Welcome to Spring PD Day 2023!!
Registration: 8:00 – 8:30 (Odeum)
Opening: 8:30 – 8:55 (Odeum)
Block 1: 9:00 – 10:20
Block 2: 10:30 – 11:50
Lunch: 12:00 – 12:50 (Odeum)
Block 3: 1:00 – 2:20
Closing: 2:30 – 3:30 (Odeum)
We are looking forward to an exciting day of learning and collaborating! Please use this page for detailed descriptions of sessions and their locations as well as a one stop shop for all sessions materials!
Leader Session at Spring PD Day!
Location: Innovation Studios 105
Time: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Presenter: Sissela Tucker, One8 Foundation
Block 1 Sessions 9:00 – 10:20
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- Pacing guidance
- Creating a plan to focus on a student skill (e.g. student collaboration, sketching)
- Tailoring/customization to increase student engagement (e.g. project adjustments, showcases )
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Course: Launch
Presenters: Master Teacher Christi Davenport, Community Lead Lindsey Ayers, & Master Teacher Sarah Schemanske
Location: Unity Hall 500
Gateway: App Creators
Presenter: Master Teacher Jonathan Scrivner
Location: Salisbury Labs 115
Gateway: Automation and Robotics
Presenter: Chris Beyerle
Location: Salisbury Labs 406
Gateway: CSIM
Presenter: Master Teacher Stephanie Racine
Location: Salisbury Labs 105
Gateway: Design and Modeling
Presenter: Master Teacher Rocco Barletta
Location: Salisbury Labs 104
HS Engineering: Introduction to Engineering Design
Presenter: Master Teacher Craig Hughes
Location: Higgins Labs 218
HS Engineering: Principles of Engineering
Presenter: Master Teacher Eric Rice
Location: Salisbury Labs 411
HS Engineering: Civil Engineering and Architecture
Presenter: Master Teacher Cliff Greer
Location: Higgins Labs 116
HS CS: Computer Science Essentials
Presenter: Master Teacher Susan Jones
Location: Higgins Labs 154
HS CS: Computer Science Principles
Presenter: Master Teacher David Czechowski
Location: Higgins Labs 202
HS CS: Cybersecurity
Presenter: Master Teacher Katie Cunningham
Location: Higgins Labs 114
HS Biomed: Human Body Systems
Presenter: Master Teacher Danielle Weber
Location: Salisbury Labs 402
HS Biomed: Principles of Biomedical Science
Presenter: Master Teacher Becky Howell
Location: Salisbury Labs 305
Blocks 2 & 3
In blocks 2 & 3 you will find course specific, pathway specific, and general interest session offerings.
Launch
Block 2
Kindergarten Modules Deep Dive
Presenter: Master Teacher Sarah Schemanske
Location: Unity Hall 520
Join this session for a hands-on walk through with the most challenging components of the Structure & Function and the Pushes & Pulls modules and have time to collaborate with others to share best strategies.
5th Grade Modules Deep Dive
Presenter: Master Teacher Christi Davenport
Location: Unity Hall 500
Join this session for a hands-on walk through with the most challenging components of the Matter, Properties & Reactions and Patterns in the Universe modules and have time to collaborate with others to share best strategies.
Connecting Elementary Students with Industry
Presenter: Jenn Donais
Location: Unity Hall 405
Have you been interested in creating career connections in your Launch classroom but have been struggling to find the time or best process? Come to this session where examples will be provided for ways one district did this with different grade levels and at different times of year. You will get examples of scheduling possibilities, industry connection resources and more! Leave this session with a date for and possible industry expert for your career connections!
Block 3
1st Grade Modules Deep Dive
Presenter: Master Teacher Sarah Schemanske
Location: Unity Hall 520
Join this session for a hands-on walk through with the most challenging components of the Light & Sound and Light: Observing the Sun, Moon, & Stars modules and have time to collaborate with others to share best strategies
2nd Grade Modules Deep Dive
Presenter: Lindsey Ayers (Westfield)
Location: Unity Hall 405
Join this session for a hands-on walk through with the most challenging components of the Properties of Matter and The Changing Earth modules and have time to collaborate with others to share best strategies.
4th Grade New Energy Module Deep Dive
Presenter: Master Teacher Christi Davenport
Location: Unity Hall 500
Join this session to do a deep dive into the new 4th grade module: Energy Exploration. There will be time to walk through some of the activities in the module hands-on as well as discussions around how it relates to Energy Collisions and Conversions.
Gateway
Block 2
AR: Next Level VEXcode
Presenter: Master Teacher Jonathan Scrivner
Location: Salisbury Labs 115
Learn more about the VEXcode programming environment utilized in Automation & Robotics. We will explore relevant computer science concepts and how to apply them in the VEXcode programming platform.
