Presentations from NSTA.

Join the Dana Center’s science team in Boston for the National Science Teachers Association's 56th National Conference on Science Education March 27–30, 2008. In the spirit of the conference theme, “Science: Bridge to the Future,” the science team—including NSTA District XIII Director Vanessa Westbrook as well as team members Jim Collins, Phyllis Kirkpatrick, Tracey Ramirez, Mary Jane Schott, and Barbara Taylor—offered seven hours of professional development to conference attendees during the four-day event. The four workshops and one short course offered by the science team addressed topics such as instructional strategies, science lesson planning, assessing students' science content knowledge, and high school science mini-labs.

The sessions incorporated the National Science Education Standards and were designed to align with many state-level science standards.

These are the presentations that the science team members made:

Hands-On Activities for Supporting High-Stakes Testing

Presenters: Jim Collins, Barbara Taylor, and Vanessa Westbrook
Friday, March 28, 8–9 am, Seaport Hotel, Seaport A

Audience: High school educators

How to Focus Our Teaching on What Students Need to Know

Presenters: Vanessa Westbrook and Phyllis Kirkpatrick

Friday, March 28, 9:30–10:30 am, Seaport Hotel, Seaport A

Audience: Middle and high school science educators

Analyzing an Effective Science Lesson in an Elementary or Secondary Setting

Presenters: Vanessa Westbrook and Jim Collins

Saturday, March 29, 8:30–11:30 am, Westin Copley, St George C/D

Audience: Elementary, middle, and high school science educators

STEM: Creating Unified Standards-Based Science/Math Projects

Presenters: Barbara Taylor, Jim Collins, Phyllis Kirkpatrick, and Vanessa Westbrook

Saturday, March 29, 2:00-3:00 pm, Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel
Pacific D

Audience: Middle and high school science educators

Questioning Your Questions: Critically Examining Science Assessment Items

Presenters: Phyllis Kirkpatrick and Vanessa Westbrook
Saturday, March 29, 3:30-4:30 pm, Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel
Pacific D

Audience: Elementary, middle, and high school science educators