2024 VEX Robotics Educators Conference
The 2024 VEX Robotics Educators Conference has ended, but the ideas and inspiration gained from it lives on in classrooms and schools around the world! Learn more about this year’s conference, and get ready to join us in 2025!
Looking back…driving forward
From Keynote speakers, to workshops, 1-on-1 Sessions to networking events, the conference was filled with opportunities to engage in professional learning and community building with VEX educators and experts. Workshop attendees experiences hands-on learning, gaining lessons, tips and tricks to bring back to their classrooms. The conference offered seeds of learning that will grow throughout the year.
I loved everything about it. Seeing the World Championship was enough to make the whole trip, sub-plans, and everything else that went into coming worth it. I loved hearing from coaches, teachers, researchers, administrators, district officers, those in industry, and the DoD. It seemed that the whole spectrum of people invested in STEM education and robotics were able to share wisdom and perspective. I loved being able to play with robots during workshops to learn new skills as well…I was overwhelmed in a good way with my experience. I have so much valuable information to unpack.
Presentations
Speakers shared their knowledge and experiences with STEM education around the world with VEX. The diverse perspectives made for great conversations during networking opportunities.
What Can DoD STEM Do for You? From Funding to Educator Resources, to Student Opportunities
Develop & Implement a Virtual Robotics Event for Your District
The Case for Block-based Programming
STEM for All
Elevate Your Game: Mastering VEX Robotics with PLTW Professional Development
From Vision to Victory: The Story Behind Double VEX IQ World Championship Wins
VEX ID: Utilizing AI to Develop a VEX IQ Parts Identifier
Benefits of VEX Robotics Competitions for Students
Enhancing Learning and Innovation: The Impact of STEM in Ghanaian Classrooms
Robots to Resources: Creating VEXs Educational Solutions
Using Robotics to Build Physics Aptitude
Robotics Integration as the Catalyst for STEM Pathways
Empower Your Students to Access Job an Training Opportunities in Robotics
I love the personal touch that the conference brings. Being able to speak with the co-founder and gain insight from the trainers was priceless.
Workshops
The addition of hands-on workshops this year let teachers be in the role of learners, as they worked together to solve coding challenges, participate in competitions, test out new products, and gain ideas and inspiration to take back to their classrooms right away.
VEX V5: Bring Competition to Your Classroom
VEX CTE: Introduction to the VEX CTE Workcell and Curriculum
VEX CTE: Introduction to the VEX CTE Workcell and Curriculum
Introduction to Block Based Coding with VEXcode VR
VEX EXP: Science and Data Logging with Python
VEX V5: Bring Competition to Your Classroom
VEX EXP: Introduction to Block Based Coding
VEX V5: Introduction to Block Based Coding
VEX EXP: Introduction to Block Based Coding
VEX GO: Bring Competition to the Classroom
VEX GO: Bring Competition to the Classroom
VEX GO: Coding and Creativity
VEX 123: Strategies for Including K-12 Learners with Disabilities in Robotics
Transitioning from Blocks to Text with VEXcode VR
VEX 123: Three Ways to Code
VEX 123: Three Ways to Code
Speakers
The expanded speaker lineup offered diverse perspectives on STEM education–sharing experiences from classrooms and schools to state and nation-wide initiatives, and more.
Louie Lopez
DoD Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering STEM (DoD)
Dr. Rebecca Grella
Chief Executive Officer at Foundation for Equality
Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, Placement DoD STEM
Dr. Maya Israel
Associate professor of educational technology and CS Education
University of Florida
Dr. David Weintrop
Associate Professor in the Department of Teaching & Learning, Policy & Leadership
University of Maryland
Marco Diez
Executive Director
Miami Dade County Public Schools
Dan Mantz
CEO of the Robotics Education and Competition (REC) Foundation
REC
Seith Ogoe Ayuim
CEO and Cofounder (STEM and Computing Educator)
Bountiful Technologies and Bountiful STEM Educational Foundation
Mai Vu
AI Program Manager
Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley School District
Dr. Rabieh J. Hafza
Director of STEM & Innovative Practice
Henry County Schools
Belén Torres
Teacher and software developer
Escuela Técnica Roberto Rocca
Marquita Jones
Assistant Principal
Phoenix STEM Military Academy
Daniel Yu
Master Shifu
Caution Tape Robotics Club
Bahiy Watson
Mechanical Engineer
The 1881 Institute
Margarita Flores-Sicich
Engineering Teacher and Robotics Mentor
Leander ISD: Vista Ridge High School
Dr. Arif Sirinterlikci
University Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Robert Morris University
Tina Dietrich
Director of STEAM and Innovation
Woodland Hills School District
Dr. Jimmy Lin
Director of Computer Science Education
VEX Robotics
Ana Mihajlovic
Coach and Special Education Teacher
Phoenix STEM Military Academy
Omar Cortez
Teacher
Dallas ISD
Leo Painevilo
Cybersecurity/Computer Science Teacher
Career Institute North
Frank Rivera
Curriculum Designer & STEAM Outreach Liason
8020 Education
Jimmy Benson
Director of Project Lead the Way
Project Lead the Way
Christopher Schmitz
STEM Focus Teacher
Erie High School, St Vrain Valley Schools
Rich Schiccatano
Pre-K3 - 5th Grade Teacher & Curriculum Coordinator Computer Science
St. Philip’s Episcopal School
John Zappa
Director of Product Management
Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing
Desiree White-Price
First Grade Teacher, Edgewood STEM Academy
Woodland Hills School District
Jason McKenna
VP of Global Educational Strategy
VEX Robotics
Audra Selkowitz
Senior Education Developer
VEX Robotics
Aimee Defoe
Senior Education Developer
VEX Robotics
Alaina Haws
Senior Education Developer
VEX Robotics
Continue Learning with VEX PD+
Couldn’t make the conference? Want to catch a presentation you missed? An All-Access PD+ Subscription gives you access to a wealth of conference related resources, like presentation videos, and much, much more. Keep your professional learning going with PD+ all year long!
Your PD+ All-Access Annual Subscription Includes:
- A Community of VEX Educators and Experts
- Personalized 1-on-1 Sessions with the VEX Education Team
- Continuously Growing Library of On-Demand Videos
- Guided Professional Development with Live Sessions
- Self-Paced Professional Development with VEX Masterclasses
- Insightful Articles and Educational Research
- No-Cost Registration to the Annual VEX Robotics Educators Conference
- New Content Added Every Month