NCSTA PDI 2019: Full Schedule

Welcome to the 2019 NCSTA PDI. We are celebrating 50 years of continued support of science educators in North Carolina. We have many great sessions and exciting activities planned.

For more information about using this app, vist our website.

Lunch Options and Discounts

8:00am EST

STEM Family Challenge

Family members are just one of the major influences on a young person’s career pathway. Hosting a STEM Family Challenge event provides a unique opportunity for schools to build and enhance relationships with family members and to engage and inspire young people to explore STEM in a fun way. Planning a STEM Family Challenge event is a BIG undertaking and requires a lot of resources and time to plan and execute effectively. Also, a STEM Family Challenge event ought to be fun, hands-on, accessible, cover different topics and interests, and give families opportunities to design, build and compete! This is where we come in. We provide a turnkey kit that any school or club can pull off with even limited volunteers. Families will have a blast competing together in exciting activities we will share at this session. K-2, K-5, K-8, K-12, 3-5, 6-8, 6-12

Speakers/Presenters

Jason Painter

Director, The Science House

Dr. Jason Painter is currently the director of the Science House at NC State University. Since the Science House was founded in 1991, the organization has remained committed to bridging the resources of North Carolina’s largest research institution to K-12 students and educators... Read More →

Thursday November 14, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Salem 3A

Other, Elementary Science

Subject General Science
Grade Level K-2, K-5, K-8, K-12, 3-5, 6-8, 6-12

12:30pm EST

The Interconnectedness of Environmental Education and Classroom Learning

Place-based experiential science programs, like Project OWL and Project EXPLORE, engage students and teachers in EE, citizen science and interdisciplinary learning while meeting standards. K-5, K-8

Speakers/Presenters

Michelle Pearce

Program Coordinator, Environmental Educators of North Carolina

Michelle Pearce is the Program Coordinator with the Environmental Educators of North Carolina. Michelle earned a bachelor’s of science in biology, is a certified North Carolina Environmental Educator and holds a Master’s Degree in Science Education. She has served as President... Read More →

Trudie Henninger (she/they)

Citizen Science Coordinator, The NC Arboretum Society

Trudie Henninger is the Project EXPLORE coordinator at The NC Arboretum. Trudie has been partnering with teachers to reinforce content and provide hands on exploratory learning in schoolyards through her Project EXPLORE initiative since 2013. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Environmental... Read More →

Thursday November 14, 2019 12:30pm - 1:30pm EST
Salem 1B

Other, Non-strand session

Subject Life Sciences, STEAM, Citizen Science, Teacher Professional Development
Grade Level K-5, K-8

12:30pm EST

Using Science and Engineering Practices to Inspire Thinking, Wonder and Fun in the Science Class

Participants will engage in hands-on activities that are designed to inspire student curiosity, questioning and deep understanding. Participants will also learn how these activities embed the Framework for Science's Science and Engineering Practices and can be used in the classroom. K-8, 6-8

Speakers/Presenters

Melaine Rickard

Western Alamance Middle School

Todd Guentensberger

Center for Inquiry-Based Learning

Thursday November 14, 2019 12:30pm - 1:30pm EST
Salem 3C

Other, Inquiry-Based Learning

Subject Inquiry-Based Science
Grade Level K-8, 6-8

3:30pm EST

Science in the Middle: Working with Middle School Students

Varying ability levels in the science class can present instructional challenges of how to bring all students to understanding. Some concepts are easily explained, while others may require multiple explanations. Discover how using highly interactive online scenarios can provide the teacher with technology to introduce, present and review challenging concepts. K-8

Speakers/Presenters

Richard G Smith, Exhibitor

international education consultant, Academy of Coastal Carolina

He is a certified instructor for Explore Learning. He received one of the ten regional outstanding teaching awards, presented annually by the American Chemical Society. Ohio University presented him with their outstanding teaching award among OU alumni. Rollins College presented Mr... Read More →

Thursday November 14, 2019 3:30pm - 4:30pm EST
Winston 3B

Problem Based Learning (PBL) to Expand Scientific Literacy

Subject General Science
Grade Level K-8
Other - Description Commercial

8:00am EST

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Engage Youth in STEM Through Making

Participants will connect content standards, while engaging with STEM resources generally found in Makerspaces or STEM Labs. This session will give educators the opportunity to investigate how STEM resources can be used interdisciplinarily in all content areas. K-8

Speakers/Presenters

Faith Freeman

Director of STEM/Tutoring, Guilford County Public Schools

Johnette McCain

Guilford County Schools

Emma Linn

Assistant Principal, Guilford County Schools

Friday November 15, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Winston 1B

Digital Literacy

Subject General Science
Grade Level K-8

8:00am EST

Connecting the 4 Cs in the Classroom through STEM

Increase rigor and relationships in the classroom by integrating communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking into everyday learning. The 4Cs will be demonstrated and utilized through hands-on STEM activities and investigations that encourage student growth and active participation. K-2, K-5, K-8, 3-5, 6-8

Speakers/Presenters

Katie Matthews

1st Grade Teacher, Valle Crucis Elementary School

With support from the CASMT Grant from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, I created and implemented Science PALS, a program that pairs elementary students with intermediate/middle school students for weekly science labs and investigations. Ask me about the program and the impact it has... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Salem 3B

Problem Based Learning (PBL) to Expand Scientific Literacy

Subject General Science
Grade Level K-2, K-5, K-8, 3-5, 6-8

8:00am EST

Kids as Investigators, Makers, Inventors and Conservationists: UNC-G BRIDGES Program

