learn how to make and use large scale models to explore many scientific topics. Using materials like electrical tape, sidewalk chalk, rope and other simple materials, we will make and use large scale models of an ellipse, heart and body systems, cells, water cycle.

SPEAKERS:
David Ebersole (Greece Athena Middle School: Caledonia, NY)

Gulf Shores City Schools teachers will share how we teach science to students through a district program called Science by the Shore. This program is an innovative approach to science instruction that inspires students to develop a love for our natural resources through outdoor place based learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how we use our school and surrounding community as a science lab and integrate social, emotional, and cognitive well being into teaching outdoors. We will share strategies and ideas for using their own school grounds as outdoor classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Sampley (Academies and CTE Director: Gulf Shores, AL), Anthony Schaff (Life Science Teacher: Gulf Shores, AL), Krista Fleming (Gulf Shores City Schools: Gulf Shores, AL)

Explore how Canva sparks creativity in high school science classes. Learn to captivate students with interactive lessons, foster teamwork through collaborative projects, and share resources effortlessly.

TAKEAWAYS:
Transform your science teaching with Canva's creative tools to enhance student engagement, collaboration, and resource sharing.

SPEAKERS:
Misty Lewis (Northside High School: Northport, AL)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Whether you are brand new in education or just not as experienced with teaching science, this workshop is for you. Lifelong educators and science textbook authors Dr. Zipporah Miller and Dr. Mike Padilla will show you how you can be successful teaching Elementary or Middle School Science and love it

SPEAKERS:
Michael Padilla (retired: Athens, GA), Zipporah Miller (Educational Consultant: Bowie, MD)

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)

Sponsoring Company: Science Bits

Learn why pre-assessment, summative assessment and formative assessments should form part of your lessons and how to make DQs, retrieval practice and formative assessment work for you and your students. This workshop includes roleplay and an internet enabled device is required.

SPEAKERS:
Paul Banti (Learning Bits Inc.: Miami, FL)

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

How can we equip students with future-ready skills in a world of evolving technology? This hands-on session with LEGO® SPIKE™ Prime shows how students can analyze data, find patterns, and build evidence-based conclusions to tackle real-world challenges and excel in their future careers.

Recognizing and valuing the assets students bring to assessment tasks is critical for understanding how to move their thinking forward and support continued sensemaking. Use a new tool to see student work through an asset-based lens that recognizes what students are using to make sense of phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with tools you can use in your classroom to tend to student work in ways that change the culture of assessment in ways that are more caring and supportive and can make assessment a joyful experience.

SPEAKERS:
Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL), Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE)

The NSTA Sensemaking Tool can help educators be critical consumers of instructional materials and create/revise lessons that reflect the shifts required by new standards (sensemaking). Gain experience using the tool and facilitating criteria-based consensus conversations with your colleagues!

TAKEAWAYS:
Recognize the critical aspects of sensemaking in science lessons.

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

In this session participants will examine and discuss the Teacher Leader Model Standards. Digging into the standards they will describe key actions and practices for each of the seven domains. Participants will be asked to reflect on their role as a teacher leader in science education.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through participant dialogue, each attendee will walk away with a list of the Teacher Leader Model Standards, as well as ways to become an effective leader improving science instruction for all students.

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

Chat GPT is a powerful language model that can be used to create background knowledge for lessons. By using Chat GPT, educators can help students get a starting point for their research and provide them with the necessary information to explore various topics such as periodic table, environment issu

TAKEAWAYS:
One takeaway from this session is that you will understand that ChatGPT is a powerful tool for teachers. This application will allow you to answer questions or ideas you have and improve research activities that might be difficult for students.

SPEAKERS:
Ricardo Padilla (Brookhurst Jr HIgh School: Placentia, CA)

Join us for an interactive workshop where we delve into research-based methods for seamlessly weaving student discourse and writing into hands-on activities. Discover strategies to engage students in discussions and foster writing skills while they actively participate in learning experiences.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to incorporate strategies that promote student discourse and writing when students engage in hands-on activities. These strategies are research based and focus on ensuring students walk away with deep content understanding while engaging in an interactive learning experiences.

