VSTE News
Big Book Deal, November 15, 2020
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 learn more about Diverse STEM Pioneers, Thanksgiving from a New Perspective & More......
Award Recognizing Excellence in Engineering Science Education
Competition Engaging Students in Audio Storytelling
NASA Program Encouraging STEM Involvement
NASA’s HUNCH program empowers and inspires high school students through project-based learning. Students who participate in the program learn twenty-first century skills and have the opportunity to launch their careers through participation in the design and fabrication of real-world-valued products for NASA.
Featured #GoOpenVA Resources, November 9, 2020
Jean Weller, VSTE Board Member and VDOE Technology Integration Specialist, leads the #GoOpenVA initiative in Virginia. This collaborative initiative enables educators and others throughout Virginia to create, share, and access openly-licensed educational resources (OER, also known as open education resources). OER are free digital materials that can be used or modified to adjust to student needs; they are openly-licensed unhampered by many traditional copyright limitations.
The database is growing. Jean recently created a collection for resources specifically related to professional learning. Technology coaches from across the state have contributed and you can learn more here.
#GoOpenVA hosts instructional resources from Virginia education institutions as well as individual educators. During the fall, you might want to focus student attention on the study of their immediate environment, no matter where they live in the state. Here are a few examples of resources you can use to study about Virginia!
The Virginia Geographic Alliance provides a wonderful set of lesson plans for studying various aspects of Virginia Geography in their Virginia GeoInquiry Flipsnack Guide. Geoinquiries are intended to help get new teachers started or to move experienced teachers to grow their curriculum to incorporate deeper learning opportunities for students. Teachers are guided on how to include local geographies into their students’ lessons, along with personal observations and data collection.
Virginia Public Media partnered with the Virginia Wildlife Center (VWC) to post their Untamed video series, about wildlife in Virginia in the Virginia Wildlife Center Collection. Students can view videos to learn about animals such as bald eagles and black bears. Teachers can connect with the VWC to find background information to guide discussions on the animals and related topics, such as lead poisoning and creating backyard habitats.
The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts is expert at getting students to think and dig deeper. Jamestown and Beyond: The World of 1607 provides artwork for students to explore with the purpose to consider the cultures that influenced Jamestown and its legacy not only in Virginia but in the broader world. Suggested activities for teachers to pursue with their students lead to a deeper learning experience than just a simple visit to a gallery.
Draft Schedule Available: VSTE 2020 Goes Virtual
The draft schedule for VSTE 2020 is available now. Check it out to see the wide variety of opportunities to learn, share and grow.
The conference has two parts: sessions on Wednesday, December 9 - Friday, December 10 are free and will be streamed so anyone is able to join.
Beginning Friday evening and through Sunday, December 13, sessions will be available to paid registrants only. Registration is required for the paid portion of the conference.
CETL Certification Grant Available
VSTE has been awarded funding from the Virginia Department of Education to provide grants for up to eight leaders, one from each region, to pursue CETL™ certification, a nationally recognized program for education technology leaders. Grant winners will be enrolled in the facilitated online certification course taking place in Spring 2021 in preparation for the certification exam.
A short application form is required. Applications must include a short letter of support from an immediate supervisor and a current resumer.
Application deadline is December 4, 2020. Grants will be announced in mid-December 2020. CoSN membership is not required. Applications will be reviewed by state CETLs.