CSIM: Using Sensors in your Projects and Problems
Presenter: Master Teacher Rocco Barletta
Location: Salisbury Labs 104
In this session you will explore a variety of Input and Output sensors that can be used in physical computing. This session will focus on the main IO devices used during CSIM and how they can be maximized for your student’s projects and problem.
Gateway Pathway: Engaging Through Game-based Learning
Presenter: Master Teacher Stephanie Racine
Location: Salisbury Labs 105
Learn how to create opportunities to motivate and engage students through play.
Block 3
AC: Alexa Messenger – Building a Skill in MIT App Inventor using Alexa
Presenter: Master Teacher Rocco Barletta
Location: Salisbury Labs 104
Learn how to build skills for your Alexa in MIT App Inventor. Multiple lessons from beginner to advanced and how it can be implemented into your App Creators curriculum. Building a Skill in MIT App Inventor using Alexa.
Gateway Pathway: The Art of Questioning Leads to a Growth Mindset
Master Teachers: Jonathan Scrivner and Stephanie Racine
Location: Salisbury Labs 115
Dive deeper into how to question students so that they arrive at the answer on their own as well as teaching students how to ask questions, both of themselves as they are learning, and of the ideas they are learning about.
DM: Communicating Design Through Sketches and CAD
Presenter: Chris Beyerle
Location: Salisbury Labs 406
In this workshop, teachers will learn how they can support students sketching and drawing techniques to communicate their design ideas. Teachers will look at various activities to help students develop their skills in line sketching, shading, and quality. Teachers will also explore ways to help students transfer their sketched ideas to higher quality CAD models.
HS Computer Science
Block 2
CSP & CSE: Python Gym
Presenter: Master Teacher David Czechowski
Location: Higgins Labs 202
Come stretch and strengthen your Python programming abilities. Workout routines available for novices to experienced coders. We will practice with Python activities that can supplement the PLTW CSE & CSP Python coursework and discuss ways we can continue to challenge ourselves and our students. PLTW Gateway & HS teachers are welcome to join the fun!
CS Pathway: Assessing Student Learning in the HS CS Pathway
Presenter: Master Teacher Susan Jones
Location: Higgins Labs 154
Assessments in Computer Science can be challenging for both teachers and students. The APB structure used in PLTW lessons allows for a variety of ways to assess student learning through rubrics, interim progress reports, written/video reflections, and more. This session will include practical examples ready to adapt for use in your classes, hands-on teacher work, and discussion across the CS pathway.
Block 3
CS Pathway: Fun with Pi Tops; a Hands-on Approach to Python
Presenter: Master Teacher Katie Cunningham
Location: Higgins Labs 114
Have you been looking for ways to make your CS courses that utilize python more hands on and interactive with your students? In this session, we will utilize Pi-Top systems and hardware to explore projects that will allow your students to practice and showcase their python skills.
CS Pathway: Refreshing our View of the CS Curriculum
Presenter: Master Teacher David Czechowski
Location: Higgins Labs 202
You don’t teach PLTW, you teach students! Let’s take some time to reevaluate how we use the curriculum so we can reconnect with our students, to present them with achievable objectives, and to encourage them to solve problems with CS. We will assess our own motivations for teaching CS, reconsider the curriculum components, and plan for all students to achieve some success.
CS Pathway: It’s All Logical! Making Logical Reasoning Fun
Presenter: Master Teacher Susan Jones
Location: Higgins Labs 154
In Computer Science classes, logical reasoning is key to thinking through algorithms, conditionals, looping, and more. Incoming students sometimes need a boost to be successful. And all students can use refresher practice throughout the year! This session will review different ways to get students thinking logically with hands-on practice for teachers and takeaways you can use right away when you return to the classroom.
HS Biomedical Science
Block 2
MI: Protein Purification – Wrapping up 4.1
Presenter: Master Teacher Danielle Weber
Location: Salisbury Labs 402
Get hands-on experience with column chromatography for 4.1.3 while addressing timing, skills, and common issues for all of lesson 4.1: Manufacturing Human Proteins
Biomed Pathway: Cracking the Code to the Biomed EOC
Presenter: Master Teacher Becky Howell
Location: Salisbury Labs 305
Get the inside scoop from someone who used to write assessment questions for the EOC – join Master Teacher Becky Howell as she shares what PLTW is looking for and how they come up with EOC questions. She will provide guidance to help you determine what types of questions to be asking your students throughout the course. Get an Overview of the Kite Portal – how to utilize it and what it does and does not offer. There will also be time spent looking at interpretation documents to help you recognize concept mastery within the biomed courses!
Block 3
PBS: Wrapping Up PBS with Confidence – Dive Hands-on into Units 3 & 4
Presenter: Master Teacher Becky Howell
Location: Salisbury Labs 305
Units 3 and 4 will be previewed and discussed. Teachers will be provided with activity choices from each unit and can select the hands-on options that will benefit their classroom the most.
