Day 1 - Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Learning Session 1 - 12:45-1:30 PM CDT

STEM & Project-Based Learning for Everyone!

Presented by Mike French and Lori Evans from Northview Middle School

Track: Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Recommended Audience: Elementary & Middle Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104B

Do you want to get students excited about learning? In this session, participants will explore the amazing projects happening throughout our school and how these projects have created a buzz around learning. Embracing the idea of STEM for All, this rural school has enacted a plan that takes STEM out of the classroom and into real-life. Examine how this middle school has taken project-based learning to another level to engage rural students in vigorous learning. All grade levels are welcome and can receive multiple ideas on how to incorporate projects into everyday learning in all subjects.

Growing Together in STEM

Presented by Jessica Holloway and Nikki Russell from Hamilton County Schools

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 105

How can the collective wisdom of STEM/STE(A)M schools be leveraged to connect our work and nurture growth? Our solution was a district-level network to support schools applying for STEM or STE(A)M Designation, in maintaining their designation status, and in preparing schools for redesignation. Join this session to learn how to create your own network, whether it is within a school, district, or region. Designation is not a finish line but rather a point of celebration and acknowledgment of intentional STEM practices in a bigger trajectory of STEM education. This session will include a simulation of a STEM Network meeting and resources to help you get started.

Schoolwide STEAM Days: Growing School Culture

Presented by Jessica Holman and Jake Albright from Green Magnet Academy

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: Elementary and Middle Schools, School Leaders/Admin, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104C

Are you looking for ways to build school community and the culture of STEM in your building? A strong school culture can engage students, inspire educators, and motivate community involvement. Join us as we share our STE(A)M Team's process for planning themed schoolwide STE(A)M Days. This session includes how one classroom teacher adapts the general schoolwide plans to meet the needs of his students, as well as the administrator perspective addressing the value of STE(A)M Days in our school. Learn what a themed, schoolwide STEM or STE(A)M Day can do to help your school cultivate a STEM culture. 

Bananas, Drones, and Bots?! Oh My! Increasing Student Engagement with Physical Computing

Presented by Chad Ward and Amanda Gray from Kenwood Middle School

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: Middle and High Schools

Room: 104D

Are you wondering how we can use bananas with computer science? Find out at this session! After introducing strategies for implementing physical computing and equipment demonstrations, participants will break into groups to explore hands-on learning stations for equipment such as Arduino kits, Makey Makey boards, Ozobots, Groveboards, and drones. Learn how you can boost engagement and practice computational thinking skills in your classroom. This session is best fit for STEM and Computer Science teachers however, it is open to anyone who is interested in integrating computer science in their classes.

Culture, Careers, Community

Presented by Cassie Cate and Andrea Burnette from Northwest Primary 

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: Elementary and Middle Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104E

Do you ever wonder what the best way to build the STEM culture in your school would be? What about building a STEM culture within your community? What types of lessons should you teach that incorporate all of these things? This session will give you tips for doing just that. We will also talk about how building the STEM culture within our community opens numerous doors to introduce students to STEM careers. Explore how we have done this in stages and how we are still working to build relationships within our community to better impact our students. Attendees will review a variety PBLs created by our school to showcase different community partners and STEM careers.

Using Computational Models to Evaluate Weathering and Erosion

Presented by Kattie Stevens from Putnam County Schools

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Elementary Schools

Room: 104A

This session will demonstrate a model lesson from the Reach Them All model lessons. This lesson aligns to second grade science standards of weather and erosion. This lesson integrates computational thinking into evaluating weathering and erosion through the use of computational models. This session will also give a brief introduction to the Reach Them All program and the Computer Science Integration Guidebook.

Learning Session 2 - 1:40-2:25 PM CDT

The Future Is Female...Fun Coding For Girls

Presented by Michelle Bettis and Nikki Russell from Hamilton County School District

Track: Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104D

Join this session to hear of the secrets to growing a successful girls coding program in a K-12 district. Currently, in Hamilton County, there are 27 schools offering Gig City Girls coding clubs. Whether you are interested in a girls coding club within your classroom, your school, or your district, this session will give you the tools to start your own program. Each year, additional clubs are added in the district. Our team recruits, trains, secures funding for resources and stipends, and supports all Gig City Girls leaders at schools in county. In addition to the behind the scenes details of Gig City Girls, participants will learn coding basics and explore why the demand for this type of STEM learning continues to be vital.

