Session Number
5
Location
AC PIT
Grade Level
6-12
Subjects
Science, Equity and Diversity
Start Date
27-2-2026 1:40 PM
End Date
27-2-2026 2:40 PM
Description
What does it take for our students to truly see themselves as scientists? Too often, young people imagine scientists as: the person in the white lab coat, the genius in the laboratory, the stereotype in the textbook photo. If we want our students to consider themselves in this role, we must intentionally design classroom experiences that build scientific identity. In this session, participants will explore practical strategies to position their students as scientists, including: reframing every day labs as investigations, analyzing how representation shapes student perceptions, and engaging in role-play as scientists tackling real-world problems. We'll discuss ways to integrate authentic scientific practices while also making deliberate choices about language, representation, and framing. Together, we'll reimagine science classrooms not only as places where students learn about science, but as places where students become scientists.
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Educational Methods Commons, Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons
Science Belongs to Everyone: Cultivating Identity and Inclusion in STEM
AC PIT
What does it take for our students to truly see themselves as scientists? Too often, young people imagine scientists as: the person in the white lab coat, the genius in the laboratory, the stereotype in the textbook photo. If we want our students to consider themselves in this role, we must intentionally design classroom experiences that build scientific identity. In this session, participants will explore practical strategies to position their students as scientists, including: reframing every day labs as investigations, analyzing how representation shapes student perceptions, and engaging in role-play as scientists tackling real-world problems. We'll discuss ways to integrate authentic scientific practices while also making deliberate choices about language, representation, and framing. Together, we'll reimagine science classrooms not only as places where students learn about science, but as places where students become scientists.