NSTA 2024
We’re excited to provide professional learning institutes, hands-on workshops, and presentations at this year’s NSTA National Conference in Denver, March 20-23, 2024! Details listed below, or click here for more information and the most recent room locations and times (enter in search bar: BSCS Science Learning).
March 20
PLI-4: What Makes a High-Quality, Equitable Three-Dimensional Science Assessment and How Can You Create and Use Them?
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING INSTITUTE
Wednesday, March 20 • 8:15 AM – 3:15 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 205
Join us to figure out how to adapt NGSS assessments to be meaningful and coherent for your learners, useful for communicating progress, and manageable for you to provide actionable feedback. We will analyze what task features ensure eliciting evidence related to 3D sensemaking in grade-appropriate ways and consider how to adapt/design tasks to be accessible, relevant, and meaningful to all learners.
TAKEAWAYS:
We will work together to adapt classroom tasks and plan for their implementation using the most up-to-date tools and resources from across multiple NGSS assessment leaders and projects. You will leave with a task that has been collaboratively adapted during our session that you can share with your colleagues and try with your learners, along with tools and strategies you can use to change your assessment practices in your classroom, school and/or district.
SPEAKERS:
Kelley Aitken (Winchester Public Schools: Winchester, VA), Sara Cooper (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Abraham Lo (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Dawn Novak (Science Educator: Grayslake, IL)
PLI-5: Transforming Science Teaching and Learning: Building Capacity for Curriculum Adaptation
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING INSTITUTE
Wednesday, March 20 • 8:15 AM – 3:15 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 102/104
Successful implementation of open-source instructional materials for the NGSS requires adaptation for local needs. This Professional Learning Institute will engage participants in using tools to adapt an open-source middle school unit for local standards and phenomena.
SPEAKERS:
Jean Flanagan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Elaine Klein (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Audrey Mohan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Candice Guy-Gaytán (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Zoë Buck Bracey (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jamie Noll (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Lindsey Mohan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Janna Mahfoud (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO),Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
March 21
Leaders Institute: Transforming Teaching and Learning
INSTITUTE
Thursday, March 21 • 8:00 AM – 4:40 PM
Hyatt Regency Denver, Capitol Ballroom
At NSTA’s Leaders Institute, education leaders will explore practical, research-based approaches that transform teaching and learning in the classroom, participate in formative conversations with subject-matter experts, boost their leadership skills, and expand their network of supportive colleagues and peers. Don’t miss this immersive, full-day learning experience—you will come away with actionable insights into your own leadership, a renewed sense of purpose for your work, and clarity about future goals for your ongoing growth as a leader.
CAST: Embedding Literacy Supports in 3D Units for Equitable Sensemaking and Learning
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Thursday, March 21 • 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Colorado Convention Center – 103/105
STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice
Experience how embedding literacy supports for reading, writing, and academic discourse in 3D teaching and learning promotes sensemaking and science understanding for ALL learners! Learn how the BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model embeds literacy supports throughout cycles of inquiry.
TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and embeds literacy supports for reading, writing, and academic discourse in conjunction with science and engineering practices and crosscutting concepts to promote students in figuring out key science ideas.
SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Building Capacity for the Design and Adaptation of High-Quality Instructional Materials
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Thursday, March 21 • 10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 205
STRAND: Leadership and Advocacy
Many schools need high-quality units to meet their state standards or localize phenomena. BSCS Science Learning has extensive experience with designing, adapting, and localizing. In this session, apply a BSCS design tool, and learn about a suite of tools to use for large-scale design or adaptation.
TAKEAWAYS:
Experience with a tool to unpack 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 designing and adapting HQIM in your local context.
SPEAKERS:
Jean Flanagan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Elaine Klein (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
It’s happening here and now: Supporting students’ agency for climate change action within and beyond the classroom.
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Thursday, March 21 • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 207
STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice
This workshop will introduce participants to environmental science agency as a climate change learning outcome. Participants will engage in student hat as they try tools to support student agency, and then brainstorm ways to use the tools in their classrooms. All materials are freely available.
TAKEAWAYS:
Climate change education requires more than just content acquisition about the science of climate change. It should also cultivate a sense of agency for students to act within and beyond the classroom, which can be supported by classroom instructional tools.
SPEAKERS:
Candice Guy-Gaytán (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Lindsey Mohan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
5D Assessment: Using student interest & identity to design meaningful, phenomenon-driven assessment opportunities for students
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Thursday, March 21 • 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 205
STRAND: Instruction and Assessment: Implementing Standards
Learn how student interest and identity are co-equal dimensions with disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts when designing phenomenon-driven assessments. Participants will learn how to use tools to elicit information about students for use in design.
