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

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

SPEAKERS:
Kate Henson (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Greg Benedis-Grab (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)

In this hands-on workshop, middle school teachers become the students, participating in a shelter design activity that connects their background knowledge and Indigenous ingenuity of America's first people.

TAKEAWAYS:
By the end of the workshop, teachers will be equipped to engage students in hands-on, culturally relevant engineering activities that align to NGSS and SEPs, while fostering critical thinking and an appreciation for Indigenous ingenuity.

SPEAKERS:
Jessica Felchle (Ben Steele Middle School: Laurel, MT), Jacie Jeffers (Indigenous Education Instructional Coach: Billings, MT), Kim Busch (Ben Steele Middle School: Billings, MT)

Do you want a quick and easy activity to foster invention education in your classroom? SCAMPER is a great way to engage learners of all ages (K-12) and encourage creative thinking. Come join us for innovative ways to learn with every day objects.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will walk away with a fun, easy to use, relevant lesson you can teach the next day. This lesson is easily adaptable to any age group.

SPEAKERS:
Christine Lawlor-King (MIT, InventEd, Invention Convention, STEMisED: Manchester, CT), Denise Henggeler (Northeast Nodaway: Parnell, MO)

This 60-minute workshop presents a new NSF-funded Middle School science storyline curriculum unit called Build it Green! (BIG!). BIG! addresses human impacts of energy systems through a green building engineering design process.

TAKEAWAYS:
Workshop participants will learn about our 14-lesson unit, the standards it addresses, and its unique use of digital tools, architectural design, and hands-on learning. Participants have a chance to engage with a new digital design tool that was made for BIG! using authentic architectural data.

SPEAKERS:
Caiden Webb (Graduate Student: Columbia, MO), Rebekah Snyder (University of Missouri: CLINTON, MO)

Explore the complexities of the electric grid by building series and parallel circuits! This hands-on workshop will provide educators with tools and strategies to help students grasp circuity and energy-related concepts.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on, standards-aligned workshop will show the influence of engineering, technology, and science on society and the natural world. Participants will leave the workshop with concepts and strategies to implement a similar lesson with their students.

SPEAKERS:
Bahar Pahlevani (The Energy Coalition: Irvine, CA), Tess Hooper (Project Manager: Irvine, CA)

Engage in hands-on learning! Explore wind energy's pros/cons and then design, and test windmills made with recycled materials. Take away a ready-to-use lesson adaptable for grades 4-12.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will leave equipped with a student-tested wind energy lesson, incorporating hands-on activities and collaborative learning, adaptable for grades 4-12, fostering a deeper understanding of renewable energy concepts aligned with NGSS standards.

SPEAKERS:
Lynn Kistler (Switch Classroom: Pittsburgh, PA)

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)

This session is the fourth of a series of four - join for one or more - focused on early childhood science and language arts integration. Engage with concrete examples of interdisciplinary connections focused on engineering. Part of the NSTA Early Childhood/Lower Elementary Science Pathway

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will be able to plan and implement instruction that integrates early childhood engineering and language arts learning targets with fidelity.

SPEAKERS:
Jenn Brown-Whale (Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE): Randallstown, MD)

What does it take to store CO2 underground? Discover how engineers determine where CO2 can be stored in subsurface geology by engaging in an engineering design challenge and learn how the energy industry is currently storing ‘captured’ carbon emissions.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how the engineering design challenge can be integrated into AP Environmental Science, ESS, or Environmental Science courses and learn how it aligns with NGSS and APES standards. A document version and an online version are provided to attendees.

SPEAKERS:
Sabrina Ewald (The University of Texas at Austin: Cedar Park, TX)

Designed to empower teachers with knowledge and tools to address issues facing coastal communities in the Mississippi Delta, this immersive experience combines place-based exploration and the engineering design process to strategize solutions to foster resiliency and sustainability in the Gulf.

TAKEAWAYS:
This immersive experience combines place-based exploration and the engineering design process to strategize solutions, foster resiliency and sustainability, and empower teachers.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Sanchez (Tulane University: New Orleans, LA), Erica Smith (Tulane University: Addis, LA)

In small groups, participants will design and brainstorm lesson and building ideas for a 4-person, human-powered, amphibious vehicles. Workshop facilitator brings the experience of 5 years of participating and 4 awards (engineering and art) at the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will grow in their confidence to approach large-scale engineering design projects regardless of their experience level.

SPEAKERS:
Mick Scott (CS and Engineering Teacher / Former K-12 STEM Director / Mind Mastery Coach: Reisterstown, MD)

A hands-on beam lab produces graphs critical to understanding properties for engineering.  With focus on making, interpreting, and teaching the graphs, real-world uses and applications of stress-strain curves in engineering will be shared and help to illustrate the importance of this type of graph.