SPEAKERS:
Ashley Shine (Garland Independent School Dis: Richardson, TX), Jawan Wiltz (Science Instructional Design Facilitator: Wylie, TX), Leon Chatman (Garland Independent School District: Garland, TX)

Participants will learn how to break down 3-dimensional standards for their grade level/content into the crosscutting concepts, science and engineering practices, and disciplinary core ideas and what mastery of the standard looks and sounds like in your classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn the importance of internalizing and breaking down 3-dimensional standards so that they can be more intentional when planning their lessons. Intentionally teaching the 3-dimensions leads to students getting more “at bats” doing science, which helps builds joy and investment.

SPEAKERS:
Melvenia Martin (Ochsner Clinic Foundation: New Orleans, LA), Rachel Thomas-Little (Manager: New Orleans, LA), Carlin Czerniak (Ochsner Health)

Immersing educators in a locally relevant context is a powerful way to foster professional learning, enhance curriculum, and boost student engagement. This session will present successful examples of immersive professional learning that have impacted hundreds of educators across the country.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn about the benefits of immersive and place-based learning and how it can bring the sensemaking process to life. We will explore how immersive professional learning can surface local phenomena that can be leveraged to support curricular modifications and enhance relevance.

SPEAKERS:
Rick Henningfeld (Vivayic, Inc.), Craig Rebich (Relevant Classroom: Lawrenceburg, IN), Brian Beierle (Relevant Classroom, a Division of Vivayic, Inc.: Wauwatosa, WI)

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:
Richard Allan (BIOZONE International Ltd.: Hamilton, New Zealand)

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

Experience hands-on STEAM learning with LEGO® Education! In this session, you'll explore cause-and-effect, model real-world phenomena, and analyze data to solve problems. Discover how our solutions help students understand force, motion, and energy while bringing learning to life through play.

Students’ notebooks should be more than just piles of papers! In this session we’ll discuss the multiple ways available to organize students’ science notebooks, ultimately making it students' go-to tool for sensemaking, evolving their use from more than just papers, into their daily essential tool.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave with specific strategies and ideas to help students manage and use their science notebooks as resources for sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Tonya Brainsky (OSE Massachusetts Community: Rehoboth, MA), Ann Guglielmo (Taunton Public Schools: Taunton, MA)

We know that a 3D aligned classroom looks different than classrooms of the past, so why shouldn’t the way we provide feedback and grades to our students change? If you want to begin changing your grading practices, join us in rethinking shifts in feedback & grading to support equitable practices.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engage with authentic student work and consider different ways of providing feedback to identify features that support students in sharing where they are in their sensemaking process. Participants will leave with some ‘tools’ they can use in their classroom to provide caring, collaborative feedback.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE), Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL)

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)

Unlocking the Power of Integration: Enhancing Scientific Writing Through a Hybrid Approach. Learn how merging innovative AI tools like ChatGPT with traditional methods such as Thinking Maps and rough drafts enriches students' scientific writing skills, fostering critical thinking and creativity.

TAKEAWAYS:
One takeaway from this session is that you will discover a template for integrating ChatGPT into scientific writing instruction, preserving traditional methods while enhancing student outcomes.

SPEAKERS:
Ricardo Padilla (Brookhurst Jr HIgh School: Placentia, CA)

This session will explore a process for creating NGSS aligned IEP science goals using the Science & Engineering Practices. Attendees will be presented with a prototype tool for collecting data, writing goals, and monitoring progress that has been created for use across Chicago Public Schools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will explore a process for writing science IEP goals that goes beyond simply recreating math and literacy based goals.

SPEAKERS:
Amy Brady (Dept. of STEM, CPS Bridgeport: Chicago, IL), Joseph Seabloom (Chicago Public Schools: Chicago, IL)

In this session, attendees will practice and create a lesson using one of 5 AI tech tools that empower educators to craft personalized science classrooms. Each tool will be presented along with classroom strategies tailored to maximize their potential for scientific literacy.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will be able to create personalized learning experiences, enhance student engagement, and improve academic outcomes by utilizing AI tools for tailored curricula.

SPEAKERS:
Stefany Palomba (Choices High School: canton, OH)

This session will provide a conceptual framework for transdisciplinary learning and share a template for designing project-based learning tasks, in which students assume a STEM-related career role to create a product for an authentic audience and in response to a real-life question or problem.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how to create a transdisciplinary task that can be brought back to their schools, utilized in practice with students, and shared with colleagues in their school building.

SPEAKERS:
Stefanie Holloway (Greater Oregon STEM Hub: La Grande, OR)

In this session, we review the importance of exit tickets as tools for guiding instruction. Assessments should inform teaching, not just evaluate students. Learn to adjust daily instruction by making learning visible.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to use formative assessments to adjust daily instruction, ensuring it meets the specific learning needs of students in grades 3-12 science, math, and engineering courses.

