The upcoming NSTA Minneapolis conference, taking place October 27-29, is the place to be for teachers looking for new ways to teach in this technology driven world. Students and teachers have access to many forms of technology and these technologies can be effective tools to access information, deliver instruction, communicate ideas, connect with people from around the world, and build professional learning networks. Educators attending these sessions will explore instructional materials, technologies and strategies for effective learning for students and adults, and responsible use of digital resources and processes. Below are 8 sessions that every science educator attending the area conference should go to.

Searching for Spielberg (Thursday, October 27 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM)

• Providing examples from physical and life science, as well as using multiple types of devices and apps, we will share how student-created videos can improve peer review and scientific communication, encourage critical thinking, and enhance data collection.

NASA’s Eyes on the Solar System: Bringing the Planets to Your Classroom’s Computers (Thursday, October 27 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM)

• Bring the solar system to your classroom using this free online tool from NASA. Explore planets, spacecraft, and more!.

Citizen Science: Projects and Activities to Engage Students in Authentic Science Research (Friday, October 28 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM)

• Explore citizen science projects that can engage your students in authentic science data collection and investigation as they contribute to big datasets.

Engaging Students in Science through Virtual Field Trips (Friday, October 28 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM)

• Tap into how to use social media and internet resources to design a “virtual field trip” for your students through the integration of science, ELA, and social studies

Evolution for Educators (Friday, October 28 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM)

• Explore how the Teacher Institute for Evolutionary Science strives to meet the needs of middle school science teachers as they cover the NGSS disciplinary core idea: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity.

Exploring the Trade-Offs and Payoffs of Sustainable Bioenergy Through Simulations and Field Data (Saturday, October 29 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM)

• Students play an online game and analyze current data from university research to construct arguments about the most sustainable methods for growing bioenergy crops.

Dissecting Animals? Frog-get About It! (Saturday, October 29 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM)

• Get hands-on experience with dissection software programs, covering educational efficacy, economic benefits, and current laws/policies regarding the use of animals in science.

Using News Media to Learn About Science in the Connected Science Classroom (Saturday, October 29 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM)

• The new science framework calls for increased use of news media, including online news. We will examine issues with this and provide some solutions.

Register to attend here—and don’t forget, NSTA members get a substantial discount!

2016 Area Conferences

• Minneapolis, Minnesota: October 27–29
• Portland, Oregon: November 10–12
• Columbus, Ohio: December 1–3

National Conferences

• Los Angeles, California: March 30–April 2, 2017
• Atlanta, Georgia: March 15–18, 2018
• St. Louis, Missouri: April 11–14, 2019
• Boston, Massachusetts: March 26–29, 2020
• Chicago, Illinois: April 8–11, 2021

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