Grant Writing 101

Presented by Gretchen Brown from TSIN

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High School, School Leaders/Admin, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 105

Session Description forthcoming.

Dissecting School Culture (and Frogs): Internal & External Structures

Presented by Robyn Trowbridge and Shae Miga from Casen Lane Academy

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: High School, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104A

In this session, we will share with you how our school has incorporated and then embedded STE(A)M into our school structures, making it an everyday part of our students' experience. Learn about our internal and external structures that are supportive while inspiring creativity and innovative thinking. STE(A)M and 21st century skills go hand in hand with STE(A)M and are also incorporated to strengthen learning and encourage curiosity. Incorporating and embedding STE(A)M is an ongoing process, just like developing a school culture, but work in tandem to build a powerful learning experience. This is why we will all learn and make our own "next steps" for STEA()M together.

Transforming the Classroom Experience with Design Thinking

Presented by Cody Helms and Amanda Dunham from Dobyns-Bennett EXCEL

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: High School, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104E

Design Thinking is often the backbone of problem- and project-based learning. It is the method for research, problem-solving, and solution testing, with a cyclical nature that encourages reflection and refinement. This is a session that will cover the Design Thinking Process across multiple content areas. We will cover strategies that can be applied to any lesson to increase rigor and engagement in the classroom. Examples will be shown of how the Design Thinking Process has been integrated into English, Social Studies, and STEM classrooms at the high school level.

Computer Science: The Science Behind our Why

Presented by Jessica Chambers and Danielle Roderick from Catlettsburg Elementary School

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High School, School Leaders/Admin, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104B

During this session, explore how we have worked to find our "Why?" in Computer Science and take a look at the future of Computer Science Education. Attendees will interact with 3 experiences we have designed to allow you to see, taste, hear, and touch areas of our community that display computer science careers. We will share how 3 teachers came together and created an all-inclusive set of events where teachers could implement computer science education, experience computer science careers, and have opportunities to see computer science within our community.

Now You’re Speaking My Language! How to use computational thinking language in your classroom.

Presented by Amanda Gray and Katie Robertson from Clarksville-Montgomery County School District

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Middle and High

Room: 104C

Are you apprehensive about computer science integration? Do you have questions about what that would even look like? Fear not! From elementary to high school, from English class to Band, learn how you are already using computational thinking in your classrooms and strategies to integrate computational thinking language skills in the future! This session will focus on how to use computational thinking language in your lessons and identify where you might already be doing this. It is strongly encouraged that you bring your laptops or devices to brainstorm and share ideas. Let's collaborate and network to make sure everyone walks away with ideas, resources, and strategies.

Learning Session 3 - 2:45-3:30 PM CDT

Reaching Behavioral Students & GenEd Students with STEM

Presented by Misty Hutchinson and Ashley Stevens from Portland Gateview Elementary

Track: Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Recommended Audience: Elementary School

Room: 104A

What does it mean when you say "STEM for All"? Join this session to learn how to support behavioral needs in emotional and behavioral disorder students with social skills by way of incorporating them with general education students and completing project-based learning opportunities (PBLs). By engaging these students, we are able to give them appropriate coping and social skills while offering them real-world connections and problem solving. Additionally, PBLs incorporate community partners to make the experience richer and more related to the real world. Attendees will also learn how the STEM Workforce Fellowship program will support them in making community partners and stress the importance of community partners in letting students experience other pathways (manufacturing/engineering).

Esports in Education: Making Sense of it All

Presented by Joe Grapes and David Wicker from Jackson Academic STEAM Academy

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: Middle School, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coach

Room: 104B

This session will detail creating and implementing successful esports programs at the school level with support from community partnerships. Participants will walk through the process of researching leagues, equipment, infrastructure, and games to help determine the best path forward. We'll also talk about creating partnerships with local gaming communities, corporate vendors, colleges, and esports leagues to build lasting continuity from year-to-year. Lastly, we will discuss is opportunities to incorporate esports into your computer science curriculum and the most beneficial partnerships to make that possible. We've partnered with the Electronic Gaming Federation, Best Buy for Education, and ASUS - Republic of Gamers -- all of whom will contribute to our session. Additionally, learn how we've recently joined with Epic Games to begin training staff and building instruction for computer science.

