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Rethinking Literacy in a Digital Age

For decades, literacy referred only to print text. In school, students were taught to read books and write essays. Students were considered literate when they could do both. Today, literacy is more complex. Most of the text students come across today is digital. Instead of books and magazines, students are reading blogs and text messages. This requires a different skill set than traditional literacy. It’s time to rethink literacy and start teaching students digital literacy. Digital literacy is not just the ability to read and write. It’s also the ability to effectively use digital technology to find and analyze information. …

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What Are the Benefits of Digital Textbooks?

For most, traditional textbooks are a necessary evil. They’re heavy, expensive, and often underused by teachers only requiring the book for a few key chapters. As media literacy becomes increasingly important and the world of employment continues to favor the technologically savvy, it’s important to embrace the digitization of traditionally printed materials. Students are learning to process information differently with the help of pocket-sized phones and tablet-sized textbooks, and it only makes sense for their tech-minded brains, your wallet, and their academic improvement. No Wait Delivery: You’ll never have to worry that a text won’t get to your dorm or …

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8 Must Have Autism Apps, Tools, and Resources for Kids

In America, 1 in 1000 kids will be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This disease is classified as on a spectrum because it impacts children differently. Some children may be high functioning while others may need a lot of assistance throughout their life. For parents, a diagnosis of autism can be an overwhelming challenge. Thankfully, there are a lot of resources, including apps, that can help children with autism develop important social skills. Here is a review of the top eight apps for children with autism. Autism and Beyond If you suspect that your child may suffer from autism, the …

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3 EdTech Trends that are Redefining the K-12 Landscape

Edtech is the newest buzz term for educators, but within this sphere are more specific trends to be aware of. Primary and secondary school teachers should be aware of three edtech trends before the start of the new school year. These trends include makerspaces, virtual reality, and personalized learning. Makerspaces Makerspaces have begun to pop up, not just in school settings, but in other community spheres. Local libraries often host maker meet-ups, and community centers will have designated spaces where makers can gather and share ideas. Makers are people who make. And makerspaces are places for makers to develop and …

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9 of the Best Math Apps and Games for High School Students

Math has always been known as one of the less-glamorous subjects. Sure, some people love the rhythm and reason of mathematical concepts, but average Kindergartners won’t tell you that they want to be an engineer, or a mathematician, or even a computer scientist when they grow up. But if every Kindergartner grew up to be a fireman, or movie star, or race car driver, or pilot, our society would certainly suffer. So, how can teachers make learning math more interactive and more fun, especially for high school students? True, teachers can make up games to teach a math concept that …

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Must Have Ed Tech Apps, Tools, and Resources for the 2018-2019 School Year

The right education technology can increase student engagement, enhance student learning, and save valuable instructional time. But with countless ed tech options available, finding the best tools isn’t easy. That’s why we’ve put together a list of our favorite ed tech apps, tools, and resources for the upcoming school year. Edmodo Edmodo is a learning management system that can be used to connect with students, parents, and colleagues. You can use Edmodo to facilitate discussions, make class announcements, share resources, and post and grade assignments and quizzes. Edmodo even allows you to search for and use quality educational content from …

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30 Incredible ELearning Tools, Apps, and Platforms

The use of elearning is rapidly rising in P-20 classrooms. At this point, it’s no longer a question of whether teachers should embrace elearning. The question should be how do we make the most out of this trend. According to the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, there are nearly 1.9 million K-12 enrollments in online courses every school year, up from under 50,000 in 2000. The current number does not even include students enrolled in primarily online schools. Thirty-one states have full-time online K-12 schools that serve on a statewide basis. Elearning is no longer all or nothing—it has …

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Come for the computers, stay for the books: Libraries are re-booting to become the tech hub for schools

Column by Chris Berdik Traci Chun, a teacher-lirarian at Skyview High School in Vancouver, Washington, and junior Ulises Santillano Tlaseca troubleshoot a 3D printing job in the library’s maker space. Photo: Kelsey Aske Traci Chun, a teacher-librarian at Skyview High School in Vancouver, Washington, is all done with shushing. “When my library is quiet, that’s a red flag,” said Chun. In fact, the busier it is, the better—whether it’s kids experimenting with the Makey Makey circuitry or uploading designs to a 3D printer, or a class learning media literacy or a student seeking advice on a video she’s editing at …

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6 of the Best Apps and Tools for Special Needs Students

The number of students with special needs is on the rise across the United States, making it increasingly difficult for educators to teach effectively to their entire student body. Did you know that there are approximately 7 million students in the United States with disabilities? Did you know that only 62.7% of students with special needs in the US graduate high school? With the increase of students with special needs in the US and the current trend in education to increase inclusion in the classroom, educators are experiencing difficulties dividing their time and attention equally across their students. Advances in …

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9 Reading Apps and Tools for the Elementary Classroom

Reading has always been a foundational skill. Not only does it influence how we interact with the world but it is still the medium by which many students learn. And yet, statistics show that between 46 and 51% of American adults have an income well below the poverty level because of their inability to read. This is a scary fact, and with reading becoming more digital, it is important that educators start looking into how they can teach this important skill in a new digital age. Reading is only one piece of the school puzzle, of course, but it is …

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