SPEAKERS:
Victor Sampson (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX)

Can service learning opportunities for students enhance your science content? Yes, it can make it relevant, interesting, and impactful for the student experience! Creating essential questions is the foundation to linking science content with service Learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will create broad essential questions that will link their science content with service learning opportunities in their respective geographic regions.

SPEAKERS:
Kenta Ferrin (American School Foundation of Guadalajara: Guadalajara Jalisco, Jal.)

Sponsoring Company: Kognity

Join Kognity for an impactful session dedicated to empowering historically underserved populations in the field of science. We will explore strategies and initiatives aimed at promoting inclusivity and equity in science education.

SPEAKERS:
Grace Boersma (Kognity: Stockholm, Sweden)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Join us to learn practical ways to help students make sense of phenomena and how to authentically integrate phenomena into your curriculum! Participants will learn principles for effectively using phenomena and experience examples of how phenomena can be integrated into the science classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Jesse Wilcox (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA)

Sponsoring Company: Texas Instruments

You found some Vernier sensors in your storage room but you have no idea how to use them. Sound familiar? This session will give you a thorough but easy to understand breakdown of how to use those probes and how they can make collecting and analyzing data much faster and easier for students.

By 2025, it’s estimated that 463 exabytes of data will be created daily; that’s like 212,765,957 DVDs/day! How can our students know if the information they receive is credible? Generation Skeptics teaches the necessary skills with lessons and guest speakers. (www.generationskeptics.org)

TAKEAWAYS:
Generation Skeptics arms educators with free resources to instill skepticism in students. Recognizing the proliferation of misinformation, GenSkeps seeks to equip the next generation with the enduring principles of the scientific method and the importance of substantiating claims with evidence.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Trecek-King (Thinking Is Power: Franklin, MA)

Empower your teaching with Scientist Circles! Discover research-backed strategies to foster collaborative learning, critical thinking skills and ignite curiosity in the classroom. Engage in hands-on-activities, share best practices and leave empowered to implement Scientist Circles effectively.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave equipped with proven methods and practical implementation tips to enhance student engagement and communication skills in the middle school classroom. Elevate your classroom experience and inspire lifelong learners.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Guglielmo (Taunton Public Schools: Taunton, MA), Tonya Brainsky (OSE Massachusetts Community: Rehoboth, MA)

We have created lab report templates tailored for kindergarten through fifth-grade students. By providing a structured progression of lab report templates, we aim to empower educators to cultivate scientific inquiry skills in students at an early age, laying a solid foundation for their future.

TAKEAWAYS:
Leave with a template for k-5 lab reports. Each template is flexible and can be adapted to any experiment question, allowing for exploration across various scientific disciplines.

SPEAKERS:
Alyssa Macaluso (STEM Teacher: Pinecrest, FL)

We will share examples of how educators can incorporate Social Emotional Learning into their science lessons. Specifically, we will address the emotional impact of climate change discussions, and will share strategies for incorporating SEL to foster hope amongst students.

TAKEAWAYS:
We aim to illustrate ways that science educators can provide a basis for hope around climate change, in order to empower and inspire their students to pursue STEM careers and tackle environmental challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Rogers (SubjectToClimate: Harahan, LA)

Want to learn how LSTA is representing science educators in our state? Interested in being involved in science education in your region and/or at the state level? Join us for the annual LSTA meeting! Hosted by BrainPOP Science, LSTA members will mix and mingle with regional representatives, other members of the board and network with both formal and informal science educators to get the inside scoop on upcoming LSTA events, science opportunities and much more. During the meeting we will also take a closer look at the BrainPOP Science platform and get a peek at the new engineering projects. You don’t want to miss this special LSTA members only event. If you aren’t an LSTA member, you can join at the door! See you there!

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will mix and mingle with regional representatives, other members of the board and network with both formal and informal science educators to get the inside scoop on upcoming LSTA events, science opportunities and get a sneak peek of the new BrainPop engineering projects.

SPEAKERS:
Bianca Deliberto (Central Community School System: Baton Rouge, LA)

Participants will learn data analysis/collecting techniques to help students young and old to learn the relationships between types of data and analysis of it.

TAKEAWAYS:
Concrete hands on examples linking types of data being collected with types of graphical representations to use. These were developed in response to research which demonstrated that students do not have a conceptual foundation to make decisions about which type of graph to use.

