Microplastics in East Tennessee: Open-ended STEM task that incorporate local issues Room 213 

Presenter: Nick Kim

This session will give an overview on how an open-ended STEM task on Microplastics in the Tennessee River was created and adapted to first fit middle school and then college students. There will be a discussion on the similarities and differences based on student products. The goal of the session is to develop an idea for an open-ended task that might fit your students and their local contexts. 

Picture Perfect STEM Room 252

Presenter: Mallory Sterling

Participants will learn how using picture books can inspire learning in the STEM disciplines and experience the 5E instructional model through STEM-connected lessons. Participants will also will also become familiar with many engaging STEM related books and resources.

Out of the Box STEM Room 128

Presenters: Adam Hunley and Ashley McNealy

In this session you will experience how to implement STEM education in a K-8 setting which engages all students. This session will provide 20 minutes of presentation of PBL’S students at Elk Valley STEM School have worked on and 40 minutes of a hands on STEM station rotation. We will show you how STEM can be simply “Out of the Box” or in your closet already! 

At our school we wanted to create an easier way to implement STEM into our daily schedule. Another teacher and I created approximately 40 ready to go STEM boxes across grade level to pull and use anytime. I often utilize these boxes for many reasons including building my PBL’s. Also, throughout the state STEM designation process we learned how to utilize the Engineering and Design process as the STEM focus and not get bogged down by materials. STEM education is doable, effective, and best of all fun!

Computational Thinking in the Math and Science Classroom Room 129

Presenter: Leslie Suters

Embedding computational thinking (CT) practices throughout K-12 education provides opportunities to better prepare students as creative and critical thinkers to meet the future needs of the job market.   Participants will learn about a CT in math and science taxonomy that can be used as a means to integrate CT meaningfully into the math and science disciplines. The session will culminate with an opportunity to explore a CT “petting zoo” of tools that can be used in the classroom.