2ND ANNUAL
K-12 STEM
E D U C AT I O N
CONFERENCE
JANUARY 8 2016
Sponsored by:
UNCW Watson College of Education
SouthEast Education Alliance
North Carolina Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Center
Center for Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
Greetings STEM Education Friends and Colleagues
Welcome STEM Education Friends and Colleagues,
We are excited to deliver the 2nd (and now annual) Pre K-12 STEM Education Conference on the beautiful
campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington! How exciting it is to again host a STEM-infused
professional development opportunity specifically for our Southeastern North Carolina regional educational
partners. We encourage all attendees to network with both long-standing and new colleagues from across
multiple disciplines and grade levels. We have made great efforts to compile a diverse program with unique
STEM themes. Be sure to visit the variety of exhibitor tables in between sessions and please support
the folks that support STEM education efforts. We want to officially thank each of them for their ongoing
support.
We are so very fortunate and completely delighted to have Ms. Kathy Ibbotson provide our morning
keynote presentation and charge! Kathy is on staff with UNCW’s Youth Programs Department and she
serves the community as the K-12 Engineering Coordinator. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in
Chemical Engineering from the University of Dayton, Kathy began her career as an industrial process
engineer. Kathy now utilizes her engineering knowledge and experience to encourage kids to realize their
potential as future engineers. I know you will be energized by her message.
We are especially privileged and honored to have Dr. Karl Ricanek Jr. host our lunch keynote speaker.
Dr. Ricanek is a Full Professor at University of North Carolina Wilmington in the Computer Science
Department. Dr. Ricanek is the founder and director of the Face Aging Group Research Lab (www.
FaceAgingGroup.com) where he has been the primary project lead on more than $15 Million in Department
of Defense and intelligence funded research since 2003. Dr. Ricanek’s work demonstrates a real world
application of the intersection of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Do you want to peer
into the future? Allow Dr. Ricanek an opportunity to provide a window.
A heartfelt, “Thank you!” is offered to each and every one of our presenters who have taken their
valuable time to share their ideas with us today. These individuals represent a broad spectrum of
community partners, including business leaders, informal scientists and educators, school teachers and
administrators, and university faculty, staff and graduate students. We are sincerely indebted to each
presenter for their willingness to share their expertise with us.
It takes a village to plan and integrate such a monumental effort as an engaging STEM Conference. I’d
like to recognize the efforts of our relentless partners: the Watson College of Education for providing the
venue and the in-kind support and resources for us to lead this effort today; Linda Lowe, Director of the
Southeast Education Alliance (http://www.southeasteducationalliance.org/) for their collaboration and
professional leadership; Ms. Somer Lewis, Director of UNCW’s Professional Development System, for her
guidance and organizational leadership; and Mr. Chris Gordon, Ms. A.C. Hosea and Ms. Lindsey Baker,
UNCW’s Center for Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (CESTEM) team for
their energy, effort and persistence. I hope everyone has an amazing day!
Sincerely,
Dr. Dennis S. Kubasko, Jr.
CESTEM Director and Associate Professor of Science Education
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Conference Overview
Schedule for Friday, January 8, 2016
Registration & Breakfast ................................................................. 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM
Morning Keynote Speaker – Kathy Ibbotson................................. 8:30 AM – 9:15 AM
Session I .......................................................................................... 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Session II....................................................................................... 10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Lunch & Keynote Speaker – Dr. Karl Ricanek, Jr. ...................... 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Session III.......................................................................................... 1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Session IV ......................................................................................... 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Reflections and Informal Conversations ....................................... 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Conference Reminders
• Parking is free and available in the deck across from the Watson College of Education building
• Please check in with the Registration table (in the atrium) in the morning and throughout the day if you
have any questions, comments, or concerns
• **In order to receive your Certificate for attending the STEM Education Conference:
Please be sure to fill out the survey card you received this morning throughout the day and turn back
into the Registration table at 3:30 PM!
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Building Map
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Building Map
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Building Map
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Morning Keynote Speaker
8:30 AM – 9:15 AM
Ms. Kathy Ibbotson
Engineering Program Coordinator
UNCW Youth Programs
Kathy Ibbotson grew up with engineering in her blood. Her father, David
Sipes, a mechanical engineer, was determined to turn his daughter
into an astronaut, but he had to settle for a chemical engineer instead.
