In this session we will explore the power of systems thinking in the middle and high school STEM classroom through hands-on experience with STELLA modeling software. We will learn how to create our own dynamic models and analyze pre-built models. Aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), we will focus on the science practice of developing and using models to make predictions, explain concepts, and support student inquiry.
Participants in this session should bring a laptop.
This course will take a look at how you can create assessments that move beyond memorization and regurgitation of facts. How can you create opportunities to assess content, but also how students can use that content to solve complex problems related to your discipline? Bring along some assessments to rework! We will use the NGSS science standards as a backdrop but all disciplines are invited.
This class will fulfill the Minnesota Department of Education license renewal requirement in accommodation, modification, and adaptation of materials and instruction. Learn to write and follow accommodation plans that are helpful to students, unburdensome for teachers, and satisfying to parents.
Google Docs, Sheets, and Forms are separate, discrete tools teachers use on a daily basis. What if you could use them in an integrated way to increase the efficiency of your work flow? Come and find out how to coordinate these tools to improve the work flow with your students. How can you connect a Google Form to a Document, that is also connected to a Spreadsheet that you can automate a response to your students with feedback? How can you turn a Google slide show into an assessment that is easy to provide feedback to?
What if your students didn’t stop at the first idea—but explored ten more? This hands-on session introduces Creative Problem Solving, a College in the Schools course offered through the University of Minnesota’s College of Design. You’ll engage in activities that stretch divergent thinking skills—encouraging students to generate multiple solutions, take creative risks, and push beyond the expected. The exercises are adaptable across subjects, making them valuable tools in any classroom. Whether you're looking for new ways to spark student creativity or are considering bringing this course to your school, this session offers both inspiration and practical strategies.
