VSTE

Virginia Society for Technology in Education

VSTE News

Security and Privacy Webinar

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Are your students safe online? Are you a division leader with responsibilities related to privacy and security?

On March 25th, Brian Gibbs-Wilson, Chief Data Security Officer from Virginia Department of Education, and Tim Tillman, Director of Technology and Learning (CIO/CISO), Colonial Heights Public Schools, lead a webinar about cybersecurity and student data privacy. Panel participants included Jim Siegl, Fairfax County; Rachel Johnson, Loudoun County; and Louis McDonald, Fauquier County.

Watch the recording below to learn more about Virginia's Student Privacy Alliance, a collaboration of Virginia school divisions that share common concerns around student privacy, and how you can get involved.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has paid for every school division to join the Student Data Privacy Consortium, which is discussed extensively in the webinar. You can learn more and request an account by clicking here.

Six Leaders Earn CETL Certification from CoSN

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From left: Rod Carnill, Jenn Rowan, and Scott Lewis from Frederick County Public Schools

Six educational leaders from two school divisions in Virginia earned the Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL™) certification in early 2019. This rigorous exam was developed by CoSN based on its Framework of Essential Skills of the K-12 CTO. These six educators join 13 other CETL certified leaders in the state.

CETL Andrew Wolfenbarger from Prince William County Schools, led the study group.

From left, Andrew Wolfenbarger, AJ Phillips, Diane Harazin, Deborah Miller from Prince William County Public Schools

 

Achieving CETL certification demonstrates mastery of the knowledge and skills required to build and maintain a 21st digital learning environments in K-12 schools. CETL certified educators must complete 60 hours of professional development every three years in order to maintain their certification.

VSTE is the CoSN state chapter.

Learn More About Certification

 

 

CETL is a registered trademark of CoSN.

 

Tuning In To Podcasts

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“I’d like to do that, if I just had the time,” is one of the most commonly heard phrases in the hallways of any school. If you’ve ever said that yourself, one solution might be podcasts. I dragged my feet for a long time, getting into podcasts, but once I did, I found that it gave me the time to learn so much more. And getting started with podcasts is incredibly simple—just find an app, find a show, and find some time.

Finding an app is the simplest step. You probably already have an app on your phone that will let you download content—look for an app called Podcasts or Google Play Music. If you prefer an app that’s more robust, there are dozens of options out there. Some of my favorites are Castbox, Podcast Addict, or Stitcher. Spotify is also getting into the podcast game which would be a good starting place if that’s an app you already use.Elizabeth and Brian with their recording setup

The next part is the fun part—find a show! Start by searching for content that interests you. Apple podcasts has over half a million in podcasts in over a hundred languages, so you’re certain to find one that appeals to you.

My favorite EdTech podcast is definitely The EdTech Takeout, a twice-monthly, conversational-style show in which the hosts discuss the latest updates in educational technology while keeping their focus on student learning. If you prefer a podcast with a single host, I strongly recommend The Cult of Pedagogy. Jennifer Gonzalez shares her thoughts on teaching strategies, education reform, and more. She never fails to teach me something new in her podcasts. If you want a slightly wider menu, there’s a curated list available on the Education Podcast Network where I always find something new to try.

If you’re planning to podcast with your students, it’s also great to listen to some podcasts that are for and by young people. NPR publishes WOW in the World to explore science and technology, and I am always delighted by the interview-style Show about Science, hosted by a second grader but well-produced by his dad. For a more authentic feel of what students are capable of, check out The Fifth Grade Futurists, which is highly entertaining, but also attainable for real classes with limited equipment. Narrative podcasts are also great for a younger audience. I like The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel which is narrated by middle school students. If you want something subject- and grade-specific, Listenwise is a freemium service, but their curation tool is free and robust.

The last step is just to find some time to listen. I fell in love with podcasts while training for a marathon. They filled the time up so much better than music. I also listen on my morning commute and when I’m doing chores around the house. I try to save my favorite narrative podcast to listen to while I’m ironing—it helps pass the time with a chore I particularly detest.

For the busy teacher, it’s the lowest-investment, highest-return way I can think of to sneak some professional learning time or just make your commute a more enjoyable experience.

Written by Elizabeth Engelbret, Instructional Technology Coach at Fred Lynn Middle School in Prince William County. She is co-host, with Brian Simpson, of the PWCS EdTech podcast, a bi-monthly program available in Apple Podcasts and other podcast aggregators.

Learning for K-12 Leaders: Cybersecurity and Student Data Privacy

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student privacy logo

Are your students safe online? Are you a division leader with responsibilities related to privacy and security? Don't miss this opportunity to connect with state leaders around these timely and important topics.

Brian Gibbs-Wilson, Chief Data Security Officer from Virginia Department of Education, and Tim Tillman, Director of Technology and Learning (CIO/CISO), Colonial Heights Public Schools, will lead this webinar about cybersecurity and student data privacy being held Monday, March 25, 2019, at 4 PM. Panel participants will include Jim Siegl, Fairfax County; Rachel Johnson, Loudoun County; and Louis McDonald, Fauquier County.

Attendees will learn more about Virginia's Student Privacy Alliance, a collaboration of Virginia school divisions that share common concerns around student privacy, and how they can get involved. This webinar is free and open to the public. Join us live on March 25, 2019, at 4 PM.

Joining the Meeting:

Topic: Learning for K-12 Leaders: Cybersecurity and Student Data Privacy
Time: Mar 25, 2019 4:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/148262112

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Meeting ID: 148 262 112
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/adpKdnPVRm

Free #GoOpen Regional Summit, June 14, 2019

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Does it seem like everyone is talking about OER? Want to learn more about how OER can provide high quality, free resources for your school? Join VDOE and its partners in beautiful southwest Virginia to learn, share and grow. 

David A. Wiley, Chief Academic Officer of Lumen Learning, Education Fellow at Creative Commons, and Adjunct Faculty of Instructional Psychology & Technology at Brigham Young University, will provide the keynote for the #GoOpen SWVA Summit being sponsored by The Virginia Department of Education, VSTE, UVA Wise, and Old Dominion University. This event will be held June 14, 2019, in Abingdon, Virginia, to bring together technology and curriculum leaders to discuss current successes and challenges in implementing the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) as curriculum.

The full schedule is available now.

Registration is open here!

#GoOpen Regional summits are intended for new districts who have recently committed to become a #GoOpen Launch district or are curious about making a scalable transition to openly licensed educational resources.

With all of the sessions that will be offered, school divisions are encouraged to send a team of up to 8-10 individuals so you don't miss anything! Teams should consist of division leaders, school based administrators, technology coaches, instructional coaches and teacher leaders.

Please share the flyer with your colleagues!

SWVA Conference Flyer

This event is free with morning beverages, lunch and an afternoon snack provided.

Thanks for the support from MyVRSpot we will be recording and archiving this event.

Lodging:

We have not reserved a specific hotel block, but there are a variety of low-cost lodging options in the Abingdon, Virginia, area. NOTE: Most hotels will provide the state rate for state employees as long as official ID is provided.

Hotels:

Hampton Inn, Abingdon
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Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Abingdon
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Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Abingdon
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Quality Inn & Suites
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Comfort Suites
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Hilton Garden Inn, Bristol
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