Experience a variety of engaging STEM activities that can be done in any science content class in 45 minutes or less.

TAKEAWAYS:
Expose your students to STEM skills through short, easy, and engaging STEM activities that can be completed in a single class period.

SPEAKERS:
Brad Posnanski (Comsewogue High School: Port Jefferson Station, NY), Jessica Kohout (Educational Consultant: Ellicott City, MD)

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: Vernier Science Education

How do forensic scientists find evidence in invisible ink? Students must think like both detectives AND scientists to find out! By capturing spectra of ink samples, students investigate electromagnetic radiation, explore light-matter interactions, and use mathematical models to calculate energy.

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: Vernier Science Education

Get started with Vernier! Explore sensors for chemistry, biology & physics and learn how to integrate them in your curriculum to support 3D science learning. Found a box of sensors in your classroom? We’ll help you navigate how to assess and use them, too. Walk away with resources and experiments.

This presentation will explore the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools into secondary education curricula, aiming to provide educators and administrators with actionable strategies, demonstrate the potential benefits, and discuss the necessary frameworks for implementation.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how to effectively integrate AI tools into secondary curricula, equipped with practical steps, proven strategies, and a network of resources to begin their own implementation processes.

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

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.

Discover practical strategies for integrating AI in education in this workshop and explore innovative lesson designs to engage students interactively. Resources, tips, and bad puns will be provided to all attendees.

TAKEAWAYS:
Artificial intelligence is here to stay. By experiencing an AI-focussed lesson from the student perspective, educators will leave with a better sense of the potential for this incredible new tool in their own classrooms.

SPEAKERS:
Caleb Bagby (Senior Director of Engineering, Technology, and Design: Chattanooga, TN), Jessica Dobrin (Mercersburg Academy: Mercersburg, PA)

Through live demonstrations we will teach attendees the strengths and weaknesses of virtual tutors and best practices for LLM-student learning. During the workshop attendees will construct practice exam questions using ChatGPT and other LLM tools.

TAKEAWAYS:
Through live demonstrations we will teach attendees the strengths and weaknesses of virtual tutors and best practices for LLM-student learning. During the workshop attendees will construct practice exam questions using ChatGPT and other LLM tools.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Graham (Assistant Professor: Jackson, MS), Hannah Meyer (Student: Jackson, MS), Kristina Stensaas (Millsaps College: Brandon, MS)

Sponsoring Company: Lessi AI

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

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

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

What’s the difference between baking soda and baking powder? Help students investigate properties of common kitchen chemicals using pH and CO2 sensors and explain differences using evidence. Using what they discover, students design their own baking powder and test it against commercial products.

Explore our workshop on AI's classroom impact! Learn how AI boosts creativity, engagement, and streamlines tasks for more impactful teaching.

TAKEAWAYS:
This session promises practical insights into using AI to cultivate a more dynamic, responsive, and creatively enriched teaching environment, ensuring both educators and students thrive.

SPEAKERS:
Nadim Sarhan (Faculty Member: Town and Country, MO), Melanie Shedd (The Principia: St Louis, MO)

Sponsoring Company: PlayVS

Exploring the integration of esports and well-being - delves into how integrating esports in school can enhance student engagement, foster teamwork, and cultivate strategic thinking and a sense of belonging for the digital generation.

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

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

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: Vernier Science Education

Studying complex physics phenomena with photogates can be exciting for your students! Join us to explore strategies for engaging your students in learning about velocity vs. time graphs, acceleration, and kinematic equations. Build confidence in these tools and bring hands-on learning to your class!

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.

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

From friction to collisions, engage students in real-world motion phenomena! Investigate questions like “how do brakes stop a bicycle?” or “why are seat belts crucial to car safety?” We’ll explore sensor carts in action, analyze velocity and acceleration data, and share hands-on investigations.

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)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Where does food come from? And where does it go next? Join us to explore the free OpenSciEd curriculum, which uses investigative questions & anchoring phenomena to engage middle school students in NGSS-aligned lessons. Walk away with three-dimensional, sensor-based experiments to add to your toolkit

Participants will: Research and design an Inquiry experiment using appropriate technology to gather and analyze data. Use technology to collect/analyze data and visualize what occurs on the submicroscopic level by employing particulate drawings.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will take part in a “hands on” Inquiry experiment, use technology to collect/analyze data, and visualize what occurs on the submicroscopic level in copper chemical reactions by employing particulate drawings.

