Schedule

Day 1
Tuesday, October 27

8:00 AM
Room 1

Welcome & Introductions

Suzanne Wilkison – North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research
Roger Conner – Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) and Workmonger
8:20 AM
Room 1

Opening Keynote

Navigating Compassion Fatigue in Education

K-16 teaching – while extremely noble and satisfying – is not without cost to those in the profession. Long days, full classrooms, barely time to eat lunch or to use the restroom, parents with whom to connect, student issues and administrative demands – all combined can contribute to the emotional and physical exhaustion and depletion that is known as compassion fatigue. Adding a global pandemic, personal health and safety concerns and the ever-changing challenges and demands of virtual teaching, and K-16 educators never before have seen so many stressors layered upon them at one moment in time.

Applicable to all audiences

Julie Squires – Rekindle LLC
9:30 AM Option 1 of 7
Room 1
Track: Industry Connections: Employment Needs & Career Readiness

A Conversation with Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, NIH Scientific Lead of Novel Coronavirus Vaccine Development

Come hear from North Carolina native Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, an American viral immunologist at the Vaccine Research Center (VRC) at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Corbett is the scientific lead of the VRC’s Coronavirus Team whose research efforts are aimed at propelling novel coronavirus vaccines, including a COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Corbett will discuss her efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, and she will provide an inspiring look back at her North Carolina roots and the educational path that has led to her current work at NIH.

Applicable to all audiences

Kizzmekia Corbett – National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
9:30 AM Option 2 of 7
Room 2
Track: Spanning Silos

Free eLearning Tools from BioNetwork

Come learn about BioNetwork’s free eLearning Tools such as our virtual microscope, Zombie College Lab Safety, spectrophotometry and more!

Most applicable to grades 6-12, Higher Education, Industry and Other STEM Groups

Courtney Behrle – BioNetwork
9:30 AM Option 3 of 7
Room 3
Track: STEM for All

Discoveries in Earth Science (DES) Program for Students With Blind or Visual Impairments

Participants will engage in some activities of the Discoveries in Earth Science (DES) program, which provides a unique opportunity for students with blind or visual impairments to learn, conduct and design Earth science investigations.

Most applicable to grades 2-12 and Higher Education

Rhea Miles – East Carolina University
9:30 AM Option 4 of 7
Room 4
Track: Teacher's Delight

Teacher-Powered STEM Center

Empowered to design a STEM Center within a comprehensive high school, Davie High Lead Teachers redefined the role of teacher to instruction and program facilitator. Participants will learn, through the eyes of lead teachers, about their teacher-powered model.

Most applicable to grades 9-12

Amber Brandon – Davie County Schools
Tani Caudle – Davie County Schools
Donna Dunn – Davie County Schools
Yvette Shore – Davie County Schools
9:30 AM Option 5 of 7
Room 5
Track: STEM 101: Exploring the Basics

Oh! The Places You’ll Go in Primary STEM Education

Join us in a journey of STEM education in kindergarten/1st grade from getting started to where we are now. Follow us through the pathway of hills and valleys of STEM education with young learners and meet us for a special STEM project.

Most applicable to grades K-5

Andrea Aldridge – Greene County Schools
Heather Waddell – Greene County Schools
Christi Johnson – Greene County Schools
9:30 AM Option 6 of 7
Room 6
Track: Industry Connections: Employment Needs & Career Readiness

Science Teaching Excites Medical Interest (STEMI): An Outreach Program Empowering High School STEM Teachers to Bring the Health Sciences to Their Classrooms

This presentation will showcase the Science Teaching Excites Medical Interest (STEMI) program and its Health Science and Wellness Academy (STEMI-HSWA). This Mississippi outreach program is forging K-12 and higher education partnerships, training high school STEM teachers to develop and implement active learning lessons about health disparities, and is exposing high school freshman to careers in the health sciences. Participants should expect to gain a basic understanding of the STEMI program and its HSWA, identify the STEMI and HSWA goals, describe the program’s teacher competencies and evaluation measures, apply STEMI and HSWA results and conclusions to their own current or future outreach project ideas, and compare and contrast the discussed learning lesson examples to other learning activities. The presentation will provide knowledge, real-world examples and inspiration to motivate attendees to implement similar STEM outreach projects or activities in their own schools and classrooms. This presentation also will emphasize the need for outreach in STEM education. STEM education is exceedingly lacking in secondary education within the United States. In addition, there are many healthcare disparities in a host of chronic medical conditions such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity, especially in the Southeast. All of this further justifies the need for instruction and active learning of health science and wellness concepts in high school STEM courses.

Most applicable to grades 9-12, Higher Education and Other STEM Groups

Donna Sullivan – University of Mississippi Medical Center
Edgar Meyer – University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
9:30 AM Option 7 of 7
Room 7
Track: Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child

STEM School Improvement Through the Lens of NC STEM Schools of Distinction

In this introductory session, participants will explore the STEM School of Distinction process rubric for school improvement. Participants will gain an understanding of how to use the document as a powerful roadmap and evaluative tool for what a good STEM school or program looks like. This session will provide valuable insight if, as a leader in your school, you are asked, “What is a STEM school?” or “How can our school become a STEM school?”

