Forget Thinking Outside of the Box, Try Living Outside of It!

Presented by Jessica Everitt and Kelly Jones, from Hardin Valley Elementary School

Track: Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Recommended Audience: Elementary and Middle

Time: Session 1, 10:30 am

Room: 107A

Join us for an open discussion and activities to help you grow in support of the dynamic population you serve.  We will be discussing accommodations, materials, and meeting students where they are to get them on board the STEM pipeline and feeling successful.  Additionally, we will share how we’ve built a strong relationship between our STEM & SPED department that benefits all students.  If you’ve felt frustrated, unsupported, or ineffective when it comes to meeting student needs in the science/STEM classroom this session is for you.  Join Kelly Jones, SPED educator, & Jessica Everitt, STEM educator, for a hands-on approach to making STEM meaningful for our students that live outside of the box.

Collaborate, Inspire, & Empower with Community Partners

Presented by Jennifer Dye, from Pope John Paul II Preparatory School

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 1, 10:30 am

Room: 107B

Collaboration with community partners can bring inspiration to a school community and empower both faculty and students to achieve higher goals.  In this session, we will look at how an advisory team of 10 professionals from highly varied fields help develop professional goals that help guide and measure success in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship program and courses at Pope John Paul II High School. We will look at the goals and evaluate how they can be implemented on a broader scale. We will also look at other ways community members have become involved in the school community as mentors, guest speakers and teachers and even offering internships.

Culture comes first!

Presented by Chris Hawkersmith, from Decherd Elementary

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 1, 10:30 am

Room: 108

School culture and school morale are the keys to success in your school. Participants hear the story of our school and how others can improve or change their school morale. Participants will get an abundance of ideas and strategies they can begin to incorporate in school immediately. I will discuss how we became one of only 3 elementary school in the nation to be named a Model School in the area of School Culture and Morale. This topic is important to educators and administrators and I want to shed light on how to improve or fix the morale in schools. With the shift toward STEM and a technologically advanced classroom, this is vital for making the transition and getting teachers and administrators on board.   

It’s Debatable: The Purpose & Practice of Argumentation in Upper Elementary & Middle School Classrooms

Presented by Erin Nunley and Whitley Troutman, from Overall Creek Elementary

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: Elementary and Middle

Time: Session 1, 10:30 am

Room: 109

Ever wonder how to get your students more involved in class discussions? Or wished your students could look at the world with a fresh perspective and open their minds to push their thinking? This session will focus on the importance of argumentation in the 21st century classroom and how to implement this real-world skill in upper elementary and middle school classrooms using the Science and Engineering Practices. We will dig into the purpose and practice of argumentation, show examples in which it has been successful, and provide a list of strategies to implement in your classroom. Join us as we venture into the art of argumentation and learn how to teach students to think, listen, and be more open minded.

#ThinkDifferently - Time & Talent: Getting Businesses & Community Partners Involved in the Classroom & Teaching

Presented by Jimm Allen, from L&N STEM Academy

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: Middle and High

Time: Session 1, 10:30 am

Room: 110A

The field of computer sciences is growing exponentially. How can you further engage your students as well as give them the most up to date information about career paths in the STEM fields? Bring the businesses & partners to you to assist in the instruction! Learn tips, as well as ideas, that we have been implementing this year to give students a real and powerful experience. A robust collaboration between business, community partners, and your school means that students are more connected with their community and its issues while the community gains an active member with creative problem solving skills.

Integrating STEM Through Student-Led Robotics Activities

Presented by Yvonne Schlangen, from Creekwood High School

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Middle and High

Time: Session 1, 10:30 am

Room: 110B

Want to incorporate robotics across your curriculum? There’s a place for lessons involving robots in every grade and subject—not just Science and Math, but English and Social Studies, too. This session teaches the fundamentals of integrating STEM in your classroom using robotics and student-led projects. Learn about the benefits of using robotics while keeping the instructional focus of your class. Explore how your curriculum can be student-led and lead to the fusing of special and general education students in projects. Get hands-on time to experience several activities in a Round Robin method and take away ideas to use in your classroom.  The best part - this session is taught to you BY STUDENTS from the Creek Wood High School’s Robotics team.

