Vermont Fest 2019: Full Schedule

Welcome to the interactive web schedule for the 2019 Vermont Fest Conference! Click on the "Helpful Info" section below for tips on navigating this site, and building your own agenda. (as of November 15, 2019)

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE VERMONT FEST CONFERENCE WEBSITE: http://vtfest.vita-learn.org

PLEASE NOTE: Some sessions have a limited capacity. Seating for all sessions is first-come, first-serve. Advance RSVP is not an option; adding an item to your agenda in Sched does not guarantee you a seat. Look for LIMITED CAPACITY in the session title to see which sessions are going to close their doors after capacity is hit and read the session description to see how many people they will accept.

6:00pm EST

VITA-Learn Board Meeting & Dinner (invitation only)

Wednesday November 13, 2019 6:00pm - 8:00pm EST
Northstar 1

Main Agenda Item

7:00pm EST

Conference Registration Desk Open

Wednesday November 13, 2019 7:00pm - 8:30pm EST
Lower Lobby

Main Agenda Item

7:00pm EST

Exhibitor Set-up

Wednesday November 13, 2019 7:00pm - 8:30pm EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Main Agenda Item

6:00am EST

Exhibitor Set-up

Thursday November 14, 2019 6:00am - 7:00am EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Main Agenda Item

6:00am EST

Conference Registration Desk Open

Thursday November 14, 2019 6:00am - 4:00pm EST
Lower Lobby

Main Agenda Item

7:00am EST

Breakfast and Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors

Thursday November 14, 2019 7:00am - 8:00am EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Meal/Break

7:00am EST

Exhibit Hall Open

Thursday November 14, 2019 7:00am - 5:30pm EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Main Agenda Item

8:00am EST

Coaches & Integrationists Roundtable - our changing roles

Tech integrationist, Digital Learning Leader, Innovation Specialist, STEM coach, Personal Learning Coach, Proficiency Based Learning Specialist -- what do all these have in common? How are our roles and responsibilities changing? How can we collaborate to find solutions and share what works?

Speakers

Jessica Wilson

Digital Learning Leader, Champlain Valley School District

Erica Zimmer

Thursday November 14, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Northstar 2

Thursday Block 1

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

8:00am EST

CyberSecurity Assessment

Being prepared for cybersecurity involves more than the network, firewalls, servers, and backups...it involves all of your end users and stakeholders. Almost two dozen districts were victims of ransomware attacks in the first half of 2018 in New England….and most attacks start with your end users. A practical workshop using CoSN’s Cybersecurity for the Digital District assessment tool to identify challenges and prioritize solutions for district and school security planning.LINK

Speakers

Paul Irish

Past Executive Director, VITA-Learn

Retired tech director for district of 4000 students in Vermont. Interests include smarter budgets, smarter schools, smarter technology, cybersec assessment, disruptive innovation, policy and legal issues in IT.

Thursday November 14, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Escapade 2

Thursday Block 1

Strand Coaching and Leadership Development
Audience Elementary, Middle School, High School, Technical Staff and Prof. Dev. Leadership

8:00am EST

Cybersecurity is Exciting to Teach - from early learners to career opportunities

We all teach cybersecurity in different ways. We are excited to share what we do and what it looks like in our classes. Add these activities to your class, decode ciphers and puzzles, make secure communication with cryptography, make LEDs blink. What is all this cybersecurity stuff? How do I get it and what does it look like? Get NICERC’s free curriculum. Elementary through High School. Raise the bar! Open pathways for students.

Speakers

Kristen Wilson

owner/teacher, River Valley Tech Center

I run my own design business, creating website and branding. I teach information technology at River Valley Technical Center in Springfield, VT. I teach Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Dreamweaver, and intro to programming. CompTIA A+ and ITFundamentals certifications.

Ted Weed

Thursday November 14, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Northstar 1

Thursday Block 1

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, Educational Technology, STEAM, Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education
Audience Middle School, High School, Post High School

8:00am EST

Geo Tools

I will show attendees how to use Google’s Geo tools to enhance their instruction and provide opportunities for students to present their learning in an interactive, digital format. These tools include Google Earth, My Maps, Street View, and Tour Builder

bit.ly/VTFestGeo19

Speakers

Edith Fogarty

Technology Integration Facilitator, Bradford Elementary School

Edith Fogarty has been an educator for over 19 years. She is currently the Technology Integration Facilitator for Bradford Elementary School in Bradford, Vermont. Edith works closely with the staff and students of her school and district to learn innovative ways to use GSuite applications... Read More →

Thursday November 14, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Gateway 2

Thursday Block 1

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

8:00am EST

No Cost Digital Resources for College and Career Readiness

EVERFI’s co-curricular, standards-aligned digital resources help tackle the college and career readiness issues facing students today. In this session, attendees will explore lessons on College & Career Readiness, Financial Literacy, and Digital Wellness.

Through these lessons, students will develop both transferable and soft skills, improved financial planning, as well as increased digital awareness and safety. Thanks to sponsors who share our mission, these resources are available at no cost to K-12 Schools across the US.

Speakers

Zachary Rowe

Vermont Implementation Manager, EVERFI

Zack is a Schools Manager with EVERFI. EVERFI is an education technology provider that brings digital resources to schools across the country at NO COST. Ask me about our free resources in SEL, Health & Wellness, STEM, and Financial Literacy.

Thursday November 14, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Roundabout

Thursday Block 1

Strand Vendor
Audience TBD

8:00am EST

Supporting Student-Designed Courses

What happens when students want to learn something that doesn't exist in a course catalog? In today's schools, independent learning and developing proficiency go hand-in-hand. But, how can technology support student assessment and provide the vehicle for long-term project/research-based learning? This session will outline key components and lessons learned for teachers considering supporting personalized learning. I'll share results from our pilot last year and answer questions for what worked, and what needed improvement for you to do the same.

Speakers

Jeff Renard

Director/Principal, Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative

Jeff is the Founder and Director of the Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative (VTVLC), Vermont’s statewide K-12 online learning program. VTVLC serves thousands of students through a unique partnership of schools; connecting students with courses that are not offered locally, not... Read More →

PASS Booklet pdf

Example PASS Proposal pdf

Supporting Student Designed Courses pdf

Thursday November 14, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Escapade 1

Thursday Block 1

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education, Online/Blended Learning
Audience High School

8:00am EST

Virtual Reality in the Classroom (LIMITED CAPACITY SESSION)

PLEASE NOTE: This session has a limited capacity of 20 people. Seating is first-come, first-serve; advance RSVP is not available and adding a session to your agenda in Sched does not guarantee you a seat.

So you’ve read and watched “Ready Player One” you're wondering is this science fiction, can we do any of that virtual reality stuff now? The answer is Yes! Come and find out how our school has implemented Oculus Go’s in the classroom. Travel into virtual reality in this hands on lesson and demonstration of a different world. Learn about the benefits and challenges of setting up a class set of VR goggles in your school.

Speakers

Richard Ballard

VR in the Classroom, Missisquoi Valley SD

I'm Rich Ballard and I am a Technology integration specialist at Missisquoi Valley Union Middle/High School (MVU). Before that I taught middle school science for over 35 years at MVU and in Vero Beach Florida. As the Technology integration specialist, I helped to implement a 1:1 computer... Read More →

Vermont Fest VR in the Classroom pdf

Thursday November 14, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Gateway 1

Thursday Block 1

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, Educational Technology
Audience Middle School, High School

9:00am EST

Break - Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors

Thursday November 14, 2019 9:00am - 9:15am EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Meal/Break

9:00am EST

Interactive Lounge

Interact with colleagues around important ed topics! Create and make artifacts to help you be mindful of your INTENTION. Author talks and book signings. Interact with students showcasing their projects and extended learning opportunities. Details at: http://vtfest.vita-learn.org/interact/.

