Jeff serves as the Executive Director of Vita-Learn. Previously, he has held a number of roles including Senior Director, Common Sense Media and Education Technology Policy Director for the Maine Department of Education.
Wednesday November 6, 2024 1:00pm - 1:10pm EST
Northstar I
Join this interactive roundtable discussion to explore how school districts can align their K-12 technology plans with broader district Strategic Planning Goals and a Portrait of Graduate work. Participants will engage in conversations around critical topics, including the role of facilities, funding, tech infrastructure technology instruction, staffing considerations for adequate tech support, and the development of meaningful, ongoing professional development for teachers. This roundtable fosters collaborative sharing of challenges and best practices, encouraging participants to exchange ideas on ensuring technology initiatives enhance learning, align with district priorities, are future-proof, and provide equitable access for all students.
Director of Technology, Rutland City Public Schools
Patricia Aigner serves as the Director of Technology for the Rutland City Public Schools in Rutland, Vermont. She is licensed as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. In 2020, Patricia received the Frank Watson Lifetime Achievement Award from Vita-Learn. Recently, she was featured... Read More →
Wednesday November 6, 2024 1:00pm - 2:10pm EST
Northstar I
An information secession on the Technoloy and AI available today for protection of your facility and the people in it. This is not a product demonstration it an info secession with Live and recorded demonstration of how to leverage AI to improve your current security solution, how to design an effective solution, how to get the support you need. Major topics: weapon and threat detection, allow or deny authorized access, real-time alerts, reduce false alarms, improved situational awareness, forensic research via simple words, automatic emergency response, predictive security, and customer behavior analysis.
Please join our panel discussion that will be hosted by Alex Webster at SPC. Panel Members will be Peter Drescher (EWSD), Tina Scheindel (OSSD) and Nate Gingras (HUUSD). How do you deal with Personally Identifiable Information? How do you deal with confidential data on devices that leave the district? How do you manage your inventory of copiers and printers? How does print management software help make the district staff more efficient and save money?
These questions and more will be discussed by our panelists.
Director of Technology and Innovation, Essex Westford School District
Peter is currently serving as the Director of Technology and Innovation at Essex Westford School District. He is passionate about working with educators to support teaching and learning with technology and in his past role, as State Director of Education Technology in Vermont, was... Read More →
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.
A K12TechPro Podcast. This podcast is about trending K12 technology topics and issues. Josh, Chris, and Mark have real conversations, real arguments, and real banter on IT issues and trends in K12 Schools.
Wednesday November 6, 2024 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Northstar I
The Vermont Agency of Education would like to have a Ed-Fi Question and Answer session where we can discuss the current Ed-Fi deployment for state reporting. We also wish to review our data governance plans and other areas where we would like to use Ed-Fi to help the state collect and use data in meaningful ways.
VT AOE Education Data Administrator, Vermont Agency of Education
James Nadeau is the Education Data Administrator for the Vermont Agency of Education. He is in charge of collecting education data required for Vermont's public and federal reporting requirements. Prior to his role at AOE, he was a web developer and IT consultant.
Wednesday November 6, 2024 3:50pm - 4:50pm EST
Northstar I
Opening remarks and Opening Keynote with Richard Culatta, CEO, ISTE
Harnessing AI for Digital Good in Education Join Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD and author of Digital for Good, for his keynote address at this year's Vermont Fest. As we stand at the intersection of artificial intelligence and education, Culatta will explore how we can leverage AI to enhance learning experiences and what we need to do to prepare students to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world. Culatta will also discuss strategies for creating conditions for healthy tech use at home and school.
As the CEO of ASCD+ISTE, Richard Culatta is focused on creating the next generation of innovative learning leaders. Richard has also served as the Chief Innovation Officer of the state of Rhode Island and was appointed by President Barack Obama to lead the US Department of Education’s... Read More →
This round table will engage with Tech Directors, Network Administrators, and other district personnel on the technical “side of the house” about ensuring back-up strategies, building in best practice cybersecurity methods, and equipment, and considering how a consortia model might serve needs of many of the smaller districts struggling with these issues. This session is seeking a robust conversation on what needs there are in this realm and what a model might look like that could leverage the back-end, back-up, infrastructure to ensure some cyber safe and redundant systems. Come and bring your ideas and needs to this round table discussion.