STEM Project-Based Learning for EVERYONE

Presented by Mike French, from Northview Middle School

Track: Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 2, 11:25 am

Room: 107A

With more than 90% of the state classified as rural, it's vital that students in those areas to have a high quality STEM education.  Are you looking for creative ideas to stimulate the minds of your students in grades K-12?  Listen to middle school students present and demonstrate some of the coolest projects around! These students, along with their teacher Mike French, will amaze you through this presentation. You will walk away with ideas on how to create an exciting learning environment in ALL of your school's classrooms through projects designed to enhance any lesson. 

Better Together: School, Family & Community Partnerships

Presented by Angela White and Lindsey Ellis, from Dr. William Burrus Elementary / Portland Gateview Elementary

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: Elementary and Middle

Time: Session 2, 11:25 am

Room: 107B

Schools in Sumner County are working together to build school, family, and community partnerships in their individual communities and across the district. Dr. William Burrus Elementary in Hendersonville, a suburban Tennessee STEM Designation School, serves as a mentor school to Portland Gateview Elementary, who is working towards STEAM Designation. Attendees will learn the importance of community collaboration in today's world, and how the two schools continue to learn from one another and drive a vision for the future. Presenters from both schools are excited to share ideas for engaging students and families and building community partnerships to provide authentic learning opportunities for students.

Creating a School Culture Fosters STEM for ALL

Presented by Melissa Collins, from John P. Freeman Optional School

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: Elementary and Middle

Time: Session 2, 11:25 am

Room: 108

In the journey to provide STEM for All, it's easy to get focused things like curriculum or extracurriculars for students. But if the culture of your school isn't established and secure, those efforts can be lost. Educators in both elementary and middle schools are invited to explore the pathways used in our K-8 school to create, establish, and maintain a school culture that promotes STEM for All.  In this session, participants will learn how to cultivate a school culture that motivates and encourages all students to learn and engage with STEM. Participants will take away strategies on how to get stakeholders involved and committed to supporting STEM learning.

Break Out of the Norm with Digital Breakout Rooms in Nearpod

Presented by Latisha King, from Arlington Community Schools

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: General All

Time: Session 2, 11:25 am

Room: 109

Gamification is the application of typical elements of game playing (e.g. point scoring, competition with others, rules of play) to other areas of activity. It's widely popular in marketing, but overlooked for its potential in the classroom. In this session participants will learn how to increase student engagement with gamification. This research-based instructional strategy can be used for in-person and virtual instruction. Teachers will learn how personalize their breakouts using a Bitmoji Virtual classroom using Google Slides.

Computer Science: Tennessee’s Workforce Demand & Education’s Opportunity

Presented by Jared Bigham, from TN Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: Middle and High

Time: Session 2, 11:25 am

Room: 110A

Participants will learn more about the urgent workforce needs in the computer science sector and the resources the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce is supporting to assist companies and schools in meeting these needs.  The session will explore some of the innovative strategies being used to recruit and train students, as well as concrete examples of tools available to aide education and industry leaders.  Participants will also learn about new legislation and investments proposed by state leaders that will have immediate impact on K-12 computer science education.

Anyone Can Game! Making A Video Game, With Mental Health Awareness To Boot!

Presented by Laurenda Hanks and Trent McLees, from South-Doyle High School

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Middle and High

Time: Session 2, 11:25 am

Room: 110B

Video games are everywhere - from gaming systems to cell phones. And students are fascinated by games and their creation. So how do you harness that fascination? Do you think that making a video game was only for coders? Learn from a special education teacher who taught herself coding through Arcade MakeCode and then developed a PBL on mental health and coding. Participants will engage in the D-thinking process and follow an abbreviated version of the unit to create goals for their game, and access resources to create their own video game.