Thursday November 14, 2019 9:00am - 3:00pm EST
Hallway Outside Session Rooms

Main Agenda Item

9:15am EST

Creating Partnerships with Students to Create Meaningful Systems of Personalized Learning

Student voice is essential for fostering systems of personalized learning. Come hear about the appreciative process one district used to engage students as partners in the planning and revamping of the personalized learning process. Come share what you or your district has done to engage students in the creation of your personalized learning systems.

You can find my slides here.

Speakers

Arik Mortenson

Learning Systems Manager, Essex Westford School District

Thursday November 14, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Escapade 1

Thursday Block 2

Strand Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education
Audience Middle School, High School

9:15am EST

Creating Your Own Content for Virtual Reality (LIMITED CAPACITY SESSION)

PLEASE NOTE: This session has a limited capacity of 20 people. Seating is first-come, first-serve; advance RSVP is not available and adding a session to your agenda in Sched does not guarantee you a seat.

Cospaces.io is an interesting program where you can create scenes and programs on a computer and then see them in VR or AR. Join us as we learn how to use Cospaces and Oculus Go’s to create a simple scene, make a field trip in VR and many other uses for you or your students to create your own VR experiences. Cospaces even allows you to program your scene so it is interactive and allows you to link with Merge Cube to create augmented reality (AR) experiences.

Speakers

Richard Ballard

VR in the Classroom, Missisquoi Valley SD

Vermont Fest Creating in VR (1) pdf

Thursday November 14, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Gateway 1

Thursday Block 2

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, Educational Technology
Audience Middle School, High School

9:15am EST

Education is Communication - Let’s Talk About It

Each day educators take part in a wide spectrum of activities to create personalized learning experiences for each of their students. Throughout these activities and experiences, effective communication of expectations, information, and student achievement is crucial. Everybody talks; let’s get together and talk about effectively communicating a myriad of information with Alma!

Speakers

Raphael Adamek

Director of Instructional Technology, Windsor Central Supervisory Union, Alma

Theresa Schneiderheinze

Regional Sales Director, Alma Technologies, Inc.

Theresa has been a career educator and technology coordinator for 30 years. She joined Alma to support educators and students in the New England Region. Theresa has a strong technical background and an MEd degree focusing on Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. She is passionate... Read More →

Thursday November 14, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Roundabout

Thursday Block 2

Strand Vendor
Audience Elementary, Middle School, High School, All Educators, Administrators, Technical Staff and Prof. Dev. Leadership

9:15am EST

Instructional Coaching

Discover seven drivers you can use to improve your daily coaching practices: (1) collaboration, (2) transparency, (3) inquiry,(4) discourse, (5) reverberation, (6) sincerity, and (7) influence. The session will provide participants with an opportunity to dive into each driver and allow them to transform their daily dispositions toward supporting teachers. Participants will also learn the architecture of a transformative instructional coaching framework and build a construct for their own use.

Speakers

Nathan Lang-Raad

Chief Education Officer, WeVideo

Author, Google Certified Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator, 2016 Apple Teacher, Solution Tree Consultant, Chief Education Officer at WeVideo.

Thursday November 14, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Northstar 2

Thursday Block 2

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

9:15am EST

Privacy and Student Data: Why Educators Need to Pay Attention Too

You keep hearing about data privacy and breaches, but what does it mean for you? Isn’t that something the IT folks take care of? In this session, for all educators AND IT folks, we will take you through our district’s story. Learn what made us sit up and take notice, what process and procedures we put in place, how we communicated that to educators in all schools, and why we’re committed to continuously improving the process. This impacts all of us and requires the attention of all as well. We need to make sure that our student, family, and educator data is kept safe and secure.
Presented by Bonnie Birdsall, Director of Digital Learning & Communication, and Mike Kanfer, Director of Network Services.

http://bit.ly/VTfestPrivacy

Speakers

Mike Kanfer

Director Network Services, Champlain Valley School District

Bonnie Birdsall

Director of Digital Learning, Champlain Valley School District

Bonnie Birdsall is the Director of Digital Learning and Communication for the Champlain Valley School District in Vermont, serving the communities of Charlotte, Hinesburg, Shelburne, Williston, and St. George.

Thursday November 14, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Escapade 2

Thursday Block 2

Strand Educational Technology, Privacy
Audience Elementary, Middle School, High School

9:15am EST

Robotics with Python: cyber:bot (Part 1 of 2) (LIMITED CAPACITY SESSION)

PLEASE NOTE: This session has a limited capacity of 30 people. Seating is first-come, first-serve; advance RSVP is not available and adding a session to your agenda in Sched does not guarantee you a seat. This is a two part session and attendees are expected to stay for both parts.

This is a two-hour workshop to introduce educators to robotics using Python programming and electronic circuit building with a pre-built cyber:bot. Every educator who attends the workshop will receive a free cyber:bot kit ($200.00 value) courtesy of Parallax (www.parallax.com) and Cyber Innovation Center (www.nicerc.org), who will distribute up to $12,000 of robot hardware.

Each of the two courses are limited to 30 middle school or high school tech education instructors. Educators must bring with them a fully-functional laptop computer with working USB ports and power supply. Be on time and ready to have fun!

With Parallax (www.parallax.com) and Cyber Innovation Center (www.nicerc.org).

Speakers

Joseph MacAdam - Cyber.org

Director of Cybersecurity Content, Cyber.org

Joe MacAdam is a Curriculum Development Specialist for CYBER.ORG, focusing on High School content. Prior to CYBER.ORG, Joe spent 4 years teaching a variety of subjects - Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, and CYBER.ORG’s own Cyber Literacy, Cyber Science, and Physics - in New Orleans, LA... Read More →

Andy Lindsay

Applications Engineer, Parallax

Andy Lindsay will stand in for Ken Gracey and teach this workshop. Andy is celebrating his 20th year as a Parallax applications engineer and has authored eight educational textbooks to date. These books have gained widespread acceptance with over a million Parallax robotics education... Read More →

Vermont Fest 2019 Robotics with Python CyberBot (Full Day Version) pdf

Robotics with Python for the CyberBot Vermont Fest 2019 pdf

cyberbot micropython v0 8 0 zip

Thursday November 14, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Northstar 1

Thursday Block 2

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

9:15am EST

Screencasting for Teaching and Learning

We'll explore how TEACHERS can create screencasts (video recordings of their devices' screens with narration and additional graphics), not just for flipped classroom lessons, but also for providing feedback to students in non-written form. We'll also look at how STUDENTS can create screencasts to expose their reasoning while researching a topic on the web or using a problem-solving application. This provides an authentic artifact for evaluating critical thinking skills. Applications presented work on Chromebooks or other computers running the Chrome browser.
Slides

Speakers

Charlie MacFadyen

Digital Learning Leader, Champlain Valley SD

I am the Digital Learning Leader and computer science teacher at Champlain Valley Union HS in Hinesburg, VT. I was a 2020 Rowland Fellow working with @timoleary_vt on developing a universal K-12 curriculum for our district.

Thursday November 14, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Gateway 2

Thursday Block 2

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

10:15am EST

Break - Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors

Thursday November 14, 2019 10:15am - 10:30am EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Meal/Break

10:30am EST

Augmented Reality 2020: The Latest, the Greatest, and Replicable Classroom Success Stories

A fast-paced, lighthearted overview of augmented reality that will amaze and inspire you, including a category guide, an overview of promising new apps, constructivist curriculum examples, and easy aura creation tools. Go beyond the WOW factor and see the potential for enhancing teaching and learning with mind boggling AR options.