How to Get STEM Out of a Silo in Your School District

Presented by Ben Di'Chiara and Anna Shelton from Trenton Special School District

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 105

Does STEM education live a solitary life in your district? Do you struggle to incorporated STEM into general education classes? Or are you just beginning your journey with STEM? Join this session to walk through how to get a STEM program started, implemented, and institutionalized within your school district. Learn from a rural county that has embraced STEM and pioneered new ways to incorporate STEM education across the board and across schools. Explore how to work with leadership to create an open dialogue about STEM education and develop a pathway for embedding STEM. Let's get STEM out of a silo and into hands of eager learners. STEM for all means everyone has access to STEM - All means all.

21st Century Skills: Strategies You Can Use Tomorrow To Engage Students

Presented by Terri Holmes from Howard Connect Academy

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104C

Most teachers have heard of 21st century skills but some believe they are only used in STEM classes. The benefits of 21st century skills and STEM problem solving methods stretch far beyond the classroom and conventional education. This session will highlight the importance and benefits of STEM in all classes and subjects. It will give practical and usable strategies to implement communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and choice tomorrow in classrooms. Participants will have ten strategies they can use to engage students in 21st-century skills. These can be mixed and matched them or focus on one per grading period or one a week or work with others on what strategies best suit their students' needs at various grade levels and implement them as needed.

To Infinity and Beyond for All with 3D Modeling

Presented by Latisha King and Shelby Buxton from Arlington Middle School

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: Middle and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin

Room: 104D

In this session, participants will learn how to use a Tinkercad and 3D printing in the STEM class for project- and problem-based learning that includes career exploration. Participates will also learn how to engage students beyond the classroom in school clubs and student-peer mentors with special populations (i.e. functional skills).Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop or device to this session because you will learn how to setup a class in Tinkercad and add assignments. Participates will explore the multiple applications for 3D printers, such as exploratory, teaching aids, student-led and student created products across curriculum. As students explore careers in the workforce, student certifications, and community partners, they create pathways for their future. Participants will gain an understanding of how to incorporate field trips, speakers, careers in the workforce and/or community partners to expand career awareness.

Connecting Elementary and High School Students Through Coding and Video Games

Presented by Denise George and Wade Sacca from Charleston Elementary STEAM Academy/Walker Valley High School

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104E

Sometimes the most innovative teaching strategy is to let students lead. This learning session will show how both educators and their students can learn coding skills through free online programs. This method is designed to allow students to guide their own learning with facilitation from the teacher and collaboration between elementary students and high school students. This means guiding students through productive struggle and the understanding that mistakes are not failures. We will walk through online guides of coding to build basic block program knowledge. Join us to learn how we have used basic coding with elementary students to high school students building tabletop video games and programming them, to bring computer science to all.

Day 2 - Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Learning Session 4 - 10:05-10:50 AM CDT

How to Merge Project-Based Learning into an Already Established Curriculum

Presented by Tori Cottle from Memphis School of Excellence

Track: Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104C

This session will demonstrate how to merge project-based learning into their curriculums, culminating in a PBL Showcase for all students. Explore how our district designed our "PBL Hub" website for teachers to ensure all student students received access to high quality PBLs. This session will explain how our strategies have worked to engage our population, which is majority minority, urban, and traditionally underrepresented in STEM, in authentic learning experiences. Participants will explore examples of these strategies such as: 1-Demonstrating what a high-quality, authentic PBL looks like for teachers, 2- How to provide time for grade-level/ subject-area collaboration, 3-Ways to integrate PBL into an already established curriculum, 4-How to encourage shared leadership, and 5-Methods for initial resistance to PBLs.

