Registration for the 2022 STEMIEFest is now open! This virtual conference is organized by STEM Innovation for Inclusion in Early Education (STEMIE). STEMIEFest is an opportunity for families, early childhood and early childhood special education professionals, and other educators to participate in learning experiences related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) as well as construct a model to support young children, with and without disabilities, in STEM learning. The 2022 event will runs from 12pm – 4pm EST on December 8th, 2022. Experience archived events from previous STEMIEFests as well!
Author Archives: chris.bugaj
Team Kentron Web Series
Team Kentron is a science fiction web series featuring local talent to help children of all ages learn different social skills. The series was created through a collaborative effort between Microsoft, A Place to Be, and Loudoun County Public Schools. Enjoy the trailer!
Advancing Digital Equity for All PDF
In spring 2022, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology (OET) hosted a series of conversations with leaders from community-based organizations, as well as families and learners furthest from digital opportunities. The “Advancing Digital Equity All” PDF features insights from these conversations to highlight the barriers and outlines potential solutions for increasing access to technology for learning.
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Open in new tab Become Read&Write for Google Chrome Certified
Texthelp, the company that produces the Read&Write for Google Chrome extension for literacy support, has created an online, self-paced learning experience called Read&Write for Education Academy to help anyone become familiar with the tool. Completing the course earns one a certification, a certificate, a badge, and tons of information on how better to use the product to design inclusive experiences.
Work alone or find some friends to work through it together! Either way, you can become Read&Write for Google Chrome certified! Read&Write for Google Chrome is currently available for anyone to use in LCPS.
October is AAC Awareness Month
October is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month! The International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication created a PDF titled AAC Etiquette that features a list of strategies to help improve communication exchanges when interacting with a person who uses AAC.
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Become EquatIO Certified
Texthelp, the company that produces the EquatIO extension for math and science support, has created an online, self-paced learning experience called EquatIO Academy to help anyone become familiar with the tool. Completing the course earns one a certification, a certificate, a badge, and tons of information on how better to use the product to design inclusive experiences.
Work alone or find some friends to work through it together! Either way, you can become EquatIO certified! EquatIO is currently available for anyone to use in LCPS.
Prioritizing and Completing Tasks with Checklists
Learners can use technology to create a checklist of tasks to accomplish and put them in order based on what needs to get done first. Checklists provide a visual reminder of what needs to be accomplished. Checkboxes can be used to indicate when something has been completed. Digital checklists can often be shared with educators to provide guidance and feedback. Digital checklists are also often flexible, allowing items to be re-ordered, read aloud with text to speech, and edited. The following are a list of potential tools that could be used to create digital checklists.
Managing Time with Alerts and Alarms
When diligently working on a task it can be easy to lose track of time. An alarm or alert helps learners know that something is coming up that needs attention. Learners can set an alarm to go off at a specific time. Educators might need to provide guidance with regard to how much time might be needed to prepare for the transition to the next experience. The following website provide free, programmable alarms.
Managing Time with Timers
Knowing how much time one has left before a transition takes place helps learners understand when the task they are working to complete will come to an end. Educators can guide learners to set their own timers to help them learn self-management skills. Learners can also challenge themselves to complete tasks accurately within the given time frame. Timers can have both visual and auditory components as a cue to the learner about how much time is left like the Candle Timer.
Managing Time with Google Calendar
Learners can use their Google accounts to create and manage multiple calendars. It has color coding, collaboration, and reminder features to help individuals never miss another event. Different views allow the learner to see a schedule for the day, week, month, or even more customized options. At first, educators might need to provide guidance about what types of events should go on the calendar. Over time, using the calendar becomes habitual and part of one’s daily routine.
The video below titled Google Calendar: 8 Little-Known Google Cal Tips shares ideas about how to use Google Calendar.