Speakers

Maureen Yoder

Professor, Lesley University

Dr. Maureen Brown Yoder is an Educational Technology Professor Emerita at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachuses. Dr. Yoder began her career when the field of educational technology was in its infancy, when the Apple 2 was state of the art, and a 300 baud modem was impressive... Read More →

Slides forAugmentedRealitybyMaureenYoder pptx

Thursday November 14, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gateway 1

Thursday Block 3

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

10:30am EST

Data Security Best Practices and Data Breach ID and Response

Lead by PTAC/USDOE and AOE

Data Security Best Practices with specific emphasis on attack vectors
Threats to data security, risk analysis and reasonable methods
Best Practices for identification
Interactive discussion and planning for response

Speakers

Peter Drescher

State Director of Education Technology, Vermont Agency of Education

Policy and Practice in Education TechnologyOpen Education ResourcesStudent Data Privacy

Thursday November 14, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Northstar 2

Thursday Block 3

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

10:30am EST

Get Full Visibility Into Your Vulnerabilities

The assets and vulnerabilities on your network are constantly changing. Getting a full picture of your network is half the battle. Come join WCA as we explore our suite of next generation assessment services and learn about proactive measures to provide overall health, lifecycle management and vulnerability assessments of your infrastructure , WCA will work with you to make sure that you are following industry-leading, best practices in all of your technology deployments. Attendees should have basic knowledge of network infrastructure components (switches, servers, storage) and will leave with an understanding of the value of proactive service delivery vs reactive as well as engage with real life example of data collection that can reduce downtime, mitigate risks, and reduce costs. WCA will also be reviewing how you can leverage the cloud to resolve your challenges and managed services to minimize outages.

Speakers

Kevin Russell

Whalley Computer Associates

Brian McCarthy

Whalley Computer Associates

Dean Leclerc

Whalley Computer Associates

Thursday November 14, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Roundabout

Thursday Block 3

Strand Vendor
Audience TBD

10:30am EST

Interacting with a Gradeless Transcript

At Enosburg Falls High School, a group of students and teachers have been working closely with the Mastery Transcript Consortium to pilot the use of a gradeless transcript and move closer towards a future in which students are holistically assessed as unique, skilled individuals, rather than as a set of numerical values.

https://sites.google.com/fnesu.org/modelplp/home

https://sites.google.com/ehornets.org/flexible-pathways-academy/home

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1iXOPb08gpMCWBheIpBZTcDEAFvidN4t5cBFwjRNa5cU/edit?usp=sharing

Speakers

Gabrielle Lumbra

Enosburg High School

Thursday November 14, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Escapade 1

Thursday Block 3

Strand Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education
Audience High School, Post High School

10:30am EST

It Takes a Village: Navigating Together Towards Digital Citizenship

We will share with you the design we used last year to bring together 95 5th-grade students and their classroom teachers every month to become savvier digital citizens. Beyond individual learning, this team-oriented approach, paired with regular connections at home, built a collective consciousness that empowered daily conversations with teachers and students. Based on Common Sense Education’s digital citizenship curriculum, the approach was designed by a Digital Learning Leader and School Counselor with input from teachers and students and will expand to grades 3-8 in the coming year.

Presentation Link

Common Sense Education's Digital Citizenship Curriculum & Teaching Materials

Speakers

Tim O'Leary

Technology integrationist and faculty coach in Shelburne, Vermont; Co-Director of What's the Story? The Vermont Young People Social Action Team.

Vasanthi Meyette

Thursday November 14, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Escapade 2

Thursday Block 3

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

10:30am EST

Making Meaning with Green Screening +: Learning Mathematical Conceptual Language Through Multi-Modalities

Understand multiple ways to understand mathematical concepts and vocabulary using green screens, Google Classroom and technological project-based approaches.

Speakers

Kathryn Byrne Grossarth

GRCSU Special Educator, GRCSU

Thursday November 14, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gateway 2

Thursday Block 3

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, Educational Technology, STEAM, Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education, Accountable Talk/Math Talk
Audience Elementary, Middle School, High School, Post High School

10:30am EST

Robotics with Python: cyber:bot (Part 2 of 2) (LIMITED CAPACITY SESSION)

PLEASE NOTE: This session has a limited capacity of 30 people. Seating is first-come, first-serve; advance RSVP is not available and adding a session to your agenda in Sched does not guarantee you a seat. This is a two part session and attendees are expected to stay for both parts.

This is a two-hour workshop to introduce educators to robotics using Python programming and electronic circuit building with a pre-built cyber:bot. Every educator who attends the workshop will receive a free cyber:bot kit ($200.00 value) courtesy of Parallax (www.parallax.com) and Cyber Innovation Center (www.nicerc.org), who will distribute up to $12,000 of robot hardware.

Each of the two courses are limited to 30 middle school or high school tech education instructors. Educators must bring with them a fully-functional laptop computer with working USB ports and power supply. Be on time and ready to have fun!

With Parallax (www.parallax.com) and Cyber Innovation Center (www.nicerc.org).

Speakers

Joseph MacAdam - Cyber.org

Director of Cybersecurity Content, Cyber.org

Andy Lindsay

Applications Engineer, Parallax

Vermont Fest 2019 Robotics with Python CyberBot (Full Day Version) pdf

Robotics with Python for the CyberBot Vermont Fest 2019 pdf

cyberbot micropython v0 8 0 zip

Thursday November 14, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Northstar 1

Thursday Block 3

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

11:30am EST

Lunch and Keynote Address "Creating Meaningful and Equitable Learning Experiences - Beyond Good Intentions" by Dr. Nathan Lang-Raad

Vita-Learn Welcome Remarks
Presentation of the Frank Watson Lifetime Achievement Award: The award is presented to a person whose many years of devoted service, vision and leadership have significantly advanced Vermont educational technology at the local, regional and state level.
Charlie Wilson Innovation Grant Opportunity: Deadline to apply is Friday November 15 at noon. Presented Friday during Closing Remarks. In honor of one of Vermont's most leading-edge innovators who was always on the forefront of educational technology, Vita-Learn will provide a grant to a Vermont school to launch a new project using educational technology in an innovative way. Learn how your school can qualify for the Charlie Wilson Innovation Grant Award at: https://vtfest.vita-learn.org/charlie-wilson-grant/
Keynote Address: Creating Meaningful and Equitable Learning Experiences - Beyond Good Intentions: For our students to experience meaningful learning, we must be intentional with planning and our vision must include building creativity skills. Where do chaos, self-directed learning, personalized pathways fit into the context of a nurturing and intentional structure for increasing creativity in the classroom? Dr. Nathan Lang-Raad, author, speaker, and Chief Education Officer at WeVideo, will share his experience at NASA, as a STEM administrator, as a curriculum director working with instructional coaches, and as a classroom teacher as we all work together to map the future of #vted - with intention.

Speakers

Nathan Lang-Raad

Chief Education Officer, WeVideo

Author, Google Certified Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator, 2016 Apple Teacher, Solution Tree Consultant, Chief Education Officer at WeVideo.

Thursday November 14, 2019 11:30am - 1:30pm EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Keynote

1:30pm EST

A Tale of Three Projects - Our Successes and Failures with PBL

Join us as we share our journey implementing several project-based learning (PBL) / tech integration units last year in the fifth and sixth grade at Charlotte - including podcasting, video creation and remote sensing. Definitely aligns with "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . . " and we promise to share as much as we can to help you successfully dive into some PBL in your classroom as well.

