Vermont Fest 2024

Charlotte Cheng will share how she brings authentic representation to children's books, video games, and EdTech learning experiences. We'll then explore ways you can foster authentic representation in your students' day to day environment through strategies that include identity maps, design thinking, focus groups, and so much more!

Join us for a hands on demo of how librarians and elementary classroom teachers can integrate AASL standards, computer science standards and computational thinking in their elementary classroom or library. Bring your laptop and come play with Scratch, or interact with some of our favorite robots This session will also include a time for you to network and share your favorite ideas with other elementary teachers and librarians.
Bring and idea to share!
https://csteachers.org/k12standards/interactive/
AASL Standards now crosswalked to Code with Google’s CS First Curriculum | ALA
This session is part of the Computer Science Strand brought to you by Vermont CSTA and VSLA presented by

​Find our Slides and sign up CSTA Vermont ​​​

​​​Join us to experience the computer science behind what appears to be the Magic of AI. In this his hands on session, we will look behind the curtain using the Machine Learning for Kids project that allows students and educators to create, train and test a machine learning model. We will also make a game or app with machine learning models using Scratch meeting several CSTA computer science standards.
https://csteachers.org/k12standards/interactive/
This session is part of the Computer Science Strand offered by Vermont CSTA presented by Lucie deLaBruere

​Find Slides and Join Vermont CSTA​​​

Students and educators can create immersive 3D VR and AR experiences using CoSpaces. I will show you how younger students with little coding experience and older students with text-based coding experience can all create dynamic 3D environments that show off their learning while developing transferrable STEAM skills. Teachers can create classes and create/access assignments within the platform (which is browser-based on computers and an app on iPads). CoSpaces projects can incorporate 360 degree images and can be viewed in CoSpaces, online, or even through VR headsets for a truly immersive experience. Come see how students can create projects that allows them to connect to their community by creating an interactive virtual tour or creating a virtual world to tell a story, all while using cutting edge technology that is easily accessible. Participants will get and share lesson and project ideas and be able to jump into the CoSpaces environment to start building their own 3D experiences during this workshop. 1 month trial codes will also be available to further try it out on your own and with your students.

​Google Slides Presentation for CoSpaces Session​​​

Don't forget your laptop! Join us for a hands on experience with CoSpaces - a web-based interactive 3D environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and computational literacy. Learn how, through project-based play, your elementary and middle school students can meet ISTE and CSTA computer science standards while creating and sharing projects from any subject matter!

Information on the ISTE and CSTA standards can be found below.
https://iste.org/standards
https://csteachers.org/k12standards/interactive/

This session is part of the computer science strand from Vermont-CSTA
Presented by CSTA Kristen Wilson & Ben McVety

This presentation features hands-on projects that compliment good digital citizenship practices.

My projects were inspired by the 6 core topics addressed in the educator’s section of Common Sense Media. During my presentation, I will show projects related to: Balance, Privacy, Digital Footprint, and Kindness. I use the Common Sense Media lessons, and then extend the main ideas into a makerspace project.

These projects are for students in grades K-6. Some projects can be adapted for different grade levels.

You will come away from the presentation with many ideas that you can use right away in your classroom. I will include a few paper templates to take with you. They can be copied and used for a lesson right away.

Don't forget your laptop! Join us for a hands on experience with CoSpaces - a web-based interactive 3D environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and computational literacy. Learn how, through project-based play, your elementary and middle school students can meet ISTE and CSTA computer science standards while creating and sharing projects from any subject matter!

Information on the ISTE and CSTA standards can be found below.
https://iste.org/standards
https://csteachers.org/k12standards/interactive/

This session is part of the computer science strand from Vermont-CSTA
Presented by CSTA Kristen Wilson & Ben McVety

In this hands-on session you will learn how to use Adafruit's Circuit Playground which is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. This is an easy to use and fairly inexpensive device to let your students' creativity expand!
You will learn how to use easy block based programming of the devices to get them to light up LED strips and make a light show, play sounds, run servos as well as send a signal between them or use the light or temperature or accelerometer sensors to create some very interesting projects.

Unfamiliar with the new 24-25 Red Clover list? Looking for ways to spice up your teaching with the Red Clover list in your school? Come to this session to share ideas and hear ideas about innovative ways to use this year's Red Clover list in your setting. From high tech to no tech to everything in between, this session will give you practical ideas to apply to your teaching.

This workshop showcases how AI can be a valuable tool in jumpstarting the creative process in classrooms. Attendees will learn how to leverage AI to generate thematic and seasonally-appropriate writing prompts, create content for drama and public speaking classes, and even draft entire scripts for media arts projects. Additionally, AI can help with generating templates, forms, and lists, allowing teachers and students to concentrate on the more creative and nuanced aspects of their projects.

Join us for an exclusive look at the latest version of Seesaw, featuring Instruction + Insights, designed to empower elementary teachers by enhancing classroom learning and simplifying workflows. Seesaw’s easy-to-use platform supports teachers with pre-built, engaging lessons that fit seamlessly into everyday teaching. This session will also introduce Seesaw’s powerful new Early Literacy and English Language Development (ELD) curriculum, tailored to support diverse learners and strengthen foundational skills. Discover how these tools can transform teaching, elevate student engagement, and provide meaningful insights to drive academic success.

Come see how to customize ChatGPT Plus using plain English (no programming) to make your own chatbots.

***If you want to make a chatbot in this session, you'll need to have or upgrade to the $20 Month ChatGPT Plus here.***

Teaching AI to make chatbots is a great way to learn about AI and you could end up with something you could use in class. For example, you could make a chatbot that is focused on Vermont history and speaks in the tone and manner of a historical character.

I'll demo an educational chatbot I made called DumbBot! (try it here) and show you how to edit GPT Plus chatbots that can be private or public to users with a free GPT account.

Creating a chatbot is a great way to learn about AI because you can ask GPT for all kinds of help and pointers along the way. You also get to see first hand how your bot hallucinates as you try to control it.