Director of Technology and Innovation, Essex Westford School District
Peter is currently serving as the Director of Technology and Innovation at Essex Westford School District. He is passionate about working with educators to support teaching and learning with technology and in his past role, as State Director of Education Technology in Vermont, was... Read More →
MCG Managed Resources is a Managed Services Provider currently providing backup and disaster recovery services to the Essex Westford School District and the Addison Northwest School District. In addition, our company can provide remote help desk services, EDR/MDR solutions for security... Read More →
Thursday November 7, 2024 10:00am - 10:55am EST
Gateway II
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.
Online Learning Manager, Collaborative for Educational Services
Suzanne Judson-Whitehouse is the Online Learning Manager and ISTE Certification Trainer for the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), where she has worked for the past 15 years supporting educators to innovate and explore new ideas around technology, curriculum and design... Read More →
Thursday November 7, 2024 10:00am - 10:55am EST
Northstar I
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
FHTMS SOAR Students plan an interactive session geared for participants who are in various parts of their journey toward active antiracism work. S. O. A. R. students will briefly describe their work before launching into practical "hands-on" activities designed to allow participants to • reflect on their identities and the need for this work • improve on “Speak up” strategies guided by the work of Teaching Tolerance • explore both individual and collective aspects of antiracism work • create tools that can immediately be taken back to your school setting to unapologetically interrupt and disrupt racism within our school systems.
Our S.O.A.R. Program demonstrates innovative, disarming, and nonthreatening strategies and tactics to combat racism and racist acts in schools. Students are at the forefront of these exceptional and nontraditional efforts. Please feel free to discuss ways in which a program like... Read More →
Thursday November 7, 2024 11:30am - 12:25pm EST
Northstar I
Building an esports facility can seem like a daunting task. There are lots of questions and unknowns that new programs need to figure out in order to set their teams up for success. In this session, Gravity Gaming by ByteSpeed’s Brycen will run through the important steps in selecting a space in your school, what equipment you will need, and other considerations that go beyond just playing games; like what to look for in streaming accessories, how other schools have set up network and permissions for their machines, and how to fund purchases of the equipment they might need.
Join us for an in-depth look at the latest and greatest tools and features in Kami, the leading online document collaboration platform. In this presentation, we will showcase the newest additions to Kami's powerful suite of features, including real-time collaboration, advanced annotation tools, improved PDF editing capabilities Questions AI, and much more. Whether you're a seasoned Kami user or just getting started, you won't want to miss this opportunity to learn about the cutting-edge tools and features that can help take your productivity to the next level. Join us and discover how Kami is revolutionizing the way we work and collaborate online.
Kami is an online document annotation and markup tool. You can highlight, underline, and strikethrough text in PDF and other document formats. You can also add text boxes, shapes, and images. Kami works with Google Drive and Google Classroom. With Kami, you can easily collaborate... Read More →
Thursday November 7, 2024 11:30am - 12:25pm EST
Escapade II
Join Liz von Nagy for an engaging presentation on library advocacy. Discover how you can share the power of what's happening in your library with all stakeholders; students, teachers, administrators, parents, and school board members, and how your advocacy can affect your library. Participants will learn tips and tricks for creating infographics, how to pull information from Destiny Library Manager, and how to center student voice in your advocacy efforts.
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.
7-12 Technology Integrationist, Franklin West Supervisory Union
I have been a technology integrationist in the middle and high school for the last 6 years at BFA Fairfax where I run the 7-12 makerspace, teach courses in html, css, game design, and starting in the fall of 2024, a series of courses in cybersecurity. Prior to working as a technology... Read More →
Thursday November 7, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Escapade I
FHTMS SOAR Students plan an interactive session geared for participants who are in various parts of their journey toward active antiracism work. S. O. A. R. students will briefly describe their work before launching into practical "hands-on" activities designed to allow participants to • reflect on their identities and the need for this work • improve on “Speak up” strategies guided by the work of Teaching Tolerance • explore both individual and collective aspects of antiracism work • create tools that can immediately be taken back to your school setting to unapologetically interrupt and disrupt racism within our school systems.
Our S.O.A.R. Program demonstrates innovative, disarming, and nonthreatening strategies and tactics to combat racism and racist acts in schools. Students are at the forefront of these exceptional and nontraditional efforts. Please feel free to discuss ways in which a program like... Read More →
Thursday November 7, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Northstar I
This presentation will give you all the resources to create this program in your community. For our biography unit last year, instead of students researching a famous person online; we connected with our local seniors citizens. Though digital storytelling, Students used countless skills in this process including creating questions, conducting interviews, embedding technology skills, and developing research skills. Students expand their writing, executive functions, and interpersonal relationships.