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

Sponsoring Company: ExploreLearning

On National STEM Day, we celebrate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It’s a day to inspire students about STEM and its career paths. Join the ExploreLearning Gizmos team to explore our newest STEM Case and other activities and resources to celebrate National STEM Day.

SPEAKERS:
Emily Duganne (ExploreLearning: Midlothian, VA)

Sponsoring Company: Gardyn

Hydroponics is the future of food production! Come learn the basics of hydroponics and how Gardyn towers can enhance your classroom experience, while being on the cutting edge of technological trends. Most importantly, learn how to integrate hydroponic gardening into your curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Alicia Kuntz (Niles Community Schools: Buchanan, MI), Renee Egan (Gardyn Workshop Presenter/ 7th Grade Science: ACWORTH, GA)

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)

Sponsoring Company: Amplify

Dive into a nuanced integration of science, literacy, and language strategies that benefit all students, notably multilingual learners. Explore how NGSS-designed learning sequences coupled with the Science of Reading enhance learning outcomes for all.

SPEAKERS:
Alestra Menendez (Amplify: Fairfield, CA)

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!

Sponsoring Company: Class CrunchLabs

Join us for an exciting dive into Mark Rober's Class CrunchLabs! We'll explore our innovative instructional model with hands-on walkthroughs of cool example lessons. Plus, you'll get to share your thoughts, helping us make sure this model rocks for ALL students and supercharges learning!

In this session, participants will explore the principles behind Eduprotocols and how these frameworks can be adapted to various subjects and grade levels. Through hands-on activities, attendees will discover practical techniques for integrating EduProtocols into their teaching practice.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with several templates that can be used immediately to increase student engagement, foster deeper learning, and promote inquiry.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Simmons (Klahowya Secondary School: Bremerton, WA)

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

Learn how to inspire elementary and middle school students to see themselves in STEM careers. We’ll explore STEM professionals’ stories and share classroom resources co-created with experts in racing and ocean advocacy to bring hands-on, playful learning to life.

Advancing equity and increasing accessibility for all students in assessment is a key aspect of the vision for science education. Analyze example assessments with the newly developed culturally responsive framework for alignment to multiple equity goals.

TAKEAWAYS:
Use culturally relevant design principles to evaluate and adapt three-dimensional assessment tasks to meet the needs of the students in your classroom and support them in developing cultural competence.

SPEAKERS:
Kelley Turner (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA), Dawn Novak (Northwestern University: Grayslake, IL), Sara Cooper (Contextus: Lincoln, NE)

Engaging students in phenomenon-based 3D science learning is challenging; when students are absent, it can feel impossible. In this session, participants will take away strategies for supporting absent students in staying engaged in learning when they miss classroom instruction.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take away strategies for supporting absent students in staying engaged in learning when they miss classroom instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Matt Krehbiel (OpenSciEd: Derwood, MD), Sarah Delaney (OpenSciEd: San Carlos, CA)

Looking to incorporate local phenomena into your curriculum? Hear how a diverse group of Louisiana teachers working with subject matter experts engaged in a NOAA BWET funded project to examine environmental indicators through place-based learning. Gain access to the lessons these teachers created.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain an overview of the Louisiana phenomenon, environmental proxies and scientific concepts teachers examined as well as themes that emerged throughout the project while gaining access to the LSSS and NGSS aligned lessons these teachers created.

SPEAKERS:
Dani DiIullo (Louisiana Sea Grant: Baton Rouge, LA), Alvera McMillan (Louisiana Sea Grant: Saint Francisville, LA)

Discover AI's power in education with seven hands-on strategies that boost learning. See how top teachers use AI for deep thinking and engagement. Leave equipped to make learning with AI memorable, meaningful, and fun!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain a feel for how AI can be used to promote deeper and more scientific thinking.

SPEAKERS:
Ben Talsma (Van Andel Education Institute: Grand Rapids, MI)

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, NOAA, EPA, NIH, USGS, USPTO and NSF to learn more and to receive a resource guide!

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers and educators will learn about FREE K-12 STEM learning resources offered by federal agencies. Attendees will engage in two-way conversations with federal representatives about STEM resources, programs, and opportunities, and will leave with a one-page resource guide.

