Conference Program
Denver Conference Preview
Click here for a printed conference preview.
Session Browser/Personal Scheduler
Plan ahead! Descriptions and scheduling information for conference sessions and events are provided using our Session Browser/Personal Scheduler. Prepare an agenda, share it with your supervisor, and bring it with you to the conference.
Use the browser’s drop-down menus to search by type of event, subject, audience level, strand, or sponsor. You can also search events by entering keywords. Clicking on the links below will take you to a list of events in the session browser.
This program is tentative, and sessions may be rescheduled if necessary. Scheduling changes will be posted as they occur.
Sessions and Events
Presentations and Workshops. More than 300 presentations and workshops have been scheduled at the Denver conference. Sessions are classified by subject matter (Biology/Life Science, Chemistry/Physical Science, Earth/Space Science, Environmental Science, Integrated/General, or Physics/Physical Science). Sessions are further identified by audience level (Preschool, Elementary, Middle Level, High School, College, Supervision/Administration, Informal Education, or some combination of levels). Generally one hour in length, all are open to registrants at no additional cost. Popular sessions fill quickly, however, and it is recommended that you arrive early to ensure a seat.
Featured Speakers. A General Session and five featured presentations have been scheduled at the Denver conference. These renowned speakers are experts in their fields who will speak on selected topics related to the conference strands.
NSTA Symposia. These ticketed events are offered by leading STEM content and pedagogical professionals, including education specialists from NASA, NOAA, FDA, and other scientific groups. Three NSTA symposia are offered at the Denver conference—NASA/NSTA Symposium: Inquiry in Science and Mathematics Education—Parents as Partners; FDA/NSTA Symposium: Teach Science Concepts and Inquiry with Food; and IPY/NSTA Symposium: The Role of Polar Regions in Earth’s Changing Climate System. Each symposium is followed by several online experiences—a listserv and two NSTA Web seminars—to extend interactivity between symposium participants and presenters.
ESP Symposia. NSTA’s Exemplary Science Program (ESP) was initiated to produce monographs consisting of descriptions of programs and evidence of their effectiveness in producing superior student learning. Under the guidance of Robert E. Yager, 1982–1983 NSTA President, four monographs have been produced to meet the visions of exemplary professional development programs and science in grades K–4, 5–8, and 9–12.
A national advisory board consisting of NSES and NSTA leaders selected 15 exemplars for each monograph from nearly 3,000 nominations. Authors of ESP monographs will showcase these exemplary programs and teachers at upcoming NSTA conferences. Two ESP Symposia are offered at the Denver conference—Symposium I: ESP Focusing on Professional Development and Symposium II: ESP Focusing on Grades 9–12.
Short Courses. Fill in your content knowledge gaps and examine in depth the very latest research and strategies with one of our ticketed short courses. Five short courses have been scheduled at the Denver conference on topics ranging from the human genome to formative assessments.
Exhibitor Workshops. Exhibitor-sponsored workshops for science teachers are offered throughout the conference. These workshops give you an opportunity to use a variety of commercial instructional materials. The number of participants for each is limited by the size of the room, but tickets are not required. Attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Field Trips. The Conference Committee has scheduled 10 field trips to area attractions (tickets required), including the National Center for Atmospheric Research, Denver’s Downtown Aquarium, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Walk where the dinosaurs once roamed on a trip to Dinosaur Ridge or explore the fossil record along the K-T boundary.
Social Functions. Make some new friends and get reacquainted with old friends at one of our ticketed social functions: Exploring the Depths of Science—A Titanic Experience (an evening at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science; Thursday, 7:30–11:00 PM) and Preservice and New Teacher Luncheon (Friday, 12 Noon–1:30 PM).
Conference Strands
To help you make the most of the professional development opportunities available at the Denver conference, the Conference Committee has planned the conference around three strands of current significance, enabling you to focus on a specific area of interest or need.
This strand focuses on the application and integration of current research in the field, lab, and classroom to prepare students for career and life opportunities. It provides models of innovative organizational and corporate partnerships, making cutting-edge content accessible to teachers and students.
Earth’s systems are complex and have tremendous educational value for students and teachers. In order to sustain these fragile systems, we first have to understand the interrelated sciences. Sustaining Earth’s systems depends on using this understanding to globally address issues and impacts. Through this learning, students and teachers become stewards and advocates for our planet.
Science, literacy, and math are linked in a variety of ways, especially through the use of similar thinking skills. This strand stresses the use of science and the many facets of inquiry to improve student achievement in reading, writing, mathematics, and science.
For a list of sessions for each strand, click on the links above.
Chemistry Day at NSTA
Understanding Thermodynamics: Energy, Entropy, and Equilibrium
Engage in activities, discussion, and analyses that aid understanding of energy and entropy and their relationship to equilibrium and that provide ways to assess learning.
Friday, November 9, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Room 302, Colorado Convention Center
Education research indicates a positive correlation between teacher content knowledge and student learning. The goals of Chemistry Day are to enhance and enrich the thermodynamics content knowledge of secondary chemistry teachers and to engage teachers in activities, discussion, and analyses that demonstrate how lessons on thermodynamics can be presented in a way that stimulates student thinking and prompts exploration of the complexity of the concepts in advanced and honors level courses. The content and structure of the strand draws on several decades of experience the American Chemical Society has in activity-based curricula development.
Scheduled on Friday, November 9, Chemistry Day consists of a daylong series of lessons on energy and entropy and their relationship to equilibrium—topics central to understanding the behavior of matter and chemical change. A complementary theme of the strand is incorporating activities as part of the assessment of student learning.
Physical Science and Earth Science Day at NSTA
Matter, Energy, and Interactions: A Day of Physical and Earth Science for Elementary and Middle School Teachers
Friday, November 9, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
Korbel Ballroom 4F
Based on the National Science Education Standards for Inquiry, Physical Science, and Earth and Space Science, this all-day workshop features six sessions focusing on inquiry-based activities to teach basic topics in chemistry, physics, and earth science. The Education Divisions of the American Chemical Society (ACS), American Geological Institute (AGI), and American Physical Society (APS) will facilitate sessions in which elementary and middle school teachers will participate in activities to improve their own content knowledge, discuss and share ideas about how to conduct the activities with students, and receive free resources for physical and earth science teaching. These sessions are open to all conference attendees.
BSCS Celebrates 50 Years of Leadership in Science Education
In 2008 BSCS will commemorate 50 years of contributions to science education. During this time, BSCS has endeavored to improve all students’ understanding of science by developing curriculum materials, providing professional development, and conducting educational research. These activities have been and continue to be central to the BSCS mission. In recognition of this anniversary, the Denver conference committee has generously agreed to special events and presentations honoring the history and contemporary contributions of BSCS.
Presentations celebrating the BSCS anniversary complement themes for the Denver conference. Come participate in sessions on Inquiry and Literacy in Elementary School Science, Teaching and Learning Science, Critical Issues in Professional Development, and much more.
Please note the following featured sessions:
BSCS Keynote Speaker Susan Epperson
Reflections on Epperson vs. Arkansas and Evolution Teaching in Public Schools Today
BSCS: 50 Years of Innovation, Inquiry, and Integrity
Friday, November 9, 12:30–1:30 PM
Preparing a 21st-Century Workforce
Saturday, November 10, 11:00 AM–12 Noon
Please join BSCS for one, several, or all of these sessions as we celebrate the past 50 years and look forward to the next 50 years!