Vermont Fest 2024

School librarians are at the forefront of important conversations about the complicated relationship between generative Artificial Intelligence (genAI) and intellectual property. As we see genAI tools showing up in more classrooms, libraries and computer labs, school librarians have the opportunity to be a critical partner in helping students and educators understand the opportunities and implications of our use of these emerging tools.

In this session, we will explore real-world scenarios that dig into the complexity of content creation, ownership and intellectual property rights in a world where genAI is helping people to create art, compose music and write essays. We will discuss specific cases and their potential impact on educational spaces. Through practical strategies and conversation starters, we will work together to prepare ourselves, our colleagues and our students to consider the ethics and the boundaries of what it means to be a writer, a painter, a creator who shares their work with the world.

Link to published slidedeck with some additional resources that you all may find useful.

Experience a lightning fast session that will highlight twenty-five timely trends, innovative technologies, and useful tools.  Completely updated from last year’s Vermontfest session, it will cover technologies for all grade levels and subject areas.  General and specific use artificial intelligence tools will be described. Strategies for addressing the challenges and benefits of teaching with them will be included, along with multiple ways of using AI to save time planning lessons and creating teaching materials. You will see free tools you can master quickly, an update on virtual and augmented reality apps, the largest collections of free authentic artifacts, outstanding video and audio archives, new ways of reaching special needs students, and inexpensive little drones and robots.  Hear about technologies and innovative ideas that do not yet exist at the time this session was proposed.  The term “Electronic Constructivism” was coined by this presenter who will link these technologies to what it is all about: Good Teaching.  No experience necessary - just your curiosity and your enthusiasm about teaching.  The agenda is packed, but you’ll receive links to all resources to explore later.  The session will end with a raffle for techy door prizes.

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.

While policy and guidelines are only one part of a district's response to the advent of genAI, they are a critical foundation for your district’s approach. A well-crafted policy and resources to guide classroom practice help teachers and students navigate the shifting landscape of technology that surrounds us. In this hands-on session, we will explore the free AI Policy Starter Kit as a starting point for districts and schools to craft thoughtful and proactive generative AI guidance and policy aligned with their district needs and priorities. We will explore resources in the kit that spark conversations about the range of factors and conditions that go into creating genAI policy, and concrete steps that lead to draft policy and guidance language. Using case studies to guide our thinking, we will create a thoughtful and custom approach to district policy and resources that help our teachers and students feel confident in their ability to navigate complexity with a critical lens.

Link to my slidedeck for this session is here.

Reframe your thinking of AI as a thought partner and you open a whole new world of possibilities! Join me and explore a few different tools that teachers AND students (yes, students UNDER 13) can use. Tools like Schoolai, MagicSchool, and MirrorTalk. Use SchoolAI to help you brainstorm ideas, work through writer's block, or help a student narrow down a research topic. With MirrorTalk, students can reflect on their work and get spot on feedback to help them think about next steps. All tools have Student Privacy Agreements in Vermont and are ready to use!

Presentation Link 

Josh, Chris, and Mark have real conversations, real arguments, and real banter on IT issues and trends in K12 Schools. In this session, the guys will discuss AI and other hot items in K12 and how tech depts should prepare.

This workshop aims to equip educators and school staff with a better understanding of copyright law and fair use principles as they apply to educational settings. Participants will explore key concepts of copyright, the importance of respecting intellectual property, and practical applications of fair use in the classroom/library. Through interactive discussions and real-world scenarios, attendees will gain insights into how to navigate copyright issues when using multimedia resources, creating educational materials, and incorporating student work. By the end of the workshop, participants will feel more confident in making informed decisions about copyright and fair use, fostering a respectful and legally sound learning environment.

In this session, we will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the educational landscape. Educators will gain access to a practical toolkit filled with AI-driven tools and resources that can enhance and streamline instruction to foster student engagement. As we navigate these new technologies, we'll also discuss the magnitude of change required—rethinking traditional teaching practices, integrating AI into everyday learning, and ensuring equity and access for all students. This session is designed to empower teachers to confidently adopt AI, transforming their classrooms for the future. 

As school leaders continue to navigate the Professional Development (PD) landscape, join WeVideo for an interactive session that examines innovative ideas on balancing asynchronous, synchronous, and personalized PD with faculty, staff, and administrators. We will uncover how Interactive Learning tools can help create a culture of proactive and immediate learning without compromising individual faculty and staff experience and training needs.

A real challenge, and opportunity, for educators, is to learn how to use AI thoughtfully, safely, and productively.  Hear about concerns and cautionary tales, as well as ways to address the challenges. The primary focus, however, will be on the positive ways you can use AI.  Using AI to summarize the vast AI offerings, this human will add current research, teaching strategies, and a comprehensive overview. See AI apps that will save you time, and quickly create teaching materials that supplement your current curriculum.  Other apps will demonstrate how AI can be used for brainstorming, creating first drafts and editing.  There will be an overview of amazing apps that assist children and adults with special needs.  A collection of anecdotes, research findings, and interviews will provide examples of successful uses of AI for professional productivity, instruction, and activities that will stir your imagination.  Come be amazed, inspired and informed.  Bring your spirit of adventure and sense of humor. At the end there will be a light-hearted summary and raffle prizes.

Do you want to give your students an authentic opportunity to develop their information literacy knowledge and skills? Empower them by making them the teachers at a school-based Media Mentorship event. In this session, you’ll see examples of past events where students have engaged audiences like their families and local senior citizens around how to recognize confirmation bias, consider the impact of social media algorithms, and investigate questionable claims and sources. Leave with the lessons used to prepare students for these teaching moments and event materials you can adapt to fit your community’s needs.

Movies are used inside and outside the classroom across the country every day. We will discuss some of the common copyright questions such as, 

• Copyright/Fair Use related to movies in K-12 schools
• Obtaining safe, legal access to the K12 Movie Streaming Library

We'll also discuss how to help bring value for all participants wanting to use movies for instruction purposes or for opportunities for reward days, holiday parties, celebrations, and more other examples.

In today's digital landscape, both digital citizenship and cybersecurity are crucial for protecting our students. Understanding online safety and responsible behavior helps students navigate the digital world, safeguard their personal information, recognize the consequences of their online actions, and effectively report cyberbullying. Join this session to explore free, ready-to-use lessons designed to equip students with the skills they need for both secure and ethical online decision-making.

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.

What if we told you there was a way to empower students to become leaders in their school community while also saving you time and work? Creating and leading a group of student tech experts is the answer!

At Cambridge Elementary School, we've been building our team of fifth and sixth grade "Technology Ambassadors" for over eight years. Students meet weekly to practice various technology skills, and then apply what they've learned by helping in our school community. The Technology Ambassadors assist around the school with tech issues, become our school photographers, produce a school newscast, assist younger students with using new tools, and more!

In this session we'll share successes, failures, and tips to help you build a group like this at your school! Although our experience is with fifth and sixth graders, the ideas could be easily applied to middle and high school as well.

This interactive workshop aims to equip participants with essential principles of design for effective visual communication using Canva for Schools (a free for schools). Attendees will learn to create visually appealing materials that demonstrate and model effective communication skills. While Canva also offers tools to create slide decks, videos, websites and more, we'll focus on using the Canva toolbox to design effective posters/flyers/infographics to print or share digitally. Presenter will also share experience acquiring and managing a wide-format printer in the school library setting.