Katrina Antonovich is a 5/6 ELA/SS teacher at Milton Middle School. For the last three years, Katrina has worked to implement Act 77 at MMS. An innovative educator for 15+ years, mom, wife, and out-of-the-box thinker with students. ISTE certified educator, with a passion for travel... Read More →
Thursday November 7, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Gateway II
Is your library prepared for a book challenge? Is your district reviewing library or school board policies? How do you handle student privacy and the freedom to read? Where are the boundaries of the First Amendment in a school library?
This session can help you prepare against censorship and implement vital intellectual freedom best practices within your library.
Meg is was trained through Law for Librarians, a program of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). It is designed to provide librarians with information about the legal fundamentals of the First Amendment, intellectual freedom, and privacy in order to help ensure legal, consistent library policies and practices.
This session will look at how AI is starting to impact your network from a management and security perspective. We will look at what tools are available today and what we should expect in the future and how you can prepare. Part of the session will be dedicated to a round table forum to hear from the group regarding what schools are doing today and how you would like to leverage AI to improve how you are able to protect and manage your network.
HPE Aruba Networks provides Edge to Core network switching, wireless, and network security solutions supporting both on-premise and cloud deployments. Aruba’s solutions are built on a security-first, AI-Powered network leveraging Aruba Central as your network management tool delivering... Read More →
Thursday November 7, 2024 1:45pm - 2:40pm EST
Roundabout
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.
Online Learning Manager, Collaborative for Educational Services
Suzanne Judson-Whitehouse is the Online Learning Manager and ISTE Certification Trainer for the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES), where she has worked for the past 15 years supporting educators to innovate and explore new ideas around technology, curriculum and design... Read More →
Thursday November 7, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Escapade II
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 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. Both tools have Student Privacy Agreements in Vermont and are ready to use!
Education Technology Integrationist, Missisquoi Valley School District
Jen is a wife and mother of two teens. She has been in education for over 20 years and has taught everything from PreK & Kindergarten through 6th Grade. Jen is now in her 3rd year as the Education Technology Integrationist at Swanton Elementary School. She has a BS in Early Childhood... Read More →
Thursday November 7, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Gateway II
Join us for a hands on experience with Co-Spaces - a web-based interactive 3D environment that fosters creativity, collaboration, and computational literacy. Learn how high school students can meet CSTA computer science standards across several content disciplines while creating and sharing 3D computational artifacts. https://csteachers.org/k12standards/interactive/ This session is part of a Computer Science strand brought to you by Vermont-CSTA This session CS for High School students using Co-spaces is presented by Vermont CSTA Chapter Leaders: ~Kristen Wilson & Ben McVety
Director of STEAM Programming, Black River Innovation Campus
Ben has a Masters of Science in Music Education from Indiana University, and has been working at the Black River Innovation Campus (BRIC) since February 2024. BRIC's goal is to teach and promote STEAM learning through use of technology, and to provide tools and professional development... Read More →
I run my own design business, creating website and branding. I teach information technology at River Valley Technical Center in Springfield, VT. I teach Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Dreamweaver, and intro to programming. CompTIA A+ and ITFundamentals certifications.
Thursday November 7, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Northstar II
Jill will lead a conversation on SWANK, the streaming service brought to you at a discount through the help of VITA-Learn. Previously provided through the VT Department of Libraries for free to libraries, SWANK is a streaming service that provides easy access to learning materials. Jill will share how to connect with Jeff Mao of VITA-Learn to obtain discount pricing and login credentials. She will share how they have leveraged the use of SWANK at U-32 and will open discussion to the room for sharing their usage and ideas.
Jill Abair is a Teacher Librarian at U-32 Middle & High School. She has been working in libraries for many years serving the students of Vermont. Jill is an avid reader, a technology lover and has passion for helping people.
Thursday November 7, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Escapade I
Apple’s foray into enterprise device management has been a series of incremental changes that has resulted in current best practices standing in conflict with traditional fleet deployment. Fortunately, Apple has also introduced new tools to deal with these legacy challenges so that now is the prime time to prepare for the future of Apple devices using your organization’s Apple School Manager instance.
In this session, we will set the stage by surveying the history of Apple device deployment in education environments, one which was characterized by user-created Apple IDs that were barely a step away from personal ownership. We will then focus on the two primary challenges this has produced, namely, devices being rendered unusable by Activation Lock when transferring users and the existence of user identities that appear to be organization-based but exist without oversight. We will then do a deep dive in understanding the cause of these issues and establish clear processes for avoiding and ameliorating these situations using tools made available by Apple, including the newly announced process for directly converting Personal Apple Accounts to Managed Apple Accounts.