SPEAKERS:
Bekkah Lampe (NOAA Office of Education: College Park, MD), Kayla Smith (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Silver Spring, MD), Jennifer Sizemore (Team Lead, Content Management: Laytonsville, MD), Melissa Anley-Mills (U.S. EPA: Washington, DC), Elizabeth Williams (U.S. Geological Survey: Golden, CO)

Sponsoring Company: Anatomage, Inc.

The Science Table provides a library of over 60 biology, chemistry, and physics experiments with realistic-quality visuals on an interactive 7 foot-long touch-screen table. The workshop will focus on incorporating the Science Table into middle school, high school, and college level classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Zach Bryant (Anatomage, Inc.: No City, No State)

Sponsoring Company: UnboundEd

We have future leaders in our classrooms. To cultivate their genius, we need to help them make connections between science and pressing challenges in their world. We’ll show you ways to make it happen. Take home ideas, materials, and resources to equip your students to be the change!

SPEAKERS:
Amber Woods (UnboundEd: Glen Burnie, MD), Jessica Harrell (UnboundEd: West Orange, NJ)

Sponsoring Company: Savvas Learning Company

Looking for innovative ways to integrate science, technology, engineering, and math into your curriculum? Not sure where to begin with hands-on science? Get hands-on building Rube Goldberg machines in this session with an activity you can use in your classrooms.

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

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.

Looking to get involved with community partners? Learn how school districts partner with Louisiana Sea Grant to co-create customized place-based explorations in community wetland areas where students apply scientific principles to locally relevant phenomena.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hear from formal and nonformal educators about how to co-create place-based learning experiences for students which enhance K-8 curriculums, explore hands on learning with a locally relevant context, and take away resources, tips for success, and lessons learned.

SPEAKERS:
Nathan Cotten (Terrebonne Parish School District: Houma, LA), Vanessa Van Heerden (Engagement Specialist: Baton Rouge, LA), Cheyenne Autin (Education and Outreach Coordinator | AmeriCorps: Baton Rouge, LA), Alvera McMillan (Louisiana Sea Grant: Saint Francisville, LA)

30 years of teacher leadership development have generated impressive results in Wisconsin. Three iterations of summer institutes shaped the science education field, formed lifelong professional networks of educators, and cultivated teacher leaders that steer our state science teachers' association.

TAKEAWAYS:
Fueling educator’s passion and building strong professional networks can work hand-in-hand to develop leadership in your region or state. This session will provide a recipe for a leadership development program certain to transform careers and invigorate your state science teacher association.

SPEAKERS:
Sue Whitsett (NSTA: Waupaca, WI), Chad Janowski (The Einstein Project: Green Bay, WI), Matthew Christiansen (Oceanside High School #7: Oceanside, NY), Dennis Rohr (Seymour Community High School: Seymour, WI)

Make your lessons more impactful by leveraging what students already think, believe and know. We all know that students have misconceptions, but guidance on how to work with them is sparse. They can be the greatest barriers to learning yet by embracing them, teaching can be much more effective.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will come away with classroom strategies that will improve science instruction by embracing students' misconceptions. Ideal for teacher trainers, coordinators, and specialists.

SPEAKERS:
Clayton Chamberlain (Utah State University: Highland, UT)

Pulling off an awesome field trip seems like a daunting task - but what better way is there to expose students to phenomena and have them think like scientists? With a few ground rules in mind, let's go places!

TAKEAWAYS:
Ideas and strategies for putting together a meaningful and tear-free trip for your students.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Swiatkowski (Alverta B. Gray Schultz Middle School: Lindenhurst, NY)

In this session you will learn learn about two real world engineering projects happening on opposite sides of our world, and how students can draw inspiration from cultures that may be different than their own.

TAKEAWAYS:
After this session you will be able to take away two engineering lessons, and a rejuvenated enthusiasm for real life problem solving with science and engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Christina Smith (Tri-Village Schools: New Madison, OH), Justin Stout (Teacher: Xenia, OH)

High quality STEM in afterschool programs engages and energizes students. Presenters are 2 Title 1 public school educators with 36 years of combined experience as science teachers and 20 years as after school program coordinators and instructors. Successful strategies and ideas will be shared.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how a variety of STEM resources can be used to meet the needs of students in afterschool and summer programs. Engaging lessons and activities that are well-tested with students will be highlighted. Educators will walk away with useful ideas to excite students about STEM.

