VSTE

Virginia Society for Technology in Education

VSTE News

2017 VSTE Award Winners

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Each year, VSTE recognizes exemplary educators through several different awards.  We are proud to announce this year’s recipients who will be recognized at the Annual Educational Technology Conference.

The Outstanding Teacher and Leaders awards are given by the Virginia Society for Technology in Education to educational leaders who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership in implementing technology to improve education.

The VSTE Outstanding Leader for 2017 is Tim Taylor, Instructional Technology Supervisor of Shenandoah County Public Schools. Rebecca Coffman, an ITRT from Shenandoah County who submitted the nomination, describes Tim as a teacher, coach, and mentor. Tim’s approachability, positive attitude and support strengthens teachers’ and students’ confidence in their abilities and empowers them to experiment, implement and succeed even if that includes success by learning from failure. Tim empowers teachers by giving them opportunities to contribute their ideas and put them into practice, while also offering guidance when needed.. His ability to form relationships and communicate with all members of the educational community gives him a unique perspective of what is essential for continual growth.

A few of Tim’s initiatives include:

  • Advocacy of new technology initiatives such as robotics, STEM, 1:1
  • District GAFE accounts for K-12
  • District trips with teachers to Google Sulmmit, VSTE, ISTE, BrainStorm
  • Micro-credentialing
  • Creating and teaching technology courses with our local colleges
  • Tech Tips with Tim monthly instructional videos

The VSTE Outstanding Teacher for 2017 is Nichole Thomas, an Instructional Facilitator for Technology at Liberty Elementary School in Loudoun County. Nichole’s knowledge, collaborative nature and innovative ideas have transformed Liberty into a leader in technology application. More importantly, Nichole has empowered students to become the designers and creators of significant content and develop competencies for their digital world. For this work and due to Nichole, Liberty Elementary was recognize as a STEM Excellence Award finalist this year at FETC (Future Education Technology Conference).

Nichole works tirelessly to align grade-level lessons and project-based learning (PBL) units to the Virginia SOLs and equip students with digital competencies that they will use today and in their future. Under Nichole’s leadership, our teachers routinely integrate technology, such as 3D printing, virtual field trips, coding, augmented reality and more in instruction and cross-curricula PBL and STEM lessons. More importantly, Nichole’s energy and enthusiasm is contagious in our school. Students and teachers love to see Mrs. Thomas in their classrooms or co-teaching a lesson in the Smart Lab. Nichole creates and co-teaches in this innovative learning environment, the Smart Lab, with each instructional staff member. Nichole is an incredibly innovative teacher and leader at our school.

The Innovative Educator of the Year for 2017 is Josh Ajima, an Instructional Facilitator for Technology at Dominion High School in Loudoun County. This award is given by VSTE to highlight and recognize innovative educational practices—especially those that champion the smart integration of technology. Josh has brought technology rich hands-on learning to his school through making and technology enriched classrooms. The major focus of his work is to scale up the integration of Maker Education in every classroom and content area. In the 2016-2017 school year, he led a major push to bring over $100,000 in technology to his school. He led the team that won the US Department of Education’s CTE Makeover Challenge which transformed a traditional CTE classroom into a school makerspace. (http://www.ctemakeoverchallenge.com/dominion-high-school/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHluQediaIQ) To increase the reach of maker tools into the classroom, he designed mobile makerspace carts that allow multiple-classes to use real-world tools to solve authentic challenging problems. To increase classroom access to technology for digital design, media creation and digital publishing in his school, he helped plan and fundraise for an influx of over 200 new devices to create technology rich classrooms. These devices have empowered teachers in multiple content areas to help fulfill the school mission of empowering vulnerable students.

Free Webinar: Developing Your PLN In A Virtual World

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Blue logo for webinarTechnology is evolving as such as fast rate in the 21st Century, that is it difficult attain the skills fast enough to serve our students. VE (Virtual Environments) offer the opportunity to network, collaborate, and learn in ways we never expected as we were in school. On VEs you can work with other educators, technicians, scientists, and students from all over the planet!

Interested in learning more? Join members of VSTE's Virtual Environments Professional Learning Network for a live webinar focused on getting started in virtual worlds. We will gather in VSTE's Adobe Connect room on Monday, October 30, 2017, at 8 PM. Use this link to access the webinar: http://vste.adobeconnect.com/vstelive. Choose guest login and type your name the way you want it to appear in the chat room.

After this kick off event in Adobe Connect the VE PLN is planning a week-long novice training sequence, something new every night, but basic for the true novice.

#vstereads: Are You Ready to Be Transformed?

