VSTE

Virginia Society for Technology in Education

Big Deal Book

Big Deal Book, November 15, 2023

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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. See the whole newsletter & subscribe on this website.

This newsletter will help you with Global Holiday Music, Hour of Code, Digital Children’s Books & More...

 

Holiday Music from Around the Globes

The holiday season is upon us, and festive songs are filling the airwaves everywhere we go. Most of those songs are popular hits such as “Jingle Bells,” “Frosty the Snowman,” and “White Christmas.” But many holiday songs we hear don’t reflect the wide variety of wintery tunes streaming in other parts of the world. The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix, Arizona, reminds us of the diverse cultures and traditions that exist in other countries.

 

SPOTLIGHT! On AI Tools to Enhance Classroom Experiences

The landscape is rapidly evolving for artificial intelligence (AI) experiences in the K–12 setting. While AI is advancing, it is still growing and finding ways to be implemented safely and accurately. Here are a few examples to help educators untangle the complex web of free and freemium AI tools.

 

Hour of Code—With or Without AI

Your class or group can join millions around the world participating in the Hour of Code, a free introduction to computer science through engaging activities and videos for learners of all skill levels. The Hour of Code is organized by Code.org and driven by a coalition of partners, including Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the College Board.

 

Digital Library of Children’s Books for Online and Offline Reading

Let’s Read promotes reading skills and presents books by local authors and illustrators that are available in many underrepresented languages, as well as English. Teachers, parents, and children can enjoy reading the engaging and colorful storybooks in the free Let’s Read digital library.

 

 

The Archives

Big Deal Book, November 15, 2023

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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 with Native Voices, Civic Engagement, eSports Coaching & More...

 

SPOTLIGHT! On Indigenous and Native Voices

November is Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month. Students can celebrate the heritage and cultures of these peoples by listening to and learning from Indigenous and Native voices from across the continent. They can learn about the diverse experiences of Native Americans and Alaska Natives with this collection of documentaries from PBS.

 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools for Editing Visual Media and Generating Text

Canva, known for its cloud-based graphic design tools, has introduced Classroom Magic, a version of its AI-powered Magic Studio for teachers and students in the education technology sector. With features such as “Magic Write” and “Magic Animate,” Classroom Magic enhances classroom experiences by using AI to help students and educators save time and boost creativity.

 

All-in-One eSports Coaching Software

eGame Studio, a live-streaming and esports software company, has launched Game Lens, a browser-based tool that helps esports coaches guide players from remote locations.

 

Practical Examples for Enhancing Cybersecurity in Under-Resourced Districts

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) has launched a cybersecurity resource focused on small, rural, and under-resourced school districts. Developed by SETDA’s Cybersecurity & Privacy Collaborative, the publication is designed to identify essential resources, assess state-level K–12 cybersecurity advocacy initiatives, and craft policy recommendations to enhance cybersecurity readiness within these districts.

 

 

The Archives

Big Deal Book, November 1, 2023

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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 with Experiential SEL, Historical Thinking, STEM Expeditions & More...

 

SEL Tool with Real-World Activities

Krikori is an app and online-based platform with resources for teaching social–emotional learning (SEL) to school-aged children. The SEL setup is helpfully standards-aligned, making it a useful tool in education scenarios. With more than 2,056 experiential SEL activities available, teachers will find options for most ages, developmental stages, and goals.

 

Curriculum Building Historical Thinking Skills

The nonprofit Thinking Nation provides schools with innovative data-driven curriculum, assessments, and professional development to empower students to become thinking citizens. Thinking Nation’s free curriculum resources include simple worksheets that teach students a particular historical thinking skill and have a short practice section for students to apply their new knowledge.

 

Virtual Outdoor STEM Learning Adventures

Expeditions in Education was founded by a former longtime STEM educator and her husband, who now travel around the country visiting the US National Parks, filming their outdoor experiences, talking to rangers, and creating free STEM learning content that includes a look at each park, its history, its place in the world, and a STEM challenge.

 

Video-based Platform Connecting Classrooms Across the Globe

Empatico creates a space in which groups can meet from across the planet to share experiences, ideas, and learning. The digital platform runs through teachers, who can communicate by sending messages, videos, and images.

 

 

The Archives

Big Deal Book, October 16th, 2023

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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 with Closing the Gender Gap, Designing Video Games, Finding Grants & More...

 

Tool for Designing Video Games

GameMaker is a free tool that allows educators and their students to create video games and share them across platforms. Educators can use the tool to address the standards of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) and encourage student engagement and creativity.

 

Events and Activities for Media Literacy Week (October 23–27, 2023)

Inspired by Canada’s Media Literacy Week, the annual US Media Literacy Week is hosted by the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE). The mission is to highlight the power of media literacy education and its essential role in education all across the country.

 

Girls Club Aiming to Close the Gender and Diversity Gap in Technology

Brown Girls Code (BGC) founder and CEO Ebony Brown says her love of STEM and the experience of being the only female or Black female in local tech meet-ups inspired her to create a nonprofit to support girls and their interests in STEM. The BGC program hosts educational events in 26 states on STEM topics, including AI, robotics, and emerging sciences, as well as skills such as leadership and entrepreneurship.

 

Lessons That Situate Math in Relevant Contexts

At a Title I school on the South Side of San Antonio, an AP Stats teacher abandoned his curriculum and made lessons on topics his students actually cared about: Is college worth the cost? Are electric cars actually greener? Can you make a living as an influencer? Who’s the best basketball player of all time?

 

 

The Archives

Big Deal Book, June 15th, 2023

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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 with Defining Equity, Building Chatbots, Developing AI Literacy & More...

 

Civics Inquiry Lessons Integrating Storytelling, Digital Media, and Literacy

Civic Life Project partners with educators to teach civics through a unique digital storytelling curriculum. In collaboration, Civic Life Project and National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) have launched Compelling Interviews for Civic Engagement, a civics inquiry unit to help students develop informed, diverse perspectives on social issues they care about.

 

FAA Airport Design Challenge

The Airport Design Challenge is an interactive learning collaboration opportunity for K–12 students. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Aviation & Space Education (STEM AVSED) Program organizes and sponsors this challenge.

 

AI-Powered Tools to Streamline Teachers’ Work

Harnessing the power of AI can assist in simplifying and speeding up certain administrative tasks, allowing teachers to concentrate on delivering exceptional educational experiences. TeachMateAi is a collection of AI-powered tools designed to create custom teaching resources and streamline various aspects of a teacher’s work.

 

Coalition of Organizations Addressing the Policy, Pedagogy, Pitfalls of AI

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) programs such as ChatGPT has led a coalition of organizations to form the TeachAI initiative. The group intends to create guidelines around K–12 AI policies, pedagogy, and ethics, as well as a framework for computer science instruction, which steer clear of AI’s potential pitfalls and address students’ privacy and online safety.

 

 

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