Speakers

Allan Miller

Design Technology Teacher, Champlain Valley School District

Allan has been a science/technology educator and professional development leader since 1985, with classroom, administration, and coaching experiences all over the world. He currently is the "lead-maker" in the Creation Studio at Williston Central School, where he works with 3rd-8th... Read More →

Tale of 3 Projects VitaLearn 2019 (1) pdf

Thursday November 14, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Escapade 1

Thursday Block 4

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

1:30pm EST

Beauty and Joy of Computing Curriculum (approved for APCSP)

Learn about the Beauty and Joy of Computing! BJC is a low-floor, high-ceiling free CS curriculum developed by UCLA, Berkeley and EDC Inc., and a CollegeBoard approved curriculum for AP Computer Science Principles (APCSP). BJC uses visual programming to learn the systems and structures of coding. Come learn about APCSP, why it should be offered to every student, and how BJC makes CS accessible and entertaining for ALL students. This will be a hands-on session. No programming experience is necessary!
slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1eI_9VPfsFUsa6SHFfH2p04Di5FuwCV7NibUrjI37Sgk/edit?usp=sharing

Speakers

Lisa Besso

Teacher & Trainer, Enosburg Falls HS/Beauty and Joy of Computing

I've been teaching math for 16years, and computer science for 4 years. Teaching AP Computer Science Principles using the Beauty and Joy of Computing curriculum -- makes CS fun and interactive and is a low floor, high ceiling curriculum, so inclusive to all.

VT Fest bjc demo pptx

Thursday November 14, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Northstar 1

Thursday Block 4

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment
Audience High School

1:30pm EST

Bots! Hands-On Robotics Projects With Everyday Stuff with Award Winning Author Kathy Ceceri (Part 1 of 2) (LIMITED CAPACITY SESSION)

PLEASE NOTE: This session has a limited capacity of 25 people. Seating is first-come, first-serve; advance RSVP is not available and adding a session to your agenda in Sched does not guarantee you a seat. This is a two part session and attendees are expected to stay for both parts.

Want to teach robotics, but don't have much $$$? Learn how to use the projects in the book BOTS! to teach a complete in-class unit or afterschool robotics program using everyday stuff! In Part I, check out real robotics projects made with with crafts and household materials and simple electronics (including reclaimed components from old devices) and build a super-quick paper pressure sensor with LEDs. Then, in Part II, visit stations where you can work on longer projects such as a hydraulic arm, recycled solar robot, working paper robot hand, and programmable cardboard box robot, and explore ways to allow students to customize their projects for an open-ended learning experience.

Speakers

Kathy Ceceri

STEAM Writer and Educator, Author

Kathy Ceceri is an award-winning author and enrichment educator with a focus on hands-on projects incorporating science, technology, history, and art. She presents workshops for students, teachers, and librarians from elementary through high school featuring activities such as DIY... Read More →

2019 BOTS PD ppt

Thursday November 14, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Gateway 2

Thursday Block 4

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

1:30pm EST

Extreme Networks Presentation

IT spends too much time “defending the network”. Extreme Networks delivers secure and intelligent software-driven solutions from the enterprise edge to the cloud giving the control back into the hands of IT. Leveraging real-time analytics and granular visibility into the network, Extreme Management Center (XMC) provides a 360-degree view into your network, applications, and connected devices. XMC enables IT with single pane of glass management and the actionable data necessary to make the right business decisions and deliver a strong user experience.

Speakers

Seo Hwang

Account Executive, Extreme Networks

Todd Marsh

Sr. Systems Engineer, Extreme Networks

Thursday November 14, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Roundabout

Thursday Block 4

Strand Vendor
Audience Technical Staff and Prof. Dev. Leadership

1:30pm EST

FERPA 101 with Advanced Scenarios

This session, provided by the Privacy Technical Assistance Center is focused on FERPA, interpreting it and understanding it from a school’s perspective. Come with your questions and learn some of the nuances to the law as applied to your local situation. This group does a great job on this complex topic. This session is FREE to outside participants that would like to only attend this session without taking part in the whole of VTFest.

Speakers

Peter Drescher

State Director of Education Technology, Vermont Agency of Education

Policy and Practice in Education TechnologyOpen Education ResourcesStudent Data Privacy

Thursday November 14, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Northstar 2

Thursday Block 4

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

1:30pm EST

Seeing back-to-school activities & personalized learning through the lens of trauma-informed classroom practices

Join us as we dip our toes into beginning to understand the effects of trauma and its intersection with common approaches to personalized learning. We’ll conversationally present about trauma-informed classroom practices, Shelburne Community School's work around Personalized Learning, how we see those intersecting, and brainstorm ways we can monitor and shift our practices accordingly. Then, plan to reconsider how you might scaffold personalized learning opportunities with a more critical aim towards inclusive practices.

Presentation Link

Recent Blog Post: "Seeing back-to-school activities & personalized learning through the lens of trauma-informed classroom practices"

Speakers

Tim O'Leary

Technology integrationist and faculty coach in Shelburne, Vermont; Co-Director of What's the Story? The Vermont Young People Social Action Team.

Rachel Petraska

Thursday November 14, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Escapade 2

Thursday Block 4

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

1:30pm EST

WeVideo: Deeper Learning

Instead of assigning boring worksheets and tedious tasks or practice problems, teachers today can design active and fun learning experiences that build on student strengths and interests by using exciting edtech tools—like WeVideo. In this session, I'll provide some practical ways to use WeVideo to create engaging content that encourages students to practice real-life problem-solving skills. Using a student-centered learning approach, you can employ this powerful platform to:

Create an environment where students feel safe and empowered
Clearly communicate goals in a fun and engaging way, and see learning in action
Provide a structure for students to share their voice with the classroom, community, and the world
Engage students in deeper learning through critical thinking and creativity

Speakers

Nathan Lang-Raad

Chief Education Officer, WeVideo

Author, Google Certified Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator, 2016 Apple Teacher, Solution Tree Consultant, Chief Education Officer at WeVideo.

Thursday November 14, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Gateway 1

Thursday Block 4

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

2:30pm EST

Break - Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors

Thursday November 14, 2019 2:30pm - 2:45pm EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Meal/Break

2:45pm EST

Bots! Hands-On Robotics Projects With Everyday Stuff with Award Winning Author Kathy Ceceri (Part 2 of 2) (LIMITED CAPACITY SESSION)

PLEASE NOTE: This session has a limited capacity of 25 people. Seating is first-come, first-serve; advance RSVP is not available and adding a session to your agenda in Sched does not guarantee you a seat. This is a two part session and attendees are expected to stay for both parts.

In the first part of this session, participants will look at some of the many robotics projects that can be done with just ordinary materials and simple electronics (including reclaimed components from old devices) and try their hand at a quick paper pressure sensor with LED indicator. Then, in the second part, educators will visit different stations where they can work on longer projects such as a hydraulic arm, recycled solar robot, working paper robot hand, and programmable cardboard box robot, and explore ways these projects can be customized by students to provide an open-ended learning experience.

