VSTE

Virginia Society for Technology in Education

diversity

May Webinars

During May, the VSTE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee hosted two webinars.

In the first, Christopher Bugaj, Karen Janowski, Mike Marotta, and Beth Poss, authors of the book "Inclusive Learning 365: Edtech Strategies for Every Day of the Year", discuss the wide range of strategies teachers can use to help empower ALL students to take charge of their own learning.

In the second webinar, titled "Teaching Social Justice that Inspires Future Leaders", Charlotte Morris discusses how to use storytelling to help students express their ideas and understanding of social justice. You can view Charlotte's previous webinar here: https://youtu.be/t-wge3cJGJg

Hosted by Nicci Dowd, co-chair of the VSTE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and member of the VSTE Board of Directors.

Webinar: Inclusive Learning 365: Edtech Strategies for Every Day of the Year

The VSTE Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee is pleased to host the authors of the new book Inclusive Learning 365: Edtech Strategies for Every Day of the Year for its free webinar series. The group will be joined by Amy Jackson on May 13 at 9 AM.

Christopher Bugaj, Karen Janowski, Mike Marotta, and Beth Poss have created a wide ranging guide to inclusion with lots of strategies. They remind us that learning need not be a chore for anyone, including those with IEPs or 504s.

The session will begin with an examination of what authentic inclusion really is, what it looks like, and how it fosters improved outcomes for everyone involved.

From there, explore a range of strategies which engage and empower ALL students to take charge of their own learning. Incorporated into the strategy discussion will be examples of contemporary tools that can be used to support the design of the instructional methodologies. From apps to browser extensions to web tools, participants will not only learn new supports to promote active learning for every student but have an opportunity to share what’s working in their own practices.

Areas to be discussed include reading, writing, STEAM, Executive Functioning, Research and Study Skills, Social Emotional Learning, Professional Learning, and Cross-Curricular Supports.

Come for the strategies, leave with mindset change!

Registration is required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAofuuprjouE93OE41HwwlFhB5iYDaUPomI

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Webinar: Dr. Penni Sweetenburg-Lee

In the April 2021 edition of the VSTE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Webinar, Dr. Penni Sweetenburg-Lee, Director of Training & Alumni Development Programs for the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, discusses the organization's work and the services they provide to the people of Virginia.

The webinar is hosted by Dr. Nicci Dowd.

VSTE’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee: How a vision became a reality

In 2019, Karen Richardson, VSTE’s Executive Director, asked the Board to investigate ways that the organization help our members educate and advocate for diversity in education.  Through her leadership, Dr. Richardson pulled together a team of individuals who shared that same passion and formed the Inclusion Taskforce, which eventually became VSTE’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Through the work of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, VSTE is building a collection of resources here on our website, as well as developing a mentoring program, which is now in its 3rd year.

This program connects educators with Instructional Technology leaders from various parts of the Commonwealth to help them develop their own leadership skills.

We are also building a library of targeted professional development activities which currently includes a series of monthly webinars and professional development coaching activities from UnisonEdu

So, how does a vision become a reality?  It takes leadership and dedicated individuals committed to being agents of change rather than defenders of the status quo!

Written by Nicci Dowd. Nicci is a special education teacher for Prince William County Schools. She is also a member of the VSTE Board of Directors and Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.

Webinar: Share Your Story, Get that Job

In the second of two March 2021 editions of the VSTE Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Webinar, Katie Fielding asks some relevant questions: has the past year made you think about changing schools, changing roles, or moving into educational leadership? Do you remember making a portfolio in your education program that involved a lot of page protectors and slipping in pieces of evidence? Or maybe you haven’t given your digital portfolio an update in a while.

Watch as Katie offers guidance on creating a portfolio strong both visually and content wise that will allow you to “Share Your Story, Get that Job”.

The webinar is hosted by Charles Randolph.