Early Bird Registration is open until October 7, 2024

General Conference  (presenters DO NOT use, see below)    

              Early Bird        $75  (ends October 7, 2024)

              Regular         $100  (after October 7, 2024) 

Life members               

             Early Bird        $40  (ends October 7, 2024)

             Regular           $55  (after October 7, 2024) 

This is for life members ONLY. If you would like to become a life member, click on the JOIN US button on the homepage.

Presenter

Presenter     $75

This registration button is for approved PRESENTER and CO-PRESENTER registration ONLY 

NOTICE: All PRESENTERS and CO-PRESENTERS must register and pay by Sept 20, 2024 to secure their session. 

F

Follow the links below to register.

The first link is for the Main conference and the second link is for the Field Trip, Social Events and Workshops. 

 Main Conference Registration page <--click here

Field Trip, Social Events and Workshops registration page <--click here

For Vendor information pertaining to the Exhibit Hall at our Conference,

please contact

 Sharon Cutler: cutlersharon@mac.com

VENDOR REGISTRATION FORM <--Click here if you would like to represent your company at our 2022 FAST Conference in St. Augustine

Dear Attendees:

Instructions for booking a room through our link.

Click on link below. You will see in BLUE the entire block dates for our conference. To shorten your stay, you must edit by clicking on the BLUE number 21 (Oct), put in your check in/check out dates, click done, then you will see your dates on the calendar. Then click UPDATE. Now choose your room.

You must use our link to get the $5 overnight parking rate which will be adjusted at checkout.

Currently, there are no rooms available for Thursday, October 24th at the FAST rate of $129 at the Embassy Suites. Other nights are still available.

Holiday Inn room BLOCK is FULL, However, we are negotiating more rooms at the FAST rate. Please Check Back in a few days. We have contracted at the Holiday Inn, 3751 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa (directly across street from the Embassy) for rooms at the FAST rate of $129. Please use the link below.

BOOKING LINK for the Embassy Suites (3705 Spectrum Blvd)

Hotel Booking Link for the Embassy Suites

BOOKING LINK for the Holiday Inn (3751 E. Fowler Ave)

Hotel Booking Link for the Holiday Inn

If you have questions concerning the hotel or unable to book a room at the FAST rate,

please email Barbara Rapoza at

 b_rapoza@yahoo.com

Coming in October of 2024

FAST 2023 CONFERENCE PROGRAM BOOK

There is a small fee to attend the field trip and the workshops that is in addition to the conference registration fee. Concurrent sessions on Friday and Saturday are free.  Conference registration is required to attend all events. 

Field Trip

 Busch Gardens SOLD OUT

Special STEM/Science Program at Busch Gardens

Discover one of Tampa Bay's most enriching learning environments! Busch Gardens invites you to explore our STEM programming with a complimentary School on the Serengeti tour, followed by a tour of our state-of-the-art Animal Care Center. You’ll also have the opportunity to preview the Physics and Biology Day stations within the Animal Care Center. At the end of the program, you're invited to enjoy a catered lunch in Gwazi pavilion & spend the rest of the day enjoying the thrills of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

Transportation will be provided to the park but you will have to access the free shuttle to return to the hotel. Meet in lobby by front door at 8:30am for a 9:15am start at Busch Gardens. Open only to classroom teachers who are interested in taking their students to the park. Please no repeats from last year. 

Time: 8:30am

Cost: $10.00

Maximum: 23

 iFly Indoor Skydiving STEM Program

Experience Indoor Skydiving- The Ultimate Thrill Experience in a state-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel. This STEM program includes a physics demonstration, a flight safety and gear orientation, lab stations and the indoor flight! Meet in the lobby near front entrance at 12:45pm to either arrange car pooling or drive the 21 minute drive on your own. 

Time: 12:45pm until 4:30pm

Cost: $10.00

Minimum 15, Maximum 50

Social Events

 Meet and Greet! 

Sponsored by FPL & Accelerate Learning

Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024

Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Cost-FREE! Pre-registration required

Even though the cost is free to everyone, you MUST REGISTER by October 7, 2024 to ATTEND! Your registration allows us to order enough food and drink so all attendees will have a great time! You must be registered for the conference to attend. 

Location: USF Discovery Hall (across parking lot)

Come as you are and enjoy snacks, beverages and the company of your colleagues.

 Speaker Luncheon

Sponsored by Discovery Education

Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024

Time: 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM

Cost: $10.00 (Life Members are free but you must pre-register using the life member speaker luncheon button and also be registered for the conference)

Location: USF Discovery Hall (across parking lot)

Open to all attendees (must pre-register by October 7th, 2024)

Enjoy a buffet lunch while listening to Hall Davidson, Leader of Innovative Learning Solutions, sponsored by Discovery Education. Director Davidson works to distribute no-cost digital resources for STEM education that allow students to explore and create their own education. Engage in career passion exercises and leave with a treasure trove of free STEM resources for grades 3-12.

The Outstanding Teacher Recipients will also be honored.

