AOE Opens Employee Cybersecurity Training Platform to SU/SDs in February
AOE is pleased to announce that it has secured a contract with Infosec to provide all public SU/SDs in the state with free access to Infosec’s premier cybersecurity awareness and training platform. Through a homeland security grant, AOE secured funds to provide this platform to SU/SDs that includes unlimited phishing simulations. It is anticipated that the funding will cover access to this platform through the 2024-2025 school term. The platform, Infosec IQ, will be opened for school district use following a virtual introductory meeting on how to manage the platform is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, February 8, at 9 am. Personnel who will manage the platform at each SU/SD should attend the meeting. The platform is intended for use with all SU/SD employees, but not students. There is no limit on the number of employees a district can register for platform use. Each SU/SD will manage their own subaccount and can add or remove users within their assigned district, select training to share with their users, and manage an unlimited number of phishing simulations. SU/SD education technology directors and IT managers will receive an email with more information on Infosec IQ . Fourteen vendors bid on the contract. A team of district ed tech directors/IT managers assisted AOE with evaluating the proposals. Special thanks to Kelly Ahlfeld, Bennington Rutland SU; John Meyer, Lamoille North SU; and Steve Walker, Burlington SD.
AOE Sponsored ISTE AI Series Now Open for Registration
AOE is working with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) to create a Vermont cohort for their popular eight module series “Artificial Intelligence Explorations and Their Practical Use in Schools.” To prepare students for success, educators need to understand how AI technologies can be leveraged to facilitate learning and solve real-world problems. The asynchronous sessions are scheduled to begin in early February and conclude by the end of March. AOE will hold weekly AI drop-in sessions for participants who wish to discuss the class materials and other related topics. This series is open to classroom teachers, school librarians, administrators, and any school personnel engaged in curriculum and classroom instruction. While all funded seats have been filled, there is still room in the cohort for others to participate. The cost for the series is $186. Interested school personnel may register for the Vermont cohort through this registration link.
Looking for E-rate Training?
USAC will conduct a series of webinars during the FY2024 application filing window period focused on E-Rate topics related to FCC Forms 470 and 471. Regularly check the E-Rate Webinar page. The webinars include a formal presentation and opportunities to hear questions from E-Rate program participants.
Early Warning System: One-on-One Consultations Now Available
As part of the Early Warning System (EWS) professional learning series, Vermont AOE and Resultant are offering custom coaching to any SU/SDs interested in receiving 1:1 consultation for the development and/or implementation of an Early Warning System. Sign up here for a 30-minute session with the Resultant team – they will be happy to answer any questions related to your SU/SD’s EWS needs or the EWS workshops that have occurred over the past few months (you can visit the EWS Resource Site for more information on these workshops). Space is limited so please sign up soon. Contact Ryan Parkman at ryan.parkman@vermont.gov
AOE Provides Educator Grants to Attend CS Summer Institute
AOE has made funds available to send interested educators for a week of professional learning in computer science this summer in Maine. Educate Maine and Code.org provide educators in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire with a yearlong program that includes a one-week summer workshop, 24 hours of follow-up workshops, and online support via the Code.org teacher forum. This year’s summer institute is July 28 to August 2 at the University of Maine. The grant covers the registration cost of $1,500 per educator and includes room and board through the training venue. Additional funds may be requested to cover an educator’s transportation costs to and from the institute (i.e. mileage). SU/SDs may enroll multiple educators for this opportunity. The grant is available to teachers who already hold a CS endorsement and those educators without the endorsement but who are interested in expanding their skills. There are three course tracks to choose from. Applications for the grant funds for the CS Summer Institute are within a larger grant opportunity. ARP-ESSER Improving Student Academic Outcomes in Computer Science, English Language Arts and Literacy, and Mathematics Grant. At this link you can read about the grant. Go to the section on Computer Science. Application for the grant funds is through AOE’s Grant Management System (GMS).
OTHER ITEMS OF NOTE
Girls Who Code Club UVM Chapter
The UVM chapter of Girls Who Code is starting again this week! They will meet on Saturdays from 10 am to noon in UVM's Waterman building. There is no cost to attend. Please share information with educators who may know students who would be interested in joining the club. Questions may be directed to Lisa Dion via email at lisa.dion@uvm.edu.
Share Info on UVM Libraries on the Road Program
UVM is offering a program to schools for workshop-style research sessions for teachers and students. UVM Libraries on the Road are piloting a program where school and community groups can participate in research instruction sessions and on research fundamentals from a library professional. The workshops can be topical by request [e.g. high school class has a project on the Holocaust and wants to investigate primary resources] or on more general introductory research sessions. The workshops provide short-term access to the students to the UVM libraries’ resources and provide foundational research skill instruction that can be applied to other projects. Educators may request a workshop by reaching out to Maria Avery, UVM Libraries Community Outreach Manager, via email at mavery@uvm.edu. Due to subscription licensing limitations, UVM must hold the workshops at one of their twelve extension offices around the state. There is no charge for the workshop.
Alerts from MS-ISAC
The MS-ISAC offers a range of free services to school districts. One of those services is timely notification of cyber alerts. To view alerts, go to CIS Advisories (cisecurity.org). AOE encourages SU/SD to sign up for the free membership in MS-ISAC. CISA also maintains an alerts page at Home Page | CISA.