Speakers

Kathy Ceceri

STEAM Writer and Educator, Author

Thursday November 14, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Gateway 2

Thursday Block 5

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

2:45pm EST

Building Your Google Classroom

Come learn how to set up and manage Google Classroom to help streamline your classroom instruction. I will guide attendees through the setup and features of Google's Learning Management System, including posting discussion questions, creating assignments, and assessing student work. This session is intended for those who are new to Google Classroom or want to learn some of the new features of Classroom.
Link to Presentation

Speakers

Edith Fogarty

Technology Integration Facilitator, Bradford Elementary School

Thursday November 14, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Escapade 2

Thursday Block 5

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, Educational Technology, Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education
Audience Elementary, Middle School, High School

2:45pm EST

FERPA 201: Advanced FERPA Scenarios

Speakers

Peter Drescher

State Director of Education Technology, Vermont Agency of Education

Policy and Practice in Education TechnologyOpen Education ResourcesStudent Data Privacy

Thursday November 14, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Northstar 2

Thursday Block 5

Strand Educational Technology, Understanding Responsibilities on Privacy
Audience Any Education professional that communicates regularly with public

2:45pm EST

Highly Engaged Computer Science using Raspberry Pi as a Robot Brain

The Raspberry Pi is a great platform for teaching students about computers, and programming. Setting up and programming the Raspberry Pi as a controller for embedded systems, I.O.T. devices, and robot brains creates a hands on, problem solving environment for learning Computer Science. Python is commonly used to program the Pi to control devices and is a great general purpose language to learn. We will also explore Node-Red with JavaScript or Google Blockly.
link: https://bit.ly/vtfest2019pi

Speakers

Greg Styles

GRCSU

I love teaching and I love tech: Computer Science, Programming, Embedded Systems such as Arduino or Raspberry Pi, and 3D printing.I have a background as a professional programmer, repair tech, support tech, technology coordinator, EdTech integrationist, Proficiency-based learning... Read More →

Thursday November 14, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Northstar 1

Thursday Block 5

Strand STEAM
Audience Middle School, High School

2:45pm EST

Literacy: Blended/Personalized Learning

Literacy must be developed through an equity lens to increase opportunities for all learners, understanding that the opportunity gap has widened with the influx of technology. In this session, you’ll learn how to leverage engaging, differentiated content to create equity-based, inclusive literacy instruction and reduce opportunity gaps through personalized learning.

Speakers

Jessica Wilson

Digital Learning Leader, Champlain Valley School District

Tim O'Leary

Technology integrationist and faculty coach in Shelburne, Vermont; Co-Director of What's the Story? The Vermont Young People Social Action Team.

Stephanie Canter

Newsela

Allison Griffin

Learning & Engagement Manager, Newsela

As a Learning & Engagement Manager with Newsela, I support educators, schools, and districts by serving as a resource regarding platform navigation, instructional implementation, and professional development throughout their Newsela journey. My background is in elementary literacy... Read More →

VermontFest Newsela Deck 1 pdf

Thursday November 14, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Escapade 1

Thursday Block 5

Strand TBD
Audience Administrators, Elementary, Middle School, High School, All Educators

2:45pm EST

Preparing for the Wireless Future

Demand for reliable, high-speed networks continues to grow exponentially.? Networks must support learning requirements, including online testing; security measures, such as cameras and IoT devices like locks and sensors; and, ensure bandwidth is sufficient for the explosion of devices seen in schools - personal devices, official devices, and IoT devices like smart boards and thermostats.? This talk will examine how to prepare your schools for the inevitable wireless future for ensuring network availability and efficiency.

Speakers

Roger Sands

CEO and Co-Founder, Wyebot

Roger Sands is a co-founder and CEO of Wyebot, Inc. Roger has 17 years of executive management positions in successful networking startups and Fortune 500 companies. Prior to Wyebot, Roger was the Business Line Manager for Hewlett-Packard’s WW WLAN business growing it from #6 to... Read More →

Thursday November 14, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Roundabout

Thursday Block 5

Strand Vendor
Audience TBD

2:45pm EST

Twenty for ’20: Tools and Trends to Inspire and Motivate

This lightning fast, lighthearted session includes an overview of trends and technologies that will amaze and inspire you. You’ll learn about classroom uses of Artificial Intelligence (Alexa/Google), updates about virtual, augmented and mixed reality, coding, drones, and robots. Hear about technologies that did not exist when this proposal was written.

Speakers

Maureen Yoder

Professor, Lesley University

Slides forAugmentedRealitybyMaureenYoder pptx

Thursday November 14, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Gateway 1

Thursday Block 5

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

3:45pm EST

Reception with Sponsors and Exhibitors & Grand Prize Drawing

Cash bar and hors d’oeuvres will be available.

Thursday November 14, 2019 3:45pm - 5:30pm EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Meal/Break

5:30pm EST

Dinner On Your Own

Preston’s at the Killington Grand will be open throughout the night. Check with the hotel front desk to learn about other dining options in the area.

Thursday November 14, 2019 5:30pm - 10:30pm EST
On Your Own

Meal/Break

7:00am EST

Breakfast and Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors

Friday November 15, 2019 7:00am - 8:00am EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Meal/Break

7:00am EST

Exhibit Hall Open

Friday November 15, 2019 7:00am - 1:30pm EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Main Agenda Item

7:00am EST

Conference Registration Desk Open

Friday November 15, 2019 7:00am - 2:45pm EST
Lower Lobby

Main Agenda Item

8:00am EST

1:1 in Your School - How do you know it's working?

Now that you have been doing 1:1 in your district/school/classroom, the next question is “Does it help students learn?" What are common themes from recent research? What are the foundations, essential conditions, and precursors needed for success? What questions can you ask students, teachers, and parents to show program impact? What items could be included in your Digital Learning Action Plan? A discussion for any stakeholders in a 1:1 program. LINK

Speakers

Paul Irish

Past Executive Director, VITA-Learn

Friday November 15, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Escapade 2

Friday Block 1

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, Educational Technology, Coaching and Leadership Development, Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education
Audience Middle School, High School

8:00am EST

Critical Creativity & Rigorous Whimsy: Integrating Creative Expression in the K12 Classroom

We’ve the opportunity to turn our classrooms and impact areas into studios where students can transform whimsical ideas into purposeful action and meaningful products. In this session, participants will explore how edtech tools can support and heighten creative endeavors from sketchnoting to soundtracking, blackout poetry to digital color palettes, paper circuits to LEGO bricks, leading to deeper learning and understanding of content area learning. Imagination is the only prerequisite.

SLIDES HERE

Speakers

Dan Ryder

Design Facilitator, CRCS Overman

Success & Innovation Center, Director. #SICMBCIdea wrangler, design thinker, improviser, author, and award winning educator.Apple Distinguished educator.NEA Foundation’s 2018 Horace Mann Award for Teaching ExcellenceCo-Author, INTENTION: Critical Creativity in the Classroom (Blend... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Northstar 2

Friday Block 1

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

8:00am EST

Digital Discourse

Learn how to facilitate cooperative learning, understand conflict, and create accountable digital citizens using accountable talk digitally.

Speakers

Kathryn Byrne Grossarth

GRCSU Special Educator, GRCSU

Friday November 15, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Escapade 1

Friday Block 1

Strand Educational Technology, Coaching and Leadership Development, STEAM, Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education
Audience Elementary, Middle School, High School, Post High School

8:00am EST

Everyone Can Create - Ignite Creativity with iPad (part 1) with Apple

To succeed in today’s world and to shape tomorrow’s, students need to tap into their creative potential and learn to express themselves in new and innovative ways. Join us to learn about Everyone Can Create, a program from Apple designed to help unleash the creative potential in every student through photography, video, music, and drawing with iPad. In this session, you’ll experience engaging lessons that introduce fundamental skills and techniques in video, photography, music and drawing using free apps available on iPad.
We will demonstrate ideas from our Project Guides (the ‘what’) and use the Teacher’s Guide (the ‘how’).. the main teachers guide contains over 300 ideas on how you can apply the projects in five curricular areas: math, literacy and literature, history and social studies, science, and coding. We’ve developed the ideas to emphasize learning objectives that we know deepen student learning: real-world engagement, communication and creation, teamwork, critical thinking, and personalized learning. You’ll also find rubrics you can use as guidelines for evaluating the projects in each medium.

