New portal for hands-on instruction aims to make learning fun
With funding and support from AT&T, ed-tech company GameDesk has created a new hands-on teaching and learning portal called Educade, which aims to “put fun and creativity back into learning” by providing a large online library of free lesson plans paired with engaging teaching tools.
The latest in a host of new websites designed to help educators find and use ed-tech tools in their classrooms, Educade offers a “one-stop shop” for K-12 teachers and parents who are looking for ways to use apps and games, as well as low- and no-tech tools, that focus on hands-on creation to advance students’ understanding.
Every lesson plan created or curated by GameDesk is aligned with the Common Core and Next Generation standards for English language arts, math, and science, the company claims. Users of the website can search for content by grade level, subject matter, device type, and technology level. Users also can add original content to the site; save, organize, and customize what they find in a virtual “backpack”; and engage in conversations with the community to generate and advance new ideas for hands-on learning.
Examples of the free content on Educade include hands-on lesson plans for learning physics with Newton’s Playground, a digital sandbox game that challenges players to move a ball across obstacles using drawn-in machines; designing a video game controller with Makey Makey, a circuit board kit that can be used to connect objects with a computer; and exploring local community history with Aurasma, an augmented reality mobile app.
“We are very excited to share our work and community movement through Educade,” said Lucien Vattel, founder and executive director of GameDesk. “There is a new world of educational ideas and tools expressed within this site from thought leaders and educators all over. I hope folks will come explore, create, and join us in the future of learning.”
For more websites designed to help educators use ed-tech tools, see:
LearnBIG creates hub for online educational resources
Pearson launches searchable catalog of open educational resources
Here’s help for teaching with digital apps
PowerMyLearning offers free, high-quality resources to support Common Core instruction
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