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.
Phoenix Books will be hosting a book sale including titles from Keynote speaker, Charles Waters and titles from the Red Clover, Golden Dome, and Green Mountain Book Awards.
FIRST robotics is HUGE in the US and all around the world! Thousands of teams from grades K-12 show their work and build their STEM education and personal skills to prepare them for college, the trades, the military, and for life! The demand for this program is growing, with the number of teams doubling in Vermont this past year. Does your school have FIRST robotics? If not, why not? Come to our session and our hands-on workshop to find out more!
Scott McCalla is a Coach, Mentor, and Parent involved in FIRST Robotics programs since 2013. As the current FIRST Senior Mentor for Vermont, Scott's role is to help educate Vermont in the value of FIRST robotics to students in schools and communities. FIRST is a 501c3 not for profit... Read More →
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.
Educational Technology Integration Specialist/Enrichment Teacher, Lamoille North Supervisory Union
Faith Horton has been an educator for over 20 years in both Vermont and Colorado. After spending 15 years as a 3rd-5th grade classroom teacher, her interest with technology integration and passion to seek innovative practices led her to pursue an Ed Tech endorsement. She feels grateful... Read More →
Technology Coordinator, Cambridge Elementary School / Lamoille North SU
I've been in the role of Technology Coordinator at Cambridge Elementary School (Lamoille North Supervisory Union) for the past ten years, and have been interested in the world of computers for as long as I can remember. I work hard to make sure that students have access to the technology... Read More →
Friday November 8, 2024 10:00am - 10:55am EST
Escapade I
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.
Director of Technology, Rutland City Public Schools
Patricia Aigner serves as the Director of Technology for the Rutland City Public Schools in Rutland, Vermont. She is licensed as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. In 2020, Patricia received the Frank Watson Lifetime Achievement Award from Vita-Learn. Recently, she was featured... Read More →
Friday November 8, 2024 10:00am - 10:55am EST
Escapade II
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.
I'm Rich Ballard and I am a Technology integration specialist at Missisquoi Valley Union Middle/High School (MVU). Before that I taught middle school science for over 35 years at MVU and in Vero Beach Florida. As the Technology integration specialist, I helped to implement a 1:1 computer... Read More →
Friday November 8, 2024 10:00am - 10:55am EST
Northstar II
Teachers will learn how to effectively use tools like Gemini, ChatGPT, Bing AI, and Magic Schools AI to enhance lesson planning, curriculum development, and classroom instruction. Discover how these tools can work for you to create differentiated lessons, generate lesson summaries that meet IEP accommodations or provide summaries for students who miss class due to illness, adjust reading assignments to appropriate Lexile levels, create newsletters for families, brainstorm project ideas of various DOK levels, and even provide feedback on simple formative assessments.
These tools can also be valuable for generating and proofreading email responses to challenging interactions. Beyond being a search engine or a tool for asking questions, AI can serve as a collaborative partner, helping teachers continually evolve their lessons to be more engaging.
By the end of the session, participants will gain valuable insights into how to make these tools work effectively in their specific educational areas. They will also have a better understanding of why these tools should not be blindly banned and how to incorporate them into lessons to demonstrate appropriate AI usage.
While most students may not have direct access to these tools at school, the reality is that they are likely using them on their personal devices and accounts. As educators, we can teach and model appropriate use of these tools to help students understand how they can be used to assist learning. For example, we can demonstrate how to ask effective questions to AI to get started on a large research project, such as "Gemini, can you provide me with a list of 10 resources to help me understand the use of electromagnetism in MRI machines?"
Coffee Break -- come to the ballroom to also check out the bookstore, get a book signed by Keynote speaker Charles Waters, and see the Maker Space exhibit and Robotics exhibit.
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.
Dr. Maureen Brown Yoder is an Educational Technology Professor Emerita at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachuses. Dr. Yoder began her career when the field of educational technology was in its infancy, when the Apple 2 was state of the art, and a 300 baud modem was impressive... Read More →
Friday November 8, 2024 11:30am - 12:25pm EST
Gateway I
Members of the GMBA committee will share ideas to generate excitement for this year’s titles! Participants are encouraged to share what has worked in their libraries as well!