Evolving Education Through Business & Community Partnerships: Proactively Transforming Your School To Transform Your Community

Presented by Jimm Allen and Brooke Carter from L&N STEM Academy

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104D

As our world evolves, education is still lagging behind in how we address the needs of our community. Instead of continually asking what our community can do for us, we need to ask what we can do for our communities to better prepare students for the future to be leading citizens in our communities. Through partnerships, we have been able to transform the way that we design curriculum, programming, and how we teach our courses to better prepare students for a world that does not yet exist. This session will provide attendees with examples and a framework they can utilize to begin growing partnerships and engaging students.

Creating a Collaborative Culture

Presented by Kim Inglis and Jessica Codispoti from Black Fox Elementary

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104E

Are you looking for a way to strengthen your school's culture and provide your students with relevant developmental strategies? Join us for an interactive session where participants will discover what 21st century skills and Habits of the Mind are and how they can apply them in their classrooms and/or schools. Attendees will learn different methods to help students develop these habits and skills as everyday tools, including the necessary documents to implement these ideas in their school. Participants will also see how these ideas can be applied curriculum.

Game Over: Level Up to be Future Ready

Presented by Miranda Avdyukov and Brittany Mairena from Taylor Elementary

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: Elementary School

Room: 104A

This session will highlight 3 ways to innovate a classroom and get students ready for the future. Join this session to discover how the culture and climate inside my classroom have been transformed by utilizing 3 tools that increase student engagement, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking skills. Through the use of non-permanent vertical work spaces, gamification, and coding inside my math classroom, a shift has occurred within my students abilities and their own belief in themselves. This session will examine how to foster self-efficacy in your students. Attendees of this session will explore game changing strategies and build their own confidence in preparing their students for a future in technology, without being an expert.

I Didn't Know That Was STEM!

Presented by Jack Witt from Karns High School

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: High School, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104B

As high school students prepare to enter either the post-secondary world of education or the workforce, it is vital for them to understand their options for a career path. Over the past year, our school has held 3 separate events to ensure that our students have exposure to STEM related fields and careers. This session will explore how we curated STEM career representatives, organized the event, and how we engaged students. Participants will have the opportunity to begin mapping their own career exploration event with our framework.

When Students Say Algorithm: Exploring the Integration of Computer Science & Computational Thinking in All Content Areas

Presented by Molly Plyler from Jackson-Madison County School System

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 105

This session will provide a shared vocabulary for how computational thought is incorporated across disciplines. Attendees will explore how algorithms and other computational thinking components are found in subject areas such as ELA, math, science, social studies, art, music, PE, and more! Participants will leave with a general understanding of computational thinking and resources relate to plugged and unplugged computer science learning activities. Come collaborate with fellow professionals as we unpack how algorithms, computer science, and computational thinking can be used in all content areas for all students!

Learning Session 5 - 11:00-11:45 AM CDT

STEM Innovation Hubs (All Sessions)

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

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.

Northwest TN STEM Innovation Hub, Dyersburg

Presented by Shawna Adams from Dyersburg State Community College

Room: 104A

Northeast TN STEM Innovation Hub, Johnson City

Presented by Alissa Lange from East Tennessee State University

Room: 104B

East TN STEM Innovation Hub, Knoxville

Presented by Lynn Hodge and Nick Kim from University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Room: 104C

Middle TN STEM Innovation Hub, Murfreesboro

Presented by Kevin Ragland from Middle Tennessee State University

Room: Davidson Ballroom

Southeast TN STEM Innovation Hub, Chattanooga

Presented by Michael Stone from Public Education Foundation

Room: 104D

Upper Cumberland TN STEM Innovation Hub, Cookeville

Presented by Darek Potter and Carlos Galindo from Tennessee Tech University

Room: 105

West TN STEM Innovation Hub, Memphis and Jackson

Presented by Stephanie Ivey and Lavitta Means from University of Memphis

Room: 104E

Learning Session 6 - 12:50-1:35 PM CDT

Everyday STE(A)M: Sprinkling STE(A)M practices into K-5 classrooms in big and little ways

Presented by Betsy Pillow and Jodie Friedman from University of Memphis Campus School

Track: Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Recommended Audience: Elementary School

Room: 104A

Are you looking to fine-tune STE(A)M planning in your classroom? Do you want to use more STE(A)M practices in your everyday lessons, but you aren't sure where to start? Do you want to find a way to reach every demographic of student? This session is for you! Attendees will explore strategies for designing intentional STE(A)M in everyday teaching practices to reach all students. Participants will learn strategies for planning, implementing, and highlighting STE(A)M practices in the general education classroom. This session is ideal for participants  who are looking for ways to up the STE(A)M in their classrooms and are looking to make their classrooms hands-on, engaging, intentional, and align with your STE(A)M teaching mission and goals. This is truly STEM for All.

