VSTE

Virginia Society for Technology in Education

Events

VE PLN: Unraveling the Mysteries of Instagram

by

VSTE's Virtual Environments Professional Learning Network (VE PLN) is pleased to welcome Andrew Wheelock, AKA Spiff Whitfield in Second Life, who will help unravel the mysteries of Instagram for us. In discussing digital citizenship recently we discovered that many of us "don't get it." We went to Andy for help. Our discussion is bound to go beyond Instagram as we navigate social media and digital citizenship topics.

Andrew Wheelock is an innovative Technology Integrator at Western New York Regional Information Center currently living in Buffalo, New York.

His blog is http://www.coffeewithageek.org/ where he interviews Edtech leaders from around the world.

He's also Spiff Whitfield, the leader and founder of Virtual Pioneers, a group that meets every other Sunday evening in Second Life to promote and tour simulations about culture, history, and other social studies topics.

In 2016 Andrew Wheelock received The Thinkerer Award which is granted during the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education conference in the spring, as a lifetime achievement award for consistent selfless service towards the promotion of learning, community, and educational practices using immersive environments.

Andrew created a virtual exhibit in an Open Sim called the Islands of Enlightenment http://islandsoe.weebly.com/ which includes a place designed to help students learn about The Holocaust  Reimagining The Diary of a Young Girl: Anne Frank for the 21st Century.

 

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

by

 

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!

Celebrate House@Blues Move to VSTE Island

by

The Virtual Environments PLN will be hosting a hoedown and fundraiser to welcome House@Blues to VSTE Island on Friday, February 23, 2018, from 7 to 9 PM EST. This live concert will feature singer Anightwing.

 

The fundraiser helps offset the cost of VSTE Island. You can make donations via our Friends of VSTE fund.

New to Second Life?

If you don't have a Second Life account get one, it's free, at 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.

VSTELive Digital Learning Day Events

by

Join VSTE and its special guests throughout the day on Thursday, February 22, 2018, to celebrate Digital Learning Day 2018.

View the Archives

11 AM: Mark Saunders, Technology and Virtual Learning Coordinator from the Virginia Department of Education will provide updates from VDOE

1 PM: Bobby Keener, Chief Technology Innovations Officer from the Virginia Department of Education will provide updates from his department related to eRate and OER

7:30 PM VSTE Award Winners

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.

VSTE is also celebrating all month with our Digital Learning flipgrid. This week's topic focuses on the impact of digital learning.

Apple Events Coming Up in February

by

Join Apple for two free events in February:

Preparing Students for Today's Mobile Workforce

You’ll leave this event ready to create an innovative learning environment that equips students with the skills to be successful in the world they’ll graduate into.

Choose one event to attend.

February 21, 2018 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Creative Workplace Interiors and Technology
11798 North Lakeridge Parkway Ashland, VA 23005

Register

February 22, 2018 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Regional Center for Workforce Education and Training
2645 College Drive Woodbridge, VA 22191

Register

Preparing Students for Today Mobile Workforce Invitation

School Visit:

Join us for a visit to Goochland Elementary and Middle
Schools to experience a one-to-one program that engages all
students. Learn how the technology infrastructure supports
innovation in teaching and learning. Hear from members of
the school community and visit classrooms to discover the
possibilities that mobile learning provides.

February 23, 2018
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Goochland Elementary School
3150 River Road West
Goochland, VA 23063

Register

Goochland_School Visit

 

…
…
…