Professional Development Workshop Sessions
We're on our way to Houston, March 31-April 2, for NSTA 2022! In addition to meeting our awesome team at Booth #3325 to learn how our NGSS-aligned curricula can help you to activate deeper learning in your classroom, you'll be able to attend our professional development workshops and get the latest actionable insights, tools, and strategies to inspire and shape your learning journey. We look forward to seeing you in Houston!
Thursday, March 31
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Using Anchoring Phenomena and Driving Question Boards to Spark Student Learning
Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, 350D
As one of the science practices, asking questions and defining problems provides students with an authentic and meaningful entry point into science and engineering. From IQWST—the origin of the Driving Question Board—participants will experience a puzzling chemistry phenomenon and learn how to elicit, organize, and revisit students' questions to build a Driving Question Board.
Takeaways:
- Effective questioning strategies to engage students and increase the depth of student thinking, also helping to make student thinking visible;
- Questioning strategies for teachers to help students clarify and articulate their understanding of essential science phenomena and concepts; and
- How to give students an opportunity to use their own ideas and ways of communicating and sensemaking through the development of a Driving Question Board.
Speaker:
Ellen Mintz
Prof. Development Facilitator
Activate Learning
Thursday, March 31
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Using Modeling to Strengthen Literacy Strategies in the Elementary Classroom
Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, 350D
Explore the role literacy plays in the elementary classroom. Participate in an Activate Learning PRIME lesson that demonstrates how modeling scaffolds the student discussion to support literacy strategies in the context of science. This includes the incorporation of academic language in written responses and oral discourse in conjunction with investigations using an interactive word wall. Reading and differentiation strategies highlighted.
Takeaways:
- Receive strategies on how to get students to use modeling to strengthen literacy in science;
- Learn how literacy and science can be connected through modeling; and
- Discover effective strategies on creating and maintaining interactive word walls.
Speaker:
Ellen Mintz
Prof. Development Facilitator
Activate Learning
Thursday, March 31
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
OpenSciEd: Reach New Heights with the Interactive Digital Edition of OpenSciEd Provided by Activate Learning
Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, 350D
Join us for an engaging session that introduces the interactive digital edition (IDE) of OpenSciEd. Come explore the teacher’s side and experience the student side of the new IDE. The session will begin with an overview of the teacher's edition and its structure: Plan, Teach, Assign, and Assess. While engaged in an OpenSciEd lesson, teachers will learn the different features that students have available to use in their interactive student edition.
Takeaways:
- This interactive digital product can enhance learning but does not replace student interaction with hands-on activities;
- Effective use of an online student notebook; and
- Teacher will receive a 60-day trial of the Interactive Digital edition of OpenSciEd
Speaker:
Tracy Marmolejo
Professional Learning Manager
Activate Learning
Thursday, March 31
9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Earth Comm: Systems Thinking Applied to Planet Earth’s Greatest Challenges
Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, 350D
Experience a novel approach to Earth science. This new pedagogy uses a “systems” approach for plate tectonics, astronomy, natural resources, geology, and paleoclimatology. There will be several take-home activities and ideas to implement or augment your existing Earth science curricula. This curriculum is put together by AGI (American Geoscience Institute) out of Washington, D.C.
Takeaways:
- Receive materials they can use in their classrooms;
- Learn more about the “systems” approach to Earth science; and
- Receive a poster for your classroom reflecting the systems approach.
You're a rockstar
Speaker:
Gary Curts
High School Science
Curriculum Specialist
Thursday, March 31
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Active Physics: Project-Based Learning for Content and Creativity
Location: George R. Brown Convention Center, 350D
Develop a sport for the Moon; create a light and sound show to entertain your friends; design and build an improved safety device for a car. Project-based learning motivates students and challenges them to apply their physics knowledge, as well as reflect the three dimensions of the NGSS. Active Physics has been incredibly successful in schools. Join the fun and find out how to make your curriculum even better.
Takeaways:
- Learn how to customize the program for students who want or need more depth, concepts, or explorations;
- Discover how your students can use their new physics knowledge to creatively solve their Chapter Challenges; and
- Learn about the encapsulated 7E instructional model.
Speaker:
Arthur Eisenkraft, PhD
Distinguished Prof. of Science Ed.
Author of Active Physics®