Somewhere between taking multiple trips to Home Depot with her dad
to buy parts to fix the sump pump in the basement, and having to learn
how to change her own oil in her car, she figured out that she liked
understanding how things worked. Ibbotson narrowed her focus to
chemical engineering after having a particularly engaging teacher in high
school for AP chemistry.
At the University of Dayton, her love of all things engineering intensified as she majored in chemical and
materials engineering. Ibbotson gained practical engineering experience through internships at The Scotts
Miracle Gro Company, in their lawn formulations department, and at The J.M. Smucker Company, in
their process engineering department. After graduation, Ibbotson moved to Wilmington to take a job with
International Paper as a chemical process engineer. After succeeding as a process engineer, she moved
up to a managerial position in charge of about 25 unionized employees on a day to day basis, tasked with
producing 2400 tons of high quality pulp and paper products.
Ibbotson’s work as an engineer was challenging and exciting, but was not as fulfilling as some of her
experiences in college had been. She enjoyed being a teaching assistant for many classes including
Advanced Math for Chemical Engineers, Material and Energy Balances, and Chemical Reaction Kinetics.
She also enjoyed helping other students understand difficult concepts, and she found that she was quite
skilled at taking complex subjects and explaining them in a more relatable and easily understood way.
Another formative experience was when Ibbotson participated in a program at the University of Dayton
called Engineers in Technical Humanitarian Opportunities of Service Learning (ETHOS) and went to
Shanghai, China. She brought sustainable solutions for water purification to villages on the outskirts of
Shanghai, who had polluted canals supplying all of their water, and educated them on the importance, use
and maintenance of the systems.
Finally, Ibbotson was the vice president of the sorority, Phi
Sigma Rho, specifically for women engineers. While there,
she participated in many educational outreach opportunities
through their Girl Scout troop, events on campus, and their GET
SET program.
With this background, Ibbotson decided to make the jump from
the private sector to public education by taking the position
of K-12 Engineering Program Coordinator at UNCW. In this
position, she develops curriculum and teaches engineering and
robotics summer camps as well as Saturday programs during
the school year.
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Session I
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Grades: K-12
Room 223
Presenter: Roger Shew
“Water Resources, Use, and Issues in Southeastern North Carolina”
Water is one of the biggest issues of this century and it is a topic that threads through many science
standards. A discussion of the hydrologic cycle/global issues sets the stage for the more detailed
discussion of local resources and issues of both surface and groundwater.
Grades: 6-12
Room 351
Presenters: Jessica Croson, Jessica Thomason
“Using Vocabulary Strategies to Strengthen Your STEM Curriculum”
It is our responsibility to help our students become scientifically literate individuals who are confident in
their personal decision making skills and their ability to be globally competitive citizens. How can we use
vocabulary to help increase our student’s scientific literacy? Join us for a “hands-on, minds-on” session
exploring a variety of vocabulary strategies including many types of games, manipulatives, and student
created products that will encourage literacy in your classroom. Participants will leave with ready-made
activities that require little to no prep.
Grades: K-5
Room 226
Presenters: Janice Rickey, Ruth Pitstick
“The E in STEM for K-2”
Our session will introduce the engineering design cycle and engineering projects using literature as a
springboard. The engineering design cycle will be introduced with the book, “What Do You Do with an
Idea?” to show how engineers take a problem and imagine different “ideas” to solve that problem all the
way to design, test and improve. Teachers will receive a list of literature we have used along with some
ideas of projects to go with the stories. Teachers will have an opportunity to engineer a project from one
of the stories.
Grades: K-12
Room 235
Presenter: Amelia Moody
“Using Research to Design and Implement STEM Programs for Students with Autism”
This presentation will discuss evidence-based instructional methods for delivering STEM programs to
students with autism. 1 in 68 children are diagnosed with autism (CDC, 2014) and many are drawn to
STEM (Yu, Shattuck, McCracken, & Blackorby, 2012). Meeting their unique needs can be a challenge.
Students diagnosed with autism experience difficulties attending, processing, and engaging in learning
opportunities (Goldstein, Johnson, & Mineshew, 2001), and learning new rules and strategies (Goldstein
et al., 2001). Attendees will explore ways to adapt lessons and environments to support students with
autism.
