3 keys to cultivating the maker mindset
When we dreamed of starting construction on a space where teachers and students alike could cultivate a maker mindset, our goals went beyond creating a dedicated makerspace. We…
creativity
The coolest K-12 robotics programs we saw at ISTE
Efforts to get kids coding have exploded in recent years, but sometimes kids need a push to discover the "why" behind learning how to code. At ISTE 2019,…
5 ways to create spaces that unlock creativity & encourage collaboration
It’s easy to focus on what we teach and how we teach, but where we teach is often overlooked.We need to prepare students for jobs that don’t yet…
3 changes that can help the class of 2030 succeed
Today's kindergartners are the class of 2030, and by the time they enter the workforce, it will look vastly different. Occupations will need expertise, creativity, grit, and, most…
11 educators share how they bring coding into the classroom
By now, most educators understand the importance of coding. Programmers continue to be in high demand, and coding improves much-needed skills like creativity, persistence, problem solving, and critical…
Teaching faculty to think like innovators
The rapid pace of technological change has forever transformed the face of the global workplace. In fact, its future is unimagined; 85 percent of jobs that will exist in…
How creative learning spaces lead to greater innovation
As technology and innovation become first priority for school districts, it’s important that students are offered creative learning spaces to expand and challenge their knowledge and ability to…
More Than 40 New Things We Saw at ISTE 2018
Creativity, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital competencies were just a few of the many trends at ISTE 2018. This year’s ... Read more
Here’s how to foster creative problem solving
Last year, Adobe conducted a study of Generation Z students (ages 11-17) that found students and teachers believe creativity is critical for success in the future workforce. Based on…
Why creative thinking might be our strongest asset
Developing a creative mindset is more important than ever before, not just for our students, but for educators as well. The advancement of technology, the connectedness of society,…
The New Librarian: Building confidence through coding
When reading became more digital with the introduction of tablets and e-readers, libraries became pressured to innovate and remain relevant. As a former classroom teacher and current literacy…
Top 5 TED-Ed Lessons on creativity
“Do schools kill creativity?” asks Sir Ken Robinson in the most-viewed TED Talk of all time (more than 51 million!). In the video, Robinson challenges schools to promote…
Dos & don’ts for fostering creativity and innovation in the classroom
Creativity in the classroom provides a more relaxed and open environment for the students to freely express their opinions and to learn faster. Here are some tips for…
How I became an active learner at ASCD “Empower18”
As ASCD Empower 18 kicked off in Boston on Friday, March 23 I knew the four days were going to be “wicked awesome”—I mean, come on!—it’s Boston. But…
How to teach like the Finns
Shorter days, less homework, and better results. How do you get that? Do like the Finns. For those in the know, the Finnish system is often seen as…
Can creativity be taught?
I recently attended a conference and enjoyed the sessions and topics ranging from professional-development strategies to the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI). Like everyone else, I am eager…
6 tips for making the most of your Chromebooks
Before my second year of teaching, my principal suggested that I pilot a class set of 35 Chromebooks in my ninth- and 11th-grade English classes. In exchange for…
15 of the best apps to engage students outside the classroom
Learning shouldn’t stop when students leave for summer vacation. Rather, this extended break from the classroom is the perfect time to introduce kids to a variety of mobile…
28 can’t-miss edtech innovations from ISTE 2017
This year's ISTE Conference was all about technology-charged learning--and from the keynotes and sessions to the fast-paced exhibit hall, the conference's more than 20,000 attendees (15,000 educators plus…
Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge
The Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge offers young inventors the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be mentored by a 3M Scientist ... Read more
Carton2Garden Grant
Show us your students’ creativity by re-purposing milk and juice cartons from your school cafeteria to either build or enhance ... Read more
8 tips to help create and sustain a makerspace
Though makerspaces are becoming more mainstream, creating and maintaining one could overwhelm educators who are starting from scratch. Aside from the technology tools and other resources that make…
Can robotics teach problem solving to students?
Throughout my 35 years of teaching, I’ve watched students grow up in what I lovingly call the “worksheet generation.” In this environment, students are accustomed to a very…
Our research shows that when students work on projects, they learn more
Educators often talk about 21st-century skills and the benefits of incorporating communication, creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking into lessons. ... Read more
The link between arts-based learning and STEM
The Art of Science Learning (AoSL), a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded initiative, spearheaded by its Principal Investigator, Harvey Seifter, has ... Read more
Stretch student collaboration skills with Breakout EDU
The physical and virtual escape games build valuable 21st-century skills. Here's how it works
Encourage critical thinking by turning your class into a Socratic Seminar
With so much talk about the Common Core standards and truly increasing our student’s argumentative powers and critical thinking skills, ... Read more
13 apps that promote higher-order thinking standards
These mobile apps go way beyond games Mobile devices are becoming increasingly common in schools because they cost so much ... Read more
What do we really mean by risk taking in the classroom?
It's important for students to learn risk taking skills. But how do schools do that without taking some big risks themselves?
Most Popular in 2015, No. four: 8 things every teacher can do to create an innovative classroom
Innovation can’t be tested or graded — but it can be built up Ed. note: We’re counting down the top ... Read more
Most Popular of 2015, No. five: These 6 questions determine if you’re technology rich, innovation poor
Think your school is innovative with tech? Answer these 6 questions and prepare to reassess Ed. note: We’re counting down ... Read more
Full Sail launches new camps for coding, robotics, gaming, and more
Full Sail University on Dec. 11 unveiled Full Sail Labs, an educational experience designed for students from 1st to 12th grades with a focus on technology, science, art…
Meet Dr. Darryl Adams
Darryl Adams turned the creativity cultivated in his life as a professional musician and music teacher to school administration with bold innovation in his district.
How a GoPro Got My Students Excited to Learn
I had not planned to purchase a GoPro while out shopping. However, it was on sale, I had a coupon, two gift cards, and two weeks in the…
How the ‘four Cs’ fit with the Common Core
Communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking are an integral part of the Common Core standards; here are free resources that can help you teach these skills.
How to stop high school from stifling creativity
“Education is not the learning of facts,” said Albert Einstein, “but the training of the mind to think,” The Globe and Mail reports.