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

Are you a lead science teacher in your district or school? Are you well versed in implementing high quality curricula? If so, how would you like the opportunity to network, chat and share ideas with other science teacher leaders from across our state? In this session, participants will discuss their

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will gain the opportunity to network and share ideas as well as identify high quality implementation successes, discuss implementation struggles and brainstorm potential solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Lindsay Duet (K-12 Assessment Coach: Baton Rouge, LA), Bianca Deliberto (Central Community School System: Baton Rouge, LA)

Sponsoring Company: Mosa Mack Science

Not all phenomena are equal. How you kick off your unit sets the tone for the entire unit itself. Learn what makes a phenomenal phenomenon that keeps your students engaged and how to choose and implement the best science phenomena. You’ll receive free access to Mosa Mack Science phenomena lessons.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to evaluate, select, 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: Science Bits

Knowledge matters: this workshop looks at ways of promoting deeper learning and evidence-based strategies to bring critical thinking into your classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Richards (Eton Elementary School: Chatsworth, GA)

ScienceSaves (www.sciencesaves.org) promotes the fact that science makes life healthier and easier. Our FREE lessons teach graphing, data analysis, engineering practices, etc. They include teacher notes, standards, rubrics, and lesson plans. Check out our $15,000 scholarship for high school seniors.

TAKEAWAYS:
Too often, our students view science as a cold, calculated endeavor. We have lessons that show how a diverse array of scientists have given humanity amazing innovations, like open-heart surgery, CRISPR, and seatbelts. Our goal is for students to see themselves as future scientists.

SPEAKERS:
Melanie Trecek-King (Thinking Is Power: Franklin, MA)

Discover NSTA’s 6-8 STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) instructional materials! These materials allow students to explain phenomena or design solutions to problems while developing and applying the knowledge and practices of multiple STEM disciplines.

TAKEAWAYS:
Phenomenon or problem-driven instructional materials allow students to use the knowledge and practices of multiple disciplines to construct explanations and design solutions.

SPEAKERS:
Patrice Scinta (NSTA: Brooklyn, NY)

Students often lack skills to study effectively or generate study guides aligned to the range of questions encountered in NGSS 3 dimensional assessments. Students fill in this template of Bloom's taxonomy prompts alongside AI, lecture, lab, and text resources to elevate their preparation.

TAKEAWAYS:
First, attendees will learn how I arrived at this process to improve student learning and be able to look at samples of student generated study guides before and after implementing this learning strategy. Second, attendees will see how they can add this strategy to their toolkit.

SPEAKERS:
Jasper Steenhuis (Abraham Joshua Heschel Middle School: New York, NY)

Host a STEM Fair promoting student-centered learning with equitable access to resources and a focus on the scientific method or engineering design process. Students investigate topics that interest them as part of the curriculum, culminating in an all-school celebration of student research.

TAKEAWAYS:
A school based STEM Fair allows students to engage in a four year scaffolded series of research projects ensuring that all have the same access to resources and time to experiment at school. The culminating fair offers students authentic feedback and celebrates their research.

SPEAKERS:
Nichole Lazor (Hathaway Brown School: Shaker Heights, OH), Kelly Wilson (Hathaway Brown School: Shaker Heights, OH)

If you live in North America, do your students know that a lot of people on Earth are having summer on December 25th? This lesson can be taught with just a lamp and a globe yet deeply challenges your students' concept of the seasons, no matter what hemisphere they live in.

TAKEAWAYS:
This lesson guides students towards making a claim about why there are opposite seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere on a date that is familiar to most students (Dec 25). Using simple materials, students make a model to test their hypotheses and gather evidence.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Sullivan (St. Luke's Episcopal Day School: Baton Rouge, LA)

Accurately assessing students’ scientific thinking without language ability getting in the way is a challenge. This session will share exemplar three-dimensional assessments for middle school science and provide practical tips for updating your existing assessments for all learners.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with 3D assessments and grading rubrics ready for their middle school classrooms, as well as research-based strategies for adapting their existing assessments for struggling readers and English Learners.

SPEAKERS:
Linda Malkin (University of Wisconsin-Madison: Middleton, WI), Katrina Pommerening (Outreach Specialist: Madison, WI)

In this session, attendees will discuss perhaps unseen sides of assessment and learn how to use them to boost confidence and motivate students. Join us for strategies on how to make minor changes for big effect in your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
Walk away with strategies that allow students to share their input, share what they know, and share in the wealth that can be assessment.