Grades: K-5
Room 246
Presenter: Alisa Wickliff
“Elementary GLOBE: Introducing K-4 Students to the Study of Earth System Science”
The complete instructional unit includes:
• Science-based storybooks designed to introduce students to key concepts in water, soil, clouds,
seasons, aerosols, and Earth system studies.
• Classroom learning activities complementing the science content covered in each storybook that
are designed to further engage students in GLOBE’s 5 investigation areas.
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Session I
9:30 AM – 10:30 AM
Grades: K-8
Room 214
Presenter: Sue Kezios
“Traveling Through Trash - a NOAA Marine Debris Prevention through Education program”
UNCW MarineQuest has been working with local middle schools over the past two years to assess
what students know about their local marine environment and how their actions impact it. Data strongly
indicates that students do not connect their land-based actions, particularly related to littering, with debris
found in the ocean. To help correct this misconception, we have secured a NOAA education grant to teach
K-8 students about the impacts of marine debris on migratory species that travel through our coastal
waters. Discover some of the lessons we’ve developed and explore a new marine debris App iRefuz.
Grades: K-12
Room 162
Presenter: Manley Midgett
“How to Get the Most Out of Your Science Olympiad Experience”
Science Olympiad includes 18-23 events that address all areas of STEM. Learn how some schools
integrate many events into their grade-level science courses and offer other events as science club
activities. Strategies will be shared to engage all students in some events, while channeling them toward
other events where they have a special interest. New events for this year will be highlighted. Take part
in example activities that show how to strengthen student’s STEM skills, especially critical thinking and
reasoning. Let’s turn work into fun!
Grades: K-12
Room 306
Presenter: Dr. Patrick Curley
“Making Coastal Connections with The Science House at the NCSU Center for Marine Sciences
and Technology”
Come learn how educators can use the resources and programs available through The Science House at
the NCSU Center for Marine Sciences and Technology to bring authentic, place-based educational STEM
experiences into your classroom.
Grades: K-12
Room 387
Presenter: Vicki DiMuzio, Kellie Lewis
“Non-formal Education Opportunities and Activities at the North Carolina Museum of Natural
Sciences at Whiteville: Pre K-12”
Speakers will present a summary of programs and activities that are provided at the North Carolina Museum
of Natural Sciences at Whiteville. This will include a description of curriculum correlated ‘field trip’ programs
as well as hands-on, interactive ‘exhibits’ available on a daily basis. The museum also has weekly and
monthly programs to include: Story Time, Teen Science Cafe, Science Cinema and Saturday Explorations,
all of which will be elaborated on during the presentation. A hands-on component highlighting a 3rd grade
‘Turtles and Tree Rings’ activity will be shared with participants.
Grades: 6-12
Room 232
Presenters: John Garrett, Linda Culpepper
“Understanding Electromagnetic Waves”
Although we live an EM waves-enabled lifestyle, most of us (middle school students included) have no
idea how they actually work. Join us for an activity that’s new middle level content from the new Waves
unit from the newly published North Carolina “”Issues Evidence and You”” 6th grade curriculum by LABAIDS. We will explore properties of light by investigating colors of the visible spectrum and investigate the
energy levels of the different colors of white light through the use of a phosphorescent material. Activities
exemplify how the SEPUP program, a collaboration between LAB-AIDS and the Lawrence Hall of Science,
embeds the research-based practices and real issues to deliver powerful content learning.
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Session II
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Grades: 9-12
Room 223
Presenters: Barbara Heath, Tracy Holbrook
“Chem-Techathon: Renewing Interest in Science Education”
This session will be a presentation and panel discussion that focuses on the Chem-Techathon program
created at Cape Fear Community College and supported through the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF).
The Principal Investigator (PI) will present an overview of the program and results from the first year of
implementation. The program evaluator will facilitate a question and answer session using prepared
questions and those from the audience. The discussion will focus on the participant experience, impacts
of the program, and future considerations. The panel will include participant teachers and students, CFCC
mentors, the PI, and a representative from BWF.