Most applicable to grades K-12

Howard Ginsburg – North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Carol Moore – STEM West
Lisa Rhoades – North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center
10:30 AM Option 1 of 4
Room 1
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Adding the E in STEAM

Interested in learning how to incorporate engineering into your K-5 classroom? Come join us in solving engineering design challenges and discover ways to integrate science, math, social studies and the arts into fun and motivational learning experiences for students!

Most applicable to grades K-5

Leah Bug – The Engineering Place at North Carolina State University
Laura Bottomley – The Engineering Place at North Carolina State University
10:30 AM Option 2 of 4
Room 2
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

RockStar STEAM

Use music experiments to understand sound, compression waves and hearing without a music degree!

Most applicable to grades 6-8

Lenny Sue French – Mendenhall Middle School
10:30 AM Option 3 of 4
Room 3
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Electronic Cigarettes: Investigating the Effects of Flavored E-Liquids on Bioenergetic Processes in the Lungs

Conduct and receive a data interpretation activity featuring toxicological studies assessing the impact of cinnamon flavored e-liquids and aerosols on ciliary beating and mitochondrial and glycolytic function in lung epithelial cells.

Most applicable to grades 9-12

Elise Hickman – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Dana Haine – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
10:30 AM Option 4 of 4
Room 7
Track: Teacher's Delight

Managing Compassion Fatigue: A Deeper Dive

This session will offer a chance for more detailed Q &A with Julie Squires and an opportunity to explore and practice action steps for managing and reversing compassion fatigue in the K-16 education setting.

Applicable for all audiences

Julie Squires – Rekindle LLC

 
11:30 AM

Lunch & Exhibit Hall Showcase

Check out this year’s virtual Exhibit Hall. Attendees will travel virtually from booth to booth to learn about resources that are available for K-12 schools and districts.
12:25 PM
Room 1

Keynote

Catching Up with the CRISPR Craze

Whether you support it, protest it or have no clue what gene editing is, there is no denying that this science will and is changing everything in our world. Rodolphe Barrangou, Ph.D., an internationally recognized expert in CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, will explain how CRISPR/Cas9 is currently the most effective and efficient way to edit genes. The method occurs naturally in bacteria as part of its immune system. Because of its ability to accurately locate targeted genes and cut them, CRISPR/Cas9 is considered to be one of the most significant discoveries in science that is revolutionizing biology as we know it. In his presentation, Rodolphe will explore the historical milestones that have paved the way for the CRISPR era, and he will discuss the diverse applications of CRISPR/Cas9 that have impacted and continue to shape the fields of medicine, agriculture, food, forestry and biotechnology. Rodolphe also will discuss the impacts this transformative field has had on science and society, and he will discuss the business implications of this disruptive technology in Research Triangle Park, in North Carolina and throughout the globe.

Rodolphe Barrangou, Ph.D., is the T. R. Klaenhammer Distinguished Professor in Probiotics Research at North Carolina State University. Rodolphe’s work focuses on the characterization of CRISPR-Cas systems and their applications in probiotics. Rodolphe spent nine years in R&D and M&A at Danisco and DuPont. For his work on CRISPR, Rodolphe received several international awards and has been elected into the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering and the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Barrangou also has been involved in several startup companies, is a co-founder of Intellia Therapeutics, Locus Biosciences, and TreeCo, and he is Editor in Chief of the CRISPR Journal.

Applicable to all audiences

Rodolphe Barrangou – North Carolina State University
1:30 PM Option 1 of 5
Room 1
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

1, 2, 3, Cha, Cha, Cha

As an interactive workshop, participants will discover how dance concepts can be incorporated into their classroom to enhance their students’ science, technology, arts, math, language and social science skills.

Most applicable to grades K-5

Marvis Henderson-Daye – M.E. Henderson, Inc.
1:30 PM Option 2 of 5
Room 4
Track: TechSpace

Translating Hands-On Engineering Challenges to a Virtual Environment

The focus will be on the methodology used and the pitfalls and successes we experienced in developing and implementing our K-12 engineering camps in a virtual environment.

Most applicable to grades K-12 and Other STEM Groups

Susan D’Amico – The Engineering Place at North Carolina State University
Nancy Shaw – The Engineering Place at North Carolina State University
1:30 PM Option 3 of 5
Room 5
Track: Teacher's Delight

Getting Started with Inquiry

Curiosity is a powerful motivator. This session is designed for teachers who would like to get started with inquiry and support student-led research. Participants will learn how to facilitate student-led inquiry in order to support student understanding across K-12 science.

Most applicable to grades 3-12

Judy Day – North Carolina Science Fair Foundation
Theresa Gibson – North Carolina Science Fair Foundation
1:30 PM Option 4 of 5
Room 6
Track: Spanning Silos

Interdisciplinary Pathways, Funding and Futures in Environment and Sustainability

Dr. Luke Dollar and several undergraduates majoring in environment and sustainability will describe their pathways from middle and high schools to undergraduate careers exploring environment and sustainability. Includes insights to generous scholarship opportunities.

Most applicable for grades 7-12, Higher Education and Other STEM Groups

Luke Dollar – Catawba College
Katelyn Baity – Catawba College
Madison Kluge – Catawba College
Taylor Marshall – Catawba College
Nicholas Trovato – Catawba College
1:30 PM Option 5 of 5
Room 7
Track: Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child

NC STEM Schools of Distinction: Deeper Dive into the Rubric

If your school has applied or has begun the process of applying for the STEM School of Distinction designation, this session will help you to identify and highlight the practices and culture in your school that supports the title of STEM School of Distinction (SSoD). There will be opportunities to examine the SSoD rubric and focus on effective, high-quality artifacts that tell your STEM school story. There will be time to discuss as a group any areas for potential improvement as you plan your application.