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

Presented by Brad Foust and Amanda Galbraith from Bartlett City Schools/University of Tennessee

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104B

Connecting to real-world challenges in the community requires a transdisciplinary STE(A)M approach to sufficiently address complex problems of today. This session will provide an outline of the strategies a team of 4th grade teachers used to plan, implement, and document learning which invited students to collaborate with each other, community partners, and the local government to propose solutions to community challenges. In this session, participants will consider connections between community challenges, STE(A)M learning, and potential partners both within and beyond their schools. Join us to collaborate about the relevant needs of your community and school.

To Infinity and Beyond with STEM

Presented by Cassondra Bishop and Amanda Taylor from Park View Elementary

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: Elementary School, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104C

Are you looking for a way to engage students while strengthening your school's culture? Consider what PBLs could do for you. In this session, participants will learn how to design a project-based learning (PBL) lesson through hands-on activities. PBLs are a fun, interactive, and engaging way to establish and reinforce school culture. Attendees will have the opportunity to collaborate with other educators over standards integration, cross-curricular activities, STEM careers, problems/questions to be solved, hooks, and the culminating event. These culminating events also reinforce school culture by involving the parents and community partners. Attendees will receive templates and other resources to create their own PBL.

LEGO Workshop: Revamping Rubrics

Presented by Andrew Hardy and Jessica Holloway from Hamilton County School District

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 105

Do you dread writing rubrics? Do you agonize while grading student work? Revamping Rubrics is a LEGO based PBL workshop for teachers. During this session, we will play with purpose use LEGOs as a learning tool to reimagine the writing process of a student facing rubric. Participants should be prepared to be hands-on and creative collaborators for this interactive experience.  Participants should leave with a redefined understanding of the value of rubrics and how a rubric impacts the quality of student work.

Defined Learning and Elevate TN

Presented by Aimee Tait and Tamra Billings from Defined Learning/TSIN

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104D

This session will explain how you can incorporate Defined Learning (5-8), Defined Careers (6-12), Defined Learning Computer Science (K-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 a desired career and complete a hands-on performance task. Defined Careers provides a multi-dimensional career assessment to help determine student interest. Finally, after 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 4 platforms provide steppingstones to a productive and successful skilled pipeline for our students.

Navigating Reading in a CS Classroom

Presented by Kimberly Elbakidze and Ginger Frady from Red Bank Middle School

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Middle School, School Leaders/Admin, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104E

Imagine being the computer science teacher in a middle school. Now close your eyes and imagine a conversation with your buildings instructional coach, principal, or someone from Central Office, where you are being told you are required to add literature, reading activities, etc. to your class. If you started to panic or had an overwhelming sense of dread, then this is the learning session for you! We will provide you with list of novels, picture books for read alouds, and links to activities which are aligned with Tennessee K-12 Computer Science State Standards for the middle school grade bands. These items will add spice to your Computer Science class and easily fit several standards. So, imagine that conversation again and smile, we've got you covered! Who knew integration could be this much fun?

Learning Session 7 - 1:45-2:30 PM CDT

The Power of Phenomena in the Classroom

Presented by Whitley Troutman and Erin Nunley from Overall Creek Elementary

Track: Engaging Underrepresented Groups in STEM

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104B

Need a new and exciting way to engage all students in learning? This session will focus on the importance of using phenomena to drive inquiry-based learning in the classroom. Participants will learn how to implement this real-world skill cross-curricularly. The beauty of phenomena-based learning is that it brings all students, from all walks of life, into STEM with equity and curiosity. We will dig into the purpose, importance, and practicality of incorporating phenomena in the classroom, show examples in which it has been successful, and practice engaging participants in this strategy through the presentation of multiple real-world phenomena. Join us as we venture into the art of inquiry and learn how to teach students to think, wonder, ask, own, listen, and take charge of their learning.