TAKEAWAYS:
Real-world uses and applications of stress-strain curves in engineering will be shared and help to illustrate the importance of these graphs.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Spohler (Global Impact STEM Academy: Springfield, OH)

For this workshop, you will see how to develop an engineering unit for elementary students where they are challenged to use recyclable materials to build skyscrapers, bridges, and other structures. Try your own skill in building structures using easily accessible materials.

TAKEAWAYS:
In this session, participants will learn how to develop an engineering unit for elementary students where they design and build their own skyscrapers and bridges. Relevant videos will be shown and student work will be showcased.

SPEAKERS:
Joan Gillman (The Browning School: Teaneck, NJ)

Student game design is presented as an approach to engineering design practices and hands-on learning within a Biology classroom, including the outcomes of a year-long science game design course. Participants will witness research outputs, and receive tools for their classroom implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain scaffolding tools to implement game design in their classroom as a part of their science curriculum while addressing NGSS standards and science and engineering practices, designed to minimize instructional material cost while creating an authentic learning experience.

SPEAKERS:
Rebekah Snyder (University of Missouri: CLINTON, MO)

Strong winds generated by hurricanes and tornadoes can lift the roof off a house. A model for the engineering design process that integrates the NGSS three dimensions will be used to design a better roof.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to address the NGSS student performance expectation: 3-EES3-1 Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard.

SPEAKERS:
Karen Ostlund (The University of Texas at Austin: Austin, TX)

You will learn how to use MFLOW, a web-based programming platform that makes it extremely easy to play with sounds and create sound compositions while learning the basics of programming. You will gain access to an NGSS-aligned curriculum to support students with coding and sound engineering.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn how to use MFLOW to sound engineer and code your own sound or music composition. Also, you will learn how to engage your students with coding through engineering design challenges.

SPEAKERS:
Alec Barron (UC San Diego)

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)

Force and motion, simple machines & energy transfer are just a few of the science topics that students learn as the build their own interactive roller coaster projects.  Using just paper, tape and scissors, we will show you how to easily include this fun educational hands-on activity in your class.

TAKEAWAYS:
Hands-on, engaging projects can be done with easily accessible inexpensive supplies. It does not have to cost money to do intereactive experiments

SPEAKERS:
Elaine Sevin (Isidore Newman School: New Orleans, LA), Godwyn Morris (Dazzling Discoveries / Skill Mill NYC: New York, NY)

Be a structural engineer for the day! Come design, build & test an earthquake proof structure while learning about Earthquakes. In this session we will review the MS ESS standards related to earthquakes & utilize the Engineering Standards to compete in a tallest earthquake proof tower challenge.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session will ignite a love for engineering while focusing on structural engineering as a career. We hope that teachers will be able to turn key this with their own students with these simple materials.

SPEAKERS:
Nicole Jessie (Haverstraw-Stony Point CSD: Garnerville, NY)

Seaworthy STEM in a Box revolutionizes PreK-12 STEM education with Department of Navy and NGSS aligned activities, fostering science inquiry and engineering skills. Designed for versatility, these kits and curriculum accommodate various grades and settings. Session lead by DON staff/ STEM educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will discover how to seamlessly integrate Navy-aligned STEM activities into diverse educational environments. With expert-led workshops and comprehensive resources, educators can cultivate problem-solving skills in students, empowering them for future success in science and engineering.

SPEAKERS:
Melissa Thompson (Department of Defense: Stevensville, MD), Nathan Diehl (Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division: Boyds, MD)

This workshop will discuss the value of a HFE course to K-12 education and how to adapt HFE to technology education and vocational high school curriculum environments. Workshop activities will reinforce hands-on analysis, decision making and redesign methods, with a Q&A discussion to follow.

TAKEAWAYS:
Consider Human Factors Engineering as a means of adding valuable practical hands-on, project-based, user-centered design, and transferable skill experiences with authentic real-world application.

SPEAKERS:
Lisa Tenenbaum (Union County Vocational-Technical Schools: Scotch Plains, NJ)

Connect the human impact of trash pollution to engineering design. Get your students thinking critically and creatively as they collaborate in real-world problem solving.

TAKEAWAYS:
Experience a project that enhances STEM skills in students such as collaboration, curiosity, and creativity.

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

Level up your OpenSciEd materials (or any engineering design challenge) to include digital notebooks, smartphone sensors as data collectors, and computer aided design (CAD) applications to develop tech skills with students while solving engineering problems for our future!

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will walk away with resources and experiences using technologies that provide an on-ramp or will strengthen their journey of integrating powerful tech tools into their classroom as well as an increased capacity to integrate engineering design challenges within their curriculum.