Hands-on STEAM in a Diverse Classroom

Presented by Julie Petaway and Stephanie Lankford, from Croft Middle School

Track: Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Recommended Audience: Middle

Time: Session 3, 1:10 pm

Room: 107A

Manipulatives are a great way to get students interested in a subject and there's nothing like the anticipation of a station rotation to move students through multiple hands-on opportunities in a limited amount of time. Learn about the different hands-on opportunities for all middle school-aged students in a station rotation atmosphere from teachers who have used them. Teachers will be given countless engaging resources to reach every student. Some examples include: paper circuits, NASA mission patches, Raspberry Pi, solar cars/ wind turbines, and STEAM incorporation to all subjects/ lessons.

Involving Community Partners to Develop an Effective STEM Action and Sustainability Plan

Presented by Karen Harper and Karen Meisch, from Clarksville Montgomery County School System / Austin Peay State University

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 3, 1:10 pm

Room: 107B

Join Dr. Karen Meisch, Austin Peay State University's Dean- College of STEM, and Dr. Karen Harper, Clarksville Montgomery County Schools, as they introduce school leaders to a step-by-step process for how to develop an effective STEM Action and Sustainability plan that aligns with the TSIN STEM and STE(A)M School Designation Rubric. Additionally, school leaders will hear best practices for building community partnerships that are crucial when executing action items in the STEM Action Plan. Schools that are on their journey to apply will gain valuable insight from educational leaders who have experience with the Designation process.

Brick by Brick: Building A School-wide STEM Culture

Presented by Hans Ballew and Cassie Cate, from Northview Primary School

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: Elementary

Time: Session 3, 1:10 pm

Room: 108

Getting buy-in is hard work! How can you transition your school from 2 or 3 teachers who do the heavy lifting to getting the majority of your school involved? We will start with Building a STEM culture from scratch from an administrator perspective and highlight- Expose, Equip, and Empower. Then transition to a teacher perspective and show how a few teachers changed the culture of the school and what practices they did to do it. We will then engage in one of our staples for teacher only days- An Adult STEM project. The portion of the presentation will be pre-recorded so that we can get everyone involved on the video. The Adult STEM project will be facilitated in person by Dr. Ballew and Mrs. Cate. The presenters will also be available for a Q and A session if needed.

Robots to the Rescue - Teaching Coding Basics Through Disaster Scenarios

Presented by Chad Hensley and Caroline Daugherty, from South-Doyle High School

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: Middle and High

Time: Session 3, 1:10 pm

Room: 109

How many of you think that the humanities have no place in STEM education? What if you saw an English Language Arts instructor incorporating Design Thinking into their class? Learn how in this interactive session. Now more than ever, autonomous robotics is becoming commonplace throughout the world, and what better way to engage students in 21st-century skills than by immersing them in the possibilities of robotic first responders. Learn how English Language Arts/STEM 1 teachers used Sphero Bolts in an imagined disaster scenario PBL to engage students in learning the basics of coding. Participants will follow the Design Thinking Process to code their very own autonomous rescue robot to navigate a disaster scenario and save the victim!

Defined Learning, Defined Careers, & Elevate TN

Presented by Aimee Tait and Kristin McQueen, from Defined Learning / TSIN

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 3, 1:10 pm

Room: 110A

This session will explain how you can incorporate Defined Learning (5-8), Defined Careers (6-12), and Elevate TN (8-12) to help meet challenges in your classroom. With Defined Learning, students get exposure to a variety of careers through hands-on performance tasks. After finding some interests around careers, students can move into Defined Careers where they take on the role of the career desired and complete hands-on performance task. Defined Careers provides a multi-dimensional career assessment to help determine student interest. Finally, now that students have developed interest in a particular career, students can use Elevate TN. This platform uses a multi-level assessment, guiding students into courses that earn industry recognized badges, while learning more about salary, education, and soft skills. These 3 platforms provide stepping stones to a productive and successful skilled pipeline for out students.

