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#NSTA16 Nashville | Do Not Try This at Home!

By Lauren Jonas, NSTA Assistant Executive Director

Posted on 2016-04-04

Big Bird, @BillNye and Flamingos… No it’s not a crazy dream, it’s #NSTA16
— @eckzoo April 3, 2016

Bill Nye slingshotting the audience at #NSTA16 Nashville

If you weren’t in Nashville last week for the 2016 National Conference on Science Education, you didn’t have to dodge asteroids being shot at innocent science teachers by BILL NYE! It was quite the week, and you can watch highlights on our #NSTA16 playlist. But more importantly, if you WERE there, you were immersed in the best professional development for science teachers. Why the best? Because the learning was all about sessions created by science teachers for science teachers and inspiring speakers like Grand Hank and Bill Nye (who got us up on our feet and put the teachers in the spotlight, where they belong). As attendee blogger Becky McKinney says “Between the great workshops, excellent conversations, amazing food, epic music and Southern hospitality, I am IN LOVE with Nashville!” Read more from McKinney, who links to some really valuable resources from the conference (because that’s what science teachers do–they share resources–whether you had a chance to come or not, you still benefit from the rich learning to be had at NSTA conferences).

From 2D to Full-Blown Rock Star

One of the best stories we heard from Nashville last week came from New Jersey science teacher Patricia Hillyer. She started her trip with an hysterical Twitter exchange with a United Airlines rep who clearly had a good science teacher at some point in his/her life! Below is a sample; and read all about Hillyer’s trip in her posts (The True Story of #LilHil: How Social Media Helped Me Write My #NSTA16 Nashville Story) and (#NSTA16 Nashville: Where Science Teachers Are the Rock Stars!).

More “Only at #NSTA16 Nashville” Stories from Twitter

Big Bird, @BillNye and Flamingos… No it’s not a crazy dream, it’s #NSTA16
— @eckzoo April 3, 2016

Bill Nye slingshotting the audience at #NSTA16 Nashville

 

#NSTA16 Nashville: Where Science Teachers Are the Rock Stars!

By Patricia Hillyer

Posted on 2016-04-04

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My initial goal for the 2016 NSTA National Conference on Science Education (which took place in Nashville March 31-April 3) was solely to present my project (my baby). And just like having a baby… it seemed like a good idea at the time (doing a hands-on presentation in a city to which I needed to fly)… and it was much harder than it looked. I knew I wanted my presentation to be hands-on, and I needed to get materials to my destination. $70 FedEx payment later (I had to mail my scissors since I didn’t want TSA to detain me) and a little traveling was how I started.

DOES EVERYONE ELSE PACK THIS MUCH?

But once the hard part was over, the magical part began! My trip became so much more about people and connections and building up our students. It became inspiring and empowering.

#LilHil teaches teachers how to tweet

#LilHil teaches teachers how to tweet

I  did a total of three presentations at this conference. Two were talks. Okay, well, one talk was all about me, and (truth be told) most of what I did at the conference was talk about me! Why was I wearing a tiara (apparently that isn’t normal), why did I have a paper person of myself (again, not normal?), why was I taking so many darn pictures? All roads lead to talking about me… what? You don’t know who I am? I’m kind of a big deal around here. And by “here” I mean “in my mind.” And I hope all my fellow teachers felt that way at the conference, because that seems to be the point. You get out of the classroom for a week and get a chance to focus on yourself and your profession.

DuPont: My Opening Number

My first talk was about social media. I was charged with breaking the Internet at DuPont’s Sponsored teacher’s breakfast and teaching the rock stars in attendance the advantages of social media: To promote our craft and highlight our success. One of the best uses of social media for science teachers is to find other empowered teachers and build a professional learning network (PLN). We didn’t quite break the Internet, but we did do lots of hashtagging about #ITouchTheFuture and the #challengerlegacy. Check out the hashtags on twitter to see what teachers are saying!

Teachers that Rock

Teachers that Rock!