Most applicable to grades K-12

Howard Ginsburg – North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Carol Moore – STEM West
Lisa Rhoades – North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center
2:30 PM Option 1 of 7
Room 1
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

The Science Gap - Using the Wonder of Science to Engage Students

Recently, journalists have highlighted the need for content integration in developing students’ literacy skills. This session will demonstrate a model for science and literacy integration that allows educators to engage students with the wonder of science while cultivating informational text skills.

Most applicable to grades K-5

Willow Alston-Socha – Durham Public Schools
Todd Guentensberger – Center for Inquiry Based Learning
2:30 PM Option 2 of 7
Room 2
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Developing Healthy Habits in K - 12 Classrooms Using Inquiry-Based Learning

Discover an engaging inquiry-based learning approach capable of transforming classrooms by motivating students to achieve through instructional standards and PBL cases. Participants will experience a hands-on student inquiry and receive lifetime access to a selection of PBL cases.

Most applicable to grades 6-8

Kelsey Canovai – Wake Forest School of Medicine
Kim Campbell – Wake Forest School of Medicine
2:30 PM Option 3 of 7
Room 3
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Nesbitt Discovery Academy Destination Space Program Presents: Space Exploration Through Destination Space STEM Mission Curriculum

Students from Nesbitt Discovery Academy will present participating programs through Destination Space.  The students will relate their learning experiences through the deep space STEM mission curriculum and demonstrate the construction of space learning tools such as JiggyBots and ThinSats.

Most applicable to grades 9-12

Danielle Parker – The Science House at North Carolina State University
L. DeWayne Cecil – Destination SPACE, and Sustainable Earth Observation Systems, LLC
Gret Tucker – Nesbitt Discovery Academy
2:30 PM Option 4 of 7
Room 4
Track: STEM for All

The Importance of Race, Culture and Equity in STEM Education

Research articles and reports have opened new insights into the impact of culture and race in STEM education. This session reviews the current trends of the research as well as its impacts on education and industry.

Most applicable to grades 5-12, Higher Education, Industry, Government and Other STEM Groups

Michelle Ellis – Gaston County Schools
2:30 PM Option 5 of 7
Room 5
Track: Spanning Silos

Students Take the Lead: Making Sense of Human Impacts on the Environment

The circular bioeconomy uses renewable biological resources and waste streams to reduce fossil fuel dependence and contribute to a more sustainable future. This presentation will focus on student-centered activities and experimental design to understand human impacts on the environment.

Most applicable to grades 9-12

Katie McCance – North Carolina State University
Heather Starkey – North Carolina State University
Sanjana Sharma – Knightdale High School
Maureen Stover – Cumberland International Early College High School
Ana Maria Topilceanu – Vance Charter School
2:30 PM Option 6 of 7
Room 6
Track: Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child

Out Teach: Experiential Learning Outdoors - Keeping Teachers and Students Engaged in a Virtual Environment

Education is Open – Out Teach empowers teachers through our job-embedded professionally developed curriculum to utilize the outdoors as an effective teaching tool – even in our new virtual environment.

Most applicable for grades K-5 and Other STEM Groups

Allie Graybeal – Out Teach
Edna Chirico – Out Teach
2:30 PM Option 7 of 7
Room 7
Track: Exhibitor Action Lab

Bridge the Gap: Connecting STEM Professionals to Classrooms, Virtually with Nepris!

Nepris connects educators and learners with a network of industry professionals, virtually, bringing real-world relevance and career exposure to all students in STEM.

At Nepris, we believe that a single interaction can change a life. Through our platform, students across the country virtually connect with professionals from all walks of life – scientists, engineers, artists, musicians, doctors, astronauts, writers – to discover the opportunities that await them and build the skills they need to be successful.

In this session, learn how Nepris has served 70,000 educators and 480,000 students while connecting them to our platform of 31,000 professionals and 5,300 corporations.

We will explore:

  • Creating impact in your classroom with Nepris;
  • Virtual industry chats with professionals;
  • Guest speakers for the classroom;
  • Browsing and viewing authentic industry videos; and
  • Helping students research and compare careers.

Most applicable to grades K-12

Joseph DuLaney – Nepris
3:40 PM Option 1 of 4
Room 1
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

365 Build It Yourself Engineering Projects

Try out STEM projects from this collection of standard-aligned engineering challenges by a local STEM educator and author. Investigations are designed for K-8 students with household materials and little teacher intervention.

Most applicable to grades K-5 and Other STEM Groups

Beth Harris – STEM Educator
3:40 PM Option 2 of 4
Room 3
Track: Industry Connections: Employment Needs & Career Readiness

Filling the Gap: Connecting Schools to Industries with PBL

Join us to see how teachers who partnered with STEM industries have created and implemented Project-Based Learning (PBL) units so their students not only learn about STEM careers, but use STEM content to help industries solve real-world problems.

