Interactive Learning Lounge at VermontFest 2026

 If you made it to VermontFest 2026 at the Killington Grand on Friday, November 6 - you got to experience the Interactive Learning Lounge that I curated showcasing so many fun STEAM opportunities happening in our Vermont schools.  But just in case you missed it (or if you want to relive the excitement) here's a fun recap video. 

I loved learning how Ozobots can be used to support students' understanding of literature from Carrie Ishaq and Caty Wolfe of Essex-Westford SU.  What a fun way to introduce students to coding and robotics through stories. 

It was so fun to play catch with the robot designed by Mike Norkum's Vermont Academy students.  Wishing them best of luck during this year's FTC competition. 

Did you know there were so many different ways to engage even our youngest learners with robotics, code, and engineering.  Christina Smith's many years of experience with younger learners gave us a wealth of ideas. 

The intersection of art and engineering were on full display by what Marcia Gauvin and her 7th and 8th grade students were able to create with wooden. STIXnBITZ. 

If you ever wondered how to integrate STEAM into a library program, then you absolutely need to visit with Teresa Bolton to learn about her library makerspace at the Charleston Elementary School library. 

Kimberly Smith use of Makers Empire and 3D printing helped us understand so many new ways to integrate STEAM across the curriculum. 

You can always count on Shannon Walthers to advocate for the library as a space for creativity to shine. The sublimation printer in her Burlington High School library is one of many ways students can be creative in her library makerspace. 

Colorful moving cutlery characters from library books  created with Hummingbird Kits by Eileen Vaught and her Mountain View SU students animated with code had us all in awe. 

Sean Theoret, of Franklin West SU dymystified the training of AI using a microbits and Create AI.  

Meanwhile, Eli Rosenberg's students at Main Street Middle School are using their microbits to learn about cybersecurity by creating and hacking into Lego Smart Houses. 

 

The micro:bit proved to be central to so many opportunities for students as you can see from the Cyber:Bot that Kristen Wilson's CTE students at the River Valley Technical Center use to explore physical computing.

As teachers, we all know that the key to student learning starts with motivation.  Burlington High School, CS Nora LaCosse has discovered that when students create original Pixel Art their motivation to learn computer science skyrockets.

As much fun as it was to STEAM connect educators to share their ideas, I did not want to miss the fun it was to share some of my own projects.  It enjoyed how fairy lights, sound recorders, and circuit boards could be used to create many versions of a THIS or THAT game in a library to engage students with book selections. 

THANK YOU SO MUCH to all who shared their experiences and to all who stopped by experience and learn in the Interactive Learning Lounge at VermontFest 2026. 

Enjoy the slide show below to learn more about each of these amazing educator.