With so much information and misinformation, it can be difficult for teachers to calmly and scientifically discuss topics such as GMOs, climate change, evolution, etc. In contrast to the current atmosphere of scientists ridiculing "science deniers", it can be much more productive to take a more respectful approach, showing people techniques to help them sift through the flood of information to find the real science. This includes simple methods for fact checking, how to decipher a scientific journal article, and red flags that indicate you should dig deeper in your fact checking.
Do you find it difficult to get the families of your students to support what you’re doing in your classes? Perhaps it’s time to invite them back into your school as part of a Science Showcase, a chance for your students to present what they’ve learned to their parents, siblings, and the public. We’ll discuss ways to prepare your students through practice presentations and peer feedback, how to organize and publicize the event, and how to debrief and assess learning. These events become unforgettable opportunities for your students to really shine, to gain valuable PR for your school and STEM education, and to engage the public in support of your classroom goals.
There is an increasing diversity in the U.S. and the U.S. Educational System. This increased diversity affects individual and overall student achievement, connects to students’ citizenships, and calls to question the idea of education as a democratic process. While this situation spans the general classroom in any subject area, it is also true in the fields of STEM education and results in lower achievement of diverse students and lower student diversity in advanced science courses. This presentation will raise awareness and initiate discussion related to the implications of our increasingly multicultural science classrooms. Ultimately, this presentation will incite a renewed focus on the purpose of teaching the Nature of Science in the culturally diverse classrooms of now and the future.
Are you overwhelmed with all the perceived demands of your job? In this session we will introduce strategies for clearly defining what students should know and how to maintain focus through planning, implementation and testing. Our goal is to demonstrate some minor changes that can be immediately implemented to help your next unit be more successful for you and the students.