Most applicable to grades 6-12 and Industry

Regina Barrier -The Science House at North Carolina State University
Carol Moore – STEM West
3:40 PM Option 3 of 4
Room 4
Track: TechSpace

Lessons Learned from COVID-19

As our classrooms and colleges converted to remote, online learning, we remade ourselves. During the session presenters and attendees will share what WE corporately learned about teaching STEM FOR ALL during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most applicable to grades K-5, Higher Education and Other STEM Groups

Judith McDonald – Belmont Abbey College
Cynthia Dey – Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Schools
3:40 PM Option 4 of 4
Room 6
Track: Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child

Using PBL as a Catalyst for Powerful STEM Learning in a Remote Environment

So you are already doing good STEM work, but you are looking for ways to make that work even more powerful, relevant, and engaging for students. This session will provide examples, tools and inspiration for you to see how to use the elements of High Quality Project Based Learning (HQPBL) to take your STEM efforts to the next level, even in a virtual learning environment.

Participants will experience the HQPBL process as they shift an existing STEM lesson to make it more intellectually challenging, authentic and collaborative. They will develop a greater awareness of project management tools for both face-to-face and remote instruction, including protocols for peer and self-reflection.

By modeling the HQPBL process in a remote setting, participants will leave the session with a deeper knowledge of the essential elements needed to grow one’s STEM classroom into a powerful, student-centered teaching and learning environment, regardless of environment.

Most applicable to grades K-12

Michelle Benigno – The Science House at North Carolina State University
Ben Owens – Open Way Learning
4:30 PM

End of Day 1

Day 2
Wednesday, October 28

8:00 AM
Room 1

Welcome

Suzanne Wilkison – North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research
Roger Conner – Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) and Workmonger
8:20 AM
Room 1

Outreach Expo

This session will take place simultaneously in Room 1 and the virtual exhibitor area. Attendees will travel virtually from table to table to learn about the programs and resources listed below that were developed for K-12 schools and districts.

Table #1
Campbell University School of Engineering K-12 Outreach

Learn about K-12 Outreach opportunities through Campbell University’s School of Engineering and professional development for teachers.

Most applicable to grades 3-12

Martha Bizzell – Campbell University

Table #2
Catalyst: Creating Opportunities in STEM for Students with Disabilities

Catalyst provides high school students with disabilities interested in STEM Careers: STEM experiences and opportunities, paid STEM Internships, field trips, job exploration counseling, workplace readiness training, work-based learning experiences, counseling on post-secondary training options and in self-advocacy. This program meets for a summer session and Saturday sessions during the school year. The program costs only $50 but is valued over $2,000.

Most applicable to grades 9-12

Joann Blumenfeld – The Science House at North Carolina State University

Table #3
Inspiring the Next Generation of Scientists

The Burroughs Wellcome Fund supports N.C. teaching professionals in their efforts to provide quality hands-on, inquiry-based activities for their students. Stop by and learn about the BW Fund’s grant opportunities for K-12 educators and their classrooms.

Most applicable to grades K-12

Tiffanie Taylor – Burroughs Wellcome Fund

Table #4
NC GreenPower Solar+ Schools Grant: Bring Solar and STEM Education to Your School

NC GreenPower is a statewide nonprofit providing partial grants for 3-5 kW solar educational projects at NC K-12 schools, complete with a weather station, real-time data monitoring, STEM curriculum from NEED.org and training for teachers. Learn about how to apply for the grant, explore tools that are available to you and discover success stories from past grant recipients.

Most applicable to grades K-12

Katie Lebrato – NC GreenPower

Table #5
NCSLA: Providing Leadership Opportunities for North Carolina’s STEM Educators

The North Carolina Science Leadership Association (NCSLA)’s mission is to provide leadership opportunities for leaders in both formal and informal science education by offering a forum for exchanging ideas and information, advancing quality STEM instruction, and advocating education policies and legislation.

Applicable to all audiences

Dennis Kubasko, Jr. – University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Alisa Wickliff – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Pat Shane – North Carolina Science Leadership Association
9:30 AM Option 1 of 7
Room 1
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

The Magic of Engineering and Computer Science Integration

Gain confidence that student creativity and computational problem-solving in the classroom is achievable, even at the earliest grade levels.

Most applicable to grades K-5

Amanda Glover – EiE Museum of Science, Boston
9:30 AM Option 2 of 7
Room 2
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Pre-K to Grade 12 (P-12) STEM Educational Resources from the National Institutes of Health and Other Federal Agencies

This interactive workshop will discuss PreK-12 (P-12 STEM) resources for teachers, students and families with an emphasis on online and distant learning resources. General topics to be discussed include health-related STEM, citizen science and serious STEM games for learning. This workshop also will showcase the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) website and the NIH curriculum supplement series, which provides teachers’ guides to two weeks of lessons on the science behind select health topics. The curriculum supplements combine cutting-edge biomedical discoveries with state-of-the-art instructional practices.

Most applicable to grades PreK-12 and Higher Education

Tony Beck – National Institute of General Medical Sciences/National Institutes of Health
Behrous Davani –  National Institute of General Medical Sciences/National Institutes of Health
9:30 AM Option 3 of 7
Room 3
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Food Physics - Cooking Up a Global Climate Change Solution

This is an engaging presentation that will connect physics to something we all know well – food and cooking!! This will provide many suggestions for teachers about ways to incorporate cooking science into their classrooms. See www.knowwattscooking.com for more examples.