TAKEAWAYS:
Educators engage with the 5D Assessment Project’s tools to elicit and use information about students’ interests and identities to design meaningful, phenomenon-driven assessment opportunities. Work with examples of meaningful assessment aligned to the elements of the NGSS.
SPEAKERS:
Sara Cooper (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO), Kevin Cherbow (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Abraham Lo (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Using Freely Available Digital Tools and a Storyline Units to Explore Climate Change Data and Solutions
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Thursday, March 21 • 2:20 PM – 3:20 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 207
STRAND: Climate Science and Environmental Justice
This workshop session will engage participants in a storyline unit that uses digital tools to explore data on temperature changes around the world, greenhouse gas emissions, and future scenarios if we employ a range of carbon emissions and sequestration solutions. Please bring a laptop or tablet.
TAKEAWAYS:
Analyzing climate change data and using mathematical models for climate change solutions can support student sensemaking and prepare youth for informed action.
SPEAKERS:
Lindsey Mohan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Betty Stennett (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Audrey Mohan (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Why is M’Kenna sick? A free, NGSS badged middle school unit on interacting body systems
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Thursday, March 21 • 3:40 PM – 4:40 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 207
STRAND: Instruction and Assessment: Implementing Standards
Come and experience A Medical Mystery and explain a middle school girl’s symptoms from a doctor’s note. You will use computer interactives to gather data and analyze it for evidence to back up your claims. You will leave with complete access to this freely available unit. Bring a laptop or tablet.
TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will see how explaining the symptoms of a 7th grade girl as she becomes suddenly ill can provide an engaging context for learning about interacting body systems. Participants will come away with a rich digital resource that includes student activities and educative teacher supports.
SPEAKERS:
Betty Stennett (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
NextGen TIME: A Toolkit for Materials Evaluation
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Thursday, March 21 • 3:40 PM – 4:40 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 205
STRAND: Instruction and Assessment: Implementing Standards
NextGen TIME is a free suite of tools and processes that supports districts in preparing to evaluate instructional materials for quality and design for the NGSS. This collaborative process helps you plan for next steps, including customization to improve student outcomes and effective implementation.
TAKEAWAYS:
Learn how NextGen TIME supports the evaluation of current instructional materials to strengthen their design for NGSS, and how NextGen TIME tools and processes can serve as critical components of curriculum-based professional learning. You’ll walk away with free access to NextGen TIME resources.
SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
March 22
How Does the Framing of Anchoring Phenomena Affect Student Perception of Interest and Relevance?
PRESENTATION
Friday, March 22 • 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Colorado Convention Center – 205
STRAND: Research to Practice
Little is known about how the framing of phenomena impacts students’ interest and sense of relevance. We share findings from a study where we asked students to rate how relevant and interesting they found four phenomena either described using an engineering, a local, a neutral, or a justice framing.
TAKEAWAYS:
Framing a phenomenon as an engineering design problem, a social or environmental justice issue, a local event, or a neutral problem, influences students’ perception of interest and relevance, which can influence how they engage as learners.
SPEAKERS:
Diego Rojas-Perilla (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Zoë Buck Bracey (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jamie Noll (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Afar: Introducing the OpenSciEd High School Earth Science Unit
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Friday, March 22 • 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Hyatt Regency Denver – Centennial Ballroom D
STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice
In Unit 2 of the OpenSciEd Physics course, a series of Earth phenomena in Ethiopia motivate the need for forces to explain our observations. Students establish conventions for modeling forces and think deeply about the connection between unbalanced forces, energy transfer, and motion.
TAKEAWAYS:
This unit introduces students to the concept of force in an intuitive and grounded context. Students understand fundamental Earth Science ideas related to plate tectonics, radioactivity, convection, and rock formation at a high school level.
SPEAKERS:
Diego Rojas-Perilla (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Zoë Buck Bracey (BSCS Science Learning, Colorado Springs, CO)
Transforming Science Teaching and Learning Through Curriculum-Based Professional Learning: Change Management
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Friday, March 22 • 9:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Colorado Convention Center – 205
STRAND: Leadership and Advocacy
Curriculum implementation requires significant planning so that systems support the needed shifts in practice to strengthen science teaching and learning. Join us to figure out how leading change–an important element of curriculum-based professional learning–can make a difference.
TAKEAWAYS:
Leaders can create a culture that is conducive to the significant changes in knowledge, beliefs, and practices required to support the implementation of high-quality instructional materials designed for next generation science.
