2024VSTE Annual Conference

Educators of all levels are invited on an adventure around the Commonwealth that coincides with Season 1 of the ActiVAtED Learning podcast. The podcast is available on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, and Amazon Music. This session will be a discussion about the leading educators featured on the podcast and about what gets them energized and excited in using technology to inspire student engagement.

This is a collaboration between the office of Educational Technology and Classroom Innovation and Office of Instructional Services that focuses on making educators and educational leaders aware of the various resources and professional learning opportunities that can be used in order to help students. The rapid expansion of technology in the classroom requires all educators to play a role in ensuring all students are able to access and use this technology and other instructional materials, including students with disabilities, as outlined by the 2023-2027 Education Technology Plan. This requires collaboration between those in Virginia school divisions who support instructional and accessible technology and those who support students with disabilities

This will be an in-person presentation that will have educators, coaches, and administrators understand the Model Policy concerning Internet Safety and the integration of the Digital Learning Integration Standards of Learning especially in the strand of Digital Citizenship including explanation, resources, and performance indicators. This is an important step towards adding in new and emerging technologies, which includes AI, Virtual Reality, and other rising educational technologies.

In alignment with the VDOE?s Ed Tech Plan and Digital Learning Integration standards, Ryan Champney would like to showcase GoOpenVA, especially focused on VDOE?s newly updated standards, what resources are available, how to access important information, and how to properly align and tag resources already available.

Currently, the OETCI team is working with various school divisions and regions to host in-person trainings at conferences hosted by the districts and other affiliates to reach the separate regions. By presenting at both VSTE and VASSL this year, we will continue to gain momentum in building relationships with educators in the Commonwealth of Virginia. By explaining how educators can use the DLI standards to help with their choice of AI actions, educators will feel more confident with their use and willingness to try different AI tools in their districts.