Career & Technical Ed
Posts by Andrew Larson
Future of Learning
How Are We Training Today’s Students for the Growing Gig Economy of Tomorrow
Having spent the last ten years trying to adapt to the changing economy, Andrew Larson shares the lessons his New Tech Network school has learned during their Project-Based Learning journey that they have felt prepares students for the Gig Economy and a changing world in general.
EdTech
Smart Review | Istation’s Timeless Tales 2.0: NexLevel
During my career as a science and language arts instructor, I have come to appreciate educational games as instructional tools. Especially ones that are immersive, authentic and highly interactive. Here, I look at a new one worth checking out.
Place Based Education
Every School Needs a Garden
When our school opened in 2008, we knew we wanted a garden. Since then, I have come to believe quite ardently that growing food is an important life skill, as it is a perfect way to teach students how to use wherever they're at for rich learning experiences.
STEM & Maker
Smart Review | Fire Forensics: Evidence and Claims
Fire Forensics adds a lens of reality to what Hollywood may want us to believe is a glamourous field, while doing nothing to diminish its allure and appeal.
Project-Based Learning
3 New Resolutions After 10 Years of Teaching PBL
It's my 20th year of teaching and 10th year of implementing project-based learning (PBL) in the classroom. Here are three goals I've set for myself to refine and retool my teaching practice.
Place Based Education
Smart Review | Is There PBE In Your Water?
Teacher and parent Andrew Larson takes advantage of his family's vacation to do a fun product review and get in some place-based education practice that could benefit his biology classroom.
EdTech
Smart Review | Sparking Student Coding Skills with the Sparki Robot
I recently brought the Sparki programmable robot to my classroom for some expert student review and discovered that Sparki is an engaging and rewarding introduction to computer programming and robotics.
EdTech
Smart Review | Todo Math is a Great Daily Adventure
After spending a morning testing it out, both my son and I found the Todo math app to be user-friendly and fun, and feel it is without a doubt a great math learning tool.
Leadership
Teaching Students Collaboration Skills Using The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
At my school, we use one of my favorite books on teamwork to help students understand the necessary components of a functioning team based on a hierarchy of issues teams often face.
Personalized Learning
5 Myths of Project-Based Learning Dissected and Debunked
There are often misconceptions about project-based learning, so here are five PBL myths addressed from my own perspective and experience working in a school and system that has successfully implemented PBL.