Since the beginning of communication there has been a need for security. While telecommunication inventions have transformed the speed and ease of communication, security remains of daily importance. As early as the 1834 attack of the French Semaphore Communication System to modern day AI-generated phishing attacks, the active role of users ensures security. The VDOE E-Rate Coordinator/K-12 Specialist in the Office of Cybersecurity and Risk Mangement will provide a historical approach to encourage digital citizenship habits towards Cybersecurity that can be shared with teachers and students alike.
The Robot Drone League Jr. program is designed to provide younger students with open-ended challenges that allow for creation and innovation by engaging in hands-on design, engineering, and programming of interactive robots and drones. Working with robots in a collaborative game format is a very powerful tool to engage students and enhance math and science skills through hands-on, student-centered learning. Join us for an exciting and hands-on session to explore RDL Jr., interact with robots and drones, and hear firsthand from Lee County students and coaches about their experiences in past RDL Jr. competitions.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is built on core computer science principles. By integrating foundational CS concepts like computational thinking, algorithmic design, and data analysis into instruction, K-8 educators can provide students with the foundation of AI literacy. This foundation not only helps students understand AI concepts but also empowers them to think critically about how AI systems work and impact their world. This session will explore how the 2024 Computer Science Standards of Learning integrate key AI concepts aligned with the Five Big Ideas of AI—Perception, Representation & Reasoning, Learning, Human-AI Interaction, and Social Impact, which is essential in understanding how AI works.
AI is the latest, most advanced and probably most challenging technology educators have faced. We owe it to our students to learn about this new world in order to help them navigate it ethically and effectively. This minds-on, hands-on session will demonstrate how an old school tool called TPACK can support teachers as they learn to use AI in the classroom. You will leave with ideas for supporting your own work as well as ideas for integrating AI in your lessons. There will be lots of times for creating and collaborating so bring a colleague!
Karen Richardson has had a love affair with technology since she touched her first computer in 1983. In the late 1980s, she put that passion to work when she taught her students how to use a desktop publisher to create bookmarks and her fellow English teachers how to use a word processor... Read More →
Monday July 7, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm EDT 2301 Partnership Cir, Abingdon, VA 24210
This session explores how empowering young girls to engage with artificial intelligence (AI) can foster creativity, collaboration, and leadership skills. Participants will discover strategies for promoting teamwork in AI projects, highlighting how diverse perspectives lead to innovative solutions. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, attendees will learn how to inspire girls to thrive in technology-driven environments, equipping them with the confidence and skills to shape the future of AI. This session is ideal for educators, mentors, and advocates looking to create inclusive opportunities in STEM fields.
This session will focus on the 2024 Computer Science Instructional Guides that support the implementation of the Computer Science Standards of Learning. The instructional guides serve as a companion document that amplifies each standard by defining the core knowledge and skills in practice, supporting teachers and their instruction, and serving to transition classroom instruction from the 2017 Computer Science Standards of Learning to the newly adopted standards. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the structure and purpose of the instructional guides, learning how the instructional guides may be used for curriculum planning and classroom instruction.
This session explores how empowering young girls to engage with artificial intelligence (AI) can foster creativity, collaboration, and leadership skills. Participants will discover strategies for promoting teamwork in AI projects, highlighting how diverse perspectives lead to innovative solutions. Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, attendees will learn how to inspire girls to thrive in technology-driven environments, equipping them with the confidence and skills to shape the future of AI. This session is ideal for educators, mentors, and advocates looking to create inclusive opportunities in STEM fields.