It Takes a Village: Collaborating with the Community to Improve STEM Interest & Engagement

Presented by Melissa Collins and Heather Bryson from John P. Freeman Optional School

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104C

In this session, participants will learn how to partner with K-12, higher education, and industries to create a STEM culture that is inclusive for all students. Participants will learn strategies for finding partners, establishing communication, and maintaining community partnership relationships. Attendees will also learn strategies to incorporate partners into their STEM planning and programming. Join us to collaborate and brainstorm about potential community partners in your area and begin building your network.

Dream Big

Presented by Hans Ballew and Stacey Whaley from Northview Primary School

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: Elementary School, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 105

As an administrator, school culture is an element that cannot be manufactured or faked. It is a balance and requires consistent attention. Schools with a strong culture of STEM are schools that find success even through adversity. But how does that STEM culture keep going once it's been established? One way to keep the excitement for STEM alive is to keep something big in the queue. We will discuss the 3 new things our school has lined up for this year and how that has affected our culture. We will begin with a look at integrated units of study, follow up with a look at our Reading Walk, and finish with the first phase of creating an interactive school! Come join in the discussion and hopefully come away with a new idea to implement at your school.

America's Classroom: Exploring our National Parks through STE(A)M

Presented by Krystal McReynolds and Kim Bradley from Abraham Lincoln Elementary School/George Washington Elementary

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools

Room: 104D

Join us to learn how we created a summer STE(A)M program that allowed our elementary students to visit some of our nation's most beautiful and inspirational National Parks. Attendees of this learning session will explore how meaningful PBL units were created. These PBLs afforded students the opportunity to learn about specific United Nations Sustainability Goals and then create authentic solutions to park specific problems. Explore how using National Parks as a topic in STE(A)M education not only builds academic knowledge, but also helps students develop environmental connections that will last a lifetime. Learn how to incorporate meaningful activities, literature, and core concepts across grade and ability levels. Join us on an expedition to bring National Parks to life for today's students.

Youth Engineering Solutions: Designing a Medicine Cooler for Power Outages

Presented by Stacy Klein-Gardner and Andre White from Youth Engineering Solutions/Freedom Middle School

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: Middle School, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Room: 104E

A pressing demand for high-quality, standards-aligned engineering and computational thinking (CT) curricular units that engage underrepresented and under-served middle school students exists. Youth Engineering Solutions (YES) materials engage students in real-world engineering problems. Students experience how computational thinking, mathematical analysis, and scientific concepts can strengthen design ideas and solutions. Participants will learn about YES strategies for integrating socially relevant and standards-based science and engineering into their classrooms through the YES Medicine Coolers unit. This unit, grounded in the science of thermal energy, asks students to use the EDP to design a medicine cooler for people who lose electricity. Participants will test and make plans to improve student-built medicine coolers.

Using Computational Thinking to Research Famous Inventors

Presented by Jessica Chambers from Catlettsburg Elementary School

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Elementary School

Room: 104A

This session will demonstrate a model lesson from the Reach Them All model lessons. This lesson aligns to fourth grade social studies standards about historical figures. This lesson integrates computational thinking into an evaluation of historical figures using research and through the use of abstraction. This session will also give a brief introduction to the Reach Them All program and the Computer Science Integration Guidebook.

Rural STEM Education Toolkit

Presented by Cedric Bunch, Sarah Combs, Dean Sain, and Kathryn Vaughn from Haywood County Schools / Sumner County Schools / Hardenman County Schools / Tipton County School 

Track: Innovative Instructional Practices

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

In 2022, TN Rural Stem Alliance Task force gathered information from stakeholders across TN to identify strategies to support implementation STEM education in rural communities. This session will discuss the findings of the Task Force, the resources available in the Rural STEM Toolkit, and establish best best practices. Join us to hear from educators across the state.

Effortlessly Teach Coding with Ozobots While Integrating STEM With Zero Background Knowledge! 