Starting from "Scratch": Coding for Content

Presented by Andrew Hardy and Emily Hurst, from Hamilton County Schools

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 3, 1:10 pm

Room: 110B

How can students increase the visibility of their learning? Look no further than coding with Scratch. Scratch is the world’s largest coding community for children. The Scratch coding language uses a simple visual interface that allows young people to create digital stories, games, and animations. Scratch promotes computational thinking and problem solving skills; creative teaching and learning; self-expression and collaboration; and equity in computing. During this session, you'll learn the basics of Scratch coding and how your students can use this free program to enhance their learning in every content area. Learn to Scratch. Scratch to learn.

Northwest TN STEM Innovation Hub, Dyersburg

Presented by Shawna Adams, from Dyersburg State Community College

Track: Innovation Hub

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 4, 2:05 pm

Room: 107A

Did you know that Tennessee has 7 regional STEM Hubs? These Hubs host lending libraries, professional development opportunities, outreach support, competitions, guidance, and so much more. Find out more about your regional Hub and connect with a phenomenal resource in your area.

Northeast TN STEM Innovation Hub, Johnson City

Presented by Alissa Lange, from East Tennessee State University

Track: Innovation Hub

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 4, 2:05 pm

Room: 107B

Did you know that Tennessee has 7 regional STEM Hubs? These Hubs host lending libraries, professional development opportunities, outreach support, competitions, guidance, and so much more. Find out more about your regional Hub and connect with a phenomenal resource in your area.

East TN STEM Innovation Hub, Knoxville

Presented by Lynn Hodge, from University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Track: Innovation Hub

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 4, 2:05 pm

Room: 110B

Did you know that Tennessee has 7 regional STEM Hubs? These Hubs host lending libraries, professional development opportunities, outreach support, competitions, guidance, and so much more. Find out more about your regional Hub and connect with a phenomenal resource in your area.

Middle TN STEM Innovation Hub, Murfreesboro

Presented by Kevin Ragland, from Middle Tennessee State University

Track: Innovation Hub

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 4, 2:05 pm

Room: Davidson Ballroom

Did you know that Tennessee has 7 regional STEM Hubs? These Hubs host lending libraries, professional development opportunities, outreach support, competitions, guidance, and so much more. Find out more about your regional Hub and connect with a phenomenal resource in your area.

Southeast TN STEM Innovation Hub, Chattanooga

Presented by Michael Stone, from Public Education Foundation

Track: Innovation Hub

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 4, 2:05 pm

Room: 108

Did you know that Tennessee has 7 regional STEM Hubs? These Hubs host lending libraries, professional development opportunities, outreach support, competitions, guidance, and so much more. Find out more about your regional Hub and connect with a phenomenal resource in your area.

Upper Cumberland TN STEM Innovation Hub, Cookeville

Presented by Darek Potter, from Tennessee Tech University

Track: Innovation Hub

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 4, 2:05 pm

Room: 109

Did you know that Tennessee has 7 regional STEM Hubs? These Hubs host lending libraries, professional development opportunities, outreach support, competitions, guidance, and so much more. Find out more about your regional Hub and connect with a phenomenal resource in your area.

West TN STEM Innovation Hub, Memphis and Jackson

Presented by Stephanie Ivey, from University of Memphis

Track: Innovation Hub

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 4, 2:05 pm

Room: 110A

Did you know that Tennessee has 7 regional STEM Hubs? These Hubs host lending libraries, professional development opportunities, outreach support, competitions, guidance, and so much more. Find out more about your regional Hub and connect with a phenomenal resource in your area.

Gig City Girls - Encouraging Equity in CS

Presented by Michelle Bettis and Nikki Russell, from Hamilton County Schools / Brown Academy

Track: Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Recommended Audience: Elementary

Time: Session 5, 2:45 pm

Room: 107A

Females are disproportionately represented in STEM classrooms as well as career fields. To improve upon this issue, we must remove impediments for girls to take part in STEM learning.  In this session, participants will learn how to make computer science more accessible by starting a girls' coding club in your class, school, or district. Participants will have the opportunity to code like a girl and participate in a few activities used in our clubs! Everyone leaves with access to our Google Drive resource folder and Gig City Girls SWAG. Since 2015, Gig City Girls has started 22 girls coding clubs in Hamilton County Schools.

