The Future Still Lies in Coding

By  MATTHEW LYNCH

Image source: https://unsplash.com/ 

Coding is enormous in education right now.

No wonder. Coding offers so many academic benefits that schools cannot ignore its significance.  Sequential processes, computational thinking, and creative problem-solving all make upcoding. It’s the new literacy in schools. There’s so much to like about coding that coding academies and boot camps are springing up everywhere.

Bootcamps can be expensive, but they are intensive. Participants learn as much as possible in three to six months, securing employment as a coder soon after that. Academies, on the other hand, tend to be more flexible. They offer coding training at all levels, and students create code in maker spaces.

Coding appeals to children of all ages. Not only are there plenty of outstanding apps with which to teach coding, but there are also schools focused intensely on learning how to code.

5 Ways to Get Girls into STEM

By Karen D. Purcell, P.E.

Photo by Nikhita S on Unsplash

As a society, we learn about the world and advance our well-being through science and engineering. The United States may be known around the world for its higher education, but compared to many other leading and steadily emerging countries, we lack a strong focus on educating scientists and engineers. One significant reason that we have fallen behind is that we do not encourage our female students to pursue career paths in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).

This needs to change, as the lack of women in STEM will continue to plague our country until all students, regardless of sex, have adequate opportunities to explore math and science throughout elementary, middle, and high school. If we want to attract the best and brightest minds into the fields that will move us forward, we must look to all of the population. More women can contribute to our field, and we can help make that happen. Below are a few strategies for how we can help.

Can Robotics Teach Problem Solving to Students?

By MATTHEW LYNCH The Edvocate

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential to success at university and in later life. However, the traditional classroom model has done a poor job of imparting these skills to students. The way children have learned in the classroom for generations has focused on lectures and worksheets. Past generations would depend on group sports, clubs, and teenage jobs to impart these vital skills to students.

However, new ideas suggest that robotics may hold the key to teaching problem-solving skills to students. Using robots to teach real-world skills may be a strange concept, but is it worth exploring? We think so and here’s why.

How to Ensure Classroom Air Safety During COVID-19

By Steve Daniel, President, UV Health Group.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Comparing the efficacy and value of HVAC, HEPA, and UVC systems is a good place to start when analyzing classroom air safety as in-person learning resumes.

STEM, Automation, and Sustainability: Helping Create a Better Tomorrow

By Dan Matthews

Image Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/uXsBGF5CrpU

As global temperatures continue to rise and inclement weather events increase in frequency, the effects of climate change are readily apparent. But there’s good news in the realm of climate change: The global call for sustainable solutions has risen alongside the issue, and young people are leading the charge.

Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg is, of course, the most well-known of these young activists. And while Thunberg has had to deal with her fair share of criticism and haters since first speaking out in 2018, the young woman also has plenty of support from — peers, family members, and educators alike. For Thunberg, private school education catalyzed her activism, and her teachers did their best to encourage her interest in STEM.

Education and awareness of the harsh realities of climate change, as well as technological advancements in sustainability, may serve a similar purpose for students around the world. Beginning in primary school, a STEM-focused educational model helps to lay the foundation necessary for students to take their skill sets into the future and create a better, more sustainable tomorrow. Students who are passionate about sustainability may ultimately choose a career path in which they can make a real difference.

Here’s what you need to know about facilitating an interest in STEM among students of all ages, and how technological advancements in automation, waste reduction, and more fit into the overall picture.

How Hidden Classroom Dynamics Can Stymie Girls in STEM

If we want to close the gender gap in science, we need to look at the invisible forces that shape classroom culture.

4 Steps to Maximize Summer Learning

Photo by Start Digital on Unsplash

Summer learning will play a critical role in students' return to full-time in-person learning this fall. 

Turn To Coding And Robotics If You Want Your Students To Posses a Growth Mindset

Diligence, a curious spirit, and perseverance are qualities we desire to see in our students. These traits are elements of the “growth mindset.” Teaching students coding presents one of the best opportunities to develop and nurture kids’ growth mindset in the school setting. This article shows five scenarios to support this position.

Setting Students Up for Careers in Computer Science

By Dan Matthews

Image Source: Pexels

Discussing careers with students can be challenging. After all, a lot of weight is often placed upon the subject. As a teacher, you're expected to provide insights into potential careers that empower students to thrive beyond school.

In this regard, computer science can be a great area of discussion and exploration. It has increasing relevance in the current digital landscape. There is also a growing number of professions it can be applied to. These factors, among others, can make it an important consideration. Indeed, it is part of the reason that it is imperative to teach computer science in schools. Yet, it has something of a dry reputation. Students who may not be inclined toward the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects run the risk of missing out on careers that enrich their adult lives.

So, how can you best go about setting students up for careers in computer science? Let’s take a closer look at some areas of consideration.

3 reasons virtual STEM is here to stay

By Alan Downward, Ph.D., Science Team, Flinn Scientific

Virtual STEM offers engaging learning opportunities for students—opportunities that have proved essential during COVID.