VSTE Podcast Edge

The annual conference for the Virginia Society for Technology in Education is coming soon - mark your calendars for November 30-December 2, 2009. Our keynote speaker and special guest from Discovery Education is Mr. Matt Monjan.

Edge host John Hendron had the opportunity to sit down (virtually, of course) with Matt and they talked, among other things, about the upcoming VSTE conference. Get to know Matt Monjan before coming to this year’s conference, Pioneers: Shaping the Future!

N.B. Some listeners have inquired about the new introductions to the VSTE Podcast Edge. I’m always out for trying something new. The recordings are by yours truly performing on the MODARTT virtual piano known as Pianoteq. The compositions are by John Hendron and Johann Sebastian Bach.

 Standard Podcast [17:11m]: Play Now | Download

Many educators know education luminary Kathy Schrock through her involvement in many ventures that bring education and technology together, such as her page for educators at Discovery Education or through her involvement in promoting the use of Second Life for professional development, or through her many writings showcasing her expertise as a pioneer in the world of educational technology.

She will be a virtual presenter at this year’s VSTE conference in Roanoke, and she joins Edge host John Hendron for a chat in this episode.

 VSTE Interviews educator Kathy Schrock [15:08m]: Play Now | Download

Edge host John Hendron interviews Dr. Pam Moran, the superintendent of schools for Albemarle County. Dr. Moran will be a keynote presenter at the 24th Annual VSTE conference later in November this year.

 Enhanced Podcast [41:04m]: Play Now | Download

John interviews two of the folks planning this year’s VSTE-sponsored pavilion at the National Educational Computing Conference in Washington, D.C., Sharon McGlone and Laura Briggs.

 ITRT Pavilion Intervew: Play Now | Download

We recently caught up with Mrs. Cherin Taylor, an educator from Chesterfield County Schools, who has been a long-time VSTE member and an advocate for all that VSTE does. During our talk she expresses her excitement about this summer’s NECC conference in Washington, D.C., and encourages VSTE members to volunteer.

 Interview with Cherin Taylor [18:11m]: Play Now | Download

I had the special opportunity to talk with Marie, Al, Kim, and Lisa–creators of the VSTE Island in Second Life–about their experiences as educators with expertise in one of the more popular 3D virtual environments. Each are computer resource specialists (ITRTs) by day, but for weeks now have given time to help other Virginia educators get acclimated to the online life in Second Life with their regular Monday night meetings.

VSTE Island opened at this year’s VSTE Conference in Virginia Beach. Our video podcast will show you the VSTE Island environment and is available in two sizes. Click below to watch our larger, more detailed version, or you can also access a smaller, compressed version. Both movies are in Quicktime format.

 Second Life Interview: Download

John interviews Danny Arkin about the upcoming National Educational Computing Conference in Washington, D.C., and opportunities for volunteering for NECC, even if you cannot attend!

 Standard Podcast [14:13m]: Play Now | Download

At this school year’s VEMA conference in Richmond (2008), I caught up with two VSTE members, Heather Blanton and Bea Cantor, for a discussion on filtering policies in schools. They both presented as part of a panel discussion organized by another VSTE member and board member, Karen Richardson, talking about different ways filtering is done across the division.

 Enhanced Podcast [9:56m]: Play Now | Download

Google this month released a new version–5 Beta. John takes you through what’s new in this version, free for both Windows PCs and Macs.

 Google Earth 5 Overview: Download