Speakers

Ryan Wiggins

Apple Leadership and Learning Executive, Apple Inc.

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh computer in 1984. Since then Apple has designed products and programs that help unleash the creative potential in every individual, no matter how they learn and what they love to do. Apple Education is... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Gateway 2

Friday Block 1

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

8:00am EST

Getting Started with Computational Thinking

Computational Thinking without a computer? Or before you can read? You, BET! Learn the 4 cornerstones of computational thinking using unplugged activities! Then take your new computational thinking skills to a new level by using them to program robots. Even your youngest learners can practice computational thinking and learn to code with CODE.org, robots, and unplugged activities.
Presentation available here:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1o-xy9CiE56TzCX5ctthtsexZd-H8E5yelGg4pY-5OZk/edit?usp=sharing

Speakers

Darcie Rankin

STEAM Educator, St. Albans City School

Code.org Facilitator for CS Fundamentals (Grades K-5)Maker EnthusiastSTEAM EducatorElementary Ed Robotics Enthusiast

Friday November 15, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Northstar 1

Friday Block 1

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

8:00am EST

Getting to Know Esports

This round table discussion will focus on the growing opportunities Esports offers in high schools and in higher education.Come ready to ask questions and learn how students can gain confidence, grow friendships, and earn college scholarships!

Speakers

Tanner Duncan

Territory Account Manager, Bytespeed

ByteSpeed has been a leading IT solutions resource since 1999. In addition to custom building computer hardware, ByteSpeed leverages strategic partnerships to sell other quality technology solutions. We provide enterprise-networking solutions and professional IT services in all 50... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Roundabout

Friday Block 1

Strand Vendor
Audience TBD

8:00am EST

Making on a Budget- Examining MakerEd Costs through a lens of Equity

Come examine Maker Education practices and curriculum, the wide array of Maker Tools and funding opportunities in Vermont through a lens of equity. Collaborate with other educators and Technology specialists to brainstorm how your makerspace could intentionally engage a wider range of students. Leave with a framework to identify how your Makerspace or MakerEd program may take steps to serve all students more equitably.

Speakers

Margaret Talbot

Technology Integrationist

Makerspaces Lens of Equity (3) pdf

Friday November 15, 2019 8:00am - 9:00am EST
Gateway 1

Friday Block 1

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

9:00am EST

Break - Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors

Friday November 15, 2019 9:00am - 9:15am EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Meal/Break

9:00am EST

Interactive Lounge

Friday November 15, 2019 9:00am - 3:00pm EST
Hallway Outside Session Rooms

Main Agenda Item

9:15am EST

Cloud Computing in Education

The concept of cloud computing is seemingly everywhere, from impacting our banking and shopping habits, to our movie viewing and music listening. Our schools and classrooms are no exception. Get a high level overview of the ways that cloud computing technology has transformed education and how we teach students.

Speakers

Rob Williams

Director of Product Marketing, FirstLight

Friday November 15, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Roundabout

Friday Block 2

Strand Vendor
Audience TBD

9:15am EST

Everyone Can Create - Ignite Creativity with iPad (part 2) with Apple

Speakers

Ryan Wiggins

Apple Leadership and Learning Executive, Apple Inc.

Friday November 15, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Gateway 2

Friday Block 2

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

9:15am EST

Gearing up for Coding with Edison Robots

Edison robots are an affordable simple robot that can be used at grade levels from 3-12 and with all kinds of devices. Educators interested in introducing programming/coding and computational thinking to students with a concrete and immediate outcome will find Edison to be a great choice. In this workshop, you will learn the basics of a web based programming environment for edison "EdScratch", create your own programs, and run the programs on an Edison, and learn where to access free resources for using and implementing edison in your school.

Suitable for those with no robot/coding experience. Please bring a laptop or chromebook that has a standard audio jack.

Speakers

Ollie Brown

Technology Integration Specialist, White River Valley School District

Technology Integration Specialist, Master's of Teaching for Social Justice. Passionate about preparing rural youth for an increasingly urban world. After school advocate.

Edison Robots VTFest 2019 pdf

Friday November 15, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Northstar 1

Friday Block 2

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

9:15am EST

Human Centered Design Thinking Workshop Empathy and Equity

How might we apply the principles of design thinking to addressing the problems we face in our schools, classrooms and communities? This workshop will provide an opportunity to practice a variety of strategies and techniques that can help everyone from students to network administrators become better problem solvers in their impact areas. Participants will walk out the door with tools to implement for immediate impact.

SLIDE DECK HERE
http://bit.ly/vtfest19empathy

Speakers

Dan Ryder

Design Facilitator, CRCS Overman

Friday November 15, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Northstar 2

Friday Block 2

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

9:15am EST

Learning Lab VT: Lessons Learned

Learning Lab VT is a year-long practicum that networks Vermont educators and students, who conduct classroom research related to the questions: What, exactly, are teachers and students doing in settings that are becoming increasingly personalized, and to what end? How might our findings be helpful to each other, our students, and our colleagues? Come explore three years’ of insightful findings and helpful resources, a boon for busy educators eager to learn from others’ experiences.

Speakers

Susan Hennessey

Professional Development Coordinator, Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education

Susan Hennessey is the Professional Development Coordinator for the Tarrant Institute for Innovative Education at the University of Vermont, where she facilitates teacher and student learning toward student-centered practices. Before becoming part of the TIIE team, Susan was the Library... Read More →

Bill Rich

Founder, Red House Learning

About midway through his teaching career, Bill began learning from and working with Chris Jernstedt, a cognitive scientist and professor at Dartmouth. The experience left him gobsmacked. How can it be that educators receive so little training in the biology of how people learn? The... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Escapade 1

Friday Block 2

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education
Audience High School, Middle School

9:15am EST

Live Streaming Basics for School Events

Wondering how to get started with live streaming events in your school or district? We’ll go over the basics and talk about what equipment you might need, how to capture clear audio and smooth video, and how to stream to popular sites like Youtube and Facebook.

Link to Google Slides presentation

Speakers

Jeremy LaClair

Technology Coordinator, Cambridge Elementary School / LNSU

Friday November 15, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Escapade 2

Friday Block 2

Strand Educational Technology
Audience Elementary, Middle School, High School

9:15am EST

Making for a Cause - from Empathy, Design, to Social Action

Are you looking for a high interest maker project that builds on student passions and empathy? Join Leah to learn about how her middle school students are using the vinyl cutter, laser cutter, and green screen to create Public Awareness Campaigns this year. She will walk you through the curriculum and share several examples of her students’ work.

Speakers

Leah Joly

Digital Learning Leader, Champlain Valley School District

PAC Presentation pdf

Friday November 15, 2019 9:15am - 10:15am EST
Gateway 1

Friday Block 2

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, STEAM
Audience Middle School

10:15am EST

Break - Visit with Sponsors and Exhibitors

Friday November 15, 2019 10:15am - 10:30am EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Meal/Break

10:30am EST

Art and Science

Led by a Vermont teaching artist, this workshop introduces some of the latest research demonstrating the importance of arts-integrated science learning. We will look at an example curriculum that integrates visual art lessons on creative communication with a traditional middle school microscopy unit. Participants will try an art activity from the curriculum using a digital microscope and leave with an example science art activity to try themselves.