Maximum:60

WORKSHOPS

We are pleased to offer exciting workshops on Thursday, October 24th. Pre-registration is required for these workshops which are 2-hour in-depth sessions. 

The cost to attend a workshop on Thursday is in addition to and separate to registering for the FAST Conference. A workshop participant must also be registered for the Main Conference. Any workshop not meeting minimum capacity will be cancelled. 

If you and your guest fail to register for the conference, you and/or your guest's field trip, social event and/or workshop registration will be voided. 

Workshop #1

Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024

Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Title: Future NASA Engineers-We are GO! for Launch!

Presented by: 

Dr. Carrie Rebenack, STEM teacher, Riverview Academy of Math & Science, & NASA Jet Propulsion Lab Solar System Ambassador and Catherine Gregos, Science/STEM Curriculum Supervisor for Charter School Associates

Audience: Elementary

Location: Citrus

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 24

Minimum: 10

Description:

This session will demonstrate how to incorporate NASA expeditions and research into the elementary classroom. There is a wealth of NASA projects available to educators; however, many of them are designed solely for middle and high school students.  Elementary students are just as excited by NASA science and, with a little planning, they can also learn through the real-world lens of space exploration. This session is intended to show participants how to tie in NASA projects with just about any science standard. Participants will leave the session with a deeper understanding of current NASA projects and how to create space inspired lessons using budget-friendly materials.  Give Aways available!

Workshop #2 

^{Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024}

Time: 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM 

Title: Leveraging Curiosity to Foster Productive Student Collaboration in Science

Presented by: 

Anna Monteiro, Director of Senior Fellows Program and Rosiane Lesperance, Program Officer of Teacher Development, Knowles Teacher Initiative 

^{Audience: K - 12} 

Location: Magnolia

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 30

Minimum:   6

Description:

This session examines challenges in student groupwork, focusing on collaborative learning dynamics. Learn to address uneven participation, disrupt status perceptions with randomized grouping, and promote curiosity through "group worthy" tasks and actionable norms.  Participants will leave the session equipped with practical tools and strategies to enhance groupwork in their classrooms, ultimately fostering a learning environment where curiosity is not only encouraged but becomes a driving force in students' academic journey. Through the application of these techniques, educators can transform their classrooms into spaces where all students feel valued, engaged, and inspired to learn science together.

Workshop #3

^{Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024}

Time: 9:30 am to 11:30 am

Title: Promoting Inquiry and Discussion in the Physics Classroom: A Modeling Approach

Presented by: 

Daniel Dreyfuss, Physics Teacher, Saint Andrews School, Boca Raton and Lee Trampleasure, Retired Physics Teacher

Audience: Middle and High School

Location: Cypress

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 24

Minimum: 10

Description:

Engaging students in the science classroom requires promoting inquiry and discussion. This presentation will introduce the Modeling Instruction methodology, an approach that highlights interactive whiteboarding, guided inquiry labs that introduce each model, and student-centered learning. A lab activity will be used to allow participants to experience a Modeling classroom.  Techniques for fostering a classroom environment where students actively engage in peer-to-peer discussions will be demonstrated.

Workshop #4

^{Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024}

Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Title: Engaging Curiosity Across Linguistic Differences 

Presented by: 

Maria Hill, Teacher, Collier County Schools

Audience: Middle School

Location: Citrus

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 24

Minimum: 10

Description:

This dynamic 2-hour workshop is designed to provide educators with practical, hands-on strategies to support English Language Learners (ELLs) in their classrooms. This interactive session will focus on engaging activities that enhance language acquisition, while sparking curiosity! Participants will utilize various tools and resources to enhance the ELLs’ learning experience and develop lesson plans incorporating strategies from this workshop.

Workshop #5

^{Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024}

Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Title: Science Take-Out: Ticks, Biodiversity, and Climate Inquiry Case Study on the Spread of Disease

^{Presented by:} 

Brenda Breil, Assistant University School Professor - P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School

Audience: Middle and High School 

Location: Cypress

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 24

Minimum: 10

Description:

Experience a Science Take-Out kit to learn about the spread of disease through tick-borne pathogens.  Combine reading, research, data analysis, modeling, and a lab activity to discover why the incidence of tick-borne diseases is on the rise.  Perform simulated DNA electrophoresis to investigate if the ticks were carrying pathogens. Analyze data on tick-borne diseases, tick distribution, and climate to explain the increase in tick-borne diseases. Use a model and data to explore how biodiversity and interactions in the ecosystem are involved in the pattern of tick-borne diseases.

Workshop #6

^{Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024}

Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Title: Creating Storyline-Driven Lessons for Your Biology Class

^{Presented by:} 

Nicole Holman, Hillsborough County Public Schools 9-12 Science Coach

Audience: High School 

Location: Magnolia

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 24

Minimum: 10

^Description:

This presentation explores a transformative approach to professional learning aimed at empowering teachers to enact meaningful change in their instructional practices through storyline curriculum writing.

Through a blend of theory and practice, participants will discover how to apply this model across any 9-12 science courses.

