Check back soon for the full conference program complete with session times.
PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS:
Evaluation Made Easy
Cheryl Boyette, Boyette Consulting
3 hr Pre-conference workshop introducing the steps to designing a program evaluation plan with discussion of simple techniques for collecting data. Each attendee will schedule a private session to ask question and receive assistance with their individual evaluation needs. Private sessions will be either during open time during the conference or post-conference at Sky Ranch.
SciGirls Resources
Lisa Regalla, SciGirls
SciGirls resources provide an energetic model of inquiry-based science, appealing to tweens, parents and educators alike. SciGirls activities link real-world experiences with investigations designed to promote questioning and an eagerness to understand how tweens can impact their the world. While the activities engage boys as well, SciGirls resources are designed to appeal to the unique interests of girls.
CONFERENCE SESSIONS:
X-Factor National Girls Collaborative
Lisa Chappa & Michelle Cigarroa, Imaginarium of South Texas
Find out how to host a “Meet a STEM Professional” event at your facility, and why you should. Resources from the National Girls Collaborative Project will be shared as well as hands-on activities from “Girls at the Center” – Franklin Institute designed
Life Science for Pre-School & Physical Science for Pre-school
Dr. Bob Williams & Dr. Mary Hobbs, University of Texas at Austin
The hands-on workshop will share ideas for teaching the Big Ideas of Life science using found natural found materials. Several activities for each of the Big Ideas of Characteristics of Organisms, Life Cycles of Organisms, and Organisms and their environments. Participants will collect some of the organisms and objects from the site. The hands-on workshop will also share ideas for teaching the Big Ideas of physical science using found natural materials. Several activities for each of the Big Ideas of Properties of Matter, Force and Motion, and Measurement will be accomplished.
Wetlands for Water
John De Fillipo, John Bunker Sands Wetland Center
Learn about the newest nature center near Dallas Texas that is located in the middle of a 2000 acre manmade wetland that recycles and supplements the water supply for over 1.5 million people. This hands on presentation will engage the participants in determining the quality of water in their watershed and show the importance of wetland habitat.
Paper Tower Engineering
Tricia Berry, Texas Girls Collaborative Project
Get innovative and imaginative and create the tallest paper tower possible. Through this easy and inexpensive hands-on team activity, explore engineering principles and the Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century and how you can incorporate these into your own programs. Participants will be introduced to both the National Academy of Engineering’s (NAE) 14 Grand Challenges as well as the NAE’s Changing the Conversation research on effective STEM messaging.
Engineering the Earth: Exploring Wind Energy
Katelyn Wamsted & Ange Atkinson, Girlstart
Discover how incorporating renewable energy in an after school program can be meaningful and fun. Learn ways to increase girls’ participation in informal science and take home a wind energy hands-on activity.
Deep Time Explorations
Dr. Pamela Owen, Texas Natural Science Center, University of Texas at Austin
Life Through Time is an IMLS-funded teacher training program integrating earth and life sciences. Come learn why the program works so well and explore fossils, fossilization and the timing of important evolutionary events. We’ll discuss common misconceptions about the fossil record and share ideas on how to develop a better sense of deep time.
DNA with Twizzlers & Stoichiometry with S’Mores
Bunny Doubrava, Fort Worth ISD
Students will explore conformation of DNA and base pairing utilizing Twizzlers©. Discovery leads to the conclusion that their sequence of base pairs make them unique.
Students are often overwhelmed by the mole concept and calculations. This interactive food presentation takes the sting out of an often troubling curriculum. Students will make a Sch’Mores equation and utilize the mole-to-mole concept and molar mass to calculate needs for a Sch’more and eat it! The Sch’More factory requires calculations that present limiting factors and analyzing how many Sch’mores can be produced with supplies on hand.
2012 – Year of the Bat, An Invitation to Celebrate
Stacy Reynolds
Nature Videography to Rescue Science Education in a Drought
Martin Hagne, Valley Nature Center
Learn about VNC’s effort to create a series of educational and entertaining DVD’s in collaboration with a local and well know nature videographer. In a hostile financial Using grant funding it is a win win for all involved! environment see how these tools can be an oasis for funding and educational opportunity.
Lego Robotics for Elementary-Aged Kids
Jose Perez, Imaginarium of South Texas
Robotics is the newest “coolest” STEM program. Learn about Lego “WeDo” robotics and how you can create a museum program to hook even the youngest visitors into the fascinating world of robotics, and draw that STEM pipeline down to a younger audience! (TEKS-aligned as well)
Nanotechnology: Small Science, Big Deal
Aaron Guerrero, Children’s Museum of Houston
Staff will deliver an hour long session about nanotechnology. The beginning of the session will be a presentation on what nanoscale science is and the influence it is having on technologies and the impact it could have on other areas and fields. There will then be a showcase of a few of the NISE Network hands-on activities that participants will be able to interact with. To conclude, staff will let attendees know what the NISE Network is, as well as the opportunities that are available for partners, and how they can join if they’re interested.
Internships: Effective Management and Mentorship
Marcela Ramos, Austin Children’s Museum
The goal of the Austin Children’s Museum Intern Program is to provide meaningful work experiences and career development for young professions who are pursuing a variety of careers. Our interns are given a high level of responsibility and are engaged in bringing a fresh perspective to our work. This session will review the development of our intern program and how it extends our mission to equip and inspire the next generation of creative problem solvers to the young professional audience. Topics will include how to effectively manage an intern program, logistics and considerations, evaluation and tips for effective mentorship. Each participant will leave with the ACM supervisor manual, Intern manual, evaluation tools, sample learning contracts, and sample job descriptions.
Texas State Aquarium Aquavision Distance Learning
Adriana Reza, Texas State Aquarium
As informal educators we strive to educate students about the importance of protecting our environment. It is vital that students learn about other places and how they too have an impact even if they don’t live nearby. Please join me as I demonstrate how distance learning aids students from all over the United States realize that their conservation efforts help protect the Gulf of Mexico.
Camp Odyssey: Art & Science of Water through a Community
Christy Youker & Megan DiRienzo, Upper Colorado River Authority and San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts
Learn about our first year of Camp Odyssey where kids ages 9 to 13 immersed themselves in the journey of water through their community and then used art and design to communicate to the public. This is a collaborative effort by an art museum, an environmental agency and a school district funded through a 3 year IMLS Leadership Grant.