Most applicable to grades 9-12, Higher Education and Other STEM Groups

Carla Ramsdell – Appalachian State University
9:30 AM Option 4 of 7
Room 4
Track: Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child

Beyond Multiple Choice: Equity in Grading

Not all students demonstrate their understanding in the same way. Measuring true learning cannot be a guessing game. As students of color continue to fall behind on generic assessments, learn how alternative methods such as rubrics assess ALL students fairly.

Most applicable to grades 4-12

Michelle Ellis – Gaston County Schools
Kimberly Daniel – Gaston County Schools
9:30 AM Option 5 of 7
Room 5
Track: Teacher's Delight

Strategies in Facilitating Hands-On STEAM Instruction in the Online Environment

COVID-19 changed K-12 education in 2020. This session will engage participants in a hands-on STEAM activity, focusing on an engineering challenge, which could be used with students in a virtual environment. Using materials found around the home, learn more about effective online instructional strategies in engaging student learners at home.

Most applicable to grades 6-8

Leah Bug – The Engineering Place at North Carolina State University
Laura Bottomley – The Engineering Place at North Carolina State University
9:30 AM Option 6 of 7
Room 6
Track: Spanning Silos

Citizen Science with STEM Global Collaboration

An introduction to teaching your student in becoming global citizens using STEM Global Collaboration. It is necessary in today’s world that educators create students with 21st century skills.

Most applicable to grades 7-8

Elizabeth Klammer – Canterbury School
9:30 AM Option 7 of 7
Room 7
Track: STEM for All

Schoolwide PBL: Creating a Culture of Innovation

Imagine your school has developed a culture of powerful teaching and learning, where every student is collaborating to make routine interdisciplinary connections to things they care about, facilitated by teachers who are passionate about their work. A school with a deep level of trust, based on solid relationships between teachers, students and staff, constantly sharing ideas to improve everyone’s love of learning.

This is a reality that your school team can create, not by chasing fads, but by doing the hard and essential work to transform your school’s culture into one of mission-driven excellence.

This session will introduce participants to a design framework that can build such a culture of authentic, student-centered innovation. Participants will leave with ideas for next steps on how to create a customized action plan of localized innovation that will identify and leverage the skills, talent and assets that already exist in your learning community.

Most applicable to grades K-12

Michelle Benigno – The Science House at North Carolina State University
Ben Owens – Open Way Learning
10:30 AM Option 1 of 6
Room 2
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Writing, History and More: Bringing STEM to All Subjects

Join us in a journey of STEM Humanities as we explore STEM principles being used in ELA and social studies in a middle school or high school setting. Understand how you can make STEM Education come alive in any curriculum area and experience a hands-on STEM project.

Most applicable to grades 6-8

Matthew Lococo – Greene County Schools
Stan White – Greene County Schools
10:30 AM Option 2 of 6
Room 3
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Exploring Energy Resilience as an Approach to Evaluating Energy Technologies

In this session we’ll explore energy resilience, a topic that provides a relevant context in which students can evaluate energy technologies for their capacity to promote energy resilience and protect natural resources in response to extreme weather and rising seas.

Most applicable to grades 9-12

Dana Haine – University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
10:30 AM Option 3 of 6
Room 4
Track: Industry Connections: Employment Needs & Career Readiness

We Are Getting It Wrong for All the Right Reasons

Mutual industry/education ownership of the mismatch of 21st century skills being taught in K-16 and the resulting employee gaps.

Most applicable to grades 6 – 12

Mark Meno – Department of the Navy’s Fleet Readiness Center East
10:30 AM Option 4 of 6
Room 5
Track: Teacher's Delight

Creating PD They Want to See

Creating meaningful professional development opportunities for teachers is part science and part art. In education, time is a precious commodity. Learn researched-based practices that will connect and elevate your PD session. Teacher leaders and non-teachers are encouraged to attend.

Most applicable to Higher Education, Industry, Government and Other STEM Groups

Michelle Ellis – Gaston County Schools
Pat Shane – North Carolina Science Leadership Association
10:30 AM Option 5 of 6
Room 6
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Rx for Science Literacy Curriculum Update Session 1: Exploring Units I and II

Be among the first K-12 educators in North Carolina to explore newly created middle and high school hands-on activities from the recently updated and expanded Rx for Science Literacy manual. In 2020, the Biogen Foundation generously provided funding to revise and expand the Rx for Science Literacy: The What, Where, How and Why of Health Science Research curriculum, which is produced by the North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research and is used in classrooms throughout North Carolina. Be the first to sample the new educational materials and to provide your input as the curriculum is finalized for distribution in 2021.

Most applicable to grades 9-12

Pamela Lovin – North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research
10:30 AM Option 6 of 6
Room 7
Track: TechSpace

Systems Modeling in STEM Through SageModeler

Systems modeling and quantitative reasoning are science practices that exist in both the NGSS and Vision and Change. SageModeler is a free web-based, open-source program that fosters vertical alignment of these skills through active engagement with their software.

