Education in 21st century schools, especially when educational technology plays a role, is very much aligned with progress, growth, and the scaling of programs. Now that the summer is here, it seems appropriate to talk about some of the programs that students take part in outside of their structured school activities, including various afterschool programs and fun clubs.
Since Microsoft is, of course, one of the worldwide leaders in cutting-edge technology, it should come as no surprise that they also have technologies designed for younger children to use in the classroom. Near the top of that list is this Immersive Reader tool, which helps make written, digital content more accessible for all kids and simultaneously boosts their grasp
The simplistic MakeDo construction system is loved by many and it serves as a super valuable STEAM tool in and out of the classroom. It’s essentially a collection of replica construction tools, like screws, screwdrivers, and the saw, that kids can use for building with cardboard. They’re totally reusable, too, which helps kids learn the importance of repurposing and upcycling.
When exploring the wide scope of ready-made micro:bit projects, kids can incorporate its assorted built-in features, like the microphone or a speaker, while developing valuable programming and computer science skills using the MakeCode editor. Speaking of the graphical MakeCode platform, if the environment is new to you, it works with plenty of other STEAM tools, too.
Every student receives grades and uses them to determine if they did well enough on an assignment, for the quarter, or to move on to the next grade. Of course, this can also create some pressure on students and sometimes lead to shortcomings in their performance. Plus, a letter grade isn’t always indicative of whether or not a student has
When it comes to crafting the perfect makerspace experiences, educators can try incorporating a wide variety of hands-on STEAM activities. To truly maximize student engagement and empower them all to feel like authentic problem solvers, however, 3D printing is an awesome option and these are some of the best educational 3D printers for K–12 school STEM programs.
Self-paced learning is a form of differentiated instruction that teachers can integrate into learning experiences. In self-paced learning, teachers can let their students decide how many lessons they need and how much practice constitutes them mastering something. There are also various instructional techniques you could use and many potentially positive outcomes for kids.
It’s not just the seasoned scientists and computer programmers who might invent world-changing and progress-focused solutions. In fact, there’s also plenty of inventive kids and teens out there who have left their mark on the world with both big and small inventions, and some have even contributed to key inventions throughout history. So, let’s learn about a few of them.
In these last few weeks before winter break, it’s easy to get distracted from learning. And we get it—everyone needs a break! In the meantime, though, we put together this list of festive projects from some of our favorite STEM tools. Kids can make a mold for a chocolate dreidel, have a robot snowball fight, or even craft custom snowflake
The always-popular micro:bit V2 comes with many noteworthy technology features, like a built-in speaker, built-in microphone, and a touch-sensitive logo that's also programmable. Students can try numerous projects when programming the micro:bit with MakeCode and incorporate these unique tech features in their programs, adding interactive invention to STEM.