SPEAKERS:
Gregory Dodd (George Washington High School: Pennsboro, WV)

Wondering about ways to use 3-D printing pens with your students? Practice using a 3-D pen to create a small but STEM-tastic model or design to use in your classroom. Explore the possibilities of using the engineering design process to solve real-world problems with creativity and a new tech gadget.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have an opportunity to use a 3-D pen to make (and take) a small model or design for the classroom using a provided pattern or an original design. Information about eCYBERMISSION and programs administered by NSTA and sponsored by AEOP will be available.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Lasky (NSTA Competitions: Crofton, MD), Brian Kutsch (National Science Teaching Association, eCYBERMISSION: Maumelle, AR)

See how cats help with chemistry. Using acronyms, simulations, particle diagrams, and simple manipulatives get students to "see" how the cell operates and works. Get concrete understanding of what seems to be a complex system.

TAKEAWAYS:
How to use manipulatives and memory mnemonics to give students a concrete understanding of an electrochemical cell.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Coker (Camden Fairview High School: Camden, AR)

Learn how to create more equitable experiences in the classroom by using the Modern Classroom approach. Coupled with Pear Deck, EdPuzzle, Flip, Screencastify and ClassroomQ, participants will walk away knowing how to create a more blended learning experience for their students and examine strategies

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn how to create a Pear Deck, EdPuzzle and Screencastify video. Participants will walk away with the knowledge of how to create a product for each one. Attendees will learn how to empower students to be independent life long learners.

SPEAKERS:
Cecelia Gillam (Benjamin Franklin High School: La Place, LA)

Explore the transformative potential of AI the educational setting in this dynamic session. We'll delve into how AI can be used to tailor and support student learning, streamline administrative processes for educators, and enhance data analysis.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn practical skills in crafting AI prompts, selecting optimal platforms, and leveraging AI to create custom educational resources. This session is designed to equip teachers and administrators with the tools to integrate AI effectively into their practices.

SPEAKERS:
Ericka Jones (Aldine ISD: New Caney, TX)

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Science Education

Want to make data analysis engaging for young learners? Get hands on with real-world phenomena! Investigate questions like “how mittens keep hands warm?” or “which shoes have more friction?” You’ll learn how sensor-based experiments support 3D learning, build STEM literacy & drive critical thinking.

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.

Experience the “real” feel of working in a lab from the physical layout to the various “tasks” performed. Take on the role of a scientist/engineer and conduct scientific studies with a prototype. Catch a glimpse of an Army lab in action and learn how equipment used by our troops is developed.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will have an opportunity to use virtual reality goggles and applications to explore a technological alternative to hands-on scientific inquiry and engineering design processes. Information about eCYBERMISSION and programs administered by NSTA and sponsored by AEOP will be available.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Lasky (NSTA Competitions: Crofton, MD), Brian Kutsch (National Science Teaching Association, eCYBERMISSION: Maumelle, AR)

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: Vernier Science Education

Drive student engagement with force and motion phenomena! Join us to explore how fan thrust affects acceleration, momentum, and kinetic energy of carts on a track. We’ll explore 3D lessons that investigate Newton's second law and accelerated motion by adding the new easy-to-use, modular Cart Fan.

Explore the implementation of a makerspace apprenticeship program that increased and diversified makerspace engagement through peer-learning, creativity, and relevant projects. This program helped launch a brand new makerspace to being an inclusive space for all.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how to get a diverse range of students engaged in a makerspace.

SPEAKERS:
Lauren Mitchell Ludwig (Director of Makerspace: New York, NY)

Students who require social-emotion learning, and individualized learning require differentiation. Project-based learning, and technology has helped our students engage, access the curriculum, and meet their individual needs. We will share our projects and what we have used to help enhance learning.

TAKEAWAYS:
This presentation will focus on techniques to help with differentiating each lesson, enhance individual student's learning, and assessing students.

SPEAKERS:
Trisha Pytko (Sacred Heart University: 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)

An innovative approach to ethology can be utilized through public webcams, which stream live footage of both wild and captive animals. By engaging in long-term observational data collection and analysis, students develop the skills needed to become proficient animal behaviorists.

TAKEAWAYS:
Comprehensive curriculum can be designed around observations made of live animal webcams, taking students through all the steps of the scientific method. Students walk away having completed individualized ethology research projects.

SPEAKERS:
Michael Savaria (Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall: Waltham, MA)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Data Science, AI, and You (DSAIY) in Health Care aims to broaden participation in STEM through an innovative and culturally responsive learning ecosystem for teaching rapidly evolving cross-disciplinary STEM fields to high school students, using data science and AI.

TAKEAWAYS:
After completing the curriculum and datathon, we interviewed teachers and students. One teacher commented, “The kids walked away getting a much better appreciation for AI, how it's impacting certain aspects of the healthcare field, how it can impact society.

SPEAKERS:
Kathryn Eller (STEM Program Director: barrington, RI)

Turbocharging ELL Learning with Quizizz, Nearpod, Edpuzzle & More! Unleash Quizizz AI's magic in these tools for personalized support & tracking. Plus, discover top strategies for empowering ELL students' success. Get ready to revolutionize your classroom!

