Instructional Leader Training Session 2: Developing a Vision for STEM in Your School

Presenter: Elizabeth Naegele, TNTP

Location:  GHS 155 (Lecture Hall )

This is a required session for control school administrators and new treatment school administrators The session will begin with a community roundtable on STEM featuring representatives from local industry and higher ed. Participants will reflect on what they've heard from the panel and on the state of STEM at their school. Administrators will work to identify their goals for STEM in their school and what they want to accomplish through STEM.LD. 

Audience: New STEM.LD Administrators, School and District Leaders

BuildSMART: Integrating Engineering & Computational Thinking

Presenters: Dr. Greg Strimel, Dr. Jake Roark, Chauntée Pitts, and Christine Mills, Purdue University and STEM Education Works

Location: GHS 153 

Max. Participants: 20     

We will kickstart our exploration by introducing you to micro:bit, a pocket-sized computer that will revolutionize the way you approach coding. We’ll uncover how easy it is to complete tasks and interact with a variety of sensors. Then we’ll look at ways that technology impacts agriculture by constructing smart planters, transforming plants into interactive companions. With micro:bit as our sidekick, our plants will cleverly communicate their watering needs, ensuring they receive just the right amount of care. 

The knowledge and inspiration gained from this project will seamlessly align with the exciting realm of digital agriculture. We'll explore how technology can revolutionize farming practices, fostering sustainable and efficient solutions for the future. By intertwining computational thinking and engineering design with the agricultural domain, you'll equip your students with skills that transcend traditional boundaries, preparing them for the challenges of tomorrow. This session is about practical implementation. Discover how you can integrate micro:bit into your own classroom. From developing critical thinking to fostering problem-solving skills, computational thinking and engineering design will become integral parts of your lessons, empowering your students to thrive in our ever-evolving digital landscape.

To support your journey, each participant will receive a micro:bit, a smart agriculture kit, and a working plant “pal” to take home. Please note that this exclusive session will be limited to 20 participants to ensure an optimal learning environment. To fully engage in the activities, all participants will need to bring a laptop equipped with a USB port.

Don't miss out on this exceptional opportunity to revolutionize your teaching and empower your students with cutting-edge technology. 

Audience: 6-12

Spark Students' Curiosity with Phenomenon-Based Instruction 

Presenters: Jerry Graham and Grace McKinney, Greeneville Middle School

Location: GHS 150 

Teachers will have the opportunity to learn how to implement phenomenon based instruction, notice/wonder, and scientist circles. 

Audience: K-8

Putting the Puzzle Together: Resources for Teaching Cybersecurity 

Presenter: Anna Rodgers, University of Alabama in Huntsville

Location: GHS 154

Cybersecurity instruction and planning can be a daunting task. This session will explore several free cybersecurity instructional resources for teachers looking to add cyber instruction to an existing course or teach a cybersecurity course. Participants will identify resources best suited for their individual classroom and leave the session with tools, plans, and ideas to take into the 2023-2024 school year. 

Audience: 6-12

Starting a Robotics Club in Your School

Presenters: Billy Carrier, Cameron Buck, and Students, Volunteer High School

Location: GHS 152

Coming Soon!

Audience: K-12   

Exploring Math Dual Enrollment Courses at ETSU

Presenters: Dr. Anant Godbole, Dr. Ariel Cintrón-Arias, and Dr. John Hicks, East Tennessee State University

Location:  GHS 148

Led by Dr. Anant Godbole, Dr. Ariel Cintrón-Arias, and Dr. John Hicks, this session will give teachers and leaders the opportunity to preview two dual enrollment classes, Mathematical Computing (MATH 2090/2989) and Probability and Statistics (MATH 1530), that ETSU will offer asynchronously in Fall 2023. Dr. Cintrón will focus on Mathematical Computing, first reviewing how to inject high school and college mathematics curriculum with cloud and data science skills. He will employ implementations in Precalculus, Calculus, and Linear Algebra as case studies, where open-and-affordable tools can easily be deployed for K-12 mathematics curriculum. Lastly, we will revisit best practices and standards from the Computer Science Teacher Association (CSTA) and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). The latter portion of the presentation will focus on Statistics with Technology, which will touch on several aspects including the nearly finished book Statistics with Technology for High School, which is being authored by Dr. Hicks and Maria Emilia Alfaro for the STEM-LD project. Dr. Hicks will also share the syllabus and provide concrete examples of analyses of data sets using technology. Dr. Anant Godbole will be available to discuss technical aspects of the dual enrollment course, including questions about course credit.

