We’re excited to introduce our education community to our latest "Eduporium Featured Educator.” As we do at the beginning of every month, we’re highlighting the amazing work of an innovative educator who has consistently used EdTech to empower his or her students with more relevant learning experiences. We love sharing their stories and success and hope this series continues to encourage educators to try new things! This month, we’re featuring Scott Donnelly, a teacher from Pennsylvania, who has been utilizing EdTech he received through our STEM grant program to run coding initiatives for elementary school students!
Scott Donnelly
5th Grade STEM and Social Studies Educator, Carnegie Elementary, Carnegie, PA
Q&A:
What have you done with some of the EdTech tools you received through the Eduporium grant program?
I used the grant to purchase some Ozobot robots, which I have used in my Intro to Robotics/Coding Unit. The Ozobots act as a continuing step in these units as students progress through coding challenges with increasing difficulty. The highlight of the Ozobot section of the unit was seeing the fifth graders introduce coding to first graders by teaching them how to use the Ozobots in a Christmas-themed activity that had the Ozobot adorned with a Santa hat and delivering gifts within a 'town' while avoiding the Scrooge in its travels. Students teaching students is priceless.
What are two or three of your favorite EdTech tools to use as an educator?
My favorite EdTech tools are Google Suite for Education and all its apps, Ozobots, and Sphero Robots. All of these are incorporated into my STEM and social studies lessons to increase student engagement. These two robot brands certainly are at the top of many STEM teachers’ wish lists. They create so many chances for increased engagement, plus teachers can use them to make instruction more real-world relevant.
As a STEM educator, what interests you most about Eduporium?
What interests me most is their variety of tech tools and materials they generally offer on their store. I also follow them on Twitter and 'borrow' ideas from other passionate educators. Finding something useful on their website or social media feeds does not take long. And, no matter what facet of STEAM most interests you and your students, there is something on their store that can benefit students and help teachers move instruction forward.
We all thank Scott for speaking with us as well as for his kind words! Also, if you know any educator who's doing exciting things with EdTech, recommend them (or yourself!) for us to highlight. You can email us with a short blurb about how you’ve used technology to empower your students! Learn more about how we can help revamp your classroom, library, or makerspace by exploring our website and sign up as an educator in order to start saving with your discount.