Presented by Jerry Lynn Recker from Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Elementary and Middle School

Are you excited about teaching computer science but worried that you aren't prepared to teach coding and computer programming? Look no further! This session will provide an easy-to-follow curriculum, resources to teach coding, and strategies for learning the skills! Additionally, you will learn how to preview your new code in JavaScript! This presentation will show participants how to create an attachment to help an Ozobot strategically remove litter and pollutants from the environment. Participants will learn how to borrow a set of Ozobot Evo for FREE! Last but not least, participants will gain insight on how to 3D print accessories for Ozobot Evo. Join us and learn how to make coding fun while infusing STEM, math, and ELA!

Building an Effective Digital Fabrication Lab

Presented by Emily Hurst and Andrew Hardy from Hamilton County School District

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

If you're looking for a way to increase community engagement, build excitement around learning, and strengthen family participation, then you've found the right session. This session will discuss how do all these things and more by holding a STEM/STEAM night. Learn how to create student-run STEM activity stations that inspire interest in STEM and help students build confidence and gain leadership skills.

‘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

This session takes educators on a journey using their expression of Pixel Art and integrate it into their own nostalgic video game using Microsoft Make Code! Pixel Art allows creative learners to bring their customized and unique artistic ideas to the digital gaming realm. Integration of Pixel Art into Make Code allows an educator to transform standard formative and summative assessments into student expressions that are fun and engaging for all shareholders; allowing one to interact with their imagination. Coding skills can range from block-based coding to languages such as Python and JavaScript. Success is guaranteed in this session!.

From PixelArt to Arcade in the Classroom

Presented by Claudeen Dennings and Clair Williams McGhee from Metro Nashville Public Schools

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Middle School

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.

Reimagining Spaces for Learning

Presented by Jessica Holloway from Hamilton County School District

Track: School Culture

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

Does the environment where you learn affect how you learn? That is the focus of this learning session. This session focuses on reimagining what learning spaces can be with a tour of innovative spaces across Chattanooga. Hear from teachers how innovative learning spaces set the stage for learning and how it impacts student experiences. Participants will see a variety of learning spaces and get inspiration for designing their own innovative learning space.

Why No Sidewalks: Intersecting Social Studies & STEM

Presented by Andrew Fultz and Katie Roy from South-Doyle High School

Track: Community Partnerships

Recommended Audience: High School, STEM/Instructional Coaches

In this session, we will walk-through our PBL and explore how teachers can take a community problem, achieve student buy-in, and seek to solve that problem in front of a real-world audience. For our school, sidewalks reflect deep historical developments, such as suburbanization, the rise of the automobile, and the Interstate Highway Act. Using Design Thinking,  students emphasize that cars are expensive, obesity has increased in America since the 1960s, and automobiles produce pollution. The only alternative is public transit, but it's not easily accessible due to the lack of sidewalks. Therefore, Social Studies brings the empathy and STEM provides the solution to this community problem. Come explore our findings with us!

Building a Computer Science Classroom Community

Presented by Betsy Pillow and Jessica Hernandez from University of Memphis Campus School

Track: Computer Science

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools

This session will begin with a discussion session about what computer science education means to them and their schools. Then, participants will then take a virtual tour and demonstration with different types of technology (Wonder Dash Robot, Sphero Bolt, LEGO web site/ LEGO build, BeeBots, QUBOs). This session will close with an example of a lesson idea for each type of technology to support integration of computer science/coding into general education classrooms.

Creating Their Future One Career at a Time

Presented by Jessica Chambers and Brittney Carr from Catlettsburg Elementary School

Track: STEM Career Awareness

Recommended Audience: Elementary, Middle, and High Schools, School Leaders/Admin, District Leaders, STEM/Instructional Coaches

This session is a creative time for educators to learn and explore how CTE in the high school setting can become a Career Day in a K-6 school. We are currently executing a plan, created this year, for a shared Career Days where our students choose, explore, and are presented with a variety of STEM careers from community partners. We will share hands-on activities for careers such as Criminal Justice, Emergency Services, Veterinary Science, Sports Broadcasting, and professions that involve transportation and community needs. This presentation will include how to share with your students their options and create opportunities for exploration of careers during the regular school day setting. Participants will receive scheduling ideas, lesson examples, and how this creates community wide relationships that are mutually beneficial.