2024 PD+ Highlights Thread: Stay Informed on New Developments!

[Nicole_Champagne]

Hello to all our VEX PD+ PLC Members!

This discussion thread for 2024 focuses on keeping you informed about the freshest developments created within the VEX PD+ platform.

Every two weeks, I’ll refresh this thread with the latest contributions our team has made to VEX PD+.

Should you have any ideas for new content, we’d love to hear from you!

To check out developments from 2023, you can find the PLC thread here.

If you are new here, welcome! Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Have you booked a 1-on-1 Session? Available to All-Access PD+ members. The ability to have your own questions answered, to brainstorm for your own setting, and to learn how to implement VEX to best meet your unique needs.

2. Insights are short readings that can be used to gain insight and inspiration. Released every 2 weeks available to our PD+ All-Access Members.

3. VEX Library is translated and available in 25 languages. This is your Library containing 100’s of articles of information about all things VEX.

4. Feedback! We love feedback. This is your opportunity to share specific details about your experience, ask any questions, or suggest topics of interest. Remember, your feedback shapes the future of VEX PD+.

5. VEX Robotics Educators Conference Your PD+ All-Access subscription includes registration to the annual VEX Robotics Educators Conference. To see any of the Keynotes or Presentations from the Educators Conference, check out your PD+ Video Library and search by year. i.e. 2024 in Search bar on right side.

July 29, 2024

• VEX CTE Automated Sorting Challenge is now live. Continuing to add the resources for CTE to STEM Labs

• VIQC and VRC library articles related to the 2024-2025 competition season:
  An Introduction to Swish: the 2024-2025 VIQRC Hero Bot
  Getting Started with VIQRC '24-'25 Robot Design: Rapid Relay
  An Introduction to Axel: The 2024-2025 V5RC Hero Bot
  Getting Started with V5RC '24-'25 Robot Design: High Stakes

• New Insights Article: Using Summer STEM Connections to Hook Students

• VEX IQ, V5 and CS Level 1 VEXcode VR Educator Certifications (Intro Courses) are now available in 6 languages

• Switch Mode in VEXcode VR available in your PD+ Video Library

• All videos in your PD+ Video Library are in 25 languages!

• VEX API is accessible in VEXcode under ‘Tools’ or API.VEX.com

• New VR Playground - VIQRC & V5RC
  (Available if you have a premium membership or a registered team)

• We have made it easier for you to know of any updates available inside VEXcode, to make sure you are using the most up to date software. You will get an alert, when the update is available.
  You can also check for an update: VEXcode → File → Check for update

July 15, 2024

• New Insights Article: Summer Reading 2024

• VEX IQ Educator Certification Course now available in 6 languages
  

• VEXcode API Reference now available for: VEXcode VR, VEX 123, VEX GO, VEX IQ Gen 2, VEX EXP and VEX V5 are now available

• AI Vision Sensor mounting instructions now available for: V5 Clawbot, V5 Advanced TrainingBot Competition, EXP Clawbot

July 01, 2024

• New Research Articles on Research.VEX.com
  Switch mode: How Prior Experiences Shapes How Learners Program in a Hybrid Programming Environments
  Is Block-Based Programming “Real Programming?

• The new VEX EXP API Reference site is now live!
  Discover everything you need to start coding with VEXcode EXP, using Blocks and Python. This guide will help you navigate the site and make the most of the available resources.

• VEX Library Article:
  Connecting and Configuring the Motor Controller 55

• VEXcode for V5 updates:
  2024-2025 High Stakes Game Template available (File → Open Examples → Templates → VRC 2024 Axel)
  and can find Motor Controller 55 support under devices

June 17, 2024

*VEX CTE Resources

1. Get started at teachCTE.vex.com page

2. VEX CTE Educator Certification

3. VEX CTE STEM Labs

4. VEX CTE Standards Alignment

5. VEX CTE Library of Articles (available in 25 languages) → great article: Overview of the CTE Workcell Kit

6. VEX CTE Builds

7. Coding online at codeEXP.vex.com or VEXcode Install option

June 03, 2024

• New VEX GO STEM Lab Units: Digital Citizens. Two lab unit centered around CSTA Standards around digital literacy and digital citizenship.