SPEAKERS:
Cari Williams (OpenSciEd: Yorba Linda, CA)

Learn fun and rewarding labs that can be completed in 50 minutes or less. These labs can be adapted to many different learning levels including; SPED, ESL, and gifted.

TAKEAWAYS:
You will get a list of Environmental Science labs that can be completed in less than 50 minutes. Plus complete a hands on lab that brings a bit of competition into the classroom.

SPEAKERS:
Rachel Melancon (Lafayette High School: Lafayette, LA)

Test some heat-treated metal samples; practice your math skills and artistry with a STEAM activity; work in groups for an engineering challenge! There’s a little something for everyone and we won’t judge you for wanting to be hot and cheap in the classroom.

TAKEAWAYS:
Teachers will leave with at least 3 useful lab activities giving opportunities for measurement, math, engineering, collaborative work, and an understanding of the materials around us. All of the activities use easy to find and household materials that are available at low cost.

SPEAKERS:
Briana Richardson (Washington High School: Columbus, OH)

This session will engage participants in an engineering task using a project management approach called Scrum. Embedded throughout the experience, we will demonstrate how we explicitly teach students SEL. We will share our classroom experiences and strategies to promote SEL and engineering design.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how they can embed an agile project management approach called Scrum and SEL into Engineering Design. We will show strategies we have used to teach SEL and Scrum that have resulted in much more productive group work.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Borton (Science Teacher and Ed.D Student: Nevada, IA), Jesse Wilcox (University of Northern Iowa: Cedar Falls, IA)

Embark on a journey that will engage elementary students in understanding interactions in nature to create inventions and solve problems. A lesson that seamlessly integrates science, math, ELA, and intellectual property concepts, fostering holistic learning experiences for elementary students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through hands-on activities, participants will gain practical experience applying the principles of nature-inspired invention to their elementary classrooms. They will also discover innovative ways to encourage their students to explore their own creativity and problem-solving abilities.

SPEAKERS:
Kathy Hoppe (STEMisED, Inc: Rio Rico, AZ)

Explore how students can change a metal’s properties through alloying, heat-treating, and/or cold-working. Classroom activities that will enhance chemistry understanding of atomic structure and real world engineering relevance. Deepen understanding of binary phase diagrams.

TAKEAWAYS:
How do architects and manufacturers manipulate common metal properties to get the metals to behave in the desired way for a specific use? Participants will make a simple low-melt tin-based alloy and explore a binary phase diagram. Heat-treating of steel and cold-working of copper is also explored.

SPEAKERS:
Scott Spohler (Global Impact STEM Academy: Springfield, OH)

Find out how to leverage opportunities in your-day-to-day science teaching to get students excitedly picturing themselves in STEM careers! We’ll show you how to use high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) to intentionally support students’ development of Career Readiness Competencies.

TAKEAWAYS:
Become familiar with Career Readiness Competencies and how to use HQIM to create opportunities for students to develop these competencies.

SPEAKERS:
Michelle Phillips (NSTA: Arlington, VA), Rob Wallace (: Houma, LA)

Inspire students to lead energy action and design a campus microgrid system. This hands-on workshop equips educators with practical knowledge to engage students in energy-related concepts, including microgrids and energy analysis, fostering energy literacy and sustainability awareness.

TAKEAWAYS:
This hands-on session will cover the United States’ energy system, energy resilience, transitions toward a decentralized energy generation, and how to solve problems like energy managers. Participants will leave the workshop with concepts and strategies to implement this lesson with their students.

SPEAKERS:
Bahar Pahlevani (The Energy Coalition: Irvine, CA), Tess Hooper (Project Manager: Irvine, CA)

Wanna go fast? Really fast? Maglev trains have superior acceleration, lower maintenance, and provide a smooth ride but there are also some challenges. Designing a model allows students to learn about magnetic fields, superconductors which provides a means to connect to the exciting world of quantum.

TAKEAWAYS:
Real world applications for quantum information science and engineering STEM project appropriate for the classroom Content on maglev, magnetic fields, superconductors, levitation

SPEAKERS:
Karen Matsler (University of Texas Arlington: Arlington, TX)

Learn the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind a project-based learning Science and CTE course, designed to integrate career exploration with sustainability. Gain development insights and resources to empower students with skills for the growing clean energy sector and beyond. Find the OER curriculum on Sprocket.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will gain tools to implement this curriculum in their own contexts, as well as an understanding of the development process, enabling them to expand the work into other topics and promote an educational movement that integrates sustainability and career readiness with academic content.

SPEAKERS:
Hanna Jaramillo (Educurious Partners: Kirkland, WA)