Sponsors

Conference Overview

Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center • 201 Waterfront St. • National Harbor, MD
November 15–17, 2018

Science Education: A National Priority

Come as a Team! Bring 5 attendees for the price of 4. Use Code 5FOR4 to get a free fifth registration when you sign up four attendees.

Register now!

The 2018 Area Conference on Science Education, National Harbor, MD, will begin on Thursday, November 15, and end on Saturday, November 17.

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Monumental Challenge: STEM Equity, Diversity, and Advocacy via NGSS

"Arguably, the most pressing challenge facing U.S. education is to provide all students with a fair opportunity to learn" (Framework; NRC 2012, p. 282). Educators must advocate and take action to provide equity and access to STEM opportunities for students. The three-dimensional nature of the NRC Framework provides an incredible opportunity for teachers to engage ALL students in STEM education. To develop innovative and responsible citizens for tomorrow, we must foster creativity, academic risk-taking, and perseverance within ALL student groups today. This strand will focus on supporting teachers in creating inclusive classrooms that are culturally proficient and celebrate diverse ideas and solutions essential for STEM literacy.

Freedom to Become Scientifically Literate

Developing scientifically literate global citizens is increasingly critical in today's society. Opportunities for students to analyze data, make claims, engage in argument from evidence, and grapple with authentic science and engineering problems are essential to achieving this goal. Sessions in this strand will focus on creating environments that engage students in becoming connected to the world around them and prepare them to be the next generation of decision makers.

Cultivating Curiosity in the Capital Region

Children are born with natural curiosity that is often "schooled out" of them. The challenge of science education is to provide opportunities that spark their sense of curiosity, hone their critical-thinking skills, and help them to make sense of the world in which they live. The national capital region is rich in resources and environments that invite students to wonder about the world around them. Local contexts and relevant phenomena use, build, and sustain student curiosity by providing opportunities to ask questions, solve problems in multiple ways, and deepen understanding. In this strand, participants will explore tools, strategies, and local resources to tap into and maintain their students' curiosity.

Graduate Credit for National Harbor Area Conference Attendees

Earn one (1) or two (2) graduate-level credit/units in professional development through Dominican University of California course #EDUO 9029. To obtain credit/units, you must be registered for the NSTA National Harbor area conference, complete the required assignments, and pay a fee of $95 for one credit/unit or $190 for two credits/units. An NSTA transcript is also required. Your required assignments must be successfully completed and sent to the instructor within three weeks of the conference ending date. Deadline is December 15, 2018. Click here for complete details.

Conference Pricing

*Earlybird deadline: October 5, 2018       Advance deadline: October 26, 2018

**Chapter Members:

• MAST (MD) - Maryland Association of Science Teachers

***Partner Association Members:

• AACT - American Association of Chemistry Teachers

• AAPT - American Association of Physics Teachers

• ACS - American Chemical Society

• ASEE - American Society for Engineering Education

• NABT - National Association of Biology Teachers

Come as a group! Register four attendees and get a complimentary 5th registration. Use code 5FOR4 at checkout to get the discount (*applies for full registration ONLY).
 

Event Sponsors

NSTA and the Conference Committee are extremely grateful to the following companies and associations for their generous support and contributions to the 2018 Area Conference on Science Education in National Harbor, MD.

Sponsors

• Maryland Association of Science Teachers
• National Geographic Learning | Cengage
• Southwest
• Texas Instruments
• Vernier Software & Technology

Contributors

• American Chemical Society
• American Society for Engineering Education

Conference Committee

Jaclyn Austin
Conference Chairperson
MAST Past President and
Secondary Science Instructional Facilitator
Howard County Public School System
10910 Clarksville Pike
Ellicott City, MD 21042

Jonathon Grooms
Program Coordinator
Assistant Professor of Curriculum & Pedagogy
Graduate School of Education and Human Development
The George Washington University
2134 G St. NW
Washington, DC 20052

Anisha Campbell
Local Arrangements Coordinator
Associate Director, Terrapin Teachers
University of Maryland
John S. Toll Physics Building
Room 1108
College Park, MD 20742