Grades: K-5
Room 351
Presenter: Rebecca Robison
“Centered’ on Science”
Motivate and engage your students through hands-on, independent, learning centers. Learn how to
create, implement, and maintain these centers in your Elementary classroom. Activities are designed for
every Science strand for 3rd - 5th grade. See how to also integrate Math and Reading skills. Attendees
will get directions, materials lists, worksheets, and examples of more than 30 center activities along with a
CD containing everything they see during the presentation plus much more!
Grades: K-5
Room 226
Presenters: Michael Elder, Teah Bulris, Sarah Acuna
“Engineering is Elementary in Your School”
Entering into Engineering Through Engineering is Elementary has been a gradual migration for Hunters
Creek Elementary as a STEM focused school in Onslow County. This session will share both a sample unit
as well as sharing implementation “lessons learned.” Schools utilizing EiE and those for whom EiE is new
are welcome to engage in this session.
Grades: 6-8
Room 235
Presenter: Elizabeth Woodside
“STEM with Special Needs and At Risk Students”
Special Needs and At Risk Students can develop cooperation, literacy, mathematics, problem solving, and
design skills through high interest STEM projects. By structuring, organizing, and supporting materials and
curriculum Science and Language Arts can be developed in small groups with STEM materials.
Grades: K-5
Room 246
Presenter: Nancy Ledbetter
“Conduct Some Makey Makey Music”
Come and learn how to use the electronic device Makey Makey to help teach elementary students about
conductors and insulators, as well as simple circuits!
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Session II
10:45 AM – 11:45 AM
Grades: K-12
Room 214
Presenters: Pepper Hill, Jameson McDermott
“Whole Family STEM”
As educators, student light bulb moments are the reason we teach. Watching a parent have an “aha!”
moment with their child can be even more special. Parents often come from backgrounds of science being
words on a page with abstract formulas that are difficult to understand. As we engage the whole family in
scientific inquiry, barriers melt away and they learn to enjoy exploring the natural and human-made world
around them. Discover methods and activities that encourage families to participate in STEM learning
together, creating the best environment for nurturing the next generation of thinkers and achievers.
Grades: 6-12
Room 162
Presenters: Claire McLaughlin, Keri McKenzie, Ashanda Grissett, Ben Chapman
“Creating Partnerships between Business and Education STEM Leaders”
Our students are our future workforce. Business and education share this as a common goal. Come learn
how we established and maintain the Brunswick County STEM Council and the initiatives that we have
developed and implemented, including the Extreme STEM Tour for middle school and the speaker-series
STEM Speaks for high school.
Grades: 6-8
Room 306
Presenters: Susan Randolph, Lisa Duschene
“Low Budget STEM integration strategies for Middle School Science Classrooms”
Low budget activities and materials from 6-8 grade curriculum in Life, Physical and Earth Sciences will be
demonstrated. Participants will experience “classroom” modeling of collaborative, conversationally based
STEM strategies that can be used in multiple learning settings.
Grades: Pre-K
Room 387
Presenter: Jaymi Mitchell
“STEMulating Transitions”
Tired of the same old transition activities? Wondering how to add more STEM time to your daily schedule?
Join me for a fast-paced, idea-packed workshop that will give you new ideas that you can take back to
your classroom immediately! Learn how to better manage transitions and wait time, make small group
activities tailored to your children’s needs, and create your own STEM ‘busy bags’! As an added bonus,
you’ll be able to help parents reinforce skills at home with these inexpensive, easy to make activities!
Grades: 6-12
Room 232
Presenters: John Garrett, Linda Culpepper
“Chromosomes and Gene Expression”
Students often have trouble conceptualizing how selective gene expression works. In this workshop,
participants will use manipulatives to teach this concept and explain how it is connected to genetic
engineering. Innovative activities are selected from the new Science and Global Issues: Biology program
from SEPUP and LAB-AIDS. Activities focus on ways to integrate selective gene expression as a relevant
and engaging sustainability issue.
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Lunch Keynote Speaker
12 PM - 1 PM
Dr. Karl Ricanek, Jr.
Director of I3S Institute & Face Aging
Group, Co-Director CASIS Consortium
on Identity Sciences
Dr. Karl Ricanek, Jr. is a full professor at the
University of North Carolina Wilmington in
the Computer Science Department. He is
the founder and director of the Face Aging
Group Research Lab (FaceAgingGroup.com)
where he has been the primary project lead
on more than $15 million in Department of
Defense and intelligence funded research
since 2003.