Most applicable to grades 6-12 and Higher Education

Grace Carroll – North Carolina State University
11:30 AM

Lunch & Exhibit Hall Showcase

Check out this year’s virtual Exhibit Hall. Attendees will travel virtually from booth to booth to learn about resources that are available for K-12 schools and districts.
12:25 PM
Room 1

Lunch Keynote

Understanding COVID-19 Infections in Children and the Vaccine Development Process

Sallie Permar, M.D., Ph.D., a nationally-recognized infectious disease physician/scientist at Duke University School of Medicine,  will update the Bridging the Gap community on the latest understanding of SARS-CoV-2/COVID19 infections in children. She will discuss SARS-CoV-2/COVID19 symptoms and transmission patterns in children and how this impacts their daily lives and the adults who care for them. She also will share the latest progress in the quest to develop a SARS-CoV-2/COVID19 vaccine.

Applicable to all audiences

Sallie Permar – Duke School of Medicine
1:30 PM Option 1 of 6
Room 1
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

More Than Just a Fun Activity

Hands-on science is an engaging way to involve students in learning. Beyond physical engagement is cognitive engagement. This session strives to model how hands-on transitions to minds-on to help teachers maximize student learning opportunities in science.

Most applicable to grades K-5

Michelle Ellis – Gaston County Schools
Kimberly Daniel – Gaston County Schools
1:30 PM Option 2 of 6
Room 3
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

STEM Through a Global and Cultural Lens

This session will share with educators how to incorporate a global and cultural lens to STEM learning. Educators will lean how to:

  • Include global and cultural lens into your everyday teaching;
  • Depict meeting of songs from different cultures using STEM, with the music of Abigail Washburn and Wu Fei’s, as an example;
  • Work on collaborative STEM Projects with students from other countries and cultures;
  • Help students understand that different cultures and countries have different perspectives;
  • Teach students to solve global challenges with engineering designing activities and models; and
  • Participate in free or low cost, global and cultural professional development and travel for educators.

Most applicable to grades 9-12

Joann Blumenfeld – The Science House at North Carolina State University
1:30 PM Option 3 of 6
Room 4
Track: STEM for All

A Tale of Two Diseases: Dispelling Myths about Race, Poverty and Health Through Anti-Racist Science Education

Come explore the impacts of a devastating epidemic on communities experiencing poverty…. 100 years ago. Investigating this episode with students will provide opportunities to engage in anti-racist science education and dismantle false narratives about race embedded in current news reports.

Most applicable to grades 7-12 and Higher Education

Lenora Crabtree – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Janna Sherman – Lincoln Charter School
1:30 PM Option 4 of 6
Room 5
Track: TechSpace

STEM Games for Students, Teachers and Families: The Ins & Outs in the Classroom – from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Education (ED) and the Institute of Medicine and Library Sciences (IMLS)

Come learn about STEM Games for learning from three very different federal agencies: NIH (health and medicine); ED (fostering educational excellence); IMLS (libraries and museums contribute to a competitive workforce and engaged citizenry). Attendees will learn how and why STEM Games are used for education, and how to use STEM games to understand the scientific method, problem solving and data analysis. Applicability to in-home and distance learning will be addressed.

Most applicable to grades preK-12

Tony Beck – National Institute of General Medical Sciences/National Institutes of Health
Helen Wechsler – Institute of Museum and Library Services
1:30 PM Option 5 of 6
Room 6
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Rx for Science Literacy Curriculum Update Session 2: Exploring Units III and IV

Be among the first K-12 educators in North Carolina to explore newly created middle and high school hands-on activities from the recently updated and expanded Rx for Science Literacy manual. In 2020, the Biogen Foundation generously provided funding to revise and expand the Rx for Science Literacy: The What, Where, How and Why of Health Science Research curriculum, which is produced by the North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research and is used in classrooms throughout North Carolina. Be the first to sample the new educational materials and to provide your input as the curriculum is finalized for distribution in 2021.

Most applicable to grades 9-12

Pamela Lovin – North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research
1:30 PM Option 6 of 6
Room 7
Track: Exhibitor Action Lab

Interdisciplinary STEM Intertwined with Social Emotional Learning and Career Connections

The traditional, one-dimensional approach to STEM, focusing solely on one concept, already has been on a sharp decline. Now, Covid has highlighted the importance of social emotional learning while accelerating the adoption of technology in education. More than ever before, parents want their children to be career and life ready. They want multidimensional STEM. Doing ad hoc STEM / STEAM activities doesn’t cut it.

How do you bring STEM in a way that integrates seamlessly with all you do while highlighting real careers and social emotional learning? How do you bring interdisciplinary STEM that combines engineering with coding, business and automation? How do you bring STEM consistently to your students with custom pathways that bridge STEM learning from elementary to middle to CTE and how do you do so while developing your own teachers?

Presenters from STEM For Kids will answer these questions and more. With more than 1200 hours of innovative STEM curriculum content and over nine years of training and developing STEM coaches worldwide, STEM For Kids, a N.C.-based organization, has been enabling educators to empower children in grades K-8.

Most applicable to grades K-8

Shelby Jones – STEM for Kids
Moni Singh – STEM for Kids
2:30 PM Option 1 of 7
Room 1
Track: Exhibitor Action Lab

Teaching CRISPR-Cas9 in the Virtual Setting!

CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering is revolutionizing modern medicine technologies. Come learn how to model CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in a virtual setting with your students in under 50 minutes. Learn how to effectively use this molecular tool as a reinforcement for concepts such as enzyme structure and function, and the central dogma. Attendees will be extended an opportunity to perform a hands-on wet lab version of the lab at a later date. Experience something new and bring this cutting-edge technology into your own classroom!

