Conference Strands
To help you make the most of the professional development opportunities available at the Louisville conference, the Conference Committee has planned the conference around three strands that explore topics of current significance, enabling you to focus on a specific area of interest or need.
Science does not exist in isolation. Disciplines within science are interdependent with each other as well as other curricular areas. This strand will improve participants' understanding of the synergies across disciplines and will provide the tools and strategies to impact student learning.
This strand addresses the student questions: "Why do I need to learn this? When am I going to use this?" Through the lens of science, students can better understand observations outside the classroom such as evaporation, electronic devices, flight of kites, and growth of plants in more meaningful ways. This can result in a deeper appreciation and application of what is learned in the science classroom. Emerging technology and careers are generated by the understanding and application of scientific concepts. The average American today enjoys a quality of life that would have been unfathomable only a few generations ago. This is a direct result of the implementation of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) concepts.
Innovation, creativity, and problem solving are as important to science education as the laboratory equipment in the science classroom. Humans are naturally inquisitive and this should be fostered in classrooms. Therefore, strategies for teaching inquiry and problem solving are necessary for understanding the role of innovation and creativity in science. A Framework for K–12 Science Education will influence the teaching of science, making it necessary to expose misconceptions and refine classroom practices. This strand reflects the need for creativity and problem solving based on research and assessment. These are essential to the processes of science and engineering design.
For a list of sessions for each strand, click on the links above.