TAKEAWAYS:
You will learn dynamic teaching strategies that accommodates ELL students' learning.

SPEAKERS:
Luis Jaua (Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School: Hialeah, FL), Valdwin Etienne (Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School: Hialeah, FL), Diana Ocampo (Mater Academy Charter Middle/High School: Cutler Bay, FL)

Using a scanning electron microscope engages high school students in STEM and empowers them to explore the microscopic world around them.

TAKEAWAYS:
It is possible (and exciting) to have a scanning electron microscope at your school! Using a SEM in high school fosters hands-on learning, develops STEM skills, encourages real-world applications, involves the challenge of independent research, provides career readiness and engages the community.

SPEAKERS:
Krista Wilks (W. F. West High School: Chehalis, WA)

Project STEMinAR is a free, augmented reality app for teaching physical science. Bring your mobile device to join us as we demo the simulations, share curricular materials, and discuss preliminary data from this NSF-funded project. Topics include gravity, Newton’s Laws, thermodynamic, and optics.

TAKEAWAYS:
Attendees will learn why and how to use a free augmented reality app and accompanying curricular materials to support physics instruction.

SPEAKERS:
David Rosengrant (University of South Florida St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg, FL), Karina Hensberry (University of South Florida: St Petersburg, FL)

The workshop explores the benefits of using drone operation across the STEM disciplines. Motivational and cognitive benefits will be discussed along with examples of drone use.

TAKEAWAYS:
Drones can be used in the science classroom as a student-centered hands-on activity that explores real-world phenomenon to enhance problem solving and spatial reasoning abilities.

SPEAKERS:
Stephen Farenga (Queens College, CUNY: Williston Park, NY), Salvatore Garofalo (Queens College, City University of New York: Mineola, NY)

Come learn about research into how students conceptualize data structure, how hierarchical/grouped structures can help support learning and analysis, and explore potential pedagogical moves and technical scaffolds to aid in student sensemaking with data.

TAKEAWAYS:
Many datasets inherently have a hierarchical structure or can be grouped in a way that creates hierarchy. Spreadsheets are poorly suited for the exploration of such datasets. However, new tools with flexible ways to organize and visualize hierarchically grouped data can support student sensemaking.

SPEAKERS:
Daniel Damelin (The Concord Consortium: Bolton, MA)

NSF’s NOIRLab’s Teen Astronomy Café – To Go! program brings students the excitement of scientific discovery by exploring astronomical data. Learn how students can hunt for brown dwarfs and planets in the outer solar system using the citizen science project Backyward Worlds. Laptops are encouraged.

TAKEAWAYS:
By exploring the Teen Astronomy Café – To Go! program designed to support the NGSS, participants will learn about the resources available to introduce astronomical data analysis their classrooms and help students develop critical thinking and data literacy skills.

SPEAKERS:
Robert Sparks (NSF's NOIRLab: Tucson, AZ)

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.

This session will engage participants in authentic conservation decision-making practices using dynamic, interactive tools on the Half-Earth Project Map and Map of Life. The activities shared empower learners to evaluate biodiversity distribution, protected areas, and human impacts.

TAKEAWAYS:
Human activity adversely impacts biodiversity through habitat destruction, pollution, invasive species, and climate change. However, data-driven tech tools help ensure conservation decisions protect areas with the highest biodiversity with equitable benefits to humans.

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

Participants will: Undertake a “hands on” equilibrium Inquiry with a large K value. Use Inquiry to resolve equilibrium misconceptions. Use appropriate technology for data collection/analysis.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn to use Inquiry to overcome student misconceptions about chemical equilibrium.

SPEAKERS:
Gregory Dodd (George Washington High School: Pennsboro, WV)

We are developing a new augmented reality app for mobile devices to be used in the physical sciences. Learn how to use the FREE simulations and curricular materials from this NSF- funded project on topics including gravity, Newton’s Laws, Thermodynamics, and Optics, with more to come.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to use a free classroom resource in the physical sciences.

SPEAKERS:
Karina Hensberry (University of South Florida: St Petersburg, FL), David Rosengrant (University of South Florida St. Petersburg: St. Petersburg, FL)

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)

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)

Experience the free Verizon Innovative Learning Lab VR app - Visceral Science - along with hands-on supportive learning activities about space science. Discover strategies to incorporate VR as a teaching tool in limited-resource classroom settings with students of diverse backgrounds.

TAKEAWAYS:
Learn to use the Visceral Science app as an opportunity for novel learning of space science. Discover how to effectively use limited virtual reality resources in a large classroom setting.

SPEAKERS:
Andrew Bundas (Senior Planetarium Educator: TOLEDO, OH), Mariam Khella (STEM Educator: Jersey City, NJ), Brandon Daniels (Liberty Science Center: Jersey City, NJ)