Most applicable to grades K-12

Tamica Stubbs – Bio-Rad Laboratories
2:30 PM Option 2 of 7
Room 2
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Resiliency in the Engineering Design Process

Actively learn how to incorporate hands-on engineering activities challenging students to collaborate, think critically and develop a resilience mind-set.

Most applicable to grades 6-8 and Other STEM Groups

Martha Bizzell – Campbell University
2:30 PM Option 3 of 7
Room 3
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

People and the Biosphere: Hands-On STEM Activities for Environmental Science

Discover data-rich lessons to help your students explore human population, biodiversity, climate change, land and natural resource use, as well as paths to sustainability. Engage in STEM-based activities supporting N.C. Essential Standards for Science.

Most applicable to grades 9-12

Leigh Apple – Martin County Schools
2:30 PM Option 4 of 7
Room 4
Track: TechSpace

Enhancing Your STEM Program With Sphero

Explore the many uses of the Sphero Bolt in STEM classrooms! These robots can be programmed by driving, drawing, block coding or traditional coding. They can be used in PBL or Makerspace challenges or to collect data.

Most applicable to grades 4-12 and Other STEM Groups

Regina Barrier – The Science House at North Carolina State University
2:30 PM Option 5 of 7
Room 5
Track: Teacher's Delight

Supporting Professional Science/STEM Education Leaders in N.C.

Come and learn about an opportunity for NC Science/STEM Educator Leaders. The North Carolina Science Leadership Association (NCSLA) facilitates the Fellows Program, an initiative to develop science education leaders and leadership abilities necessary to operate effectively in NC science/STEM education.

Applicable to all audiences

Alisa Wickliff – University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Dennis Kubasko, Jr. – University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Pat Shane – North Carolina Science Leadership Association
2:30 PM Option 6 of 7
Room 6
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Citizen Science for Students, Teachers and Families with the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Come learn about Citizen Science for students, teachers and families – everything you ever wanted to know about Citizen Science. Case studies on health and medicine topics from the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will be discussed. These include studies to test well water for arsenic (Mt. Desert Island Laboratory, ME); to understand the interaction of natural environments and human well-being (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island, NY); and to identify and characterize novel bacteriophages from soil (Montana Tech, Butte, MT).

Most applicable to grades preK-12

Dave Micklos – Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Marisa Pedulla – Montana Technological University
Jane Disney – Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
2:30 PM Option 7 of 7
Room 7
Track: Spanning Silos

A Data Science Approach for Curriculum Mapping

Development of end-to-end automated course mapping model for STEM related courses within an instructional ecosystem. The presentation will depict our methodological approach to identify courses related to the topic of data science based on course descriptions.

Most applicable to grades 11-12, Higher Education and Other STEM Groups

Somya Mohanty – University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Kim Littlefield – University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Noel Mazade – University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Aaron Beveridge – University of North Carolina at Greensboro
3:30 PM Option 1 of 5
Room 3
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Integrating STEM, Sustainability and Industry to Promote Interest in the Bioeconomy

A team of high school teachers and educational researchers will share their experiences developing and implementing hands-on activities that integrate STEM, sustainability and industry connections to generate students’ interest in and awareness of bioproducts and bioenergy and bioeconomy-related careers.

Most applicable to grades 9-12

Karen Collier – North Carolina State University
Georganna Davis – Bunn High School
Katie McCance – North Carolina State University
3:30 PM Option 2 of 5
Room 4
Track: TechSpace

3D, Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) as Teaching Tools

Immersive learning activities can motivate students to more fully understand a subject and require less cognitive load to process the information. This will be a hands-on experience with innovative VR headsets. Attendees will understand how to incorporate VR into projects, field experiences and labs.

Most applicable to grades 6-8

Terrie Bethea-Hampton – Campbell University
Ashley Holder – Fayetteville State University
3:30 PM Option 3 of 5
Room 5
Track: STEM for All

Data Every Day, Everywhere

This presentation will focus on the science and related data that students must understand to be successful citizens. Teachers can use this data to teach science and math and better prepare students to make important decisions in life.

Most applicable to grades 5-12

Kelly Butler Chapman – Individualized Support for People in Rural Economic Districts, Inc. (INSPIRED)
3:30 PM Option 4 of 5
Room 6
Track: Spanning Silos

Sharing DNA: Why We're More Alike Than Different

UNC-TV’s latest blended lesson combines hands-on projects and interactive components to lead students through an activity-packed introduction to DNA that addresses the inquiry: Why are all humans more than 99% alike?

Most applicable to grades 6-8

Paula Edelson – UNC-TV
Frank Graff – UNC-TV
Sebastian Byers – UNC-TV
Beth Harris – Science Educator
3:30 PM Option 5 of 5
Room 7
Track: Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Development of a Virtual Summer Youth Program in Climate Change Resiliency

Participants will learn about the development and implementation of a virtual summer educational program in July 2020 on climate change resiliency for more than 50 participating 11thand 12th grade students. We will compare and contrast two two-week sessions that differed in content level and delivery. We also will provide recommendations for future programs. The participants should attend if they wish to understand how using climate change as an overarching theme can provide an opportunity to teach various STEM disciplines. They also will learn tips and suggestions for improving interactive online learning.