#STEM4ALL - An Innovative Approach to Creating a Culture of STEM Practices

Presented by Antonia Adinolfi and Shanna Hensley, from D-B Excel

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: Middle and High

Time: Session 5, 2:45 pm

Room: 107B

Explore how using PBLs and the Statewide Design Challenge can create a culture of STEM, empower students, and build soft skills.   Are you looking for opportunities to empower students to engage in STEM practices? Do you want to learn how to build a STEM for ALL curriculum?  If so, you will want to attend our session! We will share instructional strategies regarding how we incorporate the Statewide Design Challenge and Project-Based Learning into our STEM pathway and leverage community partners to create authentic experiences that transcend the classroom.

Brick by Brick: Building A School-wide STEM Culture

Presented by Katie DeVinney and Trent McLees, from South-Doyle High School

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: Middle and High

Time: Session 5, 2:45 pm

Room: 108

Imagine a scenario where an entire curriculum is created by a team of teachers with one goal in mind - STEM for All. 16 South-Doyle High School teachers, from all disciplines, were tasked with creative engaging STEM curriculum for all freshmen.  This session will discuss the process we used to create 4 highly engaging PBL units that focus on the Design Thinking Process, as well as collaboration techniques to ensure a true cross-disciplinary project. Further discussion will include how the collaboration has translated to develop STEM projects in math classes, English classes, and the Arts.

Leading the Scene to Keep Memphis Clean! A Guided Tour with Ozobots

Presented by Jerry Lynn Recker and Janet Williams, from Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering (MASE)

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: Middle and High

Time: Session 5, 2:45 pm

Room: 109

Do you want to teach computer science strategies but you have no idea where to begin? In this session, you will learn how to use cross-curricular strategies to combine Project-Based Learning, simple computer coding, and the Engineering Design Process for students to investigate environmental problems by creating a model of their city. Participants are guided through the process by designing a solution with renewable energy and sustainable management, creating a prototype of your city using solar panels, wind turbines, circuitry, using repurposed and recycled material, and then take visitors on a guided tour with an Ozobot through the new improved eco-friendly town. Learn how to connect multiple content areas and standards across the curriculum.

TSIN STE(A)M Resource Series for the WIN!

Presented by Jessica Holloway and Abbey Sanders, from Hamilton County Schools / Overall Creek Elementary

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 5, 2:45 pm

Room: 110A

Did you know there is a STEM Resource on the TSIN website that was created by teachers for teachers? These free, ready-to-use, thematic resources provide students with opportunities to be curious with Wonder Wednesdays, to create with Maker Mondays, and to explore careers with Future Fridays. Learn about how to utilize this resource as thematic experiences or focused options as design challenges, inquiry lessons, or career explorations for grades 3-12. *Please bring a device to this session.

Sphero in your ELA & Social Studies Classroom

Presented by Dustin Vanderploeg and Claire Williams McGhee, from Sphero / Metro Nashville Public Schools

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: General, All

Time: Session 5, 2:45 pm

Room: 110B

Join us to discover how you can incorporate computational thinking and problem-solving skills into your Language Arts and Social Studies content areas with a Sphero BOLT. In this hands-on session, you’ll get to program a robot, tell a story, and maybe even solve a problem from the history books. With a Sphero BOLT and some creative lesson-planning, you can feel equipped to incorporate some computer science into your core content lessons.

#OptOutside How to start an outdoor STEM education program

Presented by Kathryn Vaughn, from Brighton Elementary

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: Elementary and Middle

Teachers know that learning can be messy and great opportunities are just outside the classroom walls. Learn how to start a successful STEM outdoor education program for your students or school from an award winning outdoor educator. Discuss strategies for getting started, and explore activities that engage students.

