CuttingEdge and online resources
April 13, 2020
Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) is helping to make CTE programs even more impactful, through the immersive exploration and manipulation of virtual content (3D models and simulations). “AR/VR has the unique ability to deliver immersive learning that places our students in an interactive learning environment, either physically or virtually, to replicate possible scenarios or to teach particular skills or techniques. The simulations, role play, and virtual learning environments are changing education and enhancing learning,” explains Mike Macchiarola, Interim Director at Pasco County Schools in Florida.
AR/VR enhances CTE learning and boosts career readiness in the following ways:
- Exposure to various career pathways, helping students discover their passions
- Personalized learning with AR/VR enables students to go at their own pace, follow their curiosity, and deepen understanding in the content areas that interest them most
- Builds confidence - in a safe, lifelike AR/VR environment, fearless learning is possible as students are free to take risks and learn from mistakes
- Sharpens the hands-on skills needed for jobs in growing technical fields (e.g., automotive mechanics, agriculture sciences, manufacturing, veterinary, robotics)
- Empowers students to earn industry certifications in high school, allowing them to pursue careers immediately upon graduation
zSpace AR/VR supports 12 of 17 career pathways, including:
- Automotive Mechanics
- Health Sciences / Allied Health
- Veterinary / Animal Science
- Advanced Manufacturing / Robotics
- Agriculture Science
- Welding
Read Mike Macchiarola’s full article: How VR and AR Take CTE Programs to the Next Level
zSpace is an awarded DigitalEdge vendor.
Contact information for zSpace:
David Elliott
Phone: 408-498-4136
DIGITALEDGE VENDORS AND MANUFACTURERS OFFER FREE ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES
As educational organizations face the current challenges for online learning, the DigitalEdge vendors offer the following free online resources.
Online resources below updated as of 4/7/20. Updates to resources will be posted regularly to our DigitalEdge website.
STEM/STEAM SUBJECTS
CoderZ:
Intelitek provides Coderz free access to 4 programs for elementary, middle school, and high school students. They have partnered with Amazon Future Engineer in sponsoring virutal robotics courses for students. CoderZ comes with standard aligned curriculum, a teacher’s guide, a pacing guide, presentations, speaking notes, solutions and much more.CoderZ was developed, not only to teach students how to code robots with fun gamified content – but also to be an easy and feasible alternative to physical robots. Our objective is to bring robotics education and coding to all students.
Access the information on this link: https://gocoderz.com/amazon-future-engineer/
SAM Labs Inc:
- Professional Webinars for free PD Training and cerification for eucators will commence on Monday, April 13,2020. Review the Professional Development link for additional information. The first 30 educators to sign up or the PD courses will receive a free STEAM or Learn to Code Alpha Kit.
- STEAM@Home lessons can be accessed through the google drive link: https://hubs.ly/H0nTyBx0
- Daily Webinar Series for students and parents. Webinars cover STEAM and coding content led by certified teachers.
Series begins the week of 3/30/20.- Zoom links for Student Webinar Lessons:
- K-2 Mondays at 3:30 EST: https://zoom.us/j/820759782
- K-2 Tuesdays at 4 EST: https://zoom.us/j/430294693
- 3-5 Wednesdays at 3:30 EST: https://zoom.us/j/983280564
- 3-5 Thursdays at 4 EST: https://zoom.us/j/595279721
- 6-8 Fridays at 4 EST: https://zoom.us/j/268245468
- Zoom links for Student Webinar Lessons:
STEAM and Learn to Code courses are available for free. The following lessons are available through this google drive link.
Subjects include:
- Grade 2 Lesson 1 – Compose a song
- Grade 2 Lesson 4- Interactive Story
- Grade 2 Lesson 8- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Grade 2 Lesson 10-Time’s Up Lesson
- Grade 3 Lesson 6- Prime Factors
- Grade 3 Lesson 9- Survival of the Fittest
- Grade 4 Lesson 5-Morse Code
- Grade 4 Lesson 8- Apostrophe
- Grade 4 Lesson 10- Prime Numbers
- Grade 4 Lesson 12- Energy Transfer
- Grade 5 Lesson 10- Passcode
Sam Labs is also offering STEAM lessons that families can access for free through the SAM Space app. The lessons work though the virtual blocks in the app and do not require hardware blocks. The app and content are free, just download the app from the app store to use!
Professional Development for Teachers
SAM Labs Professional Development cultivates educators’ knowledge, skills and mindsets preparing them to lead STEAM and Coding initiatives in their classrooms, clubs and makerspaces. Virtual sessions are currently free for the following courses:
Level 1 Courses:
- “Getting Started with SAM Labs:” What do I need to know and be able to do to start teaching with SAM Labs?
