November 2019 Guide: Digital & Mobile Learning
We are excited to bring you the second in a series of eSchool News Guides, which are full of resources, ... Read more
Month: October 2019
Robotics isn’t scary! 4 benefits of working with robots
Robotics is attracting more student interest, and there's a reason--when students can make real-world connections between what they learn in the classroom and exciting careers, their engagement and…
5 places to learn about creepy robots this Halloween
Robotics is pretty awesome--our eSchool News Robotics Guide has reinforced that concept for anyone who wasn't totally convinced. But sometimes, robotics and robots can also be a liiiiittle…
This program is determined to support girls in STEM
Few girls choose engineering classes because they aspire to be engineers. Many choose their classes because their friends do. The sense of belonging is important to them, and…
7 great classroom grants you should apply for today
Most schools grapple with budget restrictions and funding frustrations--and that's where classroom grants can be just what the doctor ordered. There are classroom grants to support STEM learning,…
Inspiring students for college and career—and beyond
Students are constantly reminded about the importance of preparing for college and career, but the responsibility is a shared one. Educators and parents play a large role in…
Recruiting English learners and students of color for advanced classes
While some English learners and students of color may be striving to attain minimal academic competency, others are likely to be high-ability or gifted/talented students who are not…
Teachers say these 6 things can help students with math
Poor performance in previous math classes and low confidence are some of students’ biggest stumbling blocks when it comes to math success, according to a new survey about…
Getting started with AR in the classroom
Augmented reality (AR) is described by Jaime Donally in a recent edWebinar as a "digital layer in our real world that gives an illusion that it exists in…
New Zealand is putting student empowerment at the heart of its data drive
New Zealand is a small, some would argue, perfectly formed, country. We’re diverse and proud of it. That diversity is reflected in our education system. Our roughly 5,000…
How we turned around literacy instruction and student outreach
Demographics Located in Bunnell, Fla., Flagler Schools serves nearly 13,000 students across the district’s 10 schools—five elementary schools, two middle schools, two high schools and one virtual school—and…
6 cool programmable robots for K-12
Introducing a robot into the classroom is a surefire way to grab students' attention--but robots do more than excite. When educators use programmable robots for K-12 learning, they're…
Are teachers prepared to tackle tough topics?
A new survey finds that teachers aren't necessarily prepared to teach complex topics such as LBGTQ issues, national politics, and race. The survey from Education Week Research Center…
3 ways educational data improved outcomes in this district
In the Wilson County School District, using educational data to inform our decisions has reinvented the way students learn, and it has given educators a newfound confidence in…
Fostering independence in students with visual impairments
Technological innovation provides students with visual impairments new tools to support independent living. The significant rise in the sophistication and popularity of smartphones and tablets creates opportunities to…
3 ways robots can help students tell stories
Though coding and robotics is new to almost all of the students coming into my workshops and classes, storytelling is something they’re familiar with. As the manager of…
Screening kindergarten readiness
Starting kindergarten can be a challenging time for children as many are leaving home and learning to interact with others for the first time. As such, it is…
20 top edtech tools for the classroom
At Common Sense Education, the edtech reviewers have seen it all. To help teachers navigate the plethora of materials for the digital classroom, Tanner Higgin, director of Education…
5 real examples of coding and robotics in the classroom
Coding and robotics go hand-in-hand, and they're becoming a more integral part of classrooms across the country. Aside from the excitement students muster when they see a robotics…
What does it really mean to be competency-based?
The education field is regularly plagued by the need for common definitions as new practices emerge. As we’ve seen with personalized learning, ambiguous terms for ambitious ideas can…
3 keys to a successful community literacy initiative
Finding a school district that doesn’t have a literacy initiative extending beyond the walls of the classroom would likely be quite a challenge these days. And that’s as…
5 strategies to engage students with attention issues
Engaging students with attention issues and ADHD—rather than just managing their behavior—should be a goal for every teacher. Teachers worry, though, that they will have to create a…
3 digital tools that are shifting the teacher’s role
Technology has infused classrooms with useful digital learning tools and has ushered in a new model of connected teaching. Teachers are now linked to professional content, resources, and…
We need to put robotics in rural schools
Rural schools in the United States face challenges many of their suburban counterparts couldn’t fathom. For example, access to challenging and engaging STEM courses such as robotics and…
5 takeaways about the state of edtech today
Using the right edtech tools, combined with knowledgeable and confident teaching, can help accelerate student learning, according to Promethean's 2019 U.S. State of Technology report. The report surveyed…
How this school designed a robotics program from the ground up
As a former computer engineer with a background in applied math, I’m a firm proponent of STEM education. As a math teacher with 14 years of experience facilitating…
Building and sustaining a strong math culture
Current employment trends and future projections all point towards continued growth in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs, as well as the need for STEM-related skills in…
States are questioning teacher evaluation systems
Since the 2015 passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a large number of states have backed away from recently enacted policies that were designed to breathe…
5 TED-Ed Lessons to introduce students to robotics
Robotics is gaining popularity in classrooms across the country, moving from an old sci-fi concept to a way to engage students in STEM learning by solving real-world problems.…
Great K-12 robotics apps for users of all abilities
K-12 robotics is having more than a moment--it's on its way to establishing itself as a necessary component of a 21st-century education. While it can seem overwhelming, it's…
Redefining what it means to be ‘college-ready’
Societal pressures on high school seniors seemingly grow by the year. These days, a student’s level of college and workforce readiness is said to be dependent on their…
Top picks for the best 2-in-1 laptop tablets
Why choose between a laptop and a tablet when you can have both? Check out this great list of nine of the best for 2019. Check out this…
How STEAM prepares students for the global economy
"We have students who are passionate, engaged and comfortable with technology, yet students are living in silos and not equipped with the 21st century skills which they genuinely…
How film and a flipped classroom lead to student success
According to research, in a typical classroom lecture students will generally retain only five percent of the material presented. Today’s teachers are looking to new methods of teaching…
8 resources for robotics education
Robotics education is gaining STEAM (pun intended) in classrooms across the nation, and for good reason--it’s engaging, hands-on, and students learn real-world concepts as they solve challenges. And…
Implementing an effective learner-centered approach for educators and students
Shifting from an industrial-age education model to a post-industrial learner-centered model is an essential part of preparing students for college and 21st century careers, and the process works…
3 ways AI is changing education right now (and in the future)
New and creative uses of artificial intelligence are being developed every day. The potential of AI in education cannot be ... Read more
9 grants to fund your robotics education dreams
Robotics kits and resources can be expensive, and schools don't always have money in their already-tight budgets to accommodate robotics tools. But you don’t have to say goodbye…
Here’s why robotics education will help students for life
Much of today’s impactful teaching focuses on the “why” behind the concept being taught. When it comes to STEM concepts such as robotics, educators and students alike may…
How one district handles student data privacy
Every school district is faced with a choice about how to protect student data. As districts have implemented more technology to support digital learning, student data privacy in…