VSTE

Virginia Society for Technology in Education

Online Events

VE PLN Builds Birdhouses in Second Life

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Let's build a bird house! Norma Underwood is going to lead us through the steps to make this cute little birdhouse Monday, April 23 at 5 PM SLT (8 PM EDT). You will get to practice many building skills that can help you with projects of your own! Please join us!

If you don't have a Second Life account get one, it's free. We recommend setting one up at the Rockcliffe University Consortium's Gateway here: https://urockcliffe.com/reg/second-life/ Download and install the software. While your Second Life viewer (software) is open click this link http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VSTE%20Island/61/104/22 and voila! Look for an avatar on VSTE Island and say, "Hey, I'm new!" We will take care of the rest.

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Literary Studies Group Meets in Second Life, April 12, 2018

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The NEW Literary Studies group will meet April 12, 2018 at 8 PM ET on VSTE Island In Second Life.  This group is for middle school, high school, and college/university teachers and professors who want to discuss literary works, and improve lesson planning for English classes.The group will meet in Second Life, a virtual environment. 
Want to learn more? Connect with VSTE's Virtual Environments Professional Learning Network through their Google Plus community.
You will need the free Second Life Viewer and a free account. You can get both of those at the Second Life website: http://secondlife.com/. Download and install the software. While your Second Life viewer (software) is open, click this link http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VSTE%20Island/61/104/22 and voila! Look for an avatar on VSTE Island and say, "Hey, I'm new!" We will take care of the rest.

Minecraft Monday, April 9, 2018

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logo for minecraftMinecraft Monday April 9 at 8 PM EDT will be a chance to build and share potential student projects. 

Join the group to see what everyone has been building this week. Learn more here.

Start NOW by creating a 3D model at VSTE Place /warp schoolwork

Display something you'd have your students create. Find a lesson in your curriculum that might normally be done with manipulatives or as a 2D diagram. Create it in one of the spaces provided and we will tour them on the 9th!

Feel free to use more than one space if you have several ideas. Be sure to put out signs as to grade level, subject, builder...

In order to access VSTE Place, you will need a Mojang account and the Minecraft software. Contact Kim Harrison, K4sons@gmail.com, with your Mojang name so she can whitelist you and provide the server access information. You will also want to get involved with the .

The Beauty of Second Life

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From Kim Harrison (Thunder) and Lisa Alconcel (Jazmemo)

picture of Second Life trainOne of the reasons we love Second Life is the beauty created by the users. There are some amazing sims to wander through and enjoy. For instance, the Linden Endowment for the Arts gives artists grants for six months at a time. There are also historical simulations and culturally significant educational sites to visit. Science and health sims provide experiences that cannot be duplicated in the physical world.

 

On Monday, March 26, at 8 PM EDT, "Jazmemo" and "Thunder" will show you how to use your in-world camera and lead you on a tour through some interesting sims to take SL photos and return for show and tell. What will you discover? You might think you are living Ready, Player One!photo from Second Life

​ If you don't have a Second Life account get one, it's free, at https://urockcliffe.com/reg/second-life/. Download and install the software. While your Second Life viewer (software) is open click this link http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/VSTE%20Island/61/104/22 and voila! Look for an avatar on VSTE Island and say, "Hey, I'm new!" We will take care of the rest.

Free Webinar from GRAETC: Learning Experiences to Engage and Empower Students

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Join VSTE's regional partner the Greater Richmond Area Educational Technology Consortium on Monday, February 26, 2018, at 7 PM for Learning Experiences to Engage and Empower Students, a free webinar.

Watch the archives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7FDcbhHYyY&feature=youtu.be

Are you looking for ways to be inspired to engage your learners? Do you need ideas on how to empower your students? Longwood University's Institute for Teaching through Technology and Innovative Practices (ITTIP) will share how they are facilitating classroom learning experiences in seven divisions to foster student engagement through 1) technology integration with littleBits; 2) problem-based learning; and 3) global collaboration. Key components also include alternative assessments and the 5c components of the Profile of Virginia Graduate (critical thinking, creative thinking, collaboration, communication, and citizenship).

ITTIP will share the teaching and learning experiences being used in a year-long professional development with teachers from various subject areas in grades 3-8. Teachers are involved in learning how technologies like littleBits and Google Expedition can be used in the classroom to engage their students in content learning through problem-solving and inquiry-based pedagogies. The professional development experience includes exploration with tools such as Seesaw, Google Classroom, and Skype to see how these tools could be used in the classroom to facilitate engagement through collaborate work, communication, and critical and creative thinking.

In addition to being challenged with designing inquiry-based learning experiences for students through problem-based learning (PBL), alternative assessments, and technologies during a five-day summer workshop, participating teachers are continuing their learning and leadership in facilitating an engaged and empowered classroom through a year-long professional learning community. During these experiences teachers will be involved in a fall book study to learn more about ways they can facilitate classroom connections through global learning experiences.

Come hear about our teacher’s experiences and get inspired with ways to empower and engage your students!