TJ McKenna

Call for Submissions: Educational Designer Special Issue on "Design for Joy"

What if we could systematically design educational experiences that generate genuine joy in learning?

Abstracts due Aug 1, 2025
Submit here: forms.gle/YguBReMhWBcW...
#EducationalDesign #JoyfulLearning

Just found out my book "Making Sense of Sensemaking: Designing Authentic K-12 STEM Learning Experiences" is available at the AERA conference in Denver!! How exciting to see you out in the world!! @buwheelock.bsky.social @aeraedresearch.bsky.social @tcpress.bsky.social

IT'S HERE! Just captured the magical moment of seeing "Making Sense of Sensemaking: Designing Authentic K–12 STEM Learning Experiences" in physical form for the first time. Still can't believe it's real! My book, co-published by Teachers College Press and NSTA, is now making its way into the world!

Our faculty continue to make significant contributions in the fields of education and human development. Explore this month's scholarly achievements to learn more.

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Huge thanks to everyone who came to my NSTA session Making Sense of Sensemaking—especially for showing up to the very last slot of the conference! Grateful for the energy, curiosity, and commitment to authentic K–12 learning!! By for now Philly!!

Just a quick train ride from DC to Philly, and now NSTA is in full swing! It’s always a joy reconnecting with colleagues and diving into all things science education. Excited for presentations starting tomorrow—especially after an energizing class with my Secondary Science Methods students tonight.

Giving this a whirl to keep track of NARST wisdom… bsky.app/profile/did:... #NARST #NARST25

Just in time for NARST + NSTA: I launched a production-ready NGSS Curriculum Coach—an LLM-powered, retrieval-augmented app! Streamlit-hosted, metadata-rich, and designed to support teachers with smart search, coaching prompts, and NGSS-aligned materials.

Warner's "More Than Words" aligns with my teaching approach: writing as sensemaking, not just communication. While AI generates polished text, it can't replicate the struggle of genuine thought. In the AI era, we must emphasize writing as exploration, not performance. @biblioracle.bsky.social #AI

Just launched an AI-powered STEM career guidance tool for Boston University students! 🎓 Uses Claude 3.7 to match personal interests and values with tailored career pathways. Helping students find their direction in STEM! Check it out: poe.com/STEMCareerCo... #AIinEducation #STEMCareers

Sensemaking in STEM: How to make education more meaningful and authentic for all students Educators and Leaders in STEM: How do we make complex STEM concepts engaging, accessible, and meaningful? This new book provides strategies to transform STEM education through sensemaking - bridging ...

Check out my new book on Sensemaking in STEM! It’s full of strategies for creating meaningful engagement for all students. Full details here: www.ngssphenomena.com/media @buwheelock.bsky.social #ngss #ngsschat

Join us for the 2025 Curiosity & Learning Conference at Boston University - a morning of hands-on STEAM exploration and learning. This isn't your typical conference - instead of lectures, you'll find interactive stations where you can experiment with new ideas and materials. @buwheelock.bsky.social

We have a new pack! @buwheelock.bsky.social

Can you add me too please?

Tonight, I introduced Kebbi the robot & Movia’s Robot-Assisted Instruction system to @buwheelock.bsky.social Assistive Technology class! My grant-funded research explores how to prepare preservice and inservice educators to thoughtfully integrate emerging tech like Kebbi, supporting all students.

Excited to welcome PBS/NOVA's Ralph Bouquet to our STEM Learning course today! From teaching science in Philly to leading NOVA's education initiatives, Ralph shows how to make science accessible & engaging for all. Thank you for sharing your journey in building bridges between science & society!

While more research on DeepSeek's development is needed, it fascinates that it learned to have "aha moments" - recognizing when its thinking needs a reset, just like humans do. This wasn't programmed, but emerged naturally, suggesting self-reflection might be fundamental to intelligence itself. #AI

How do we break STEM stereotypes? Today, my first-year students explored self-identity vs. external perceptions. Reflecting on the "STEM person" image sparked powerful discussions on diversity, creativity, and skills beyond tech. Excited to learn more together! #STEMEducation @buwheelock.bsky.social

Thrilled to see the Teachers College Press Spring catalog is out, featuring my book Making Sense of Sensemaking! Honored to share space with incredible works like my colleague @eveimanz.bsky.social’s Productive Uncertainty in Science Education. Check it out here: lnkd.in/gPfNJW6P

BU to Help Massachusetts Expand Access to Artificial Intelligence Computing Governor announces an “AI Hub” to drive cutting-edge technology to residents, academia, and business

BU will be central to the new AI Hub announced by @massgovernor.bsky.social, fostering collaboration in AI across government, academia, and more. The hub will leverage the MA Green High Performance Computing Center for innovative and ethical AI applications statewide.

Love watching future teachers discover science phenomena in their everyday lives through this NGSS Phenomena 15-day challenge. Science truly is everywhere! #ScienceEducation @buwheelock.bsky.social #ngss #phenomena

Excited to share Jennifer Cohen’s Sensemaking in STEM project! She created a children’s book that uses roller coasters 🎢 to explain gravitational illusions, making physics fun and relatable. Check it out: 📖 #STEMEducation #PhysicsForKids drive.google.com/file/d/1Nmi_... @buwheelock.bsky.social

Hit the sheets and threw some stones tonight! My delivery was solid, but my draws didn’t find the house😔. They made me the skip and our team hurried hard - a bonspiel to remember! 🥌 #SWEEP #CurlingLife #HurryHard

Excited to share another incredible student project from Sensemaking in STEM! Iris Ren's beautiful visual exploration of computer graphics combines art and CS, using storytelling + illustration to make complex concepts feel accessible. This is what STEM education should be! @buwheelock.bsky.social

Next up is Scarlett’s project from Sensemaking in STEM! As a @newenglandaquarium.bsky.social interpreter, she created a stunning collage-based book on sustainable seafood. Her work is already a hit and I’ll be printing hard copies for the aquarium’s new reading corner! @buwheelock.bsky.social

🌟 Excited to share Carolina’s project from Sensemaking in STEM!

Her work on Sensemaking in High School Mathematics highlights innovative ways to engage students, connect abstract math to real-world contexts, and promote deeper understanding.

🔗 sensemakinghsmath.my.canva.site

Submitted our proposal for the MA Science Performance Assessment Ambassador Program—a $1,240,000 initiative to support educators & advance equitable science education statewide. The project brings together Dr. Sara Cooper & Vivayic to provide innovative tools for science assessments.

Democratizing STEM | 23 | Developing a Culture of Sensemaking | Thomas This chapter explores the concept of the "leaky pipeline" in K-12 STEM education, highlighting the loss of students, particularly those from

Excited to share a chapter I co-authored with Sarah Michaels in Contemporary Issues in Equity, Democracy, and Public Education! We reframe the STEM "leaky pipeline," advocating sensemaking and equity to foster inclusion, diversity, and belonging in STEM learning spaces. @buwheelock.bsky.social #STEM

Vermont trip…