SPEAKERS:
Janna Mahfoud (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jody Bintz (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Transforming Science Teaching and Learning through Curriculum-Based Professional Learning: Transformative Learning, Learning Designs, and Models
PRESENTATION
Friday, March 22 • 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 205
STRAND: Leadership and Advocacy
Curriculum implementation requires a robust professional learning program to support teachers in making the shifts called for in NRC’s Framework. This experience leverages BSCS’s new instructional model, Anchored Inquiry Learning (AIL), and an immersion model of professional learning.
TAKEAWAYS:
Leaders can support teachers with making the instructional shifts called for in the NRC’s Framework through immersive, curriculum-based professional learning programs.
SPEAKERS:
Jenine Cotton-Proby (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
When Storylines Meets Design Camp: Building Youth Learning Activities to Support Science Learning, Making, and Coding for Informal Learners
PRESENTATION
Friday, March 22 • 1:20 PM – 2:20 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 207
STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice
The storyline approach has guided the design of high-quality instructional materials for K-12 science education. We will present an adaptation of this framework to a youth camp focused on design in the context of learning radio frequency communication technologies.
TAKEAWAYS:
The storyline approach is a powerful framework to guide the design of learning experiences that build upon student ideas in formal and out-of-school settings. Participants will see some of the adaptations of this framework in a camp engaging youth in coding, craft making, and engineering contexts.
SPEAKERS:
Diego Rojas-Perilla (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Guy Ollison (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Nancy Hopkins-Evans (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Sherry Hsi (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Designing for Justice in OpenSciEd High School
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Friday, March 22 • 1:20 PM – 2:20 PM
Hyatt Regency Denver – Centennial Ballroom D
STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice
Consider how instruction can support students in making positive changes in their communities. Explore how in OpenSciEd High School, students use science ideas and practices to make sense of design problems that emerge from complex systems at the nature-human divide.
TAKEAWAYS:
NGSS-designed instruction that is oriented toward justice can not only teach students to understand the natural world, but broadens their perspectives on how humans fit into natural systems, what constitutes science, and what they can accomplish using science.
SPEAKERS:
Zoë Buck Bracey (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Jamie Noll (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Diego Rojas-Perilla (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Transforming Science Teaching and Learning through Curriculum-Based Professional Learning: Equity in Educational Systems
PRESENTATION
Friday, March 22 • 2:40 PM – 3:40 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 207
STRAND: Leadership and Advocacy
Curriculum implementation provides an opportunity to uncover and confront persistent inequities in educational systems. Engage with us in an equity simulation to consider how policies and practices related to science curriculum implementation can either support or hinder equity goals.
TAKEAWAYS:
Barriers to equity are not in learners, but rather in environments. When seeking to reach “all”, historical and current policies and practices need to be examined. Educational policies and practices that are seemingly neutral can contribute to persistent inequities for marginalized student groups.
SPEAKERS:
Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Janna Mahfoud (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Transforming Science Teaching and Learning Through Curriculum-Based Professional Learning: The Essentials; Leadership, Resources, Coherence
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Friday, March 22 • 2:45 PM – 4:15 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 205
STRAND: Leadership and Advocacy
Look across the Essentials of curriculum-based professional learning to figure out how leaders use them together to support teachers in making the shifts called for in NRC’s Framework for K-12 Science Education and the Next Generation Science Standards.
TAKEAWAYS:
By attending to the Essentials of curriculum-based professional learning, leaders take a systems approach to supporting teachers in the instructional shifts called for by NRC’s Framework. These shifts promote 3-dimensional phenomena/problem driven science teaching and learning.
SPEAKERS:
Nancy Hopkins-Evans (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Science Teacher Education: Strategies and Lessons Learned from the Louisiana Collaborative
PRESENTATION
Friday, March 22 • 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 207
STRAND: Leadership and Advocacy
Preparing and supporting teacher candidates with coherent and engaging learning experiences requires the collaborative efforts of different sectors of the education system. We will discuss the strategies and resources developed and implemented to ensure K-5 science teachers are classroom ready.
TAKEAWAYS:
Gain concrete strategies and resources to consider a similar collaborative process within your regional and local context.
SPEAKERS:
Tana Luther (Louisiana Department of Education: Baton Rouge, LA), Susan Gomez Zwiep (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Nancy Hopkins-Evans (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
The Matter-Energy-Forces Triangle: A Common Approach to Make Sense of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth Science in OpenSciEd
PRESENTATION
Friday, March 22 • 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Hyatt Regency Denver – Centennial Ballroom D
STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice
Explore a unifying framework used in OpenSciEd for making connections between matter, energy, and forces (MEF) across Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science. Dig into this tool in free NGSS-aligned units to explain phenomena and consider how it could be applied to other phenomena in your context.
