Join us at NSTA Indy!
The inquiryHub team will be in Indianapolis for NSTA, and would love to see you there. Register on the NSTA website.
Wednesday November 4, 2026 - PLI #4 (Full-Day Workshop)
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Artificial Intelligence is rapidly reshaping science, engineering, and society. Science classrooms need approaches that help students understand the science behind AI, how it is used in STEM, and how it can support their learning. In this full-day professional learning institute (PLI), participants will explore emerging AI standards and how the problem-based storyline curricular units can anchor AI learning in meaningful ways that support equitable participation.
During the session, participants will engage with a set of three units: Sensor Immersion, Self-Driving Cars, and Animal Prosthetics. In this three-unit progression, students use Micro:bit sensors to investigate real world problems. They explore meaningful AI concepts including the shift from decision trees to probabilistic neural networks, the important role of training data, how AI makes predictions, and the ethical implications of AI. Participants will get hands-on experience with how it feels to participate in a unit from the student perspective, allowing participants to understand how the units leverage students' own questions to support coherence and sensemaking.
Key Takeaways
A deeper understanding of problem-based, storyline units as an instructional model that supports coherence from the student perspective.
Firsthand experience with three curricular units focused on AI mechanics and societal impact.
Strategies for both helping students figure out how AI works and teaching with AI tools.
Practical approaches to leveraging AI responsibly to support sensemaking and student engagement.
Participants will leave with the materials needed to implement these units in their own schools and classrooms. Micro:bits and other hardware not included.
Audience
Middle and high school science educators, instructional coaches, and curriculum leaders interested in integrating AI into science learning while maintaining coherence and equity.
Presented by: Greg Benedis-Grab, Kate Henson
Location: TBD
Friday November 6, 2026
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AI is reshaping what it means to learn and create. This session introduces Human-AI Teaming, a bold approach to learning where students don’t just use AI, they collaborate and think with it. Discover how AI as partner and provocateur can expand agency, equity, and the future of learning.
Presented by: Greg Benedis-Grab
Location: 138
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In this workshop participants will engage with our innovative computational thinking curriculum unit. Our approach is grounded in phenomena, science storylines, coherence and student modeling. We have innovated upon these time tested NGSS teacher practices by incorporating computational thinking through physical computing (Micro:Bit). In our approach, students use programmable sensors to ask questions, define problems and engage in the rest of the science and engineering practices. The participants will experience these practices in student-hat so that they better understand the student experience and how to implement the units. Participants will write computer programs, collect/analyze data and connect investigations to place-based contexts. Participants will walk away with a co-designed, classroom ready toolkit of resources that they are ready to implement based on the workshop experience. No prior experience using sensor technologies or programming is needed.
Presented by: Greg Benedis-Grab
Location: 138
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This presentation shares findings from a study of preservice science teachers using a custom AI chatbot designed to support NGSS-aligned, phenomenon-based lesson and unit planning. Drawing on analyses of chatbot interactions, interviews, and teacher reflections, we highlight how participants used the tool to identify engaging phenomena, align instruction to standards, generate lesson ideas, and strengthen unit coherence. We also discuss challenges, including evaluating AI-generated suggestions and avoiding over-reliance on AI. Participants will leave with practical strategies for using AI to support science teaching and teacher learning.
Presented by: William Lindsay
Location: 138
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Science leaders from a large, urban school district will describe and model a process they have developed to utilize generative AI tools to improve their district-level science assessments—including their psychometric quality, linguistic accessibility, and alignment to science standards.
Presented by: Douglas Watkins, Stephanie Brushway
Location: 138
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Explore research-backed and interactive zines that help teachers shift their instructional practice to empower students as epistemic agents in the science classrooms. The zines support teachers in unpacking what it means to redistribute power and authority in the classroom through culture norms, curriculum materials, routines and classroom talk. Teachers can use the zines to support reflection, to prepare and adapt lessons, and as tool for developing professional learning communities.
Presented by: Monica Ko, Kerri Wingert
Location: 138
Saturday November 7, 2026
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Implementing high quality instructional materials (HQIM) in science at the district scale is one of the most important pathways to reaching students with NGSS aligned reforms. However, taking on a district curriculum adoption process can be daunting. Hear from a panel of district science leaders who have met this challenge head on in three very different contexts. You will learn about the components of various district contexts and the challenges and successes these leaders have met along the way. You will leave with insights you can apply to your own context, whatever stage of the process your district is in!
Presented by: Kate Henson
Location: Marriott Ballroom 2