VermontFest 2013

What started as a unit on Invention turned into a very successful Indiegogo campaign driven by 5th and 6th graders. These projects incorporated Google Docs, Research Skills, Skype, Video, and more. Come see an example of students reaching outside of their school to connect with the community and beyond.

How do classrooms in Vermont experience a shared social reading connection while participating in meaningful literacy instruction? Come and see how Edmodo was used to unite six, sixth grade classrooms in reading the book Inside Out and Back Again. In this session we will explore the use of Edmodo as a collaborative learning management system and investigate a variety of 2.0 tools utilized to show student learning.

There is a lot of data analysis in the Next Generation Science Standards and some authentic Big Data available for teacher and student use. Many teachers want students to analyze the data for unusual or interesting trends but have little experience with spreadsheets and business intelligence tools. What’s an educator to do? We will
• Look at the steps to work through big data-- inspecting, cleaning, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of highlighting useful information, suggesting conclusions, and supporting decision making
• Demonstrate some of the tools I use for prepping data
• Examine different types of visual representation tools and methods to present data
• Share some big data sets available to teachers, bring your resources too
• Identify methods for collaborative data collection by students so you can build your own authentic local data sets
• Set you up for future learning with some awesome free screencasts

Will show how iBooks, a free native iPad app can turn reading interactive. Learn how iBooks can make your students active readers. I will show the features that take reading an eBook or ePub from beyond substitution level of the SAMR model and I will share how to get, convert existing content, and create ePubs to use with iBooks. This session is relevant to all grade levels and content areas. This session is for a teachers/classroom using iPads.

Current research indicates that coordinated mind-body exercises spark neurological benefits that facilitate the learning process. How might computer-assisted and web-based technologies help students become more active? Teachers and students from Winooski Middle School have created an on-line classroom-based movement program called Bushintai-Do for the Classroom (www.bushintai-do.com). This program, funded, in-part, by the Bay and Paul Foundations and Martial Way Self-Defense Center, offers a way for educators to integrate a motivational psycho-motor activity that promotes respect, perseverance, and self-control while using 21st Century technology. Bring your laptops, wear comfortable clothes, and be prepared for “active” learning.

This session will provide a review of some of the tools that are being used to get students started with iPad app development. It will include tools that can be used to develop “Pre-engineering” thought and computational thinking that prepare students for working with more robust app development tools . It will review the stages of iPad App development from idea generation to building prototypes to publishing. If you are already on the road to App development, come share your experience. Let’s learn together.

Vermont Intercultural Avenues (VIA) is a budding tool for students to improve their effectiveness in the acquisition of foreign language skills and cultural awareness. In its initial stages, VIA will use the Vermont Education Exchange (VE2) as a way to connect foreign language teachers so they may exchange ideas, tools, and resources. Jill Prado, French and Spanish teacher at Essex High School and Rowland Foundation Fellow and Sigrid Olson, technology integrationist at the VT AOE will present their vision for how we can use technology to bring the world to Vermont’s students.