Whitney Brothers® Introduces Imagination Truck For Versatile Role Play Fun

Keene, NH – Award-winning children’s furniture brand Whitney Brothers® today introduced the Imagination Truck, a versatile play vehicle that transforms into a food truck, ice cream van, mail delivery truck or other fun use for hours of imaginative role play by young children.

The exterior of the Imagination Truck is designed with headlights, taillights, bumpers, wheels, a front grill and other realistic details that bring the vehicle to life. A dry erase marker board above the windshield and on each side panel can be customized to identify the vehicle, list menus or services, announce daily specials or display a message about the play at hand. Children who look closely on and around the vehicle exterior will also find unexpected nature surprises.

Inside, the open design provides plenty of space for a seated driver and passenger in front and a play stove, sink or fridge in the middle work area (chairs, play kitchen items not included). The serving counters on each side panel enable several children to participate at one time. Supervising adults will appreciate how the open design also provides important visibility of children inside. …Read More

AI: Can it think like your students do?

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2023 was a breakout year for artificial intelligence, with explosive growth of generative AI tools.

Since researchers at Carnegie Mellon University helped invent AI in the 1950s, AI has been transforming how we learn, work, and play–and that change is now happening at breakneck speed.…Read More

What are Examples of Technology Tools in Learning?

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In the ever-evolving landscape of K-12 education, technology tools for teaching and learning play a pivotal role in shaping dynamic learning environments. From interactive applications to collaborative platforms, edtech tools enrich the educational experience. What are examples of technology tools in learning? Learning management systems, virtual reality applications, and adaptive learning platforms are just a few examples revolutionizing traditional teaching methods as students are learning in the digital age.

As educators harness the power of these tools, students benefit from personalized, engaging, and innovative approaches to learning.…Read More

Examples of Technologies that Improve Student Learning

Key points:

  • Technology’s many uses are especially valuable in student learning
  • As technology evolves, educators find new ways to target learning needs
  • Stay up-to-date on all things concerning learning in the digital age

As education becomes more an experience of learning in the digital age, technologies play a pivotal role in reshaping the learning experiences of K-12 students. From interactive applications to collaborative online platforms, a diverse array of technologies is contributing to more engaging, personalized, and efficient learning environments. These tools not only cater to diverse learning styles but also empower students to explore, create, and collaborate in unprecedented ways.

As the education sector continues to embrace technological advancements, educators are watching the transformative impact of various technologies, particularly how they facilitate enhanced comprehension, critical thinking, and prepare students for success in the ever-evolving digital era.…Read More

In 2024, education will move to adopt AI—but slowly

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In education, we tend to move pretty slowly when it comes to adopting new technology, and that pattern won’t change with artificial intelligence (AI). In the coming year, early adopters will continue to play with new AI tools to see how they can be used in education. They will have some amazing successes—and some failures—as they light the way forward and the rest of us endlessly discuss the potential uses and abuses of AI in our classrooms.

Here is a bit about why we’ll have to wrestle with AI, the barriers we will face in adopting it in the coming year, and a few resources to help educators begin exploring AI.…Read More

Why diversity and STEM education are critical to our future workforce

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STEM allow us to push the boundaries of innovation, enabling people to step foot on the moon, develop lifesaving health care, and advance clean forms of energy. We also have STEM to thank for how we live, from asking our smartphone’s voice assistant to play our favorite music to connecting with our parents on a video call.

Each year, we dedicate November 8, National STEM Day to encouraging students to explore and pursue their interests in STEM fields of study that propel our world forward.…Read More

Purposeful play helps kids learn–here’s how to integrate it

Key points:

  • Teachers agree that learning through play is a more effective way for students to learn compared to more traditional approaches
  • Students say their favorite times in the classroom are when they get to do hands-on activities and believe that play helps them learn
  • See related article: How to integrate a computer science curriculum into K-5 classrooms
  • For more news on teaching trends and curriculum, visit eSN’s Innovative Teaching page

A new survey of K-8 teachers and students from LEGO Education found that nearly all (98 percent) of students say purposeful play helps them learn and the majority (96 percent) of teachers believe it’s more effective than traditional methods like lectures or textbooks. On top of that, almost 80 percent of students want more playful learning experiences in the classroom.

Despite these benefits, 40 percent of teachers are incorporating play only once a week or less, and nearly half (47 percent) think they spend too much time on it.…Read More

5 models that prioritize learner-centered education

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School models are, for the most part, outdated–and very overdue for replacement. When students reach high school, research shows that close to 66 percent of students are disengaged. But even students who do successfully navigate their schooling emerge with only a specific (and often narrow) skillset that may or may not match their strengths or interests.

Conventional schooling often leaves students disillusioned, questioning their intelligence and value as it is framed by a system that needs an overhaul.…Read More

Technology as a bridge–not a shortcut–to student relationships

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The research is clear: Connections are game changers in helping young people from low-income households achieve upward economic mobility later in life.

The critical role that relationships play in the opportunity equation was well-documented in political scientist Robert Putnam’s 2015 book, Our Kids. Putnam’s argument was further confirmed in recent, large-scale research by Harvard economist Raj Chetty and his team at Opportunity Insights, who mined 21 billion data points from de-identified Facebook data to discover that cross-class connections were a leading predictor of upward mobility in adulthood. The analysis also offered school-level data charting “economic connectedness”–or lack thereof–within individual high schools and colleges across the country.…Read More

Roylco Secures “Best STEM Building Toy” in Best Building Toys for Kids, According to Experts

ANDERSON, S.C. ––  Roylco, a leading innovator in manufacturing educational kids’ toys, proudly announces its recent accolade as “Best STEM Building Toy” in Good Housekeeping’s expert-rating “16 Best Building Toys for Kids, According to Experts.”

Good Housekeeping, a coveted source for all parents seeking quality children’s products, has turned to its in-house panel of experts to test and review hundreds of building toys over the course of the year. Roylco’s determination and commitment to bringing high quality and performing toys is a testament to its core beliefs of promoting cognitive and motor skill development through the course of play.

“We put so much thought and care into each of our toys,” says Darby Smith, Director of Business Development at Roylco, “We are deeply committed and passionate about fostering hands-on educational growth in children through play, and this recognition is extremely meaningful.”…Read More

How to support student agency

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In my more than 20 years of supporting students on their academic journey, I’ve realized there are no “magic” solutions in education. But there are some strategies that have proven to be more effective than others in helping all students succeed.

One of the most basic, yet effective, strategies is giving students choice and agency over their learning.…Read More

Digital tools are a vehicle–not a standalone solution–for trauma-responsive care in schools

Key points:

  • Investing in mental health training, resources, and digital tools supports students’ immediate needs and creates a foundation for the long term
  • By leaning into the power of human connection and leveraging digital health tools, schools can proactively enhance student well-being
  • See related article: Using tech to combat trauma

Schools play a vital role in nurturing the well-being of their students. And, as the primary setting where children spend a significant portion of their time, schools are well-positioned to be an additional touchpoint in the mental healthcare continuum. This additional touchpoint is particularly critical amid mental healthcare provider shortages, enduring access challenges, and the stigma associated with these illnesses.

As a result, schools can help bridge the gap to treatment through a trauma-responsive environment, which has shown to improve student well-being, reduce chronic absenteeism, and raise student engagement. But in my experience, it will take a multipronged approach that centers relationship building, integrates digital tools, and invests in the long-term to make a difference for a school community.…Read More