Speakers

Rachel Mirus

Teaching Artist, Freelance

I originally studiend Biology and Chemistry at UVM and have worked in a diversity of biological research labs. I went into Museum Studies and have taught natural history at local museums like the Montshire and the Fairbanks, written about local nature for Northern Woodlands, and now... Read More →

VTFest ArtandSci pptx

Paper stained glass water molecules docx

Friday November 15, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Northstar 2

Friday Block 3

Strand STEAM
Audience Elementary, Middle School, High School

10:30am EST

Building a Podcast Studio

As heard in old timey radio voice> In this age of alternative assessment and modern technology at our fingertips, can we use an old technology - the radio - as a means of student assessment and provide a path to proving proficiency? This session will discuss the whats, hows, and whys of podcasting with students and show you some easy free tools to get started right away on any device.

Speakers

Joe Bertelloni

School Librarian, Clarendon Elementary School

Technology Teacher at Clarendon Elementary School. Experimenting in STEM and STEAM. Looking to develop elementary level stand alone curriculum.

Friday November 15, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gateway 2

Friday Block 3

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, Educational Technology, Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education
Audience Early Education, Elementary, Middle School, High School, Post High School

10:30am EST

Diffusion or Disruption: Leading Change in Schools

From Hypercard stacks to Google Sites, from Blended Classrooms to Online Learning, technology has been influencing the course of education for over thirty years. Schools have had goals of integrating technology since the onset of technology plans. But how does innovation create change in systems, and how do we recognize opportunities to enhance diffusion or to prepare for disruption caused by the rapid pace of technology change? A collaborative conversation with classroom, school, and district leaders.LINK

Speakers

Paul Irish

Past Executive Director, VITA-Learn

Friday November 15, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Escapade 2

Friday Block 3

Strand Educational Technology, Coaching and Leadership Development
Audience TBD

10:30am EST

Processing for Everyone: Getting started with text-based coding in the middle grades!

The Processing language has proven itself in classrooms for almost two decades. This session will walk participants through getting started with text-based coding. The openProcessing version of Processing runs in a web browser and is simple and extremely well documented. We'll build a simple step-by-step game program that embodies the basics of core computational thinking concepts. We'll cover variables and logic operations and we'll throw in a lot of applied middle school math concepts along the way. To close out the session, we'll look at using the Makey Makey to build a game controller.

This session assumes no experience and will run in any Chrome based or Mozilla web browser.

Speakers

Jeff Branson

Robot Jazz

Jeff Branson is an active member of the national education community and a prolific maker. Jeff's well known for his work as an engineer and developer at Spark Fun Electronics as well as his popular sessions at ISTE, SXSW, Maker Faire, CUE, and ReMake Education. Jeff is fluent in... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Northstar 1

Friday Block 3

Strand TBD
Audience Middle School

10:30am EST

Put your Imagination in your Hands- Sculptris, SculptrVR, and 3D Printing

Come see what students at Poultney High School have brought to life combining technology and fine art. Some students enjoy pinching and pulling virtual clay while others love to don the headset and sculpt in the air. 3D printing brings their sculpture into the real world where the fun continues with paint, inks, and even glitter.

Speakers

Melissa Kristiansen

VR Sculptris pptx

Friday November 15, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Gateway 1

Friday Block 3

Strand Educational Technology
Audience High School

10:30am EST

Student Safety in the Digital Age- How AI & Human Monitoring Can Save Lives

Keeping students safe online and promoting good digital citizenship is a top priority for every school district. Securly’s Student Safety Tools provide a way for school district leaders to proactively engage administration, counselors, and parents by providing an unparalleled view into the student's online activity. Participants will understand how a child’s online activity can be used to keep them safe online, frame academic conversations, and promote good digital citizenship. Participants will also learn how emotional sentiment scanning is a more comprehensive way to identify instances of self harm, violence, and bullying.

Speakers

Doug Haddad

Securly

Friday November 15, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Roundabout

Friday Block 3

Strand Vendor
Audience TBD

10:30am EST

The Driving Question for Project Based Learning

In this workshop, participants will learn how a driving question can be constructed for the development of authentic project presentations.

Speakers

Michael Lannon

Clarendon Elementary School

Fred Valastro

Friday November 15, 2019 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Escapade 1

Friday Block 3

11:30am EST

Lunch, Awards Presentation, and Keynote Address "Mapping the Future with Empathy, Equity and Intention" by Dan Ryder

Vita-Learn Welcome Remarks
Presentation of the ISTE Making IT Happen Award: Making IT Happen is an internationally recognized awards program for educators and leaders in the field of educational technology integration in K–12 schools. It identifies and rewards educational technology leaders around the world for their commitment and innovation.
Keynote Address: Mapping the Future with Empathy, Equity and Intention: As the role of public education expands, how might we better identify the needs of our students, colleagues, and communities moving forward? And how might we better address the biases — both conscious and unconscious — that threaten our ability to meet those needs? During this interactive keynote, we’ll explore the principles of design thinking — empathy fueled, human centered problem solving — and how we might apply that mindset to more mindful tech-oriented solutions.

Speakers

Dan Ryder

Design Facilitator, CRCS Overman

Friday November 15, 2019 11:30am - 1:30pm EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Keynote

1:30pm EST

Exhibitors Tear Down

Friday November 15, 2019 1:30pm - 1:30pm EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Main Agenda Item

1:30pm EST

(UPDATED) Tips for building a Modern Network - Roundtable Discussion

UPDATE AS OF 11/15: Unfortunately Jason Cote from Aruba Networks is unable to make it to the conference. Instead, Mike Kelley from Ormsby's Computer Services and a few Vita-Learn representatives will help facilitate a roundtable discussion on the topic, where participants are encouraged to bring their own tips and engage in conversation.

ORIGINAL SESSION DESCRIPTION: This session will explore the latest advancements in both wired and wireless networking.We will start by taking a look at what's new in the wireless world and discuss the changes from 802.11ac to WIFI 6.From there we will explore how security is evolving in both the wired and wireless network space.As an example, we will discuss how new security standards introduced by the WIFI alliance are impacting today's networks.We will then ask what other cool things our network can do to make network management easier as well as offer new services for our students and teachers.We will wrap up with a round table discussion to offer participants the opportunity to share their experiences.

Friday November 15, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Roundabout

Friday Block 4

Strand Vendor
Audience TBD

1:30pm EST

BookCreator- Hands on Session

BookCreator is a app is available for iPad, Chromebooks, and web-browser. Teachers can create a free account with 1 library of 40 books, or can purchase a license to expand their capabilities. Attendees will learn how to create a book using the BookCreator App, which can include text, images, videos, maps, and audio. I will also show attendees examples of how to use books as math or science journals, portfolios, or student projects.

Link to Presentation

Speakers

Edith Fogarty

Technology Integration Facilitator, Bradford Elementary School

Friday November 15, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Gateway 2

Friday Block 4

Strand Curriculum/Instruction/Assessment, Educational Technology, Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education
Audience Early Education, Elementary, Middle School, High School

1:30pm EST

Cyber Fundamentals with the micro:bit (Part 1 of 2) (LIMITED CAPACITY SESSION)

PLEASE NOTE: This session has a limited capacity of 30 people. Seating is first-come, first-serve; advance RSVP is not available and adding a session to your agenda in Sched does not guarantee you a seat. This is a two part session and attendees are expected to stay for both parts.

Cyber Fundamentals with micro:bit is ideal for introducing block-based coding at the elementary and middle school level. The micro:bit is a versatile, affordable platform whose applications will grow with your students' skills. In this two-hour workshop, teachers will work through the basics of block-based coding and learn how to integrate micro:bit projects into their classroom. No prior coding experience required! Teachers will receive access to free curriculum resources.

