How Teachers Can Support PBL at Home

Tips and projects that teachers can share with parents and caregivers to guide children in any grade through project-based learning—with or without technology.

It’s time to set up a Blended Learning classroom

Distance learning has left a mark on schools worldwide. Even now that educators are getting ready for a gradual reopening, it is clear that they will not allow the efforts made to adapt to the crisis to go to waste: the next phase of the plan for the return to a new normal is blended learning, and it just might be here to stay.

But this combination of distance and in-person learning may leave some teachers unprepared, so let’s take a look at what to expect.

How COVID-19 Provides Learning Opportunities for STEM Students

It's easy to see the coronavirus pandemic solely as a devastating event. There's no denying the hardships caused, but silver linings exist, too. For example, STEM learning is now more diverse and full of real-world activities.

Science, technology, engineering and math students have plenty of evidence of why these subjects matter and can even use their skills to positively influence the pandemic's effects. Here are five examples:

At-Home Learning Throughout Summer

With the majority of schools across the country closed, many parents are feeling the stress of taking more active roles in their children’s education. As time away from the classroom extends into summer, parents also face the challenge of helping their children maintain what they’ve learned through a summer of uncertainty.

This year’s shift to at-home learning has provided plenty of resources parents can use to keep their children’s minds engaged and actively learning. The shift has also prompted families to create new routines and healthy learning habits. Continuing these best practices over the summer may prove beneficial in setting students up for success when they return to the classroom.

Virtual Reality Could Transform Education as We Know It

Virtual reality has been on the radar since Morton Heilig's Sensorama in the 1950s, and head mounted versions of the technology were even around in the 1960s. But it wasn't until recently that its use has become less of a novelty and more of a commonality. Console games and smartphone adapters have brought the potential of virtual reality into the lives of everyday people. And soon, that technology will enter the classroom.

Now, the big question is how these emerging technologies will transform education as we know it. While that question might not be fully answered for some time, it is easy to see the potential.

4 Ways Artificial Intelligence is Changing The Classroom

Artificial intelligence is both today’s ultimate breakthrough technology and a bit of a buzzword. It is, however, changing many facets of our lives, some of them quite noticeably. Whether AI is applied in business, industry, healthcare or education, it is often used as more or less an umbrella term, meaning that a product or system has something to do with big data, machine learning, pattern recognition and cognitive analysis, natural language processing (NLP), computer vision, neural networks, and so on.

Individually or combined, these aspects of artificial intelligence proper can power a variety of tools, educational aids, and digital learning platforms. Their main objective is to assist, augment, and streamline the traditional classroom experience without necessarily disrupting its core processes (so no “sentient robots to take teachers’ jobs” or “artificial intelligence to replace educational systems” here, sorry).

With that in mind, here are four examples of real-life applications of AI changing the classroom, from established projects to soon-to-be-reality initiatives.

Five Ways to Encourage Your Child to Pursue STEM

Coding is the language of the future.

You’ve probably heard this many times before and might be worried how to make sure your child learns this new language on top of playing sports, doing their homework, and just being a kid. Don’t panic. The good news is that anyone can learn how to code and there are many free or inexpensive resources available.

Five Coding Activities to Do with Your Kid This Summer

Summer is perfect for playing at the pool, eating popsicles, and playing outside, but it’s also a great opportunity to engage kids with computer science concepts. We’ve compiled a few of our favorite computing activities that parents, teachers, camp counselors, and more can implement into the day. Not only are they super fun, but they teach kids important skills that could lead to future success once they’re back in the classroom this fall.

The Importance of Robotics in Education

Educators on all levels — teachers, principals, and superintendents — know the value of learning science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and focusing on technology in education.

Robotics takes education technology to a new level, creating the next evolution in teaching. That’s because introducing robotics to schools means making STEM skills and knowledge hands-on and fun, to prepare students for the future in a way that feels more like creativity and less like homework.

Robotics requires all of the subjects of STEM, so it’s a well-rounded approach to educational technology and learning.

Using the Outdoors to Teach STEM

An engaging activity encourages students to explore math in everyday spaces like parks and school campuses.