• New Insights Article: Reflections on the 2024 VEX Robotics Educators Conference

• The new VEXcode VR API Reference site is now live!
  Discover everything you need to start coding with VEXcode VR, using both Blocks and Python. This guide will help you navigate the site and make the most of the available resources.

May 20, 2024

• New Insights Article: Navigating the Landscape of Education Technology and Computer Science Education: Insights from SIGCSE and SITE 2024 and Highlights from the PD+ Community April 2024. Did you know you can share these Insights with your colleagues? Just copy and paste the web browser URL.

• As we begin to publish all our Presentations from the 2024 VEX Educators Conference, you can find them in your PD+ Video Library → Search by ‘2024’.
  Or you can find them in this thread here.

• New VEX 123 Activity Series:
  Mars Rock Adventure

• VEX Library Article:
  Preparing Students for the Workforce

• VEX Professional Learning Community can be read by everyone now! You can also share out threads to your colleagues and community by sharing the link.

• REC Foundation Game Manuals now translated into 23 languages
  2024-2025 Rapid Relay Game Manual
  2024-2025 High Stakes Game Manual

• VEXcode STEM Labs translated to 6 languages.

April 22, 2024

• New VEX 123 Activity Series with a focus on Computer Science. Not just for Computer Science Teachers, this was created with all Teachers in mind.
  VEX 123 Meet Your Robot
  VEX 123 Number Line
  In addition the following 123 Math Activities are new:
  Make 10
  What Time Is It?
  Word Problems

• New Insights Article: Celebrating National Robotics Week

April 08, 2024

• New VEX GO STEM Lab: Data Detectives: Bridge Challenge

• 9 Week Scope and Sequence for VEX 123 Math updated with more direct relations to common core math standards

• Australian ACARA 9.0 EXP standards are now aligned.

• New Insights Articles: A New Way to Define “Defining the Problem” and The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

• New Research Articles on [Research.VEX.com]
  Switch Mode: A Tool for Transitioning Students from Block-based to Text-based Programming
  Designing a Progression of Programming Environments to Support K-12 Learners as they Advance

• All VEX IQ Educator Resources (STEM Labs, Activities, etc) are now translated in new language of Bengali

• VEX 123 Standards Alignments completed for UK and USA

March 25, 2024

• VEX Library Articles:
  Troubleshooting the VEX V5 Workcell
  Using the AI Vision Sensor in VEXcode V5 C++
  Using the AI Vision Sensor in VEXcode V5 Python

• New Insights Article: Supporting Novice Builders

• Translation of PD+ Video Library is now available in 23 languages: Video Library → Top Right Hand Corner → ‘English’ drop down menu to see available languages. Stay tuned for: Free Educator Certifications and VEX Masterclasses as those will be next to be translated.

• Translations for VEX 123 STEM Labs are now available in: English, Arabic, German Italian, Spanish, French and Thai

• New Research Article on Research.VEX.com:
  Special Education Teachers Evaluating the Accessibility of CS Educational Robotics

• VEXcode functionality:
  1)Teach Pendant interface for VEX CTE functionality now allows for best user experience
  2)AprilTags have been enabled with the AI Vision Sensor. April tag detection can be turned on or off. AprilTags are a type of fiducial marker system designed for robust and precise detection.

March 11, 2024

• VEX Library Articles:
  Facilitating Decomposition in the Classroom
  To find any of the AI Vision Sensors Article in the VEX Library, search:
  V5/EXP/VEXcode V5/EXP → Electronics-> AI Vision Sensor under Table of Contents
  Using the AI Vision Sensor with VEX EXP
  Using the AI Vision Sensor with VEX V5
  Connect the AI Vision Sensor to App-based VEXcode EXP
  Connect the AI Vision Sensor to App-based VEXcode V5
  Connect the AI Vision Sensor to Web-based VEXcode EXP
  Connect the AI Vision Sensor to Web-based VEXcode V5
  Comparing the AI Vision Sensor to the Vision Sensor
  Comparing the AI Vision Sensor to the V5 Vision Sensor

• AI Vision Sensor support is now available in VEXcode V5 and EXP under “Add A Device” and example projects available under “File → Open Examples”

• Insights: Supporting Novice Builders and Reflecting on Winter Education Conferences

• Translations for VEX IQ and VEX GO STEM Labs are now available in: English, Arabic, German Italian, Spanish, French and Thai