Recent articles

5 ways every educator can lead change
11/15/2017
Topics: 1:1, BYOD, Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Curriculum, Education leadership, Flipped learning, Literacies, Mobile learning, professional learning
Educational technology has long been considered a subset among a host of education topics. That’s no longer the case, says educator Mark Gura, who believes a powerful reversal is happening – a reversal that’s creating a new reality in schools worldwide. |…

How podcasts are making students better researchers
07/13/2017
Topics: Literacies
What teachers say: “Write a research paper.”
What students hear: “Google it.”
It’s no secret that today’s students conduct their research mostly through search engines. When you’ve got everything you could ever want to know right at your fingertips, why bother…

Learning happens in a zigzag and that's OK
06/24/2017
Topics: Assistive and adaptive technologies, Augmented reality, Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Digital Citizenship, Digital storytelling, Gamification, Gaming, ISTE Conference & Expo, Literacies, Makerspaces, Personalized Learning, professional learning, Project-based learning, Robotics, STEM & STEAM
Jad Abumrad is quick to say he doesn’t feel comfortable giving educators advice, and yet his career in radio touches on many topics educators are familiar with.
Tinkering. Curiosity. Messy experiences. Failing forward. Transformation.
Abumrad, host and creator…

Minecraft + creative passion = innovative learning
06/20/2017
Topics: Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Digital Citizenship, Digital storytelling, Gaming, ISTE Conference & Expo, Literacies, Makerspaces, professional learning
It’s no secret that Minecraft taps into students’ passions. What better way to learn than by playing your favorite game?
But Minecraft doesn’t just fuel their passion for video games. Its design-oriented gameplay allows kids to explore a wide variety of interests within the…

ISTE CEO shares his vision for ISTE
06/14/2017
Topics: Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Digital Citizenship, Digital storytelling, Literacies, Makerspaces, Personalized Learning, professional learning
ISTE CEO Richard Culatta’s passion for innovation goes back to one of his first jobs when he was putting his degrees in Spanish teaching and educational psychology to work as the director of operations for a school in rural Guatemala.
Seeking new ways to bridge generations-old…

Just a click away! Use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for PD
06/05/2017
Topics: Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Digital Citizenship, Digital storytelling, Literacies, Makerspaces, professional learning
Many educators extol the benefits of Twitter as a tool for developing a professional learning network and engaging in professional development. But Twitter isn’t the only social media platform that educators can use to share with and learn from one another. Facebook and Instagram…

5 things schools can learn from food trucks
06/02/2017
Topics: 1:1, BYOD, Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Curriculum, Flipped learning, Literacies, Mobile learning, Personalized Learning, professional learning
Unless you’ve been hiding out in the Appalachians or something, you’ve probably noticed the proliferation of food trucks over the past couple of years. Food trucks and mobile food carts are popular because they offer an easy and affordable way to sample an array of cuisine on the go.
In…

Coding in the classroom with real-world learning
06/01/2017
Topics: 1:1, BYOD, Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Curriculum, Flipped learning, Literacies, Mobile learning, professional learning, Robotics, STEM & STEAM
The Innovator Solutions section includes contributions from corporate sponsors and advertisers representing education organizations, businesses, policy-making bodies and other influencers dedicated to transforming education.
Today’s students need to prepare for a variety of…

Bring the feel of an edtech conference to your district PD
05/26/2017
Topics: Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Digital Citizenship, Digital storytelling, Literacies, Makerspaces, professional learning
It’s imperative that schools have updated technology. But that technology is only useful if educators understand how to use it to enhance learning. That’s why good professional development is so important.
Good tech PD, however, can be difficult to pull off. If you want…

Polarized? Not this student-created election!
05/24/2017
Topics: Coding & robotics, Computational Thinking, Digital Citizenship, Digital storytelling, Literacies, Makerspaces, professional learning
Our job as educators is not only to teach our students academic skills, but to train them in life skills to use kind words, unify and not divide, and promote civility, digital citizenship and responsibility. Regardless of political beliefs, it was challenging to pull this off…