Conference Strands

To help you make the most of the professional development opportunities available at the Charlotte 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.

Engineering: Promoting the "E" in STEM

There is a great untapped potential for implementing engineering practices into the science classroom. To become more effective teachers, we need to integrate the use of engineering design into STEM instruction. This strand will emphasize engineering across the NRC Framework's disciplinary core ideas—"Earth and space sciences," "life sciences," "physical sciences," and "engineering, technology, and applications of science" in relation to the highly anticipated Next Generation Science Standards.

Merging Literacy into Science Instruction

With the growing demands on the school day, can educators afford to continue to teach science as a separate subject? This strand focuses on authentic ways to integrate the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects with science instruction. Students will become adept at utilizing such Common Core skills as gathering information, evaluating sources, citing materials accurately, and reporting findings from their research and analysis of sources in a clear and cogent manner when teaching science.

Accelerating the Skills of Digital Learners

The effective use of technology can facilitate relevant science experiences for students in a way that is cost-effective and versatile. This strand focuses on enhancing science instruction through the use of technology to motivate students to research and solve real-world problems by collaborating, collecting and analyzing data, and communicating results.