Leverage the power of 3D platforms and virtual makerspaces to create opportunities for all students to dive into emerging STEAM careers with real-world STEAM projects. Learn how to design authentic learning activities where students engage in high-fidelity prototyping and learn spatial reasoning, computational thinking and data analysis. This presentation highlights how virtual Makerspaces, specifically Maker's Empire, Tinkercad and Qweebi paired with 3D printing and CAD tools, can break down barriers for students in under-resourced schools or remote areas by providing them with the same hands-on, innovative learning experiences as those in physical Makerspaces. Reimagining Learning and the Classroom * Virtual Makerspaces increase access to STEAM by eliminating space and cost issues! They allow for diversity in student choice by making it possible for different students to do different projects simultaneously in class! Virtual Makerspaces are more inclusive by offering ways to adapt the software to students with different needs! Diversity, Equity and Inclusion * I prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion by introducing 3D design platforms transcending socio-economic barriers, offering free access for children of all backgrounds. As a woman in computer science, I also can offer teachers my a unique perspective to help teachers integrate emerging tools for every student K to 12.
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.
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.
This interactive workshop is designed to introduce beginning and intermediate OPALS users to some of the essential features that BES Librarian Cheryl Doubleday has used to invigorate and promote a languishing school library. Participants will discover how to use OPALS as their Library’s home page, create engaging topic and genre walls, get their notices noticed, and personalize MARC records for more successful organizing and searching, plus more! Everyone will learn a trick or two, and there will be time for other experienced OPALS users to share their own OPALS wins.
School Librarian & Educational Technologist, Newbury Elementary School
Laurie Williams has been the School Librarian and Educational Technologist at Newbury Elementary School for 12 years. She is an ISTE Certified Educator and will be presenting at ISTE Live! in Denver in June. She was recently awarded the 2024 Vermont School Library Association's Outstanding... Read More →
Join Department of Library staff to learn more about the free databases, discussion sets, interlibrary loan services, and professional development resources that the Department offers. Discover resources to support you in providing accessible reading materials to students with IEPs. Learn about the ways that the Department support Vermont youth and how you can take advantage of these free resources.
Librarian, Government Services, Vermont Department of Libraries
April Shaw is the Librarian of Government Services at the Vermont Department of Libraries as well as the Head of Interlibrary Loan. She oversees the statewide resource sharing system (Clover), and facilitates the Vermont Interlibrary Loan Round Table.
The VSLA Leadership and Advocacy Committee will explore the critical role of advocacy in school libraries, with a focus on building strong relationships with stakeholders and decision-makers.
They will also examine Act 150, which requires Vermont school districts to establish library material selection policies and procedures that protect students' intellectual freedom. The session will cover the efforts that led to the passage of the law and its anticipated impact on libraries. Attendees will learn how to prepare for the law's implementation in 2025.
Rebecca Sofferman is the school librarian at Colchester Middle School in Colchester, VT. A graduate of Syracuse University’s iSchool (MLIS), Rebecca was previously district librarian and technology coordinator for the Tupper Lake Central School District in Tupper Lake, NY, an elementary... Read More →
Susie Snow is a teacher librarian at Hiawatha Elementary School in Essex Junction, VT. She received her Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Vermont and is licensed as a K-6 Educator, K-12 Librarian, and K-12 Educational Technologist.
Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Escapade II
One of the deepest ways of learning is to teach, right? The paid version of GPT is $20 a month. It allows you to tell ChatGPT in plain English what you want your original chatbot to do, just like when you use GPT normally! It's like programming while writing an essay. Then, when you test the bot, you can teach it to be better by continuing your dialog with GPT. It also makes images for your bot using DALL-E. Your bot will be available to those with a free GPT account via a link. I'll do a very short demonstration, and then you'll get right to making your chatbots that do almost anything you can imagine.
Do you have a maker space and you don't know how to organize it or get students to use it? At U-32 we've designed our maker space to be user friendly and user independent. After visiting Generator in Burlington, VT we modeled a badge system that they use to ensure that our students could access the space after receiving training. They earn badges for completed trainings and can use those tools/materials independent of supervision. It is still a work in progress, but we've seen major growth in the usage of the tools. I will share what we've done, templates for creating your own badge and accountability system and open the floor to discussion and recommendations of tools.
Jill Abair is a Teacher Librarian at U-32 Middle & High School. She has been working in libraries for many years serving the students of Vermont. Jill is an avid reader, a technology lover and has passion for helping people.
Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Escapade I
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.
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.
