Andy Larmand

For educators, there are a lot of different tech tools they can use. Some are geared towards math education, others towards teaching tech skills, and there are plenty of others for different areas of the curriculum. One of those areas is reading assessment. And, one of those tools for gauging an accurate picture of student reading skills is Literably.

Led by Nate Ubowski and Greg Rousos, learn how teachers can use the Sphero BOLT, RVR, and Mini for robotics lessons in remote learning. Going beyond the 4 C’s to spark curiosity and create a greater sense of community improvement, the presenters also covered how Sphero’s robots allow for efficient STEAM instruction.

The line of RoboKind robots are unlike any others in the education world. Comprised of three facially-expressive humanoids, the RoboKind robots have helped provide support for countless students who learn differently. Each robot offers unique advantages and includes accompanying curriculum designed to open up communication and expression.

The Sphero BOLT is built on the same premise as its predecessor, the SPRK+, including a similar appearance. With the BOLT and its impressive features, however, students can accomplish much more! The BOLT is equipped with an on-board 8×8 LED matrix, a magnetometer for auto-aiming, a light sensor for measuring lux values, and IR sensors!

Jorge Valenzuela has become an influential figure in STEM education with experience in both classroom and online teaching as well as higher education instruction. He worked in the Richmond Public Schools system for 10 years and helped build their Tech Ed program. In recent years, he’s shared his experiences, including in his book!

This month, we hear from Michelle Robinson, who’s a library media specialist at the Tackan Elementary School. Michelle has used a bunch of different types of technologies with elementary students in the library. Whether it’s tangible STEM tools or digital creation platforms, Michelle has done a lot to provide students with real-world opportunities.

We have awarded our educational technology grant for the month of April to Creighton Helms of the Gervais School District. Creighton serves as the principal of the Gervais Elementary School in Gervais, OR and has really worked to create relevant STEAM learning opportunities for the students he supports.

As the school year winds down, many students and teachers are experiencing some firsts. Some have been in the classroom all year, but others are getting their first taste of that return to normal in-person learning. In many cases, this even means students are meeting their teachers and classmates for the first time.

PBL involves students working as part of a group most of the time on a community-focused project designed to affect authentic change. You can see how this might be tough to do in a remote environment, but a lot of progress has been made. It takes true teamwork, but PBL IRL (in remote learning) is certainly a possibility.

The Dash and Dot Robots are a favorite among educators when it comes to coding in school. Since many students are no longer able to enjoy this, however, coding in remote learning has become the next best thing. Using the virtual Dash robot, which can be accessed through Class Connect, students are able to continue their coding from home!