With (www.parallax.com) and Cyber Innovation Center (www.nicerc.org)

Speakers

Joseph MacAdam - Cyber.org

Director of Cybersecurity Content, Cyber.org

Andy Lindsay

Applications Engineer, Parallax

Friday November 15, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Northstar 1

Friday Block 4

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

1:30pm EST

Hey Google, is there a role for you and Alexa in classrooms?

Artificial intelligence is now an attainable technology present in millions of American homes. Smart speakers, such as Google’s Home or Amazon’s Alexa, can rapidly retrieve factual information. Come hear how educators are extending their usefulness and discovering creative, thought-provoking ways to use them to challenge students and organize their classrooms.

Speakers

Maureen Yoder

Professor, Lesley University

Friday November 15, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Escapade 1

Friday Block 4

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

1:30pm EST

How Maker and S.T.E.A.M. Can Exist in a Library Space

When we think of maker spaces we think of building, carving, cutting, splicing and messy. So, how can a maker space exist in a library setting while still maintaining the traditional library ideals? Come find out how you can have the best of both worlds as we look at how to add Maker and STEAM to your library instruction. This will be a hands on workshop filled with fun and adventure!!

Speakers

Kelly McGee

Librarian, Rutland Town School

librarymakersteam pdf

Friday November 15, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Escapade 2

Friday Block 4

Strand STEAM
Audience Early Education, Elementary, Middle School

1:30pm EST

No More Dumpster Projects: Amplifying Project Based Learning

How might we turn our classrooms from knowledge packing factories into problem solving incubators? In this workshop, folks will learn how the principles of design thinking can be applied to project based learning in the service of even more authentic and even deeper learning. Participants will learn how to transform poster and popsicle projects that end up in the trash before vacation into prototyping and design portfolios that flex students’ critical thinking skills.

Speakers

Dan Ryder

Design Facilitator, CRCS Overman

Friday November 15, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Northstar 2

Friday Block 4

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

1:30pm EST

Timely Topics for Tech Leaders

Presentation

In the tradition of the pizza meetings and Vita-learn regional meeting, let's get together to share what's working and what's keeping us at night. Let's collaborate to find solutions that work for Vermont schools. This session will be facilitated by Craig Donnan a COSN certified school technology leader.
Link for content: https://tinyurl.com/y4ae2jlf

Speakers

Craig Donnan

Net Admin, Essex Westford School District

Friday November 15, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Gateway 1

Friday Block 4

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

2:30pm EST

Break

Friday November 15, 2019 2:30pm - 2:45pm EST
Oscar Wilde Ballroom

Meal/Break

2:45pm EST

(CANCELLED) Tips for building a Modern Network

Friday November 15, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Roundabout

Friday Block 5

Strand Vendor
Audience TBD

2:45pm EST

Cyber Fundamentals with the micro:bit (Part 2 of 2) (LIMITED CAPACITY SESSION)

PLEASE NOTE: This session has a limited capacity of 30 people. Seating is first-come, first-serve; advance RSVP is not available and adding a session to your agenda in Sched does not guarantee you a seat. This is a two part session and attendees are expected to stay for both parts.

Cyber Fundamentals with micro:bit is ideal for introducing block-based coding at the elementary and middle school level. The micro:bit is a versatile, affordable platform whose applications will grow with your students' skills. In this two-hour workshop, teachers will work through the basics of block-based coding and learn how to integrate micro:bit projects into their classroom. No prior coding experience required! Teachers will receive access to free curriculum resources.

With (www.parallax.com) and Cyber Innovation Center (www.nicerc.org)

Speakers

Joseph MacAdam - Cyber.org

Director of Cybersecurity Content, Cyber.org

Andy Lindsay

Applications Engineer, Parallax

Friday November 15, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Northstar 1

Friday Block 5

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

2:45pm EST

Digital Arts Meets The Business World

I’ll share successes and failures as I let go of grading with guest judges and local clients. Students learn skills and then compete to please their patrons. After working with surprise judges the students head out into the community to give back to our small businesses that always support our school. Students plan their time, work with deadlines, and sometimes bounce back from “being fired”. Students finish with an Open Studio proposal following their bliss.

Speakers

Melissa Kristiansen

Digital Arts Meets The Business World (1) pptx

Friday November 15, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Gateway 2

Friday Block 5

Strand Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education
Audience High School

2:45pm EST

Future ready PD for the future ready teacher

Ever take a course and wish it was applicable to your current context instead of suffering through it for recertification? Wish there were more options that reflect what you need right NOW? It’s time to think differently about your PD. Join us for a session about creating PD that leverages all that is available to us. How might we design our own professional learning experiences that genuinely help us address the needs of future-ready learners?
Future Ready Teacher PLP

Speakers

Lori Lisai

Innovation Coordinator, Lamoille Union

Innovation Coordinator at Lamoille Union Middle & High Schoolglobal collaborator, design thinker, game lover, inspiration junkie, #StuVoice advocate boldly cannonballing important shifts in education

Friday November 15, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Escapade 1

Friday Block 5

Strand Personalized Learning, Flexible Pathways, Proficiency-Based Education
Audience Elementary, Middle School, High School, Post High School

2:45pm EST

Let’s Talk About Data (with VT AOE)

Please join AOE/ADS’ new Data and IT Leaders, Wendy Geller and Kevin Viani, to hear the latest about AOE’s Data and IT systems work. This is a continuation of the conversation we started at this Summer’s Pizza IT Conference. It’s intended to be a time where we work on expanding our collective partnership in the current efforts around modernization and operational improvement. We look forward to talking with you.

Speakers

Wendy Geller

Division Director, Data Management & Analysis Division, Vermont Agency of Education

As the first Director of the newly formed Data Management & Analysis Division, Wendy Geller serves alongside her Work Family of Data Scientists as a centralized resource to the Agency of Education. Her crew collects, stewards, and leverages the institution's critical data assets to... Read More →

Kevin Viani

Friday November 15, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Gateway 1

Friday Block 5

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

2:45pm EST

Maker Educator Meetup

So many maker educators! So many ideas! So many questions! Why not work together to find solutions to the questions we all have - from safety, to storage, to logistics, to new tools, and more! We'll start collaborating in this session and leave with a plan to keep on collaborating beyond today with virtual and real time meetups throughout the year.

Link to Document

Speakers

Margaret Talbot

Technology Integrationist

Lucie deLaBruere

STEAM/Maker Educator, Create Make Learn

Lucie deLaBruere brings 40 years of K12 experience as a classroom teacher, technology integration specialist, and Career and Technical Education educator. She currently works with several school districts as a maker educator, STEAM & PBL coach and faculty for higher ed institutions.She... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Northstar 2

Friday Block 5

Strand TBD
Audience TBD

2:45pm EST

Personalized Learning Plans in Kindergarten

This workshop demonstrates how a Personalized Learning Plan can look at the early elementary level. The PLP is done with close work by the teachers and other mentors. It uses technology and includes these components:

student self-assessment
student talents and aspirations
student goal setting
student cooperative work
student challenges
student proficiencies.

Speakers

Linda Mullin

teacher, Rutland Town School

I believe that a public school is not only an academic space, but it is a social space. I work to help the whole student grow: socially, emotionally, academically, and physically by building relationships with students and their families.

Presentation Personalized Learning Plans . pptx

Friday November 15, 2019 2:45pm - 3:45pm EST
Escapade 2

Friday Block 5