Youth want to make a difference! Foster their passion by engaging them in investigations, engineering design, makerspace activities and app development focused on environmental problem solving. We’ll share lots of resources you can use in your classroom and after-school programs. K-8

Speakers/Presenters

Heidi Carlone

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Courtney Ferguson

Bluford STEM Academy

Lakshmi Iyer

Appalachian State University

Manda Jackson

Reidsville Middle School

Charlene Marsh

UNCG

Alison Mercier

UNC-G STEM Teacher Leader Collaborative

Katie Singleton

Reidsville Middle School

Friday November 15, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Salem 1A

Problem Based Learning (PBL) to Expand Scientific Literacy

Subject Environmental Science
Grade Level K-8

9:15am EST

Science and Literacy: Making the Connection

Let's explore how to develop our students’ scientific literacy through the integration of doing science with reading, writing and discourse. Session participants will understand, experiment and reason; as well as, interpret scientific facts and their meaning using natural phenomena. K-8

Speakers/Presenters

Valerie Sellers (STEMscopes)

Regional Trainer, STEMscopes

Retired from teaching after 26+ years in Elementary Education. I am now training teachers to use hands-on learning for STEMscopes. I am passionate about making learning meaningful in today's classrooms.

Pam O'Brien

Regional STEM Coach, STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Stan Mozingo

STEMscopes

Rhonda Duvall

National STEM Manager, STEMscopes by Accelerate Learning

Dr. Kenn Heydrick is a K-16 STEM education advocate at the state and national levels. Because of his 30+ years of experience and credentials, he strives to support STEM programs that will increase achievement among students. Heydrick received B.S. and M.S. degrees from Northern Illinois... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Winston 3A

Other, Literacy

Subject General Science
Grade Level K-8
Other - Description Commercial

9:15am EST

Empower Students Through Innovative Teaching Practices

The Invention Process builds a new relationship for teaching and learning, affording the learner to direct their own learning pathway. Experience the Invention Process through hands-on activities that can be replicated in your classroom. K-2, K-5, K-8, K-12, 3-5, 6-8, General

Speakers/Presenters

Shawn Boger

National Inventors Hall of Fame

Friday November 15, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Salem 3B

Problem Based Learning (PBL) to Expand Scientific Literacy

Subject STEM/Creativity
Grade Level K-2, K-5, K-8, K-12, 3-5, 6-8, General

10:30am EST

Elon Explorers: Citizen Science meets Multimedia Communication

A one-week summer program taught students about citizen science and communicating ideas through multimedia. The project intended to develop science identities and understandings of the nature and practice of science. Come learn about citizen science and about integrating digital literacy. K-8, 3-5, 6-8

Speakers/Presenters

Mark Enfield

Elon University

Jen Hamel

Elon University

Friday November 15, 2019 10:30am - 11:00am EST
Winston 1A

Digital Literacy

Subject Ecology, Biology, Nature of Science
Grade Level K-8, 3-5, 6-8

10:30am EST

Tricked into Thinking

Why do some things float and others sink? What happens when you drop a golf ball from the top of a tower? Using online simulations, teachers and students can be Tricked into Thinking! K-8

Speakers/Presenters

Richard G Smith, Exhibitor

international education consultant, Academy of Coastal Carolina

Friday November 15, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Salem 3B

Problem Based Learning (PBL) to Expand Scientific Literacy

Grade Level K-8
Other - Description Commercial

12:30pm EST

Paideia Seminar: Connecting Fiction to Non-Fiction

The presentation will prepare teachers with how to write a seminar, how to structure the lesson, how to lead a seminar, and why connecting non-fiction topics to fiction topics helps solidify concepts. K-2, K-5, K-8, K-12, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, 6-12

Speakers/Presenters

Jamie Worth

Matthews Elementary (CMS)

Friday November 15, 2019 12:30pm - 1:30pm EST
Winston 1C

Other, Science and Literacy connections

Subject General Science, K-12
Grade Level K-2, K-5, K-8, K-12, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12, 6-12

1:45pm EST

Teaching Ethics to Elementary Science Students

What do ants have to do with ethics? You’ll come away from this session with the answer and with ideas for introducing elementary students to science ethics in 4th or 5th grade. The unit is easily modified for younger students. K-5, K-8

Speakers/Presenters

Wayne Shore

Elementary Science Specialist, Fuller GT/AIG Basics Magnet Elementary School - Wake County Public Schools

Friday November 15, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
Salem 3C

Other, Ethics

Subject Scientific Ethics
Grade Level K-5, K-8

1:45pm EST

Playful Inquiry: A Playful Approach to Scientific Investigation and Exploration

Playful approaches to learning allow students to play with ideas, experiment and initiate investigations. Using methods used in the playwork profession, participants will look at ways they can playfully support students’ opportunities to explore the questions they care about outdoors. K-2, K-5, K-8, General

Speakers/Presenters

Linda Kinney

Nature Play and School programs manager, North Carolina Zoo

Linda has over 30 years experience working in both formal and informal education. For the past twenty-one years, Linda has worked in Education at the North Carolina Zoo and is currently the Nature Play and School programs manager. Linda also leads professional development trainings... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2019 1:45pm - 2:45pm EST
Salem 1A

Problem Based Learning (PBL) to Expand Scientific Literacy

Subject Problem Based Learning, Earth/Environmental Science, Instrumental Value of Play
Grade Level K-2, K-5, K-8, General