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February 2024
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Welcome to ActiVAtED Learning, a new Podcast produced by Blue Ridge PBS in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education and in collaboration with the Virginia Society for Technology in Education. In each episode, host Tom Landon, Director of Educational Innovation for Blue Ridge PBS, talks to leading educators about what gets them energized and excited as we tell stories of using technology to inspire student engagement.
Our inaugural season launched on January 17th and will feature conversations with national leaders in blended learning, award winning teachers, librarians, and guests from the Virginia Department of Education and VSTE. Recorded on location around the Commonwealth and in the Blue Ridge PBS podcast studio, the season kicks off with a conversation with Dr. Catlin Tucker, noted educator, author, and nationally recognized expert on blended learning and proponent of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in the classroom.
Subscribe here, ECHO, Spotify and Amazon Music.
Register for the Virginia Speak Up Survey
The survey window has been extended to May 31st!
Virginia Speak Up is an annual optional survey conducted in partnership with Project Tomorrow, a national education nonprofit group that collects and reports on the views and needs of their stakeholders on education and technology in order to plan future programs, inform policy discussions, and gain support for educational improvement.
To participate, school divisions should designate a Virginia Speak Up survey contact who will register with Project Tomorrow. Once the local contact has completed the form, the Speak Up team will email customized links for participating.
As a reminder, Code of Virginia § 22.1-79.3 requires parental consent and a 30-day opportunity for parents to review student surveys. The VDOE has created a virtual welcome packet including instructions for administration, templates for parent letters, and previews of all surveys.
The 2024-2029 Educational Technology Plan for Virginia has been reviewed by the State Board of Education and was accepted as part of their Comprehensive Plan.
The Code of Virginia requires the Board of Education to develop a plan, consistent with, or as a part of, its comprehensive plan, a detailed comprehensive, long-range plan to integrate educational technology into the Standards of Learning and the curricula of the public schools in Virginia, including career and technical education programs. There is also a National Educational Technology Plan.
Welcome Ryan Champney!
Ryan Champney joined our team on January 25th as the Instructional Technology Specialist! As a former English teacher and ITRT, Ryan has the experience to support our instructional technology program. His role is to:
- Connect purposeful pedagogy and resources with division educational technology plans and standards of learning.
- Promote the active engagement of integrating educational technologies, including assistive and accessible technology, into every content through authentic learning experiences.
- Provide educators with professional learning opportunities that encourage research, experimentation, collaboration, and engagement with other educators through educational technology.
- Provide educators with professional learning opportunities around assistive and accessible technologies and their use in supporting diverse learners.
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February 11th -17th
VDOE hopes you will take the time to recognize that simple day-to-day acts of kindness enable our schools, communities, and state to be a kinder, safer, healthier and more inclusive place to live, work, learn and play. Practicing and celebrating kindness is to look for the good, bridge connections across differences, restore hope, and empower people to make our communities strong and resilient. The Commonwealth of Virginia can lead by example to promote positivity and support a culture where schools, localities, businesses, organizations, and individual citizens can come together to acknowledge, connect, and promote kindness in our community.
Kindness Resource Fair
In an effort to both support VA Kindness Week implementation and showcase the kindness initiatives happening across the state, VDOE created a Virtual Resource and Idea Fair for those looking to foster and celebrate kindness in their schools and communities. 13 Kindness Initiatives are Featured! Each initiative is outlined in the slides below and includes a short video presentation about the initiative and exhibit poster providing an overview, implementation information, and links to resources.
Kindness Week Padlet of Resources
This Padlet includes links to outside resources as well as Kindness Week Kick-Off Webinar Recordings and Slide Shows!
Kindness Board
Students and adults are challenged to complete a Kindness Challenge Board during Kindness Week. Participants identify seven acts of kindness they plan to complete during the week and record them in their Kindness Board. Virginia Kindness Idea Banks can be referenced to help with ideas. Both older and younger student versions are available in b/w and color on #GoOpenVA.
Create a Virtual Kindness Jar (Discussion or class activity)
Post a discussion forum or activity (“jar”) dedicated to Virtual Kindness with a theme of “Spread Kindness” as the label. Ask individuals to share ways that they spread kindness for that week over a selected number of days (example: Kindness Week February 11-17 or Monday-Friday, February 12-16). Ask individuals to respond to each other complimenting or identifying in some way with that act of kindness.
Kindness Sticker/Bookmark
Design a virtual sticker or bookmark that demonstrates an act of kindness. Make the criteria easy with having a graphic and the act of kindness on it (although an individual may be as creative as they would like). Share with individuals.
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Digital Learning Day
February 15
Check out the #DLDay map to find exciting events in your area. If you’re hosting an event, don’t miss the chance to inspire others by adding it to the map! ADD YOUR EVENT TO THE MAP!
Here are a few ideas for planning a DLDay Event from All4Ed.
