Vermont Fest 2024: Full Schedule

2:45pm EST

Engaging the In-BeTWEENS

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST

Middle school teachers hear it all the time: “You teach middle school? Wow, how do you do it?” Yes, middle schoolers are hormonal, immature, wacky, awkward, and kind of all over the place. But, they are also hilarious, creative, and enthusiastic learners, if you can just tap into their energy and engagement! Join a panel of seasoned middle school librarians to discuss the unique issues facing those of us who teach this age level. We will discuss library collection development, events and activities, and developing engaging lessons.

Speakers

Jordan Funke

Librarian and Makerspace Specialist, Edmunds Middle School

Charles Dabritz

Rebecca Sofferman

Librarian, Colchester Middle School

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 →

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Gateway I

Fri Block D

Grade Span Middle School
Tags Books & Collections, Network & Asset Management, Research & Information Literacy, Student Voice & Publications, Standards & Curricula, Library Management
Level All Levels
Theme Library Leadership & Management

2:45pm EST

Library Advocacy and Act 150

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST

Escapade II

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.

Speakers

Stephanie Sherman

Librarian, Middlebury Union High School

intellectual freedom, library advocacy, critical information literacy, technology and media literacy

Rebecca Sofferman

Librarian, Colchester Middle School

Charles Dabritz

Susie Snow

Teacher Librarian, Hiawatha Elementary School

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

Fri Block D

Grade Span Early Elementary School, Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Tags Advocacy & Leadership, Library Management
Level All Levels
Theme Library Leadership & Management

2:45pm EST

Make an AI chatbot in GPT4

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST

Northstar I

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.

Speakers

Caleb Clark

Tech Support & Integration, WSESU

Experienced educational technologist, teacher, and program manager in higher education and K-12.

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Northstar I

Fri Block D

Grade Span High School
Tags CS & Computational Thinking
Level All Levels
Theme Improving Classroom Practices with Technology

2:45pm EST

Making it in the Maker Space

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST

Escapade I

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.

Speakers

Jill Abair

Teacher Librarian, U-32 Middle High School

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

Fri Block D

Grade Span Middle School, High School, Post Secondary
Tags Library Management, STEM/STEAM & MakerSpaces
Level All Levels
Theme Improving Classroom Practices with Technology, Library Leadership & Management

2:45pm EST

Power Up Your Creativity + Communication with Canva for Schools!

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST

Gateway II

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.

Speakers

Shannon Walters

K-12 Educator, Burlington School District

Teacher Librarian/Tech Integration. Tinkerer. Lifelong learner.

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Gateway II

Fri Block D

Grade Span Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Tags STEM/STEAM & MakerSpaces, Student Voice & Publications, Digital Resources & OER, Digital Literacy & Citizenship
Level All Levels
Theme Library Leadership & Management

2:45pm EST

Storytime Jam

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST

Northstar II

Join for a storytime! A panel of librarians will each read a story just like we do with a class. Then we’ll facilitate a discussion about favorite storytime books, storytime practices, and storytime tips!

Speakers

Matt Gile

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Northstar II

Fri Block D

Grade Span Elementary School, Early Elementary School
Tags Books & Collections, Library Management, Digital Storytelling
Level All Levels
Theme Library Leadership & Management

2:45pm EST

Take the Pai* out of PD by making it Proactive and Personalized!

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST

Roundabout

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.

Speakers

Nolan Sutker

Friday November 8, 2024 2:45pm - 3:40pm EST
Roundabout

Fri Block D

Grade Span Elementary School, Middle School, High School
Tags Assessment, Digital Literacy & Citizenship, Digital Resources & OER, Flexible Pathways, Standards & Curricula, storytelling
Level All Levels
Theme IT Leadership & Management, Improving Classroom Practices with Technology, improving-classroom-practices-with-technology