Ricanek has been nominated and approved (August 2010) to serve as director for the Institute for
Interdisciplinary Identity Sciences (I3S), an interdisciplinary group of faculty and advanced degree
researchers and students developing novel techniques for identity sciences, biometrics and forensic
analysis for human recognition. He is a co-founder of the first Office of the Director of National
Intelligence (ODNI), Science and Technology Division (S&T), and Center of Academic Excellence (CAE),
piloted in May 2008. Ricanek also serves as co-director of the ODNI S&T CAE, Center for Advanced
Studies in Identity Sciences (CASIS).
His current area of research is focused in developing algorithms for modeling age-progression for the
mitigation of acute degradation of face recognition systems due to longitudinal displacement. Ricanek
is also involved in research for robust facial analytics where he holds two US patents. He has extensive
research background in pattern recognition, artificial intelligence, and machine and computer vision,
and has authored or co-authored over 80 referred articles in biometrics and pattern recognition and
four book chapters.
Ricanek is a serial entrepreneur, developing businesses around de novo uses of biometrics and identity.
His latest company, Lapetus Solutions, is poised to revolutionize financial services, life cycle event, and
health with patented facial analytics technology and more than 30 years of aging science expertise by
his co-founder.
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Session III
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Grades: K-8
Room 223
Presenters: Michelle Hafey, Elaine Linke
“Science Saturday/STEM Night Made Easy”
Plan a STEM Night or Science Saturday to encourage parent involvement at your school. Create an
event using a proven arrangement. Design Explore Stations that are engaging for the entire family. Use
resources you already have on hand and consider borrowing items from CESTEM to add that special
touch. If you are looking to stimulate young minds and generate interest in your school’s science
programs, use these ideas to save you time and money.
Grades: 6-12
Room 351
Presenters: Steve Garrett, Todd Matthews
“The STEMcycle: Engineering Driven Student Competition”
Established twenty years ago, the Electric Vehicle (EV) Challenge is an incredibly inspiring and high profile
education program where high school and middle school students build real, single passenger electric
vehicles, participate in a yearlong educational program and competition, and learn numerous skills including:
applied engineering and environmental science, electrical troubleshooting, public speaking, and community
service. The EV Challenge provides teachers with materials for a yearlong educational program including
curriculum materials, seminars, a competition, and fundraising support. The program is often a life-changer
for students and has a significant positive impact on their experience of science and engineering.
Grades: K-8
Room 226
Presenters: Amy Reamer, Laura Bottomley
“Teaching problem solving and 21st century skills through engineering”
Problem solving, critical thinking, communication, creativity, collaboration...these are some of the skills
necessary for our students to thrive in the 21st century. Through an activity-based exploration, in this
session we will explore how engineering can act as a vehicle for teaching the 21st century skills that are
very much a part of the national educational conversation. In fact, engineering can act as an integrator
that provides relevance and rigor to the study of virtually any subject...join us to learn more!
Grades: K-12
Room 235
Presenters: Rhys Lutsky, Alisa Wickliff
“Woodles! Vocabulary Development for Scientific Literacy Success”
Scientific literacy is grounded in understanding the specific scientific terms that are at the heart of a strong
STEM program. Experience the exhilaration of successfully passing an assessment about Woodles by
interacting with them. Build the capacity in your students for literacy success.
Grades: K-12
Room 246
Presenter: Daniel Johnson
“Full STEAM Ahead – STEM with Arts Integration!”
For years, STEM subjects have attracted educators’ attention as important and vital disciplines. More
recently, innovative STEM education has included the arts as creative partners. Although classroom
teachers are sometimes unfamiliar with including artistic media, these disciplines are essential to engage
and enrich all minds. As Harvard Education Professor Howard Gardner said, STEM education without
the arts is empty and half-brained. In this session, experience the arts as vibrant and powerful ways to
engage and propel K-12 students’ learning in STEM subjects. Through music, movement, and drama, the
arts invite and motivate all learners to go Full STEAM Ahead.
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Session III
1:15 PM – 2:15 PM
Grades: K-8
Room 214
Presenter: Suzanne Gooding
“Sort it!”
