Sponsors

Conference Overview

America's Center Convention Complex • 701 Convention Plaza • St. Louis, MO

Champions for Science Education

The conference will begin with concurrent sessions on Thursday, April 11, at 8:00 AM and end on Sunday, April 14, at 12 Noon. Note: Sean M. Carroll of California Institute of Technology is a special pre-conference speaker on Wednesday evening, April 10, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Register to Attend

Can't Attend in Person?  Register for our Livestream

New for 2019, NSTA will offer a Livestream on Saturday, April 13, from 8:00 AM to 1:45 PM CT. Click here for more details and to register for this unique event focused on science teaching at the elementary level.

More Than 1,000 Sessions Announced—Vote Now for Most Interesting Sessions!

More than 1,000 sessions are confirmed for the 2019 St. Louis National Conference! Please click on the Session Picker link to vote for the sessions you are most excited to attend. These sessions focus on our four conference strands (Three-Dimensional Grand Slam, Phenomena: Gateway to Learning, Jazzing Up Science with Cross-Curricular Connections, and Confluence of Equity and Education) as well as life science; Earth and space science; physical science; engineering, technology, and the application of science; informal science education, and general science education. Sessions also cover grades preK–college.
 

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Keynote Speaker Scott Kelly Retired Astronaut and Retired U.S. Navy Captain The Sky Is Not the Limit: Lessons from a Year in Space Thursday, April 11, 2019 9:15–10:30 AM Halls 1/2, America's Center NSTA wishes to thank Knopf Doubleday and Random House Children’s Books for sponsoring this speaker.

Conference Program Strands

Three-Dimensional Grand Slam

Shifting science educators’ focus from simply teaching science ideas to helping students figure out solutions is exciting. In their learning, students must use all three dimensions of the NGSS or NRC Framework in an integrated fashion in order to make sense of phenomena or design solutions to problems. Classrooms incorporating three-dimensional learning have students build models, design investigations, develop explanations, and argue using evidence, all of which allow students to develop important 21st-century skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and self-management. This strand will focus on implementing three-dimensional learning to increase student understanding and will be targeted by level: novice, intermediate, or advanced attendees. (Note: Click here to learn more regarding three-dimensional instruction, Krajcik, J. 2015. Three-Dimensional Instruction, Using a New Type of Teaching in the Science Classroom. Science Scope.)

Phenomena: Gateway to Learning

Using phenomena in science experiences expands learning. Inclusion of multiple disciplines or subject areas in three-dimensional learning aids in deepening student thinking, learning, and reflecting. This strand will show how teachers can use structures such as the 5E instructional model, Claims-Evidence-Reasoning (CER), Problem-Based Learning, Place-Based Learning, or Project-Based Learning as viable approaches to facilitate student understanding. This strand will be targeted by level: novice, intermediate, or advanced attendees.

Jazzing Up Science with Cross-Curricular Connections

In the past, science and engineering were often taught in isolation. Using best practices has proven that integrating science and engineering with other content areas or other science disciplines promotes students’ mastery of disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts. Integration within the sciences or among other disciplines leads to deeper learning and understanding for all students. This strand will focus on ways that science and other subject areas can be integrated, including the best way to bundle disciplinary core ideas. This strand will be targeted by level: novice, intermediate, or advanced attendees.

Confluence of Equity and Education

“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). This challenge is of great importance as we continue to embrace changing demographics in our classrooms, communities, and country. Our imperative is to maintain high expectations and broaden access and opportunities in STEM education to increase the likelihood of student success and to prepare them to compete globally. This strand will be targeted by level: novice, intermediate, or advanced attendees.

Graduate-Level Credit for St. Louis Conference Attendees

Conference Pricing

*Earlybird deadline: February 1, 2019
*Advance deadline: March 1, 2019

Event Sponsors

NSTA and the Conference Committee are extremely grateful to the following companies and associations for their generous support and contributions to the 2019 National Conference on Science Education in St. Louis, MO.

Sponsors

• Amplify
• The Boeing Company
• Carolina Biological Supply Co.
• Emerson
• Great Minds
• HHMI BioInteractive
• The Kavli Foundation
• Knopf Doubleday and Random House Children's Books
• Lab-Aids, Inc.
• Learning A-Z
• Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
• Mosa Mack Science
• National Geographic
• Northrop Grumman Foundation
• Penguin Random House
• Pitsco Education
• Project Lead The Way
• Science Teachers of Missouri
• Shell
• Southwest Airlines
• Texas Instruments

Contributors

• American Geophysical Union
• Brandwein Institute
• Missouri Botanical Garden
• The National Earth Science Teachers Association
• Shaw Nature Reserve

Conference Committee Leaders

Mike Szydlowski
Conference Chairperson
K–12 Science Coordinator
Columbia Public Schools
1818 W. Worley St.
Columbia, MO 65203

Eric Hadley
Program Coordinator
K–12 Science Curriculum Coordinator
Ferguson-Florissant School District
Little Creek Nature Area
2295 Dunn Rd.
Florissant, MO 63033

Christina Hughes
Local Arrangements Coordinator
K–12 Science Curriculum Coordinator
Hazelwood School District
15955 New Halls Ferry Rd.
Florissant, MO 63031