Most applicable to grades 11-12 and Other STEM Groups

Cynthia Nazario-Leary – University of Florida Center for Precollegiate Education & Training
Dehlia Albrecht – University of Florida Center for Precollegiate Education & Training
4:30 PM
Room 1

Closing Remarks

Suzanne Wilkison – North Carolina Association for Biomedical Research
Roger Conner – Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science (COPUS) and Workmonger
4:40 PM

End of Day 2

Tracks

STEM 101: Exploring the Basics

Provides K-12 teachers with practical strategies to meet STEM classroom needs (time management, space, integration, differentiation, funding, etc.). This track is geared for educators and partners who are new to STEM.

Outreach Expo

10-minute, rolling presentation that is repeated multiple times during a 50-minute “expo” plenary session

Provides attendees from higher education and informal/other STEM groups who are looking to share research outcomes and finished products with an opportunity to:

  • Disseminate deliverables from grant-funded research activities
  • Disseminate STEM education resources
  • Disseminate STEM curricula
  • Promote museum and other informal STEM outreach opportunities
  • Promote STEM programs for K-12 teachers and students
  • Promote products in the final stages of development
  • Promote offerings from university centers and institutes
  • Promote partnerships for ongoing and future programs with K-12 teachers and students

Hands-On, Minds-On Instructional Practices

Provides teachers with inquiry-based, hands-on activities and practical guidance for incorporating STEM in the classroom using cross-content integration. Sessions may address:

  • STEM to STEAM, STREAM or STEMM: Strategies for building bridges across contexts and disciplines
  • STEM in elementary education: Bringing science back into the curriculum
  • Mathematical connections to the real world
  • Integrating creativity in the hard sciences with STEAM
  • Design thinking in the classroom
  • Problem- and project-based learning (PBL)
  • Instructional design innovations
  • Vertical alignment
  • The student-centered classroom
  • Teaching tools for differentiated instruction
  • STEM strategies and implementation
  • Grand challenges and critical thinking in the classroom
  • Online crowdfunding for classroom needs

Industry Connections: Employment Needs & Career Readiness

Links educators to industry leaders in the exploration of specific workforce needs both now and in the future. This track focuses on the connections between education and the world of work through industry insight. Sessions may include:

  • Future workforce needs
  • Specific STEM industry needs
  • Middle-skill STEM jobs
  • Career readiness and employability
  • Extreme vertical alignment
  • Connecting education and employment
  • Career and Technical Education (CTE)
  • The 2+2 pathway
  • Industry involvement in the classroom
  • Digital disruption
  • Entrepreneurial design for teaching
  • Automation and artificial intelligence

STEM for All

Explores ways to design a STEM learning experience that meets the unique and differentiated needs of all children in the classroom. Leveraging the latest research in universal lesson plan design, educators will learn how to develop lessons and activities that work for all students. Sessions may address:

  • Serving K-12 gifted students
  • Serving K-12 students with disabilities
  • Pedagogies for mentoring underrepresented students in higher education
  • Reaching low SES (socioeconomic status), rural, urban and minority students

Teacher's Delight

Explores the recipe for redefining the teacher role in the classroom and ways teachers can feel supported and empowered in their work. Sessions may address:

  • Redefining the teacher role: moving from lecturer to facilitator
  • Communication and partnering with parents
  • Professional development and capacity building
  • STEM discoveries: fascinating new findings

TechSpace

Proposes alternative classroom designs that encourage active learning and development. This track focuses on emerging pedagogies and technologies designed to activate learning in new and meaningful ways. Sessions may include:

  • Alternative classroom design
  • Gamification of learning
  • The future of coding in the classroom
  • The tools, mindset and materials of makers
  • Makerspaces and virtual labs
  • Augmented reality
  • STEM video games
  • Artificial intelligence
  • N.C. Family Code Nights

Preparing and Teaching the Whole Child

Explores learning from a whole child development perspective, which recognizes the complex environments in which educators must work while empowering students with the latest STEM learning. This track also explores how to prepare students for today’s information environment and it addresses practical applications and knowledge related to critical thinking, training and development for students and educators. Sessions may address:

  • How to support learning, informed instruction and intrinsic motivation
  • How to communicate high expectations in the classroom
  • How to develop student motivation, efficacy and perseverance
  • Exploration of the intersection between inquiry, standardized assessment and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
  • STEM assessment: Formative and summative
  • Social-emotional learning (SEL) and whole child development
  • Connections between student wellness and academic success
  • Deeper learning: 22ndcentury skills, including soft skills
  • Communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity
  • What we believe about critical thinking skills and why
  • Media and digital literacy

Spanning Silos

Connects higher education researchers with K-12 educators to explore the practical application of learning theory and current research in classroom instruction. Sessions may include:

  • The science of learning in the real world
  • Applying research to personalized learning
  • Free and open resources, textbooks, materials and courses
  • Curriculum mapping and authentic higher education experiences
  • Contextualized instruction
  • Higher education collaboration opportunities
  • Blended environments and classroom community connections

Exhibitor Action Lab

The exhibitor action lab provides an opportunity for attendees to connect with premium exhibitors and engage in hands-on activities using the most-up-to-date STEM resources during a 50-minute concurrent session. These sessions may include demonstrations and advertisement for resources that are available for purchase.