SPEAKERS:
Elizabeth Allan

Explore misconceptions surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) while participating in one of the hottest trends in innovative science teaching and entertainment. Free teaching materials available.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will: 1. define terms such as transgenic, GMO, and recombinant DNA; 2. sort GMO from non-GMO products; and 3. separate GMO misconceptions from facts.

SPEAKERS:
Pamela Petzel Snyder

Engage in argument-driven scaffolds for Earth and environmental science topics to critically evaluate connections between evidence and alternative scientific explanations using model-evidence link (MEL) diagrams.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn what a MEL diagram is; 2. Practice using a MEL diagram to promote evaluation; and 3. Learn how to access the suite of MEL materials.

SPEAKERS:
Timothy Klavon, Janelle Bailey, Doug Lombardi

Sponsoring Company: Bio-Rad Laboratories

Tap into your students' curiosity about COVID-19 to teach key biology concepts in context. In this session, see hands-on classroom activities that use the same laboratory techniques as those used for COVID-19 detection. Walk through a real-world scenario where students determine how COVID-19 spreads at a restaurant.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn about new activities to teach ELISA and gel electrophoresis in the context of the science of COVID-19; and 2. walk through a real-world problem-solving case study about the spread of COVID-19 in a restaurant.

SPEAKERS:
Damon Tighe

Sponsoring Company: Vernier Software & Technology

To help ensure students continue to learn key scientific concepts during this precarious time, Vernier has put together over 300 free experiments with sample data files covering many subjects that you can distribute to students. Your students can analyze real data and answer questions based on their results.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Access a free collection of experiments with sample data that you can distribute to your students at home; 2. students will use the experiment data we've collected to perform their own analysis; and 3. your students will use the sample data to demonstrate understanding of scientific concepts by using built-in tools to analyze results, answer questions, and form conclusions as they follow experiment instructions.

SPEAKERS:
David Carter

Sponsoring Company: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is introducing a collection of immersive underwater experiences to bring these exceptional places to viewers everywhere. Join us on a virtual tour of our underwater parks. Learn what national marine sanctuaries are and dive below the surface to virtually interact with sanctuary sea life.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Take a visual tour of America's national marine sanctuaries and learn more about the conservation of these underwater parks; 2. Immerse and explore these underwater treasures through free virtual reality dives and 360 degree underwater photos; and 3. Walk through at least one NGSS-focused lesson plan for grades 6–8 that complements the underwater VR dives.

SPEAKERS:
Claire Fackler

Sponsoring Company: HHMI

Explore an example of a storyline that encompasses evolution, genetics, and protein folding using the relationship between sickle cell disease and malaria as the anchoring phenomenon. A variety of instructional strategies will be demonstrated using activities from HHMI BioInteractive that are research based, free, and classroom ready.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. HHMI activities can be bundled together to allow students to make sense of the evolutionary connection between sickle cell and malaria; 2. Storyline Viewer can be used to plan and organize lessons; and 3. A variety of strategies to engage participants as they explore the anchoring phenomenon.

SPEAKERS:
Mary Colvard, Kathlyn Van Hoeck

Sponsoring Company: 3D Molecular Designs

In this hands-on interactive workshop, participants will learn how to utilize physical chromosome and DNA models to explore and compare the processes of mitosis and meiosis with students.

TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will learn how to: 1. use models to teach the organization and structure of DNA; 2. use models to compare mitosis and meiosis; and 3. connect DNA structure to phenotypic expression when teaching genetics.

SPEAKERS:
Chris Chou

Sponsoring Company: Pivot Interactives

Come learn how Pivot Interactives helps students learn chemistry concepts and lab skills using our online learning platform. Interactive video allows students to make their own measurements from libraries of thousands of high-resolution videos and interactive measurement tools. Customizable instructions, fast grading tools, and LMS integration make life easier for teachers too!

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn how Pivot Interactives allows students to start with phenomena and guides them to use their own measurements and observations to build and apply models; 2. see from the student perspective how Pivot Interactives enables online labs; and 3. explore the content library, grading tools, and LMS integration.