Trowel and Error: Using D-Thinking to Design A Community Garden

Presented by Patricia Roy and Katie DeVinney, from South-Doyle High School

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: High

Students at South-Doyle High School utilized design-thinking and STEM integration to try and solve the community problem of food security and healthy eating. The strategies in this lesson could be applied to a multitude of topics given the versatility of online-based assignments, universal understanding of empathy, and integration of Google platforms in the classroom. Students watched videos and a movie, learned skills for success in career searches, created interactive surveys, and used micro:bits to analyze sensor data for determining the best location for a garden. During this presentation you will leave with knowledge and hands on use of technology integration through use of Google Platforms, coding, and the D-Thinking process.

Increasing Student Engagement Through Hands On Computer Science

Presented by Chad Ward and Amanda Gray, from Kenwood Middle School / Clarksville Montgomery County School Systems

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: Middle and High

Engage students in your computer science classroom using a variety of equipment such as Arduino boards, Makey Makey kits, and drones! We will present innovative strategies on how to integrate coding and electronics for hands on learning. Give your students the opportunity to produce tangible results and experience computer science with real-world applications.

Using PBLs to piece together the meta-narrative of sustainability

Presented by Andrew Fultz, from South-Doyle High School

Track: Community Partnership

Recommended Audience: High

What are some of the biggest problems of our day? Infrastructure? Energy? Waste? All of these ideas represent crucial challenges for modern urban areas. Participants will hear about how the utilizing the Design Thinking Process as well as community partners produced meaningful and authentic PBLs that fit together under the metanarrative of sustainable cities, including the technology used in each, such as 3D printing and laser cutting. Additionally, participants will brainstorm the community partners in their own area and how to adapt these PBLs for their communities.

‘Mini-Lessons’ for K-8 STEM and STEAM Engagement

Presented by Lily Donaldson, from Art Technically

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: Elementary and Middle

Art Technically is a national nonprofit based in Memphis that promotes a well-rounded education for all students by providing free in-person and virtual STEM, STEAM, and Arts workshops to K-12 schools, free teacher training, and special projects such as Science Bears (scientist bears for Child Advocacy Centers and family shelters) and Science Suitcases (free STEM and STEAM books for Title 1 and rural school libraries). Come learn about our innovative and engaging workshops and lesson-plans including Making Art with Code - A Simple Creative Coding Lesson Plan for K-8; Astrobotany (the study of plants in space), Paint Yourself as a Scientist (a mixed-media arts project to promote STEM career awareness), and Sew a Science Bear (an arts and crafts lesson corresponding with our Science Bears project).

Ready, Set, Sew: From Code to Cloth

Presented by Emily Hurst and Andrew Hardy, from Hamilton County Schools

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: General, All

Participants will view artifacts created with Turtlestich, a free, online coding program to prepare them to then learn the basic steps of coding with the program. Everyone will choose what to create based on assignments provided for different content areas and grade bands. If time and session participation permits, participants will work through the whole process and actually embroider their own fabrics! This new learning will prepare participants to incorporate TurtleStitch (or other, similar coding programs) into their classroom, no matter the subject. It also provides participants with a unique and versatile PBL resource.

STEM Culture - Considerations and Planning for STEM Designation

Presented by Dr. Catherine Jones, from Prescott South Elementary School

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: Elementary

How do you build a strong STEM culture in your school? In this workshop-style presentation, I will share a tool for documentation as well as clarification for how to approach the challenging Designation rubric. The goal is for applicants to be prepared to apply for designation to understand the rigor required to become a STEM or STE(A)M Designated school.

Mining for Content

Presented by Robert Paxton, from JT Moore Middle School

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: General, All

How can you use Minecraft to effectively Teach coding and content. Where are the resources to teach myself and plan? What does effective teaching look like in Minecraft? Do you have these questions, Join us on an adventure to find the answers, create resources and have a little fun.

