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.

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

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

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

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

10:30am 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

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

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

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

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

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

2:45pm 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

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

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

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

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

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

9:15am 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

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

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

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

2:45pm 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

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