Conferences

Wisconsin Center • 400 W. Wisconsin Ave. • Milwaukee, WI 53203

Mark your calendar for NSTA's 2017 area conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin!

Twitter hashtags: #NSTA17 (2017 conferences), #NSTA (all-purpose)

Session Proposals

Have an idea for an inspiring presentation or workshop on science education? You have until January 17, 2017, to submit a session proposal for the 2017 NSTA Area Conferences. Click here for information on our new guidelines for session proposals and to submit a session proposal today (deadline for submissions is 11:59 PM on Tuesday, January 17, 2017).

Proposal Review Timeline for 2017 Area Conferences

• Submission deadline: January 17, 2017
• Proposals reviewed in March
• Accepted sessions scheduled and acceptance e-mails sent in early spring

Conference Strands

To help you make the most of the professional development opportunities available at the Milwaukee conference, the Conference Committee has planned the conference around three strands that explore topics of current significance, enabling you to focus on a specific area of interest or need.

Preparing All Students for the Voyage

In a science- and technology-driven society, equity means that all students should have access to the three dimensions of the NGSS to be prepared to participate as productive citizens. Successful achievement of disciplinary core ideas, science and engineering practices, and crosscutting concepts demands strategies that address a diverse set of learners, including but not limited to students with special needs, English language learners, gifted and talented students, urban and rural students, and those in other underserved groups. This strand will demonstrate how teachers can provide equitable science and engineering learning opportunities that engage ALL students in constructing meaning about the world around them.

Navigating STEM Through the NGSS

STEM has become a buzzword attached to everything from a two-hour project on Friday to a fully integrated learning program. A common definition of STEM education emphasizes its interdisciplinary approach coupled with real-world lessons. The focus of this strand is on creating authentic preK–12 cross-curricular connections and engaging students in real-world applications using NGSS. The NGSS integrates science with other STEM disciplines, as well as literacy. This strand will increase participants' understanding of the way the NGSS can be applied when implementing STEM lessons that are field tested and research based.

Buoying Up Literacy with Science

Effective science instruction boosts literacy. Scientifically literate students obtain, evaluate, and communicate information. Integrating science and language arts instruction allows educators to support students from multiple angles. Reading, writing, listening, and speaking can be woven into science in meaningful mediums. In this strand, participants will develop an understanding of how science can support literacy and literacy instruction.

Conference Committee Leaders

Kevin Anderson
Conference Chairperson
Science Education Consultant
Wisconsin Dept. of Public Instruction
125 S. Webster St.
PO Box 7841
Madison, WI 53707-7841

Ray Scolavino
Program Coordinator
Professor
UW–Milwaukee
2400 E. Hartford Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53221

Jackie Aleem
Local Arrangements Coordinator
Science Teacher Leader
Milwaukee Public Schools
1555 N. MLK Dr.
Milwaukee, WI 53208