SPEAKERS:
Peter Bohacek

We will share a PBL suitable for secondary and postsecondary meteorology students using an online severe weather events database.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Participants will be given an opportunity to explore the Storm Prediction Center's (SPC) online severe weather events database, identifying the most impactful severe weather days (cases) for a sample region and year; 2. Participants will proceed through an example weekly worksheet analyzing the atmospheric parameters conducive for severe weather for a sample severe weather day; and 3. Presenters will share indirect assessment (via pre- vs. post-survey) data revealing the pedagogical impact of the PBL on student learning.

SPEAKERS:
Joby Hilliker, Shannon Hilliker

New diverse teachers leave the profession at incredibly high rates. Join us for a discussion of research-based implications on how to better support these educators.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Identify reasons it is critical to support new minority teachers; 2. describe strategies for supporting these educators; and 3. discuss practical tips for retaining diverse teachers in the profession.

SPEAKERS:
Latanya Brandon, Amanda Gunning, Meghan Marrero

Environmental/instructional strategies will be addressed to help teachers reduce risk and provide for safer lab activities in on-site school science labs and virtual formats.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Five effective ways of reducing health risks during the COVID-19 pandemic; 2. Facility environmental concerns and ways to make them safer; and 3. Instructional strategies to reduce risk for safer lab activities.

SPEAKERS:
Kenneth Roy

Concerned about the STEM achievement gap? Learn about the latest data, as well as experience a strategy for facilitating equity conversations and its use with students or colleagues to develop equity leaders.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. To obtain the latest national data on the STEM achievement gap; 2. To experience a strategy for facilitating discussion of difficult equity issues; and 3. To be invited to become an equity leader, given the need and resources available.

SPEAKERS:
JERRY VALADEZ, Gary Nakagiri

Engage students in a hands-on cellular respiration activity using handouts and pop-beads that help explain the concept.

TAKEAWAYS:
1. Learn the stages of cellular respiration; 2. Discover how to follow glucose through the oxidation steps and track the carbons that are converted to CO2; and 3. Calculate the energy production (ATP) through substrate-level phosphorylation and oxidative phosphorylation.

SPEAKERS:
Deborah Cardenas

In this engaging and informative online session, Michael will offer a conceptual landscape on which you'll construct a valid understanding of COVID-19. Using a PowerPoint deck populated with richly illustrated and animated slides, Michael will facilitate this essential experience in a manner that's engaging and not intimidating. Through this understanding, you'll become empowered to teach the applicable concepts of COVID-19 literacy, resulting in a student population that is better informed to make critical decisions, especially those that impact their health.

TAKEAWAYS:
After attending this session, attendees will be empowered with an understanding of COVID-19 on which to: 1. increase classroom effectiveness in teaching appropriate disciplinary core ideas of life sciences; 2. apply 3-D learning to understanding the biology COVID-19 virus and the resultant pandemic; and 3. apply crosscutting concepts along with science and engineering practices to an understanding of COVID-19.

SPEAKERS:
Michael DiSpezio

Join NSTA President Dr. Elizabeth Allan as she interviews Dr. Leana Wen, a practicing physician who has been a leading expert on health policy and public health during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
 
In the wake of COVID-19, educators are facing unique challenges. At the top of that long list are problems associated with the interruption of established in-classroom practices and routines to remote learning, the emotional toll of physical separation due to social distancing, and, as they face the inevitable challenges associated with returning to in-person instruction, the concern and unpredictability about personal safety and health.
 
During this interview, Dr. Wen will respond to questions on how to best support teachers’ well-being as they simultaneously create positive learning environments for their students.

NSTA’s Chief Safety Compliance Adviser Dr. Kenneth Roy will join Dr. Allan immediately following Dr. Wen’s interview to discuss lab safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SPEAKERS:
Leana Wen, Elizabeth Allan, Kenneth Roy