My second talk was about my profession, finding a mentor, and how my champion has impacted me. Here’s an excerpt from my talk:

DuPont has empowered me from the first time I arrived at The DuPont Challenge booth at the National Science Teacher’s Convention in Boston. They have allowed me to come into my own and shine. They supported me at the USA Science and Engineering Festival in DC, brought me in to shadow the national Agriculture Ambassadors academy in the summer even as a non ag teacher, and sponsored me last year at the convention in Chicago. Since Boston, DuPont has mentored me, molded me and empowered me. They have allowed me to have a hand up. Reminded me that I am worthy, I am not JUST a teacher… AND I AM AN INSPIRED TEACHER, a rock star, and I am charged with changing the lives of the young people I am given every September. There is no greater responsibility that I have than mentoring, molding and empowering my own students, like DuPont did for me, each and every day. Everyone needs a champion! My inspiration and my champion is PJ Simon.

My Closing Act

My last presentation was actually what I feel I do best, project-based learning, hands-on demonstration. This Efficient House is a year-long project that I love to promote. This is what I came to do! Show off my students’ work and show other teachers how to highlight student success. My only regret is only being given an hour! 

In reflecting back on the few days here, I found I made so many connections, most were (extra)ordinary people, nameless to me, just being themselves-and everyone I met were inspiring! Now I have a network of science teacher rock stars to lift me up and to reach out to when my day is less than stellar.

All of the people pictured below touched my trip in some way. From helping me with my presentation, giving me hope for humanity, maybe something as little as a kind word, helping me load my luggage onto the bus (remember all that stuff I packed for the conference?), inviting me to sit with them at lunch when I was by myself (big shout out to hot chicken and Hattie Bs)…and as big as giving me boosting, supportive life lessons (and believe me, there were many this trip but three deserve special mention: Lauren Jonas– your encouragement has been uplifting and reassuring. Dr. Scobee Rodgers– if you don’t know her story, look up her childhood, read her books, you won’t be sorry. PJ Simon– always my champion, but her dad sealed the deal with his words of wisdom for me Friday night, big hugs to you Mr. Wilson.

These few days have been magical. Many connections that I will never forget. I’m Patricia Hillyer, 7th grade science Rock Star from Matawan Aberdeen Middle School, Cliffwood, NJ and I touch the future. I teach. Please follow me on twitter @iHillyer and #LilHil to view all my connections at #NSTA16.

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The mission of NSTA is to promote excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.

Future NSTA Conferences

5th Annual STEM Forum & Expo, hosted by NSTA

  • Denver, Colorado: July 27–29

2017 Area Conferences

  • Baltimore, Maryland: October 5–7
  • Milwaukee, Wisconsin: November 9–11
  • New Orleans, Louisiana: November 30–December 2

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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NSTA’s K-12 April 2016 Science Education Journals Online

By Korei Martin

Posted on 2016-04-04

NSTA’s K-12 April 2016 Science Education Journals Onlinev2

Want your elementary students to think, read, and write like scientists? Want to take advantage of the emergence of tablets in the classroom? Wondering how you can teach science to a classroom full of students with different backgrounds and socioeconomic status’s? The April K–12 journals from the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) have the answers you need. Written by science teachers for science teachers, these peer-reviewed journals are targeted to your teaching level and are packed with lesson plans, expert advice, and ideas for using whatever time/space you have available. Browse the April issues; they are online (see below), in members’ mailboxes, and ready to inspire teachers!

Science and Childrensc_aprmay16_cov

Applying multiple disciplines to science practices facilitates learning and addresses misconceptions. The methods and strategies in this issue of S&C will help your students to speak, think, and write like scientists.

Featured articles (please note, only those marked “free” are available to nonmembers without a fee):

Science Scopess_aprmay16_cov

Tablets are quickly becoming the new notebook in classrooms, and the apps available today can help students create, collaborate, and communicate in new and exciting ways. Learn how to use these tools and other teaching strategies to connect science to language arts and the Common Core in this issue of Science Scope.

Featured articles (please note, only those marked “free” are available to nonmembers without a fee):

The Science Teachertst_aprmay16_cov

This issue marks our 21st consecutive spring issue devoted to “Science for All.” Over these years this annual issue has presented ideas and teaching strategies for helping all learners find success in their science classes. A primary goal has been to provide instructional methods to help narrow persistent academic achievement gaps associated with ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, physical disabilities, limited English-language proficiency, and learning differences. Improving our schools and providing equitable education for all students must be among our country’s highest priorities.

Featured articles (please note, only those marked “free” are available to nonmembers without a fee):

Get these journals in your mailbox as well as your inbox—become an NSTA member!

The mission of NSTA is to promote excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.

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NSTA’s K-12 April 2016 Science Education Journals Onlinev2

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