Slesnick Symposium - 2024
Schedule of Events
- 8:30-9:00 a.m.
In-Person at Western: SL 220
Coffee
- 9:00-10:30 a.m.
In-Person at Western: SL 220
Math Strong: Cultivating Joy, Justice and Innovation in K-20 STEM Education
Interactive Workshop with Julia Aguirre: Participants will do some math together and discuss roles and commitments to dismantling systemic inequities to uplift joy, justice, and innovation in STEM.
- 10:30 a.m. Break
- 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
In-Person at Western: SL 220
Student Panel: Inclusive practices That Help Students Learn
In-Person at Western: SL 220
- 12:00-1:00 p.m.
In-Person at Western: SL 220
Lunch
- 1:00-3:30 p.m.
In-Person at Western. Attend all or choose sessions on day of event.Talk Time
Room
Talk Title
Presenter(s)
1:00 pm
210
The Lowdown on Pronouns: Insights and Advice from Queer Students
Out in Education
Rebecca Borowski
230
Investigating Common, Effective, and Equitable Instructional Strategies in STEM Undergraduate Education by Dustin Van Orman, Daniel Hanley, Josie Melton, Abbey Gray, Makayla Wilson, and Greta Moses
Dustin Van Orman
Dan Hanley
1:30 pm
210
Attempts at Equity: Narrowing the gap through assessment math
Dan Van Hees
230
Finding Innovative Assessment Strategies: Exploring Problem Based Learning for Organic Chemistry Courses
Lauren Dudley
2:00 pm
210
A framework for equitable, student-centered undergraduate STEM instruction
Dan Hanley
Dustin Van Orman
230
Undergraduate Biology Students' Ideas about the Biological Basis of Race
Deb Donovan
Jasper Conery
2:30 pm
210
Strategies for Incorporating Universal Design for Learning in Your Classes Without Wrecking Your Work/Life Balance
Rebecca Borowski
230
Ungrading the lab: feedback and motivation in a course-based research experience
Lina Dahlberg
3:00 pm
210
N/A
230
Building a Responsive STEM Classroom Around Access Needs
Katie Rupe
- 4:00-5:00 p.m.
In-Person at Western: SL 220 or webinar on Zoom
What is Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy and Why Does it Matter In STEM Education
Keynote by Django Paris
- 5:00-6:00 p.m.
In-Person at Western: SL 220
Reception
Keynote Talk by Django Paris, "What is Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy and Why Does it Matter In STEM Education?"
Django Paris
Django Paris is the inaugural James A. and Cherry A. Banks Professor of Multicultural Education and director of the Banks Center for Educational Justice in the College of Education at the University of Washington on Coast Salish homelands. His teaching and research focus on centering and sustaining Indigenous, Black, Latinx, Asian, and Pacific Islander youth and communities in the context of ongoing resurgence, decolonization, liberation, and justice movements in and beyond schools. His recent collaborative books include Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies: Teaching and Learning for Justice in a Changing World and Education in Movement Spaces: Standing Rock to Chicago Freedom Square. Paris is also the editor of the Culturally Sustaining Pedagogies series with Teachers College Press. He has published in many academic journals, including the Harvard Educational Review and Educational Researcher.
"Culturally sustaining pedagogy exists wherever education sustains the lifeways of communities who have been and continue to be damaged and erased through schooling."
Dr. Django Paris
Workshop by Dr. Julia Aguirre, co-author of Cultivating Mathematical Hearts
Dr. Julia Aguirre
Julia Maria Aguirre is a Professor of Education at the University of Washington Tacoma. Her work focuses on critical equity studies in mathematics education, teacher education, culturally responsive mathematics pedagogy, and mathematical modeling. Dr. Aguirre is co-author of four books: The Impact of Identity in K-12 Mathematics: Rethinking Equity-Based Practices (2024); Cultivating Mathematical Hearts: Culturally Responsive Mathematics Teaching in Elementary Classrooms (2023); Transforming Mathematics Teacher Education: An Equity-based Approach (2019); and The Impact of Identity in K-8 Mathematics: Rethinking Equity-based Practices (2013); She has taught mathematics in formal and informal classroom settings. She is committed to working with educators to positively impact children’s math learning by reimagining their pedagogy to leverage student strengths and experiences; partner with families and communities; dismantle academic apartheid; and advocate for mathematics education that cultivates justice, joy, and civic engagement. She welcomes all to make learning mathematics more meaningful, humanizing and just.
About the Symposium
STEM EDUCATION SYMPOSIUM
The late Dr. Slesnick retired in 1996 after a 33-year career on Western's College of Sciences and Technology biology faculty. During his 33 years in the biology department, he profoundly impacted thousands of students and future science teachers. His vision and tireless advocacy for improving science education played a critical role in gaining approval for constructing the Science Education Building and influenced its unique design. Slesnick was instrumental in the establishment of the current SMATE program housed in the building that continues the work he started. The annual Irwin L. Slesnick STEM Education Symposium is a tribute to his memory.
Past Symposia
The Irwin L. Slesnick STEM Education Symposium was begun in 2014. Each year's speakers and workshops have been recorded and are available on the Past Symposia page.