Educators often come up against the argument that the skills and concepts they are teaching in class have no real connection to daily life. When it comes to STEAM concepts, there are a million ways to capture the imagination and interest of students who are probably already using them every day. Give your students […]
Search Results for: 21st Century
Avoiding Distraction: Harnessing Technology in the Classroom
There are many things outside of an educator’s sphere of control. Many, many things. However, one thing that I take great pleasure in controlling through smart lesson design is engagement. Gone are the days that teachers can stand and deliver. Children are just not there anymore, and we have to adapt so that we […]
Choosing the Right Plastic Labware for Your Science Classroom
As technology has made it possible to create higher quality plastics, many scientists and lab professionals, along with science educators, have switched from using glass to plastic labware. Plastic may be a popular choice for science classrooms, but it’s still very important for science educators to look carefully at the quality and chemical resistance […]
A Better Solution Than Guns: Threat Assessment and Mental Health Awareness
Rather than debating whether or not teachers should be armed, what if we instead identified solutions to prevent heinous violent attacks from occurring in the first place? And what if, instead of believing all persons living with serious mental illness are violent loners who should be hospitalized, we learned how to recognize and respond […]
Benefits of Incorporating Art Concepts in Elementary Math
Art integration starts with the aspiration to see students more engaged and excited about learning. The research shows that bringing art concepts into the math classroom not only benefits engagement levels, but aids in constructing a deeper understanding of math concepts. We’ll cover some of the benefits of art integration and highlight the reasons […]
5 Tips for Better Study Habits and Test Prep Skills
Developing time-management, planning and organization skills is essential for learning and retaining vital information. Combining these skills along with the right tools, such as planners, will help your students make positive study choices to successfully complete assignments and prepare for tests. 5 Ways to Get the Most Out of a Study Session Students can […]
4 Reasons to Create Active Learning Spaces
Why Students Need Active Learning Spaces Contrary to traditional classroom practices, research is confirming what classroom teachers have long suspected – that reducing recess time and physical activity during a school day is having a negative impact on a student’s ability to learn. Research is proving that physical movement influences attention, organization, vision, speech, […]
The Career & Technical Education Renaissance
The vast majority of jobs created during the recent economic recovery require highly skilled workers. Many of these jobs continue to go unfilled because a lack of candidates. Technical Education Renaissance in Schools Part of the reason is a misconception that these high-paying, fulfilling careers require expensive four-year college degrees, when the truth is […]
Getting Ed Tech Budget Approved Through Collaboration
If you and your colleagues find yourselves scratching your heads about finding ways to procure the technology you need for your classroom—and your school district suffers from limited educational technology funding—you might consider collaborating to achieve your respective and collective goals. Enlist your school leaders and district administrators to round out your team focused […]
Learning Happens Everywhere
Hallways, courtyards, and other common areas in a school used to be forgotten space. It wasn’t thought that they could serve any purpose other than getting students from one place to the next or giving people a place to wait. In the 21st century, learning happens everywhere. That is especially true on school grounds, […]
Building Empathy Through Engineering
When you ask an educator what they are hoping students learn while working in a makerspace, they will probably list the four Cs of 21st century learning: critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Perhaps even a fifth: character building. Those are all possible, but there is another which may prove the most valuable of […]
Should Art Rooms Be the Makerspace Hub?
You’re probably aware of the makerspace trend sweeping across schools around the country. Partially, it’s an effort to engage students through exploration, it’s also an effort to prepare students with 21st century skills. The goal of a makerspace is to create spaces where students can develop new skills and explore their curiosity in a […]