VSTE

Virginia Society for Technology in Education

Blog

Big Deal Book, March 15th, 2023

by

 

 

VSTE partners with Big Deal Media to bring you carefully curated resources designed for K-12 educators. Grants, competitions, web-based and mobile resources and more. We select our favorites from each newsletter but be sure to scroll down and view the whole newsletter. And, since not all the Big Deal Book resources are time sensitive, we provide an archive for you to browse.

This newsletter will help you with Movement & Learning, Mathematical Thinking, Hydroponic Gardening & More...

 

Challenge to Apply the Power of STEM to Real-World Solutions

Discovery Education and 3M invite students in grades 5–8 to participate in the Young Scientist Challenge. Entrants must create a one- to two-minute video describing a new, innovative solution that solves an everyday problem.

 

eBook on Using AI Tools to Teach Critical Media Literacy

Educators and researchers at University of Massachusetts Amherst have released a free, open-access, online ebook to help use AI tools, such a ChatGPT, to teach and learn critical analysis.

 

Virtual STEM Programs Teaching Skills the Future Will Demand

The Tech Interactive is a highly regarded science and technology center in San Jose, California. The museum offers more than two dozen lesson plans and related challenges that look at engineering through the lens of diverse subjects, from data science to English language arts to systems design.

 

Online Lessons Using Movement to Foster SEL

Walkabouts are web-based lessons for preK–grade 2 students that integrate movement with language arts, math, and reading content. The Walkabouts platform also includes Walksheets, worksheets with a movement component, for preK–grade 5 students.

 

 

View the whole Big Book Deal Newsletter for March 15, 2023

The Archives

Big Deal Book, March 1st, 2023

by

 

 

VSTE partners with Big Deal Media to bring you carefully curated resources designed for K-12 educators. Grants, competitions, web-based and mobile resources and more. We select our favorites from each newsletter but be sure to scroll down and view the whole newsletter. And, since not all the Big Deal Book resources are time sensitive, we provide an archive for you to browse.

This newsletter will help you with Ice Cream and Pi, Unseen Women in Science, Books for Change & More...

 

Focus & Engage: How Edtech Can Boost Student Outcomes

With the widespread integration of interactive technologies and persistent noise pollution, students and teachers are in distracting and often uncomfortable environments to learn and teach. In a recent survey by Logitech and Education Week, 74% of teachers agreed that students’ level of physical comfort while using educational technology impacts their level of engagement in learning “some” or “a lot.” Research shows that when educators are equipped with the right tools, student engagement and learning outcomes can increase. Join Logitech, edWeb, and CoSN to learn practical and creative edtech strategies and actionable tips to overcome today’s classroom challenges.

 

Achievements of Unseen Women in Science and Technology

Scientific discovery has a long history; each new breakthrough has built on the work of countless individuals across years, decades, or even centuries. Many of the people who contributed to developments in science and technology were women.

 

Pi Day—From Polygons to Polynomials

How often does math get a holiday? Pi may be a famous irrational number, but there is nothing irrational about celebrating it with students. Every year mathematics teachers around the country celebrate Pi Day on March 14, since the date 3/14 resembles the first few digits of the number: 3.14.

 

Funding at Your Fingertips

GetEdFunding is a grant-finding resource sponsored by CDW•G that is dedicated to helping educators, schools, and other institutions identify the funding they need in budget-tight times. Explore the sample funding finds and experience the depth, breadth, and ease of use of GetEdFunding.

 

 

View the whole Big Book Deal Newsletter for March 1, 2023

The Archives

PROP-EL: Creating a Resource that helps both EL students and their teachers to succeed

by

Screenshot of PROP-EL website header

 

Created by:

  • Ryan Champney - ITRT for Spotsylvania County Public Schools
  • Tara Hefner - ESOL Secondary Lead / ESOL Coach
  • Sarah Mills - ITRT for Spotsylvania County Public Schools
  • Cara Miles - former Spotsy ITRT / current ESOL teacher for York County

 

“Do you have anything for translation?” This was a question I was asked many times in my first year as an ITRT. Little did I know that this question would send me on a journey that I never would have guessed I would become immersed in as a new ITRT.

In the past year, Spotsylvania County Public Schools has had an increase of over 500 EL (English Learners) or ML (Multiple Language) Learners. This is a trend that is only increasing as we begin to see an influx of these students in our schools.

As I started to become aware of the needs of these students, I reached out to some of my colleagues for support and information. We decided after some discussion about how best to support the teachers for EL students and the students themselves, that we would create a shared Google Drive to host a number of EL resources that could be shared throughout the county.

A screenshot of the PROP-EL Canvas course header

However, after some discussion about copyright and share settings, we decided to create what is now known as PROP-EL. Within this project, we created a hub for resources, a Canvas Course with Modules to keep track of the state required training needed by all teachers, and a website that hosts a number of resources to help all of our students.

Take a look at the presentation below and explore what PROP-EL is, what it can become, and what YOU can do to best help your EL students.

PROP-EL PRESENTATION

PROP EL Title slide with PROP-EL centered, a rocket to the right and the tagline "Propelling ELs forward using technology based skills and strategies"

Common Sense Education Resource Share – February 20, 2023

by

An image of students working on laptops in a classroom. A Common Sense Education text overlay appears in the top right of the graphic."Common Sense is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to helping all kids thrive in a world of media and technology. They support pre-K–12 schools with lesson plans, edtech reviews, family resources, and everything else students need to thrive in a connected world." Below is a custom set of resources pulled from this month's newest updates! Check them out via the links and explore even more at www.commonsense.org/education. VSTE is proud to partner with Common Sense Education.

For Teachers:

For Parents & Caregivers:

 

All Resources via Common Sense Education

All VSTE Posts of Common Sense Education Resources

Big Deal Book, February 1st, 2023

by

 

 

VSTE partners with Big Deal Media to bring you carefully curated resources designed for K-12 educators. Grants, competitions, web-based and mobile resources and more. We select our favorites from each newsletter but be sure to scroll down and view the whole newsletter. And, since not all the Big Deal Book resources are time sensitive, we provide an archive for you to browse.

This newsletter will help you with Black History Month, Math Sightings, Virtual Fitness Challenge & More...

 

SPOTLIGHT! On Black History Month.

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in US history. Since 1976 every US president has officially designated February as Black History Month.

Teachers are invited to put the power of these resources to work in their classrooms during Black History Month and throughout the year.

 

Virtual Learning Experience with African American Scientists

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) invite middle school and high school students to join A Space for Us All, a virtual educational experience examining and building on the legacy of achievement, connection, and knowledge of African Americans at NASA.

 

Robotics Platform That Uses Trash to Teach Coding

To students, crumpled plastic water bottles and milk cartons may seem like trash, but to brothers and entrepreneurs Rohit and Sidharth Srinivasan, these common everyday items represent an opportunity for equitable STEM education.

 

Walking, Cycling, Swimming … Virtual Fitness Challenge

Spice up your motivation for running, walking, or cycling (or any distance-based exercise) by taking on The Conqueror’s Mount Everest Virtual Challenge. The challenge takes you through a breathtaking 40-mile journey to the summit of Mount Everest—the highest peak in the world.

 

 

View the whole Big Book Deal Newsletter for February 1, 2023

The Archives