October 14, 2024

Northern Illinois University

Naperville Conference Center

 To continue to encourage all to attend, this year's conference rates are below pre-Covid costs and fees charged by most other associations.

(Early Bird Pricing Ends October 1st)

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

Our students’ future depends on their being prepared to analyze and interpret data in many forms to make informed, rational decisions. The focus of this year’s conference spotlights how to provide learning opportunities that allow students to define and answer questions that allow them to construct and apply valid scientific knowledge to all situations. Sessions will delve into aspects of one or more of the conference’s three threads.

Thread 1: Planning Purposefully

• • How can we design embedded three-dimensional assessments to support the phenomena we use?  
  • • Workshops will explore the decision we need to make related to choosing phenomena to how to connect disciplinary core ideas, cross cutting concepts and science and engineering practices to designing embedded assessments.

• • What do we do so that well-designed lesson plans actually work in the classroom?
  • • Workshops will explore the realities of implementing quality science pedagogy.

• • How can we use science as the context to engage students with other disciplines (e.g., ELA, mathematics, computer science, agriculture)? 
  • • Workshops will explore integrating other disciplinary standards when teaching science.

Schedule

Registration and Continental Breakfast: 8:00 - 9:00

Sessions:   - 9:00 - 12:00

Lunch (provided): 12:00 - 1:30

Sessions: 1:30 - 3:30

Exhibits open 8:30 am - 2:00 pm

Benefits

• Professional Development Hours Provided Through ISTA
• Special Extended Learning Opportunities in Small Groups
• Numerous sessions covering a broad array of current topics

• District Group Discount Rate and Administrator's Discount- see information below
• Science education vendors featured in the exhibit spaces.
• Raffle at end of conference with free prizes for those in attendance.
• Opportunities to network with colleagues and meet new people
• Continental Breakfast, Buffet Lunch and Afternoon Snacks provided 

Special rate - only $50 for preservice teachers

Join Us As We Work Together To

Move Science to Practice

CLICK the "REGISTER" button to the left.

Once you have completed the registration form, you will be able to either pay immediately at our secure site with a credit card or at a later date via check/PO from you or your employer. The confirmation of registration you receive via email serves as either your receipt or bill. Check out the new group discount program below before registering.

Last Week Registrations and Cancellations: Individuals registering one week prior to the conference may not receive the pizza option selected as orders will have been placed. Registrations canceled after September 21st will incur a $50 fee regardless of whether payment has been received.

Special District Group Discount 

With the hope of providing more teachers the opportunity to attend our joint conference, ISTA is offering a  discount program. If your district registers 5 or more teachers for the conference, the fee will be reduced by $10 dollars per in-person registrant. To take advantage of this special savings contact Bob Wolffe at finance@ilscience.org or 309-472-3118. He will send you the registration form to be used for groups. The same form will be used for all registrants regardless of discipline. DO NOT register on-line. Invoices provided upon request.

If your school or school district is paying for 4 or less people to attend, each person must be register individually on-line and a receipt or bill will be sent via email as each registration is completed. A single payment can then be sent for the entire group and each invoice will be recorded as paid upon receipt of payment.

Check Payable to: ISTA

Mail Payments to: Bob Wolffe, ISTA Finance Director

230 East Green Acres Ct.

East Peoria, IL 61611

Administrator Special Promotion

We believe it is important to promote the attendance of administrators at the conference. We know, with their support, teachers are better positioned to implement best practices. An administrator attending with a paid teacher registrant may come to the conference for only $50.   

EXHIBITS

Come talk with many commercial and non-commercial exhibitors.  There displays will be open from 8:30 am - 2:30 pm. 

HOTEL INFORMATION

There are numerous hotels within 2-5 miles of the conference site. Search the Wheaton or Naperville areas for list including a range of prices and amenities.

COMPLETE PROGRAM

Closer to the date of the conference the program will be available online. You will be notified when this occurs.

Chicago Public Schools Update

ISTA should have a CPU vendor number very soon. It will be posted ASAP.

Contact Bob Wolffe at finance@ilscience.org for information needed to join us in 2023.

Media Permission

By registering for this event I grant the Illinois Science Teachers Association (ISTA) the right to take photographs, videos, and/or other recordings of me at this event. I understand such media can be used for any lawful purpose, which may include publicity, marketing, illustration, advertising and Web content related to the work and responsibilities of ISTA. Published information may include names, school, city/state, and other identifying information. 

If I do not wish to allow for above I will notify ISTA via email.

 Cancellations

Registrations canceled after September 22nd will incur a $50 fee regardless of whether payment has been received since food will have been ordered for you..