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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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