- “Purpose & Pedagogy:” What big ideas and pedagogical concepts enable learning?
Level 2 Courses:
- “Hands-on, Minds-on Teaching with SAM Labs:” How do I cultivate learning and mastery within and across lessons?
- “Implementing SAM Labs in Context:” How can all of my students thrive?
To learn more about our virtual courses and becoming SAM Labs Certified Educators, or if you have questions, please feel free to contact our Education Consultants, Emily and Mackenzie at: emily.deffenbaugh@samlabs.com or mackenzie@samlabs.com.
Mathspace Inc:
Mathspace is offering FREE access to the full Mathspace platform to all schools and districts who are closed or are facing closures due to the outbreak. This includes access to the following:
- Complete Digital Textbook
- Adaptive and Custom Tasks as well as the new Diagnostic Tool
- We are extending licenses to all teachers and students through the end of the school year. If your school has students or teachers who are not currently using Mathspace, but who you would like to get signed up, we would love to support you. Submit your school (or class) for free access through this link: https://mathspace.co/coronavirus
- Webinars available each week to support teachers and answers questions. Once you have a Mathspace account, you will be able to schedule you own webinar PD with the Mathspace team.
ONLINE TEACHING AND LEARNING
Trinity3 Technology:
Free training videos are aimed at helping teachers quickly spin up online classes. These online videos are provided by Josh Ratliff, Professional Learning Specialist.
DISTANCE LEARNING RESOURCES
Boxlight:
Boxlight Together - No cost training and support. Our Professional Development team has been hard at work developing new resources and tools that are specifically focused on helping educators and parents transition to distance learning.
In the spirit of community, we have created Boxlight Together, the easiest way to access a curated set of courses, tools and events to support a digital learning transition. All of these resources are now and will always be free of charge.
On Boxlight Together you will find:
- Online courses on how to teach comprehensive, effective online lessons using G-Suite for Education and Office 365 for Education. Learn More
- Live Webinars for getting started with G-Suite for Education and Office 365 for Education. Learn More
- Access to a team of Digital Learning Specialists who are available to answer your distance learning questions and strategies. Learn More
- Please check back often as new online resources are posted periodically.
TROX:
Remote learning resources available from TROX. Options available on: https://www.trox.com/troxcares
SMART Technology:
Free access to SMART LearningSuite Online is available to all schools affected by the coronavirus outbreak. SMART Learning Suite Online enables students to connect remotely to live lessons delivered by teachers and engage in real-time with lesson activities.
- Sign-up here for full access
- This website link outlines the options SMART Technology offers from free software to webinars to content.
- Parent Dashboard link provides ways to engage your children in meaningful learning activities.
Viewsonic:
MyViewBoard is available for free to K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Universities to help with this extended timeframe for distance learning needs. MyViewBoard enables teachers to conduct distance learning and teaching through an open and agnostic platform. It is designed to be easy to use and allows real-time collaboration through video and audio conferencing, and digital whiteboarding.
FrontRow:
FrontRows’ lesson capture software is an easy-to-use solution that enables educators to capture their lessons for students to access online. The software records audio and video presented on the computer and converts it into an mp4 file, which can be shared to your desired online destination so students can access the lesson from home.
A download of the 45-day trial of the Teacher Edition software is available at FrontRow’s website. If you wish to continue using the software after the 45-day trial, email customercare@gofrontrow.com to request a license code. FrontRow will be provided at no charge or product commitment.
DigitalEdge Purchasing Contracts for Educational Organizations
Current DigitalEdge Competitively bid contracts include:
#ESD112-DE-15B – School Safety Solutions
#ESD112-DE-16A – Solutions for Educational Technology, Wireless Devices and Audio-Visual Equipment
#ESD112-DE-18A – STEM/STEAM: Solutions for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Design, and Mathematics
#ESD112-DE-19A - Chromebooks, Chrome OS Devices, and Related Solutions
The purchasing menu on the DigitalEdge website at digitaledge.esd112.org provides product, price, and purchasing information, interlocal agreement information, and piggybacking on the DigitalEdge contracts.
The twelve DigitalEdge western states include:
Alaska - California - Colorado - Hawaii - Idaho - Montana
Nevada - New Mexico - Oregon - Utah - Washington - Wyoming
Should you have any questions regarding DigitalEdge contracts, please contact Bunny Stevens, Purchasing Project Coordinator at bunny.stevens@esd112.org or call (360) 952-3415.
DigitalEdge Purchasing Program
Email: purchasing.projectcoordinator@esd112.org
Website: digitaledge.esd112.org
Location: 2500 Northeast 65th Avenue, Vancouver, WA, United States
Phone: 360-952-3415
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?sk=welcome#!/DigitalEdgePurchasing
Twitter: @DigitalEdgeTech