TAKEAWAYS:
The Framework calls for “a common use of language about energy and matter across the disciplines in science instruction.” The MEF triangle uses cues and prompts to draw attention to interactions between matter, energy, and forces to help students make sense of complex phenomena across domains.
SPEAKERS:
Jamie Noll (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Diego Rojas-Perilla (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
March 23
Veo, Veo, Radio! A Suite of Spanish and English Educator Guides and Activities About Radio Waves and Wireless Radio Communications
PRESENTATION
Saturday, March 23 • 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Colorado Convention Center – 106
STRAND: Instruction and Assessment: Implementing Standards
The radio spectrum is invisible, yet it enables our cell phones, contactless payment, and air travel. Learn approaches to facilitate diverse youth, families, and museum visitors using hands-on activities, mobile apps, and guides in Spanish and English from the NSF Making Waves with Radio project.
TAKEAWAYS:
Hands-on activity using everyday materials, conversation prompts and mobile apps together can engage youth and families in playful experimentation to learn about the science and technology of radio waves and wireless radio communications. Get free educator guides and lessons in Spanish and English.
SPEAKERS:
Sherry Hsi (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Anchored Inquiry Learning: Designing Meaningful Instruction to Make Sense of Authentic Phenomena
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Saturday, March 23 • 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Colorado Convention Center – 205
STRAND: Instruction and Assessment: Implementing Standards
Experience how the new BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning (AIL) instructional model creates learning experiences that motivate students with significant, real-world phenomena and problems! Learn how AIL anchors cycles of inquiry and sensemaking, culminating in student explanations/design solutions!
TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and leverages authentic phenomena/problems to anchor cycles of inquiry and sensemaking. This approach provides instructional coherence from students’ perspective, equitable access, and motivation for ALL learners.
SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Nancy Hopkins-Evans (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Using Societal Challenges as Phenomena in 3D Units to Develop Student Agency
HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
Saturday, March 23 • 11:40 AM – 12:40 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 205
STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice
Come experience how leveraging complex culturally relevant societal challenges as phenomena in 3D teaching and learning supports student motivation and engagement. Learn how the BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model develops student agency within and beyond the classroom!
TAKEAWAYS:
The research-based BSCS Anchored Inquiry Learning instructional model succeeds the 5Es and leverages complex societal issues as anchoring phenomena/problems, culminating tasks, and performance assessments in 3D units of instruction to motivate students and develop agency in addressing these issues.
SPEAKERS:
Cynthia Gay (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
The Matter-Energy-Forces Triangle: Experiences of Teachers Helping Their Students Make Sense of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, & Earth Science with OpenSciEd materials
ROUNDTABLE
Saturday, March 23 • 11:40 AM – 12:40 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 302
STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice
Join this panel discussion that highlights the strategies that three science teachers use for adapting the Matter, Energy, and Forces (MEF) framework, a tool integrated in OpenSciEd materials. This tool aims to support student sensemaking of disciplinary core ideas across multiple domains.
TAKEAWAYS:
The Framework promotes the use of language about energy and matter across the disciplines in science instruction. There are productive instructional practices to use the MEF triangle to draw students’ attention to interactions between matter, energy, and forces as they explore natural phenomena.
SPEAKERS:
Joe Kremer (Denver Public Schools: Denver, CO), Diego Rojas-Perilla (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
Questions and Crosscutting Concepts in OpenSciEd High School: How can we support students in asking good questions?
PRESENTATION
Saturday, March 23 • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 102/104
STRAND: Teaching Strategies and Classroom Practice
OpenSciEd High School units consider all student sensemaking to be three-dimensional – including the questions that drive the unit. Explore examples from biology, chemistry, and physics that show how targeted anchor lessons help students ask productive questions.
TAKEAWAYS:
Instruction can be designed so that crosscutting concepts are both a tool for student sensemaking as well as a desirable outcome. In particular, crosscutting concepts can help students ask questions that will be productive throughout a storylines unit.
SPEAKERS:
Jamie Noll (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Kate Henson (University of Colorado Boulder: Boulder, CO)
Science as a Rich Context for Content Integration
PRESENTATION
Saturday, March 23 • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Colorado Convention Center – 205
STRAND: Research to Practice
Science instruction creates rich opportunities to integrate other content areas – particularly ELA or math. Explore a process for designing integration opportunities that allow both domains to support each other. Bring a science lesson plan or use a shared example to try the process together.
TAKEAWAYS:
Participants will try out a process built upon foundational practices identified in science education and integration research to analyze a science lesson plan for moments of student sensemaking and opportunities for content integration.
SPEAKERS:
Janna Mahfoud (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO), Amy Belcastro (BSCS Science Learning: Colorado Springs, CO)