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Thoughts on Change from Lynmara Colon, Principal/Lead Learner, Mary Williams Elementary

Change can be hard.  Change can be painful.  Change can be scary.  But let’s be honest, change is necessary.  Can you imagine if our schools had remained the same as they were years ago? Picture our students sitting in rows working in isolation, answering low level questions without the opportunity for collaboration.  Sounds scary, right? While some schools have moved away from these practices, some continue to implement old practices that do not meet our students’ needs.

As leaders, we are constantly encouraging educators to meet students where they are, asking them to do whatever it takes to show growth and mastery.  We measure student growth by a multiple-choice test, forgetting that this is not the only area that needs our attention.  I truly believe that if students are engaged and taught in an environment crafted to meet their needs, they will be successful. Most jobs will require our students to do much more than taking a state assessment.  If we want to prepare them for the workforce, our schools must be intentional about creating spaces that foster innovation and creativity.

Eric Sheninger and Thomas Murray have done an outstanding job addressing 8 key factors that will allow schools to be transformed.  From creating a culture of Innovation to Collaboration and Engagement with the Community, their book “Learning Transformed” provides a roadmap for schools wanting to be Future Ready.

As leaders we must model risk taking and intentionality about removing the roadblocks getting in the way of our students’ access to schools that will prepare them for the future.  We must step out of our comfort zone and craft professional learning experiences that will align with the needs of our staff. Sharing our passion without action is not enough.  We be must intentional about transforming student learning.  Are you ready to be transformed? If so, join us in learning more about Eric Sheninger and Thomas Murray work as we discuss their new book.  Get ready to be transformed.  Our students are worth it.

All the Details:

Throughout the month of October, The VSTE CoSN Council will be sponsoring a book study of Learning Transformed: 8 Key to Designing Tomorrow’s Schools Today by Eric Sheninger and Tom Murray.  The book study will be led by Diane Harazin and Lynmara Colon, both from Prince William County.

Participants in the Fall 2017 book study are able to earn 10 recertification points by participating in the synchronous and asynchronous events including:

  1. At least one of two live webinars (October 5, 7:30 PM & October 25, 7:30 PM)
  2. #novaedchat (October 4, 8:00 - 9:00 PM)
  3. Post to at least three of four flipgrid topics related to the book study. (Topics will be posted each week throughout the month of October, usually on Wednesdays.)

We will post the reading schedule soon. Meanwhile, if you are interested, please complete the registration form.

Invite Others:

This book study is free and open to all! Feel free to share this blog post with your school team and PLN! Learning Transformed is full a well-researched, practical guide making a difference in the lives of our students. Join us and learn how you can be part of the solution.

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Big Deal Book, October 2, 2017

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The Internet is full of great education resources: the challenge is finding them! VSTE has an answer for you: The Big Deal Book! We partner with Big Deal Media to bring you the best of the best from grants to competitions to apps. In this edition you can find ways to Structure Tinkering Time, Get Advice from Watson, Connect Safely & More.

Here are some of our favorites...be sure to browse the complete newsletter for many more:

Lesson Planning with IBM Watson

IBM’s famous Watson computing system is helping to power a searchable database of mathematics open educational resources (OERs) designed for K–5 teachers.

Student-Led, Culturally Responsive Professional Development

An organization called Diversity Talks wants to provide K–12 school districts and higher education institutions student-led professional development on approaching culturally sensitive topics.

Program Developing Digital Citizenship Skills

Google and ISTE have teamed up to create a new way to teach digital citizenship. Be Internet Awesome, a program developed in concert with the Family Online Safety Institute, the Internet Keep Safe Coalition, and Connect Safely, educates youth about digital citizenship in interactive ways, including an online game.

Big Deal Book, October 2, 2017

Not all the resources are time sensitive, so be sure to check out the archives.

G2 Super Hero Study Group and Summit Update

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The G2 Super Hero Summit includes online support for about a month prior to the face to face workshop.  It will include tips, support and live hangouts. The face to face meeting will be held March 3, 2018, at three locations in the state.

VSTE is pleased to partner with Virginia's Google Educator Groups to present the premier G2 Super Hero Summits! These certification workshops are designed for those who have earned Google Level 1 Educator certifications and wish to expand their learning by taking the Level 2 exam.

Through the combination of online mentoring and face to face coaching, certified trainers will support your learning through an online study group, video tutorials, live tutoring as needed and a face to face bootcamp style review the morning before you take the exam.

The face to face summits will be held at three locations throughout the state on March 3rd:

Frederick County: Lord Fairfax Community College, Middletown Campus, Middletown, VA
Loudoun County: Mercer Middle School, Aldie, VA
Spotsylvania County: Riverbend High School, Fredericksburg, VA

Registration is $50 and includes the online mentoring and face to face summit. Breakfast and lunch will be provided at the summits. You may attend the summit without taking the exam in the afternoon.

Registration is open now.