Learn how Material Recovery Facilities (MRF) sort recyclables using the physical properties of matter,
technology and people. The lesson contains resources to teach the recycling sorting process that pairs
with a kit available to check out from the UNCW Curriculum Materials Center at no cost to regional
teachers. The lesson will challenge you to think about recycling in a different way and allow you to engage
your students in the recycling process.
Grades: K-8
Room 335
Presenter: Karrissa Ebert
“Exploring the World Through STEM- Promoting Global Awareness Through STEM Activities”
Join in on this fun-filled adventure as we explore the world using STEM concepts and activities. Promote
Global Awareness, make the world come alive, and give your students an “up close and personal” view
of STEM concepts. Participants will interactively engage with virtual and tangible resources in order to
integrate STEM and Global Awareness concepts seamlessly into their lesson planning. This session will
allow some time to explore the many virtual resources available and will include plenty of resources to
take back to the classroom.
Grades: K-5
Room 306
Presenters: Kelly Crowley, Andrew Gould
“Frog Watch USA: Elementary Citizen Scientists”
Elementary Students are trained as Frog Watch USA Citizen Scientists. We’ve partnered with the NC
Aquarium at Ft. Fisher to learn about local frogs, their significance to the environment, and identify frog
populations in our local wetlands. This data is recorded and reported to a national database. Come and
learn how you can get your classroom involved with this awesome Citizen Science project locally!
Grades: K-5
Room 387
Presenters: Nicole Murray, Elizabeth Budd
“A Novel Approach to STEM: Integrating STEM in Literacy”
Opportunities to engage students in STEM explorations can be found in everyday reading lessons through
passages, stories, and novels. Through this session, we will explore a novel and how to plan and integrate
STEM activities that encompass literacy strategies, science, engineering, math, social studies, and
collaboration skills. Participants will engage in sample activities and have the opportunity for collaboration
and planning. Participants are asked to bring a favorite story, book, or novel used in classroom instruction.
Grades: 6-12
Room 232
Presenter: Alex Headen
“Wind Energy...Got STEM??”
With the CPO Science Link series Wind Turbine, students explore concepts in Engineering Design, Energy
Transformation, Electromagnetism, and much more! Students will design, test, and refine a working
turbine and challenge each other to see which model can generate the highest voltage with the unique
equipment module. Link features include online materials and tablet-enabled investigations.
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Session IV
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Grades: K-5
Room 223
Presenter: Caroline Courter
“Using STEM as a Starting Point for Critical Thinking Conversations”
Participants will experience STEM activities first hand and discuss how to use activities as a starting point
--not an ending point-- for engaging in critical thinking. This workshop challenges teachers to go beyond
“just a STEM lesson” by exploring how to further engage students by using the activities to evaluate and
analyze their new knowledge, based on Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy. The workshop will include active
participation in 3 activities related to K-5 objectives that teachers can use in their classroom and examples
of students thinking critically about their STEM projects. Teachers will leave ready to try new lessons and
extend past the “doing” of STEM into “thinking critically about” STEM!
Grades: K-5
Room 351
Presenter: Kara Fernandez
“Primary Robotics”
This is a workshop all about Bee Bots! Bee Bots are bee-shaped robotics that are designed for students in
grades PK-2. Bee Bots teach beginning robotic principals to primary grade level students. They establish
the necessary skills to move on to more complex robotics like LEGOs. Come and learn how technology
can be implemented at the primary level to support ISTE standards and STEM principles.
Grades: 6-12
Room 226
Presenter: Kathy Ibbotson
“Engaging Girls in Engineering through Real World Solutions in Sustainability”
There’s research that shows females are attracted to careers when there is a connection to “meeting
humans’ social, environmental, and economic needs without compromising the ability of future
generations to the same.” If we can create a connection between engineering and this desire to meet
society’s needs, we can show them that engineering is a viable and exciting career option. To capitalize
on this idea, I will give some example lessons of different real world problems that can be solved through
engineering and give them the opportunity to create a hands-on solution.
Grades: K-12
Room 235
Presenter: Rhys Lutsky
“The Practices of Argumentation and Discourse in the STEM Classroom”
Skillful argumentation and discourse are practices of scientists and engineers that provide a pathway
for successful writing from diverse points of view. During this fun and interactive session, determine the
solution to a problem through argumentation and collaboration.
