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Virginia Society for Technology in Education

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Blog

VSTE Professional Services Coordinator Announced

April 30, 2024 by Rod Carnill

Patrick Hausammann picturePatrick Hausammann is a perpetual optimist and believer in the power of a growth mindset to fail forward approach en route to creativity and innovation. Most fittingly, he will now take the helm of VSTE Professional Services as the professional services coordinator.

Patrick works as the Supervisor of Instructional Technology & as an ITRT with Clarke County Public Schools. Patrick serves on the VSTE Board as the Treasurer and VSTE’s Digital Resources Manager. 

VSTE professional services operate to meet the professional development needs and desire for lifelong learning of school divisions and individuals throughout the state.  The Professional Services Coordinator (PSC) will lead this outreach and education component of VSTE by coordinating Professional Services, overseeing the maintenance of the consultant database, coordinating booking and logistics of client engagements, marketing the services offered, and collaborating with the VSTE Board and the VSTE Certified Coach Coordinator. The VSTE PSC is a contracted consultant to the VSTE Board and serves the VSTE membership.

Welcome Patrick to your new role with VSTE!

 

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Filed Under: Blog, Board of Directors, Outreach, VSTE News

Building a Mobile Tech Lab

April 15, 2024 by Rod Carnill

Mobile Tech Lab Team at VSTE23When two newly-minted instructional technology resource teachers went to the administration in Washington County, Virginia with an idea for a mobile technology lab, they were met with a resounding YES, after which they had to figure out how to make it happen. Andrew Smith and Thomas Larimer join Activated Learning podcast host Tom Landon to share how they created a trailer that contains drones as well as virtual reality and robotics equipment. Now that trailer travels the mountain roads of their rural county to bring state-of-the-art learning opportunities to teachers and students while maximizing the investment in teaching tools for the county.

Listen to the ActiVAtED Learning Podcast

For a video version of the podcast, please visit the link below.
https://youtu.be/aB2tzFICy4c

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Filed Under: Blog, Education, Learning Opportunities, VSTE News

SWVA Can Code!

April 15, 2024 by Patrick Hausammann

written by VSTE Board Member Heather Askea (heatheraskea@vste.org, @Haskea)


What happens when you put an idea together with an innovative idea with a proven curriculum and powerful partnerships?  AWESOMENESS!   That is how SWVA Can Code was born!

SWVA Can Code is a program that encourages 5th to 12th graders to create and develop web applications that aim to solve important problems or take advantage of opportunities within their communities. This regional initiative provides an opportunity for young students to engage in the process of designing and prototyping these apps. By participating in this program, students can contribute to their communities and make a positive impact through technology. The program empowers students to identify challenges or opportunities in their communities and find innovative solutions through coding. SWVA Can Code provides valuable web development skills and fosters creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration among young minds.  Built on Apple’s Everyone Can Code framework, SWVA Can Code was heavily inspired by Montgomery Can Code (MD) and DC Can Code.  But as lead organizer for this initiative, I knew that Southwest Virginia was going to have to take a different approach to bring this to life.

The key vision for this project was to engage students in learning skills that could propel them into a potential STEM career. Coding was the main focus with web application development being the creative component of each camp.  The pitch part of the camp fostered collaboration and communication skills often a struggle for students. The focus on creating an app that addressed a local challenge or opportunity supported students’ understanding that they can solve problems through creative uses of technology applications.

The project was developed through partnerships with K12, Higher Education, community, industry, and government partners, and Apple Education.  UVAWISE’s STREAMWISE Outreach Program serves as the coordinating entity organizing training for camp personnel, curriculum, and logistics planning support, and also providing access to extra devices as needed.  Partnering school districts and higher education and community organizations provide funding for camp personnel, camp materials, and support for food and transportation as needed through their summer learning programs.  Our industry and government partners provide support through service as local camp showcase judges, regional showcase judges, and provide additional funding support for the regional showcase. Apple Education supports the project through logistics, support meetings, and training for camp leaders and technical staff, and through support from their strategic initiatives team, K12 and Higher Ed solutions teams, and from Apple Marketing and Professional Learning.

To ensure equitable access for any student wishing to participate, camps are provided free of charge to students and many schools utilize summer learning funds for transportation and meal support. The key aspect of all camps is the focus on creative solutions for challenges identified within the local communities.  In 2023, students created apps that addressed mental health, physical health, social disconnects, town and area beautification efforts, tourism, food instability, etc.

One of the best outcomes from the inaugural year of the initiative was seeing our winners continue to grow.  Giles County students Ava and Cooper continue to work on their app, “Calm It” which was developed to help students who struggle with anxiety.  After winning the regional pitchfest held at UVAWISE on August 1, 2023, they have gone on to present at the Appalachian Council for Innovation’s Annual Gala, the Virginia Society for Education’s Annual Kid’s Talks at the annual conference held in Roanoke, VA, as well as numerous appearances at school board meetings and other community events.  They were even featured in a recent webinar hosted by VSTE’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Ava and Cooper, the creators of the “Calm It” app
Ava and Cooper, the creators of the “Calm It” app

Going forward into our second year, SWVA Can Code is growing!  We are expanding our camps into SWVA proper with camps in Montgomery and Floyd counties.  We are also expanding to include a high school division.  Our training opportunities are also more focused on SWIFT UI and getting students beyond the prototyping stage and closer to producing an app that could someday be in the Apple App Store!  If you would like to learn more about SWVA Can Code or join the initiative check out https://swvacancode.com/ or contact me at haskea@uvawise.edu .

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Filed Under: Blog, Computer Science, VSTE News Tagged With: #streamwise, #swvacancode, Coding, SWVA, SWVA Can Code

Vote Now! VSTE Board of Directions Election Open!

April 11, 2024 by Patrick Hausammann

IT IS TIME TO VOTE for the VSTE Board of Directors!! 

Voting is open NOW through April 26, 2024! Please select 1 candidate for each region. You will need to log-in to the member site to have access to the page with the ballot.  You must be a member in good standing at least 10 days prior to the start of the election to be eligible to vote.

Once on the election page hover over each candidate's photo card to view their name and information.

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Filed Under: Blog, Board of Directors, Elections Tagged With: 2024 Election, ballot, board, Board election, Board of Directors, Election, Elections

VSTE welcomes Katie Breaud as our Certified Coaches Program Coordinator!

April 10, 2024 by Rod Carnill

Katie Breaud profile imageKatie Breaud is a Learning Technology Integrator with Albemarle County Public Schools. With master's degrees in elementary and gifted education, Katie recently completed her endorsement in educational leadership. She is an ISTE Certified Educator and VSTE Certified Coach who loves finding ways to integrate technology into classroom instruction. Katie has a background in talent development and experience in managing educational programs.

The VSTE Certified Coach Program advocates for the role of coaches across the Commonwealth by providing an extended learning program for certifying instructional coaches and growing a professional learning network of instructional coaches that actively contributes to the VSTE mission and VCC program. As the VSTE Certified Coach Program Coordinator, Katie manages and promotes the VSTE Certified Coach Program, facilitates the VCC professional learning network, and coordinates the renewal process for all VSTE Certified Coaches.

You can connect with her on LinkedIn at https://bit.ly/breaudlinkedin or contact her at VCC@vste.org.

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Filed Under: Blog, Coaching, Education, VSTE Coaching, VSTE News Tagged With: VCC, VCC Program, VSTE Coaching, welcome

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