Program Partners

Conference Overview

Pennsylvania Convention Center • 1101 Arch Street • Philadelphia, PA

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The 7th Annual STEM Forum & Expo, hosted by NSTA, is a unique, focused event that brings together (informal and formal) educators and representatives from exhibiting companies who are interested in, and who have tools and resources to share that will ensure successful implementation of STEM education into our schools and communities. It is intended to provide resources for educators and organizations seeking to learn more about STEM education, associated outreach programs, partnerships, schools, and curricula.

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STEM Forum Strands

Lower Elementary/Early Childhood

Students in the lower elementary grades are beginning to understand the world around them and the role they play in it. They are curious and want to make sense of their surroundings. By providing students with inquiry-based experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, we can unlock each student's natural curiosity and help them understand the world in an engaging way. The foundational skills learned and mastered through the integration of STEM during the early years, if done right, will help these students be critical thinkers and makers who can innovate the future they will be a part of. Sessions in this strand will emphasize open-ended and active exploration, play, and investigation of the real world through the lens of NGSS.

Upper Elementary

How do we respond to research that indicates that by the time our students reach the fourth grade, a third of them will lose interest in science? How do we ensure that our students develop a solid foundation in the STEM areas so that they are prepared to both work and live in the 21st century? To reverse this trend and ignite their interest in future STEM careers, elementary students need quality learning activities and experiences that spark curiosity, promote confidence, support the rigor of current standards, and develop competence in STEM subjects. The sessions in this strand showcase programs and instructional strategies that support STEM and have been successfully integrated into the elementary core curriculum.

Middle Level

Engaging students through opportunities to explore STEM fields of study that support the NRC Framework and the Next Generation Science Standards is a top priority at the middle school level. A successful middle school STEM program allows students to create, innovate, communicate, collaborate, and iterate projects that are driven by their own interests. The sessions in this strand showcase learning environments where Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics interconnect to serve as a vehicle for discovery, innovation, and independent problem solving while also meeting rigorous content standards.

High School

As we prepare high school students to enter the workforce and college, students must not only understand but apply their understanding in the context of real-world problem solving. Nowhere is this more important than in STEM for grades 9–12. The sessions in this strand will highlight innovative, hands-on, student-centered approaches to STEM topics that cross subject boundaries.

Partnerships

Partnerships among community, business/industry, and education-focused entities often connect preK–16 schools and universities to valuable resources. Leveraging those partnerships can also be key to preparing students and supporting teachers to meet the needs of a dynamic workforce that is constantly changing. As the nation recognizes the importance of STEM education to our economic future, collaborations in STEM education between preK–16 and business and cultural communities are becoming increasingly prevalent. The sessions in this strand highlight select preK–16 partnership initiatives that have been successfully implemented and have demonstrated positive outcomes.

Administrators

Successful STEM programs at the primary and secondary levels align the interrelated nature of science and mathematics education with an emphasis on technology and engineering through hands-on and real-life applications where students develop the skills and mind-sets needed to answer complex questions, investigate global issues, and develop solutions for real challenges. This is an incredibly exciting time in education as we shift to support the development of these skills in STEM and across the curriculum. The sessions in this strand will highlight how administrators can best support innovative, hands-on, student-centered approaches to STEM education.

Graduate Credit

Earn one (1) or two (2) graduate-level credit/units in professional development through Dominican University of California (dominicancaonline.com) course #EDUO 9564. To obtain credit/units, you must be registered for the 7^th Annual STEM Forum & Expo, hosted by NSTA, 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 August 13, 2018. Click here for complete details.

STEM Forum & Expo Sponsors and Program Partners

NSTA and the STEM Forum & Expo Steering Committee are extremely grateful to the following companies and associations for their generous support and contributions to the 7th Annual NSTA STEM Forum & Expo, hosted by NSTA.

Program Partners

STEM Forum & Expo Steering Committee

Jennifer C. Williams, Chair
Dept. Chair Lower School Science | PAEMST 2006
Isidore Newman School
1903 Jefferson Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70115

Adriana Guerra
Lower Elementary/Early Childhood Strand Leader
Kindergarten Teacher
E.P. Foster STEM Academy
20 Pleasant Place
Ventura, CA 93001

Brandi Leggett
Upper Elementary Strand Leader
Instructional Coach
Rosehill Elementary School
9801 Rosehill Rd.
Lenexa, KS 66215

Kenneth WIlliams
Middle School Strand Leader
STEM Teacher
Oxon Hill Middle School
9570 Fort Foote Rd.
Fort Washington, MD 20613

Kerri Murphy
High School Strand Leader
Math Teacher
Oliver Ames High School
100 Lothrop St.
North Easton, MA 02356

Garrett Mason
Partnerships Strand Leader
Education & Design Thinking Consultant
Denver, CO

Damaries Blondonville
Administrators Strand Leader
Project Manager
Prince George's County Public Schools
7711 Livingston Rd.
Oxon Hill, MD 20745