VSTE

Virginia Society for Technology in Education

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Digital Learning Day 2018

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VSTE will be partnering with the Virginia Department of Education to celebrate Digital Learning Day throughout the month of February with special events being held on Thursday, February 22, 2018. We will live stream conversations with Mark Saunders and Bobby Keener from the Virginia Department of Education during the day. Times and links coming soon.

In the evening, we will host our annual chat with the VSTE 2017 Award Winners. Join us to hear from Josh Ajima, Nichole Thomas, and Tim Taylor about the innovative work being done in their school divisions. We'll be streaming live starting at 7:30 PM.

Throughout the month, VSTE will be hosting a flipgrid conversation with teachers and students about digital technologies and their impact on their lives both in and out of the classroom. The first question--What do you like about digital learning activities?--can be found here: https://flipgrid.com/dldayva2018. We will add a question each week. Let us know what you and your students think about digital learning.

Check back soon for the event links. Meanwhile, the VSTE YouTube Channel has hours of video related to innovation and educational technology including our chats with students during Digital Learning Day 2017.

And...the best way to keep up with VSTE is to join us. It's free and you'll receive our weekly news and information update. Join Now

VE PLN Meeting: Winter Festival Fun in Sinespace

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pic of virtual reality platformOn January 29, 2018, VSTE's VE PLN will visit the new Aero Pines Park simulation on Sinespace (SS). The new park has all the fun we have come to expect but is on a new server. You can ride with a friend on a horse drawn carriage around the park or ride with 5 friends on a Winter roller coaster. The roller coaster is controlled by a snowman and a gingerbread man. You can also help Sammy the snowman solve his Winter problems using the SS questing system.

Learn more about the Winter festival here: http://sine.space/explore/view/winter_festival

Sinespace is a new virtual reality platform that can run in your browser or using software. In order to participate in the January 29 event and use Sinespace in general, you will need to start by creating a free account here: https://sine.space/signup/refer/MjEwNjM3NA

Fill out the information, but unclick the box saying that you want to be a content creator (That is unless you want to create sims on Sinespace in which case leave it checked). Check that you agree to the terms and conditions and the box that says you are not a robot. Then create your account.

While Sinespace can run in your browser or using software, the VE PLN recommends using the software client as big sims like aero pines park really need to be running locally on your computer.  Download the software (also called a client) here: http://sine.space/download

Pick the machine you are using pc or mac and follow the installation instructions.

You will now get an icon on your desktop for Sinespace. Double click it, and enter your user name or email and your password into the program. Make sure the login in to creator server box is not clicked.

Once you are into Sinespace:

  1. Click the Explore button in the lower-left corner of the screen
  2. Look for Winter Festival Aero Pines Park in the Featured listing.
  3. Click the Enter button to visit.

If you run into problems contact Bill Schmachtenberg at: wschmachtenberg@gmail.com or on SL IM Dae Miami.

 

 

 

 

VE PLN Meeting: Let’s Make A Valentine Bouquet

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The Virtual Environments PLN will meet on VSTE Island in Second Life on Monday, January 22, at 8 PM, to practice 3D building skills.

Our friend, ISTE and VSTE member Norma Underwood (SL name) will run an easy building lesson on VSTE Island. We will create a virtual Valentine! She has slides for us to follow as she takes us through this little project step-by-step. Even a brand new avatar will be able to follow and keep up. Please join us! Open your Second Life viewer and click this link!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife//100/50/21

If you are new to Second Life, get a free account at https://secondlife.com. Select a ready made avatar and download the viewer. Click the link above or use the magnifying icon to search for VSTE Island. Come early if you are new to Second Life. Thunder Insippo will be on the Island an hour early to help anyone who would like help.

Learn more and connect with the VE PLN in the VE PLN Google Plus community.

Speak Up Survey Deadline Extended…Plus, Prizes Available

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orange rectangle advertising speak up surveyThe deadline for completing the Speak Up Survey has been extended to January 26, 2018. Don't miss your opportunity to collect valuable information about how your stakeholders are using technology for learning in and out of school.

In addition, two new opportunities to win have been added this week:

2 NEW opportunities announced this week!

  • Teachers can enter to win a $250 Amazon gift card for classroom supplies, in addition to being eligible for a free registration to ISTE 2018!
  • Communications officers can enter to win a $250 grant towards any 2018 professional conference of their choice.

Entry options for these prizes have been added to the end of the teacher and communications officer surveys (identifying information will not be connected to the surveys, keeping responses confidential). Anyone who had already completed the survey and wants to be considered for the prizes, just has to complete this form to enter.

A final question has also been added to the surveys for librarians (to win a registration AASL's National Institute) and administrators (to win a registration to ISTE 2018 or AASA's National Conference on Education).

Project Tomorrow also sponsors several video and design challenges. Their deadlines have also been extended.

Big Deal Book, January 15, 2018

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Blue rectangle with words Maximizing Technology in the the 21st Century Classroom bright graphic on left side of rectangle displays words Big Deal MediaVSTE partners with Big Deal Media to bring you the "best of the best" of web-based resources, classroom competitions and teacher grant programs. The January 15, 2018, newsletter offers resources that Stream Olympic Events, Build AR Games, Analyze Sports Performance & More.

Here are a few of our favorites. Be sure to check out the complete newsletter using the link below. The archives have some great stuff, too!

Tool for Creating Augmented Reality Experiences

Metaverse – AR Browser by GoMeta makes it easy for anyone to create computer vision, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality experiences without needing to write complex code.

Simulation Techniques Practiced by Engineers

Designed by a rocket scientist, Truss Me! utilizes real algorithms and simulation techniques practiced by aerospace, mechanical, and civil engineers to test for stress and structure failure. Students can design and test structures in a realistic virtual environment.

Contest to Design an Uplifting, Interactive Doodle

K–12 students are invited to take part in the 2018 Doodle 4 Google contest and create an uplifting doodle that tells the world “What inspires me.” From crayons to clay, graphics, or even food, young artists can utilize any materials to bring their creations to life.

Big Deal Book, January 15, 2018

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