Audience: 9-12      

Jefferson County Reflections on iReady Math Implementation

Presenters: Michelle Walker, Matthew Abernathy, Lisa Knight, Kianna Sedlacek, and Marcie Richardson, Jefferson County Schools

Location:  GHS 147

Jefferson County district and school staff offer insight into the roll-out and use of iReady Math curriculum after two years K-8 instruction. Reflections from district leaders,  academic coaches, and classroom teachers are included,  along with some practical tips for success.

Audience: K-8

High-Dosage/Low Ratio Math Tutoring: Scaffolding Academic Content That Leads to Increased Achievement 

Presenter: Dr. Debra Bentley and Jennifer Carter, Project On-Track

Location:  GHS 151

Participants will learn how high-dosage tutoring is a different model from informal and infrequent tutoring. Attendees will learn how student learning goals are established, how tutors use quality instructional materials, and how relationship building is an intentional component of the program. 

Audience: 1- 8

Creating a Makerspace in Your School

Presenter: Shelley Swinehart, Unicoi County High School

Location: GHS 146

This session will show schools how to create a makerspace in their buildings. Topics include location, financing, equipping the makerspace, teacher buy-in, and PD training.

Audience: K-12

Experience a HammerBuild (Continued from Session I)

Presenter: Walters State Community College

Location: WSCC - Niswonger Campus

Note: This session spans Sessions I and II. It is not a repeat.

Through the STEM.LD project, Walters State's Division of Workforce Training has provided hundreds of middle and high school students with the opportunity to experience a HammerBuild. The HammerBuild provides an educational day that students and their teachers will never forget. In two hours, students work together using hammers, drills, tool belts, and goggles to build a house large enough that the entire class can get inside.  So why let students have all the fun?  During this session, teachers will learn about HammerMath and soft skill development while working together to build a tiny home. Teachers can use HammerBuilds as a culminating experience for classes using the HammerMath curriculum or for other math courses. 

Audience: K-8

A Long Walk to Water

Presenter: Dr. Carleton Lyon, Indian Trail Middle School

Location: GHS 313 (3rd floor)

Participants will be led through a condensed version of a unit on clean water culminating in designing and testing a water purification system during the sessions. We will look at the serious lack of clean water for millions and why it is beneficial for wealthy countries to support under-resourced countries. This unit ties to the book The Long Walk to Water. 

Audience: K-12

Synthetic Biology for High School Classrooms 

Presenter: Jo-Anne Purdy, Westborough High School and BioBuilder

Location:  GHS 312

Max. Participants: 20     

Synthetic biology is poised to reshape our future by creating new industries, driving economies, and improving our foods, medicines, and climate. BioBuilder teaches synthetic biology using real-world engineering challenges. This workshop will be led by a Master BioBuilder educator who has integrated BioBuilder into their teaching for over a decade. Their presentation will include a brief introduction to BioBuilder’s curriculum, some tips for incorporating the content into existing classroom lessons, and a sample laboratory experiment that can help students make scientific predictions and compare their predictions to experimental results. Examples of student work will be provided to illustrate how synthetic biology experiments help students to learn about the rapidly advancing field of synthetic biology and develop the skills and knowledge necessary for them to pursue careers in this exciting area.

Audience: 9-12      

STEM in Healthcare Professions

Presenter: Courtney Boren, MS, OTR/L, Walters State Community College

Location:  WSCC Niswonger

Discover the intersection of science and technology in healthcare through hands-on demonstrations and activities. This short course will link the importance of foundational math and science concepts to health-related fields so that you can link real-world job applications to the classroom. Teachers will gain confidence in accurately advising students in choosing a healthcare career.

Audience: 4-8