Grades: 9-12
Room 246
Presenters: Chelsea Ash, Jessica Croson
“Writing and Literacy in the STEM classroom”
Participants will learn different ways to incorporate writing and literacy in the science classroom.
Teachers will learn strategies that will enhance writing through various methods and products. Writing
examples include object writing, comic strips, research papers, image writing as well as argumentative
and informative. Teachers will also learn how to incorporate novels, children’s books, and articles into
daily lessons. Novel projects include choice boards, literature circles, and movie previews/trailers. The
goal of this session is for teachers to walk away with one new writing strategy and learn one new way to
incorporate literacy into their individual classroom. Both technology enhanced and no technology required
activities will be shared. The strategies used can be applied to all types of learners including but not
limited to English Language Learners, Academically and Intellectually gifted students, on-level students,
and below level students.
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Session IV
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Grades: K-12
Room 214
Presenters: Whitney Richardson, Daniel Richardson
“NCSO: Authentic STEM Opportunities in the K-12 Setting”
NCSO is an organization which provides authentic STEM opportunity for students of all ages and
backgrounds. In this session we will discuss the importance of building a Science Olympiad team,
successful coaching strategies, and how to encourage community involvement. Additionally, participants
will engage in mock engineering events from the 2015-2016 event schedule. Appropriate for all grade
levels. Experienced coaches as well as those with no coaching background are welcome.
Grades: 6-12
Room 335
Presenters: Ginger Rhodes, Shelby Morge
“Using GeoGebra to Represent and Explore Rates of Change”
In this session, participants explore rates of change through the free dynamic mathematics software
called GeoGebra. Participants learn about the software by solving a modified version of the classic
children’s story of the hare and the tortoise. We will discuss the ways the activity aligns with CCSS-M and
incorporates the Mathematical Practices.
Grades: 6-8
Room 162
Presenter: Jennifer Walmsley
“Working with Your Local Community College to Integrate STEM”
Learn about how a Kenan Fellowship has merged a local community college with a rural middle school
to enhance and build a STEM program while designing new curriculum. Topics include strategies for
building STEM skills in students, ideas for STEM integration into the classroom, and ways to bring college
readiness and preparedness into your lessons.
Grades: K-8
Room 306
Presenters: David Glenn, Dayson Pasion
“eMammal: What lives in our school’s backyard?”
Students in NC are using cameras to investigate mammals living in and around their schoolyards.
Partnered with NC Museum of Natural Science and The Smithsonian Institute, classroom scientists
contribute real data in this Citizen Science project, eMammal, for scientists at the research level to use in
current investigations. Session will overview setting up cameras, software and connecting with scientists
at the museum. Learn how you can get your students involved in this Citizen Science endeavor!
Grades: K-12
Room 387
Presenter: Jessica Stitt
“Citizen Science: Encouraging Students to become Citizen Scientists outside of the classroom”
Citizen Science is a way for non-scientists to get involved in everyday research. There are ongoing
programs around the world and there are many ways citizens can get involved. There are websites for all
of the programs but there are also smart device apps that accompany the citizen science projects. This
session will outline the definition of citizen science, some of the smart device apps, as well as an activity
using one of the apps.
Grades: K-12
Room 232
Presenter: Keith Holland
“What to look for when purchasing and integrating 3D printing into the K-12 classroom”
This session will concentrate on the features one should look for when purchasing and integrating 3D
printers into the K-12 classroom. We will discuss uses of 3D printing in schools and look at lesson plans
made for K-12 classrooms. There will be a 3D printer for everyone to observe and ask questions.
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
Exhibitors and Sponsors
Accelerate Learning
Frey Scientific
Burroughs Wellcome
Foundation
Lab Aids
North Carolina Science
Olympiad
Science Fair
Lego
Camcor Inc.
Science House
Marine Quest
Cape Fear Museum
WCE Center for Assistive
Technology
National Geographic
City of Wilmington
WCE Professional
Development System
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher
Discovery Education
Wilmington Water Tours,
LLC
Notes
K-12 STEM Education Conference 2016
We would like to thank the following organizations for
their hard work planning and funding our 2nd Annual
STEM Education Conference!
University of North Carolina Wilmington