Workshop #7

Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024

Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Title: Don't Believe Everything You Believe

Presented by: 

Bertha Vazquez, Generation Skeptics

Audience: All Science Educators

Location: Palm

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 24

Minimum: 10

Description:

In our classrooms, we cover content that's been backed by evidence and repeatedly tested, sometimes over the centuries, using the scientific method. But let's not forget that it's a very different situation the moment our students walk out of our classrooms. The abundance of misleading products and conspiracy theories in the world demands that educators help students differentiate between tested truths and falsehoods. Generation Skeptics teaches the next generation to spot misinformation and the importance of substantiating claims with evidence. 

We propose teachers frame science inquiry in a new way: Everyone, including ourselves, is a victim of flawed thinking, clouded by our biases, perceptions, experiences, and identities. The purpose of the scientific method is to eliminate these factors when seeking the truth.  We will share dozens of lessons to help students understand this critical component of the nature of science. In addition, we will give the teachers a chance to try our three of our most popular lessons: Bellringers for Better Thinking,  Words have Power over Rice,  How to Sell Pseudoscience

Workshop #8 CANCELED

^{Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024}

Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Title: Why Solar Matters

Presented by: 

Susan Schleith, Program Director, K-12 Energy Education, Florida Solar Energy Center, University of Central Florida

Audience: Grades 4 - 8

Location: Salon A

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 24

Minimum: 10

Description:

Participate in hands-on activities from the Solar Matters curriculum developed by FSEC with the University of Central Florida. Explore energy concepts using solar electric (photovoltaics) and solar thermal technologies. All participants receive a free classroom solar starter kit. Door prizes!

Workshop #9

^{Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024}

Time: 3:15 pm to 5:15 pm

Title: Discover the Power of Nature Journaling

Presented by: 

Lacey Huffling, Associate Professor, Georgia Southern University 

Audience: All Grades (focus on Middle School)

Location: Citrus

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 24

Minimum: 10

Description:

Discover the power of Nature Journaling as a way to build observational skills, which are the foundation of the 8 Scientific and Engineering Skills.  Participants will be introduced to nature journaling through John Muir Laws. A step-by-step guide for how to implement the “I Wonder, I See, It Reminds of” format will be provided. You will engage in classroom lessons and explore student work samples. Learn how to use iNaturalist, Nature's Notebook, and BioCubes with Nature Journaling to further engage students inside and outside the classroom.

Workshop #10

^{Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024}

Time: 3:15 pm to 5:15 pm

Title:  Enhancing Biotech Lab Experiences with Research Grade Tools and Professional Learning                    Experiences

Presented by: 

Dan McFarland, Site Liaison, Amgen Biotech Experience - Tampa; Luanna Prevost, Site Director, Amgen Biotech Experience - Tampa; USF- Integrative Biology; Carolina Sarmiento, Site Coordinator, Amgen Biotech Experience - Tampa; USF- Integrative Biology

Audience: High School Science Teachers, Lead Science Teachers, Department Chairs, District Science Administrators

Location: Cypress

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 24

Minimum: 10

Description:

This session will engage science teachers and administrators in biotech labs and discussions on how these labs can be tailored for and implemented in their teaching environments. Participants will learn about the free training and supplies available to teachers through the Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) program. ABE labs are appropriate for a wide range of courses including Biology, AP Bio, Bioscience, and Forensic Science among others. We will discuss how ABE labs can be implemented in these courses and with students at all high school levels in the classroom, online and in the laboratory through the ABE Tampa team at the University of South Florida.

Workshop #11

^{Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024}

Time: 3:15 pm to 5:15 pm

Title:  Interactive Word Walls: Visual Scaffolds that Transform Content Vocabulary Instruction

Presented by: 

Julie Jackson, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Science Education, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX

Audience: K - 12

Location: Magnolia

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 24

Minimum: 10

Description:

This session will provide attendees with the tools needed to transform static word walls – into word walls that are interactive, dynamic, student generated, literacy scaffolds that support academic vocabulary acquisition, and speaking, reading, and writing about science concepts.  Interactive word walls are planned by teachers but constructed by students during class. They are academic language scaffolds students may use to improve comprehension, communicate scientific ideas, and structure writing. They organize vocabulary words, visuals, and student work.

Workshop #12

^{Date: Thursday, October 24, 2024}

Time: 3:15 pm to 5:15 pm

Title:  Everglades Literacy Teacher Training

Presented by: 

BIanca Cassouto, Education Program Manager and Tate Vangellow, Literacy Program Coordinator The Everglades Foundation

Audience: K - 12

Location: Palm

Workshop Cost: $ 5.00, Pre-registration required

Maximum: 24

Minimum: 10

Description:

Learn about the Everglades Literacy Program, an interdisciplinary Everglades-focused STEAM curriculum that navigates through the watershed, including free, hands-on lessons and resources. Learn how to shift school community culture to become a Champion School, recognizing exceptional efforts in Everglades education.

CLICK HERE FOR A PDF OF CONCURRENT SESSIONS.

or see below