New Orleans, LA
November 6-9, 2024
Conference Website
Every year the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) hosts a national conference on science education open to member and nonmember science educators. NSTA is committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all.
Friday, November 8
Data Science Roundtable Discussion: What is the role of science in students learning data science?
5:15 PM – 6:00 PM, Rivergate Terrace in the Convention Center
We’re excited to host a focus group discussion about where data science fits in schools and what role, if any, science classes play in supporting student data literacy. Participants will receive a $50 Amazon gift card. Please RSVP to reserve your spot.
Friday, November 8
Formative Assessment Tasks Supporting Science and Literacy Learning
Daniel Damelin, Christopher Harris (WestEd), David McKinney (WestEd)
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – 263
This session will explore how formative assessment tasks can reveal students’ 3D learning as well as students’ ability to use language to demonstrate their learning. Come learn how students’ use of language can be an asset for making sense of science learning and literacy growth for all students.
Saturday, November 9
Exploring New Visualization and Pedagogical Strategies for Supporting Students in Organizing, Transforming, and Making Sense of Data
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – 278
Come learn about research into how students conceptualize data structure, how hierarchical/grouped structures can help support learning and analysis, and explore potential pedagogical moves and technical scaffolds to aid in student sense-making with data.
Precipitating Change with Alaskan Schools: Bridging Indigenous and Western Science While Modeling Mitigation of Coastal Erosion
Texas Raymond, Carolyn Staudt
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – 295
Precipitating Change with Alaskan Schools is a National Science Foundation-funded project with Alaskan Native communities, multiple universities, and the Concord Consortium. Together, we are exploring approaches to designing, testing, and refining multi-perspective for middle school students. Teachers and students investigate coasts and coastal change involving both Indigenous and Western science approaches, as well as diving into related areas, including history, culture, and community decision-making.
CODAP: A Free Tool for Expanding Opportunities for Student Sensemaking with Data Across Grades and Disciplines
Daniel Damelin, Zac Opps, Jacob Sagrans
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – 295
BYOD to explore CODAP, a free web-based data exploration tool designed for engaging students in inquiry with data. Import data from anywhere, create multiple linked visualizations through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, and move your students beyond spreadsheets into the realm of data inquiry.