Recent articles

Enough tchotchkes! Get students making meaningful 3D projects
06/01/2015
Topics: Makerspaces, STEM & STEAM, Tools
As 3D printers increasingly find roles in schools, libraries and even homes, it is vital that educators provide challenging and meaningful projects. School administrators, trustees, superintendents and parents will not be impressed by an iPhone case downloaded from the internet to roll off the…

3 quick tips for igniting creativity through making
05/28/2015
Topics: Makerspaces, Project-based learning, Tools
If you want to be a maker, you have to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Allowing students to play, collaborate, build and make freely gives them powerful learning opportunities. So how can you support students through making and spark a maker movement at your school?…

Quick tips for using Google tools in your classroom
05/20/2015
Topics: ISTE Conference & Expo, Tools
You may have heard that Google Apps for Education and other Google tools offer endless possibilities to enhance learning…

More life hacks for ed tech educators
04/22/2015
Topics: Tools
We recently shared some of our favorite tips and tricks to improve everyday life for educators. The post was so…

Classrooms go collaborative with Google Apps
04/15/2015
Topics: ISTE Conference & Expo, Tools
The Google Apps for Education suite is a cloud-based set of tools that can promote better collaboration, productivity and creativity among teachers, students and parents.
In the classroom, teachers can use the tools to…

Flip your classroom with instructional screencasts
04/15/2015
Topics: Flipped learning, Tools, Video
" "Sometimes I wish I could record myself teaching in September, then play it back to students in March so they can remember all the things they forgot," " said one veteran teacher I know with an exasperated sigh. She was looking for a way to provide small-group remediation while teaching new…

Apple tools: The head-fake method for student engagement
04/09/2015
Topics: Digital storytelling, ISTE Conference & Expo, Tools
They're officially called Apple Creativity Apps. Unofficially, they are a suite of five tools included with all Apple computers and tablets that educators can leverage to build engaging learning experiences.
The beauty of the…

Five life hacks for ed tech educators
04/08/2015
Topics: Tools
Ed tech educators are pros at integrating the power of technology and connectivity into learning and teaching, but there's likely still room to apply a few new tools and tricks to improve everyday life.
Use it so they don't lose it: At the next open house, post…
Are educator certifications — such as Google Certified Teacher and Apple Distinguished Educator — meaningful? Yes
03/27/2015
Topics: professional learning, Tools
Any type of training and learning is meaningful in both practical and philosophical ways.Practically speaking, at the end of the day, educators who obtain a certification have increased their knowledge base. Even if the certifying body filled the certification with vendor bias, the…

Stock your PBL toolbox with the right tools for the job
03/24/2015
Topics: Project-based learning, Tools
There's no shortage of tools to drive project-based learning. The trick to choosing the right tool for the job is to first think about what you are trying to accomplish, then select accordingly from the apps, websites and hardware at your disposal.
Suzie Boss, co-author of …