Building Scientific Minds: Inspiring Teaching and Effective Learning
Science classroom practice and informal science experiences should be grounded in research in science education and cognitive psychology. Key developments, such as national and state science standards, Science Anchors, and workplace skills for the 21st century, deserve wide-scale application in science programs. Teachers and science education leaders need model approaches to implementing research findings in science programs and teaching/learning strategies.

Goals
To provide workshops and presentations focusing on one or more of the following:
? Neuroscience and cognitive research as it applies to science learning.
? Techniques for grounding instructional science programs in current standards/outcomes and workplace skills for the 21st century.
? Using inclusion strategies, PLCs, and/or lesson study to increase all students’ conceptual learning.
? Teacher preparation programs built around current science education and cognitive neuroscience research.
? Building and refining skills for effective science education leadership.

Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated on the extent that they:
? Show evidence of correlation to current cognitive neuroscience research.
? Model successful strategies for basing instruction on current science standards, anchors, or workplace skills for the 21st century.
? Model PLCs/lesson study/inclusive approaches to improve classroom practices.
? Offer clear examples of educational research applied to classroom settings.
? Illustrate techniques for developing higher-level thinking skills.
? Align with one or more strand goals.
? Align with state and national science standards (NSES and Benchmarks).
? Are based on current and available research and issues in science.
? Involve participants through activities and/or discussion.