Today is Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. Those arranging and participating in “Girl’s Day” activities are helping us to close the science gap. SheHeroes (reviewed here) is an organization that believes young girls should be encouraged to pursue non-traditional STEM based careers. Be sure to check out their resources as you plan for participating … read more »
As teachers and schools gear up for The Hour of Code (December 4-10), I think it’s really important to remind our students that coding isn’t an end to itself. It is a means to solve a problem. One way to help students understand that that is to explain where coding would fit in the a … read more »
Another fabulous summer has come to a close. Educators are once again engulfed in the start of a new school year and all the wonderful and time-consuming things that go along with it. While most of you found time to read over the summer amid vacations, lesson plan prep, professional development and personal rejuvenation, it … read more »
Summer is the perfect time for students to explore their creativity through maker projects and design challenges! These activities give students the freedom to create, experiment, and engage in self-directed learning, using materials found at home or provided in kits sent from school. Whether short and simple or long-term and immersive, maker projects encourage problem-solving, … read more »
“Scientists study the world as it is; engineers create the world that has never been.” -Theodore von Karman Celebrate the many ways engineers make a difference in the world during Engineers Week, February 19–25. This year’s theme is Creating the Future! Sponsored by DiscoverE, this week promotes and encourages educators to share the engineering field with … read more »
What is maker education? In maker education, “students imagine, design, and create projects that align the content of learning with hands-on application” (Makered.org). Maker education was born from the maker movement, which believes that we are all “makers” and can be creators—not just consumers—of things. Makerspaces are specific spaces in schools, libraries, and community organizations … read more »
National Library Week is more than a date on the calendar—it’s an open invitation to build a culture of reading, curiosity, and community that lasts well beyond seven days. Sponsored annually by the American Library Association (ALA) and typically held during the second week of April, National Library Week overlaps with School Library Month. Each … read more »
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” —Will Durant, summarizing Aristotle If you’ve ever looked out at your classroom and felt like you were competing with a dozen glowing rectangles for your students’ attention, you are in good company. We’ve all been there: a student nodding along … read more »
You’re staring at a new unit plan, trying to figure out how to weave in media literacy, find credible primary sources, and keep thirty different students engaged—all while hitting your state standards. It feels like a solo mountain climb. But here’s the thing: you aren’t alone on that mountain. Just down the hall—or perhaps right … read more »
In Part 1 of this blog, we introduced you to Adobe Podcast and discussed how to use the SAMR Model and the Triple E Framework with Adobe Podcast in your instruction. Today’s post offers detailed instructions for using this resource and shares classroom ideas that support all student learners. Adobe Podcast’s free version offers a … read more »