SPEAKERS:
Amber Richards (Chatsworth Elementary School: Chatsworth, GA)

The goal of this project is to use engineering design principles to teach ecology and sustainability through active student involvement in an urban garden.

TAKEAWAYS:
Students learn the engineering design process and apply it directly in practice through the creation of an urban garden.

SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Weissman (The Ramaz School: Fresh Meadows, NY)

In this workshop you will learn how to incorporate the world of STEM into any discipline from ELA and Social Studies to Art. You will get a hands-on experience along with ideas ready to use in the classroom. You will see how one idea can be used in multiple academic and non-academic classes.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will leave the workshop with ready to use materials and ideas of how to incorporate hands-on STEM ideas into your classroom

SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Messina (Teacher: West Haven, CT)

This dynamic session inspires, empowers, and equips educators with a plan to create an enriching learning environment to start the year. Embrace an approach that centers on nurturing curiosity, exploration, and inquiry in the classroom while establishing clear expectations and standards.

TAKEAWAYS:
Engage in discussions and hands-on activities to foster a positive classroom culture where students are encouraged to wonder, explore, and ask questions. Discover ideas and techniques for seamlessly integrating 3D lessons into your curriculum, enhancing student engagement and comprehension.

SPEAKERS:
Sara Tolman (SET2Teach, LLC/Idaho Department of Education: Boise, ID)

CODAP is a free and easy-to-use online data visualization and analysis platform accessible to middle school students. In this session, participants will learn how to leverage CODAP to engage their students in authentic and meaningful data analysis and interpretation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will come away with new knowledge about how to use CODAP to bring authentic and meaningful data analysis and interpretation to their classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
David McKinney (Senior Research Associate: Albany, CA)

This workshop will engage participants in a hands-on exploration of phenomena and practices to support teaching and learning in middle school. We will investigate how educators can use Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts to help students make sense of the world around them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave this session equipped with practical strategies, specific examples, and valuable resources to effectively use Science and Engineering Practices and Crosscutting Concepts to support phenomena-based learning in middle level classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Aimee Spahos (Waunakee Intermediate School: Madison, WI), Jessica North (Waunakee Community Middle School: Waunakee, WI)

Join us to master the art of leading interactive and impactful workshops with facilitation checklists and planning templates.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will use a facilitation checklist and planning template to plan, deliver, and receive feedback on a mock professional learning activity for disseminating best practices for NGSS instruction.

SPEAKERS:
Kayla Cherry (Loyola University Chicago: Chicago, IL), Sarah Stults (Loyola University Chicago: Chicago, IL)

Build skills and capacity for a community of educators to mentor diverse groups of students in STEM research. Participants will share how they might utilize local resources to maximize student sense-making of phenomenon while supporting student participation in science fairs and other competitions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will leave with support for student sensemaking to develop and enhance STEM research programs that reach all learners, not just high achievers.

SPEAKERS:
Justin Andersson (University of Nebraska at Omaha: Omaha, NE)

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)

Sponsoring Company: Shell Programs - NSTA

Do you impact your school and community with STEM? If you teach K–12, come start your winning application, for either of the three programs sponsored by Shell USA, Inc. We'll walk through the application step by step and you'll be able to begin your application or nomination form live.

SPEAKERS:
Amanda Upton (NSTA: Fresno, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Mosa Mack Science

Explore what will be required of students on the state test and how we authentically integrate real-world problems through performance assessments in our classrooms.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be adept at leveraging performance assessments to not only enrich science education with real-world problem-solving skills but also specifically prepare teachers and students for the variety of question types featured in the state test.

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

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

Learn how to inspire elementary and middle school students to see themselves in STEM careers. We’ll explore STEM professionals’ stories and share classroom resources co-created with experts in racing and ocean advocacy to bring hands-on, playful learning to life.

Explore density with hands-on activities in 'Layers of Learning: Exploring Density through Student Sensemaking.' Engage in creating density columns to understand matter and enhance science teaching with practical strategies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn to use density columns for teaching, apply sensemaking in science education, and integrate student-driven inquiry to boost understanding and engagement.

SPEAKERS:
Anthony Cohutt (Thurston Middle School: Sharon, MA)

In the dynamic environment of a science laboratory, effective classroom management is paramount to fostering an environment conducive to learning. This session will explore innovative strategies and best practices in classroom management tailored specifically for science laboratories.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will offer practical insights, real-world examples, and interactive discussions to equip attendees with the tools and techniques needed to cultivate a positive and productive learning environment in their science labs.