Share with us at @VDOE_News #VSTEinACTION @OfficialDLDay #DLDay #FutureReady @FutureReady @all4ed.
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Blended Learning Conference
February 17
Virtual Virginia and VSTE will host our fourth annual free, one-day Blended Learning Conference for Virginia educators.
This year, the fully online conference will highlight some of the amazing things Virginia educators and leaders are doing to improve instruction and create blended learning experiences that are meaningful and engaging for learners in the Commonwealth.
The annual Blended Learning Conference gives educators the opportunity to engage in sessions and conversations about how to design and implement high-quality blended learning experiences for their students. The event allows Virginia educators to elevate and share their work in the blended learning landscape with the rest of the Commonwealth.
Find out more information about the conference!
Virtual Virginia Webinar Featuring an OETCI Member
February 27
The VDOE’s Virtual Virginia program continues to offer a Statewide Weekly Meeting. The goal of the series is to feature professional learning topics presented for all K–12 educators, administrators, and central office personnel at Virginia public schools and divisions. Topics are presented by VVA as well as by guest speakers.
The webinar occurring on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, from 1:00-1:30 PM will feature our own, Mrs. Keisha Tennessee, Computer Science Coordinator. Join us as she provides important updates related to computer science and online instructional resources for relevant and engaging computer science instruction.
To register for this event as well as additional webinars in the series, please use the following registration link.
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Registration is now open for Code VA courses
Kicks off on February 16
Computer Science Resources
Check out CodeVA’s *NEW* dedicated Curriculum Site with embedded search feature https://curriculum.codevirginia.org/.
Complete our short Connection Request Form to start planning for school or division personalized PD, curriculum support and/or event participation by our engagement or facilitation staff.
Power of Coaching Conference
February 6-7
VASCD and VSTE are teaming up to bring Virginia educators a coaching conference to unpack the power of coaching! In this two-day conference, participants will gain knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to effectively serve in the role of instructional coach. As more and more schools bring coaches as part of their staff and as the role of ITRT shifts from resource teacher to coach, this is a much-needed conference for building capacity and for developing strong networks of coaches, instructional leaders, and coach supervisors across the Commonwealth. Check the schedule on the Sched App or Google Doc.
Find out more and register here.
#VSTEinAction Digital Learning Day Demo Slam
February 15
Come celebrate Digital Learning Day with us at this Virtual Demo Slam on Feb 15 at 6:30 PM! In this demo slam, VSTE will be highlighting participants' favorite digital tools. Come discover something new and consider sharing your own favorite resource. Register to attend!
Merging Technology with Social-Emotional Education through Student App Design
February 21
Register for this webinar to hear the power of student directed learning, technology, and social emotional learning come together. Register at: http://bit.ly/3HkoNtP
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VAASL Spring Regional Conferences
March 4-9, 12
VAASL (Virginia Association of School Librarians) is holding some amazing professional development opportunities for educators at our 2024 Spring Regional Conferences. You don't have to be a librarian or VAASL member, but the one-day events will have information specific to librarians included. There will be seven regional conferences the week of March 4-9, and March 12. VAASL will have sessions aimed for all educational levels that target literacy, collaborative lessons, intellectual freedom, and STEM. The registration fee includes continental breakfast and lunch. Information and registration can be accessed online via Regional Spring Conferences (vaasl.org).
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EdTech RVA: Plugged In
March 13
Join GRAETC for interactive lectures, ignite sessions, and poster showcase. Registration for the Ed Tech RVA Conference at Reynolds Community College (1651 East Parham Road Richmond, Virginia 23228) is open!
Cybersecurity Education Conference: Call for Proposals
The 7th annual Virginia Cybersecurity Education Conference will be held in Blacksburg, Virginia on July 16-17, 2024.
This year's theme is: "Securing the Final Frontier".
The conference is specifically requesting proposals on topics related to enhancing cybersecurity education for students in high schools, colleges, and universities. Proposals are being accepted for the following tracks:
- Track 1: Innovative courseware, case studies, and hands-on activities
- Track 2: Tips, emerging trends, and future directions
- Track 3: Work-based learning and workforce development
These proposals should be appropriate for 100-minute workshops, 45-minute presentations or panels, or 20-minute short talks; times are inclusive of Q&A.
They hope to gather a wide variety of proposals from organizations and individuals including employers and practitioners from the public and private sectors, non-profits, educators at K-12 schools and institutions of higher education, research centers, and training and certification providers.
Please submit your proposal for a session at the conference by March 25th, 2024.
Save the Date! VAASL Annual Conference
November 6-8
VAASL will be holding their 2024 Annual Conference Nov. 6-8, 2024, at the Williamsburg Lodge. This is a 3-day conference, with noted authors and keynote speakers. They will have tons of concurrent sessions that are of interest to all educators and librarians across the state. Mark your calendar now.
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