Biomed Pathway: Building Community within your PLTW Biomed Classroom
Presenter: Master Teacher Danielle Weber
Location: Salisbury Labs 402
Collaboration is an integral part of a PLTW biomed classroom, but it is not something that always comes naturally for our students. Join this session to discuss strategies for building a collaborative classroom community including building interdependence between student groups, how to avoid learned helplessness, grouping strategies, encouraging productive struggles and effectively utilizing peer evaluations.
HS Engineering
Block 2
IED: Top-down Modeling and Prototyping with Fusion 360
Presenter: Master Teacher Craig Hughes
Location: Higgins Labs 218
Participants will be guided through a top-down modeling process of a simple mechanical object. Once created, techniques for 3D printing the object will be explored and discussed.
CEA: Engage Your CEA Students by Catering Projects to Their Interests
Presenter: Master Teacher Cliff Greer
Location: Higgins Labs 116
Join this session to learn and share ways to adjust the projects so they are more relevant and engaging for students. Learn how Master Teacher Cliff Greer has adjusted the Habitat for Humanity project, added regional relevance to the Commercial construction, and ways to adjust the curriculum when the math gets heavy!
EDD: Ending the Year Strong
Presenter: Master Teacher Tony Tegtmeyer
Location: Salisbury Labs 407
How do you give your EDD students an end-of-the-year experience they will never forget? Join this interactive session with peers to share ideas and best practices to get administrators, experts, parents and the community invested in a memorable experience for you and your students. Ideas for engaging mini-projects for the last part of the year will also be discussed.
Engineering Pathway: Assessments in the Engineering Pathway
Presenter: Master Teacher Eric Rice
Location: Salisbury Labs 411
Participants will work through unit assessments and EOC issues. This session will cover the utilization of KITE, EOC resources, personalized assessments, and integrating Google Classroom and Canvas.
Block 3
IED: Sharing and Creating PLTW Resources – Making Teaching Easier
Presenter: Master Teacher Austin Williams
Location: Higgins Labs 218
Sticking with the idea that collaboration produces the best ideas and best products, we will walk through a collaboration effort made by over 40 PLTW IED teachers, the history of the project, lessons learned, and start a collaboration effort of our own. By the end of the session, you will have access to a library of IED resources and best practices contributed by PLTW teachers across the nation and those who have attended the session as well.
POE: Get Hands-on with the Ping Ball Launchers in Unit 4
Presenter: Master Teacher Eric Rice
Location: Salisbury Labs 411
This session will focus on integrating kinematics and statistical concepts into Problem 4.2.3- Ballistic Device Design. This session will assist with keeping students hands-on and engaged while directly building upon control system concepts developed in Unit 3.1 with Vex Robotics. As a teacher, you will work with various launchers and analysis tools in which you can use as ideas to help facilitate this unit at your school.
CIM: SCOREBOT Programming and More – End the Year Strong in CIM!
Presenter: Master Teacher Mike Smutok
Location: Salisbury Labs 407
We will do a deep dive into SCOREBOT – how to do a Cell-setup and programming of the robot. During this interactive session we will get into some of the more advanced programming with absolute vs relative coordinates and using variables. We will also touch upon peripherals to enter unit 4 strong! Be sure to bring your laptop with robocell.
Engineering Pathway: Instructive Moves to Create Independence in a PLTW Engineering Classroom
Presenter: Master Teacher Cliff Greer
Location: Higgins Labs 116
How do we hand the reins over to our students to guide their own learning while keeping them engaged and on task in an engineering classroom? Join this session to learn strategies for chunking student work and making the curriculum more accessible for students to work collaboratively in groups and independently. Master Teacher Cliff Greer will share his resources for IED and CEA as examples of breaking down PLTW engineering courses. There will be time to look through these materials to adjust them to meet the needs of your classroom or other engineering course.
General Interest
Block 2
Industry Connections to Make Student Learning “Real-World”
Presenter: Jacob Barry
Location: Hagglund
Learn actionable strategies and practical tips to help you build partnerships with companies and individuals who can bring authenticity to your class and help students connect their learning with real-world opportunities.
Block 3
Empowering Capstone Projects from Different Pathways
Presenter: Jon Jasinski
Location: Salisbury Labs 105
How can we bring the design process experience and project management skills to the Biomed or CS students? This workshop will unpack one teacher’s experience with the Common Capstone course and together we’ll workshop potential projects, ways to support students, and market the course.
Peer Feedback Strategies for Your Classroom
Presenter: Thérèse McKinny-Wood and Ashley Puopolo
Location: Hagglund
This session will focus on the benefits of using peer feedback in the classroom. Participants will have the opportunity to dive deep on two peer feedback stategies and adapt them for their classrooms.
