Special Programs
ESP Symposium
The Standards offered Four Goals/Justifications for Science in K–6 Settings, namely that all students would: (1) Experience the richness and excitement of knowing about and understanding the natural world; (2) Use appropriate scientific processes and principles in making personal decisions; (3) Engage intelligently in public discourse and debate about matters of scientific and technological concern; and (4) Increase their economic productivity through the use of the knowledge, understandings, and skills of the scientifically literate person in their careers.
The ESP series identifies people and places where the reforms recommended have emerged, including (1) Exemplary Science in Grades PreK–4; (2) Exemplary Science in Grades 5–8; (3) Exemplary Science in Grades 9–12; (4) Exemplary Science: Best Practices in Professional Development; (5) Inquiry: The Key to Exemplary Science; (6) Exemplary Science in Informal Education Settings; and (7) Exemplary Science for Resolving Societal Challenges. The exemplars are discussed in ESP symposia at all NSTA conferences.
The series was conceived by Robert E. Yager (1982–1983 NSTA President), who continues ESP searches and ways of recognizing classroom successes while also encouraging more to try!
An ESP symposium has been scheduled at the Louisville conference, featuring brief descriptions of programs that exemplify how the four NSES goals have been met. The discussants will be drawn from authors of chapters from several monographs in the series.
Chemistry Day at NSTA
Two ACS-sponsored programs, one for grade levels 9–12 and the other for middle level educators, will take place at the Louisville conference.
Equilibrium, Le Chatelier, and Rate
For grade levels 9–12
Friday, October 19, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
207, Kentucky International Convention Center
Sponsored by the American Chemical Society
Engage in activities, discussion, analyses, and assessment that help understanding of the relationships among equilibria, Le Chatelier's principle, and rates and their roles in moving toward a more sustainable use of Earth's resources.
Education research indicates a positive correlation between teacher content knowledge and student learning. The goals of this workshop are to enhance and enrich secondary chemistry teachers’ knowledge of and interrelationships among equilibria, Le Chatelier, and rates through engagement in activities, discussion, and analyses that demonstrate how lessons on these concepts can be presented in a way that stimulates student thinking and prompts exploration of the complexity of the concepts as they relate to sustainability.
The content and structure of the workshop draws on several decades of experience the American Chemical Society has in activity-based curricula development that include incorporation of sustainability and Green Chemistry principles. The workshop is a daylong series of lessons on equilibria, Le Chatelier's principle, and rates—topics central to understanding the behavior of matter and chemical change. A complementary theme of the workshop is incorporating activities as part of the assessment of student learning.
Middle School Chemistry—Big Ideas About the Very Small
Friday, October 19, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
L5, Kentucky International Convention Center
Sponsored by the American Chemical Society
Come to one, two, or as many sessions as you like during this full day of activities and information for teaching and learning middle school chemistry. Staff from the American Chemical Society (ACS) will introduce participants to the new free online resource middleschoolchemistry.com. Each of the six sessions will include hands-on activities and explanations from the website that participants can easily incorporate into their teaching to support their current textbook and curriculum. Handouts of the session activities will be available for all participants.
Physics Day at NSTA
Friday, October 19, 8:00 AM–4:30 PM
208, Kentucky International Convention Center
Sponsored by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) and the Kentucky Section of AAPT
The American Association of Physics Teachers offers a full day of physics content at the Louisville area conference. Physics Day consists of interactive hands-on workshops covering important physics topics for today's world. Each of these workshops is organized by experienced science educators and designed to deal with hard-to-express concepts that can be immediately applied in your classroom. Physics Day in Louisville is being organized by the Kentucky Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers.
Biology Day at NSTA
Friday, October 19, 8:00 AM–1:30 PM
L7, Kentucky International Convention Center
Sponsored by the National Association of Biology Teachers
NABT is proud to present Biology Day. Join us for hands-on and informative sessions that highlight the resources and tools you need to excel as a biology and life science teacher. Sessions will include activities on biodiversity, evolution, and the revised AP Biology course.
From free resources to expert tips, Biology Day provides relevant information and pedagogy for every biology teacher at every level. Enhance your teaching, engage your students, and enjoy NABT Biology Day in Louisville!
Engineering Day at NSTA
Thursday, October 18, 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
L6, Kentucky International Convention Center
Sponsored by the American Society for Engineering Education
The American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) has put together a public/private partnership to develop ways of engaging elementary, middle school, and high school students and teachers in engineering. Participants will learn about innovative, hands-on, project-based engineering activities, courses, curriculum options, events, outreach programs, professional development, and competitions designed to increase engineering and technological literacy of all students; encourage more and more diverse students to pursue engineering careers; and enable teachers to learn about and experience engineering. Presenters will share lessons learned and examples of inquiry and design activities that have been developed in partnership with K–12 science teachers for use in the classroom and in informal educational settings. The materials result from a collaboration of engineering educators and STEM professionals working with NASA, Teachengineering.org, Engineering is Elementary, and Colleges of Engineering across the nation who actively engage in K–12 engineering in collaboration with partner teachers and schools.