SPEAKERS:
Cheryl Robertson (University of Tennessee, Knoxvile: Knoxville, TN)

Sponsoring Company: Mosa Mack Science

Why is the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) method so effective for today's classrooms, and how can you integrate it authentically throughout the year? Join us for a hands-on workshop where you will learn the essentials of CER and walk away with resources and templates to use in class.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have gained practical knowledge and skills to confidently design and implement Claim Evidence Reasoning (CER) lessons in their science classrooms. They will be equipped with tools, templates, and examples to effectively integrate CER into their curriculum.

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

This session will give participants the opportunity to interactively and collaboratively engage in a sampling of simple activities to promote explicit instruction in the nature of science.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. It is important to explicitly teach the nature of science to students; 2. The nature of science should be presented in an accessible way to all students; and 3. Attendees will walk away with activities they can use in their class immediately to teach the NOS.

SPEAKERS:
Kelly Moore (Tennessee Tech: Cookeville, TN)

Improve the effectiveness and efficacy of your classroom demonstrations, by using research-based methods of engagement within the demonstrations. Hear in students’ own voices what they think about demonstrations. Small changes DO make a big difference!

TAKEAWAYS:
Engaging students through questioning and physical interactions help students build positive mental models and associate these models with the practice of doing science. Second takeaway: In building a series of demos, the more complex anchoring phenomena should go first to decrease misconceptions.

SPEAKERS:
William Katzman (LIGO's Science Education Center: Baton Rouge, LA)

Sponsoring Company: LEGO Education

Experience hands-on STEAM learning with LEGO® Education! In this session, you'll explore cause-and-effect, model real-world phenomena, and analyze data to solve problems. Discover how our solutions help students understand force, motion, and energy while bringing learning to life through play.

Feedback is crucial for student growth, but only if students engage with it in a meaningful way. We will show an innovative three-dimensional assessment report and describe principles for helping all students partner in assessment for learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with strategies they can apply to their own formative assessment feedback, such as providing students guiding questions and space to reflect on progress and next steps.

SPEAKERS:
Linda Malkin (University of Wisconsin-Madison: Middleton, WI), Laura Wright (Researcher: Falls Church, VA), Katrina Pommerening (Outreach Specialist: Madison, WI)

Interested in new ways to teach science process skills and the nature of science? Consider visiting this poster that showcases an elementary after-school club where third-grade students learn and explore birding on their school grounds.

TAKEAWAYS:
The research will highlight aspects of birding relevant to all grade levels and include creative ways to utilize place-based learning that is applicable within the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Ann Catherine Cox (Carrollton Elementary School: Carrollton, VA), Rachel Gisewhite (The University of Southern Mississippi: Long Beach, MS), Stacey Britton (University of West Georgia: Roopville, GA)

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)

TeachEngineering is a free, online digital library of K-12 STEM resources. Our goal is to make applied science, technology, and math come alive by integrating engineering design and design thinking into STEM classrooms. Stop by for free hands-on activities and to create your own prototype!

TAKEAWAYS:
TeachEngineering is a free, online digital library of K-12 STEM resources that integrate engineering and engineering design into science learning. This growing collection is composed of 1,750+ curricular materials, which are educator-created, classroom-tested, peer-reviewed and standards-aligned.

SPEAKERS:
Jennifer Kracha (Teach Engineering)

Graduates with data literacy skills will have an advantage. Data is ubiquitous in today’s workplaces, particularly in STEM. Yet, what does it mean to be data literate? We will share a framework for developing fundamental data literacy skills and handouts that can be used to promote them.

TAKEAWAYS:
Educators will learn how students’ data literacy skills progress and ways to help students: ask and pursue questions, create graphs, expect variability, analyze data, interpret patterns, and communicate findings.

SPEAKERS:
Jocelyn Foran (Tuva)

Immerse students in exploration before explanation with an interactive AI chat space. Learn tips to anchor lessons in relevant events and utilize AI tools and collaborative strategies to cement students’ sensemaking. Access sample lessons, student artifacts, and one-pagers to support implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Explore student-facing interactive AI tools that promote authentic sensemaking with tips and strategies to leverage exploration before explanation in note-making. Gain access to digital sample lessons, templates, and implementation tips for maximum impact and effectiveness.

SPEAKERS:
Laurie Jack (Humble ISD: Humble, TX), Elissa Griffin (Humble ISD: Kingwood, TX)