Real World Design Challenge FY12 State Judges Needed PDF
The Real World Design Challenge (RWDC) is an annual high school competition run by a public-private partnership with the goal of sustainably increasing the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce. Teams of 3-7 secondary school students design a plane looking at the forces of flight, lift, weight, thrust & drag with the goal of enhancing performance and fuel efficiency. We need scientists, engineers and mathematicians to help judge the RWDC State Challenge. Your involvement will help to make this year’s Challenge a success! RWDC State Judges help to determine the RWDC State Champion. Judges use the RWDC FY12 State Scoring Rubric to evaluate the teams’ Engineering Design Notebooks (the team’s solutions). It takes about 2-4 hours to score an Engineering Design Notebook. Most judging is done virtually and electronically. To sign up as a judge please contact Challis Breithaupt at (802) 828-5892 or email to challis.breithaupt@state.vt.us.
Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative (VTVLC) OSL
The VTVLC is providing online learning opportunities to students across the state. In its initial year, the VTVLC has orchestrated 7 partnership regions across the state with courses in a variety of curriculum areas available to high school students. Summer school opportunities are also available. Visit the Use the link above for additional details. (Funded by ARRA)
Learning Network (LNV) of Vermont OSL
The LNV is a school-based video-conferencing system that supports school-to-school collaborations, virtual field trips, distance learning opportunities and access to meetings/trainings for staff members. The above link will take you to the LNV wiki which has numerous resources about the LNV and videoconferencing in general. For more information, contact Sigrid Lumbra at (802) 828-0200 or sigrid.lumbra@state.vt.us.
Creating 21st Century Classrooms: Connecting the DOTS OSL
21st century classrooms are ones that incorporate the best practices and research about how students learn best. These practices are often facilitated and supported by effective and intentional technology integration. The DOTS institutes combine these practices with an introduction to Web 2.0 tools and applications. This initiative supports both the Vermont State Technology Plan and the Transformation of Education put forth by the Vermont State Board of Education in 2007. There have been 4 "phases" of this initative, educating teachers from all over the state in best practices for integration of technology. As of spring 2012 the program in its current iteration will be sunsetting. There are alumni in your region that can be "tapped" for professional development resources. Plans are being formulated to continue the work of DOTS using other funding sources.
Evaluation of Title IID/ARRA Grant Programs
The department is working with American Institutes for Research (AIR) and the University of Vermont’s Center for Rural Studies on a large scale evaluation of Title IID/ARRA initiatives. This work began in April 2010. Results from this work are posted below.
Vermont E-Learning Project OSL
This grant project used “model” sites around the state that focused on Professional Development for Technology-Rich Classrooms. These model sites were developed by the UVM I-Leap project to study best practices in how teaching and learning changes when schools have robust access to tools of technology in classrooms. (Funded by ARRA) |