GigCity CS4All Exploring Elementary Computer Science

Presented by Jacob Robbins and Stephanie Philipp, from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Elementary

The GigCity Computer Science for All Research Practitioner-Partnership is a NSF-supported project to improve computer science education in the Hamilton County school district. Although Hamilton County has the nation's largest array of Elabs (or Fabrication Labs), the impact these spaces have on student and teachers has yet to be examined. As part of the GigCity CS4All RPP, the current study investigates student and teacher computer science beliefs and interests at a local elementary school with a Fabrication Lab. Taking an exploratory approach, we will discuss findings about student and teacher motivation, student interest in STEM careers, teaching styles and beliefs, and beliefs about computer science and computational thinking. Our findings may be useful for others seeking to explore factors that influence computer science education.

Developing STEM Buy In as a New School Leader

Presented by Cory Willoughby, from East Robertson Elementary School

Track: Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Recommended Audience: General, All

In this presentation, we will discuss strategies to develop a vision of a STEM centered culture in a school. This includes how to cultivate buy in from various stakeholders, including teachers, families, and the community. We will discuss how to build bonds that are sustainable and grow your school.

Resources & Rationale for Supporting Equity in STEM in the Early Grades

Presented by Dale McCreedy and Dr. Alissa Lange, from Discovery Center at Murfree Spring / Northeast TN STEM Innovation Hub

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: Elementary

STEM learning experiences in early grades make a difference for children’s career and learning trajectories. This includes self-efficacy in science and math, interest, and early views about gender roles. By leveraging resources that provide authentic and relatable images of real women in STEM, and creating engaging and fun ways to relate to them, educators can play a role in providing positive images and role models so that all young children can envision themselves as future STEM professionals. Classrooms, afterschool programs, libraries and museums across the country have been using resources from the free IF/THEN® Collection to enhance STEM programming. Rationale activities, and strategies that leverage the collection will highlight career pathways, diverse role models and strategies to enhance career awareness in young children, K-5.

Hands on! Minds in Instruction! Engaging Students Effectively Through STEM

Presented by Jessica Castaneda, from Spark Innovations

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: General, All

STEM should be a part of all subjects and it should have real life connections. Spark Innovations has over 135 free curriculums (K-12) that incorporate STEM with reading language arts, history, and real world connections. These have been well tested and can be used in a variety of situations in the regular classroom, in home instruction, afterschool tutoring and more. With 20 years experience our specialty is teaching concepts and then helping them come alive through engaging STEM project based instruction. The materials are easily adaptable to different groups of students. Enjoy units like our roller coaster unit Scream machines, or learn how making duct tape shoes can open worlds for students, or pass through our Survive the Ecosystem series. Tons of resources to choose from!



Code-a-palooza!

Presented by Joanne Askew, from Clarksville Academy

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Elementary

Code-A-Palooza is a school wide coding event that can be replicated at any school and integrated into any science classes. Participants will be introduced to the concepts of simple coding by way of printed nursery rhymes to introduce coding concepts to their youngest students. Attendees will move to hands-on use of simple robots that are coded to perform certain tasks. Participants will act as Kindergarteners/First Graders and use JIMU robots and Ozobots, have access to robot coloring sheets, and learn how to "program" their peers to perform certain functions. This session will include a hands-on craft to create a take home paper robot. Participants will code their name using simple Binary Code. Clarksville Academy hosts our school-wide (PreK-12th grade) "Code-A-Palooza" during December to correlate with the International Hour of Code event.

Integrating Programming in the Primary Science Classroom - Yes, you can!

Presented by Dr. Leslie Suters and Jennifer Meadows, from TN Technology University

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Elementary

Have you been wondering how to use robots and programming to teach science & math content at the K-3 level? This session is for you! You will have the opportunity to explore several free apps for the computer and iPad, virtual robots, and hands-on robotics as a means to teach science & math content and focus on the science and engineering practice of computational thinking (CT). CT is growing in popularity in curricula & is conceptually embedded in most core disciplines and naturally connects to STEM. No prior programming experience is required of attendees as intuitive block-based programming software will be employed. You will walk away with ideas & resources that you can begin using right away.