STEM & Maker
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Maker programs are the emphasis on more technical disciplines espousing innovation and invention as application, acquiring tangible skills that lean into those critical professions of the 21st century.
5 Ways to Celebrate National STEM/STEAM Day
Today is National STEM/STEAM Day, and we want to take the opportunity to celebrate and come together over the importance of STEAM education. Here are five fun projects that can get students interested today.
The Case for School Makerspaces, According to Those Who Use Them
I recently talked with some innovative educators (and their students) who have utilized makerspaces in their elementary schools. Collectively, they noted the academic benefits and the development of 21st-Century Skills and growth mindset.
How to Grow Unicorns
By: Nancy Conrad. At the core of our competition is the opportunity for students to learn how to think, how to learn, how to be "no box" thinkers and how to develop their potential to become unicorns. Learn more here.
Science Teachers Are Storming the Hill, and Congress Should Listen
By: Maya Ajmera. On Oct. 13th, two hundred dedicated teachers from 44 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico convened at our nation’s capital to advocate for STEM education. Here's why congress should listen.
Review | Coding iPhone Apps for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Swift
For anyone with an interest in coding, an instructional, user-friendly book like this is a great -- and very affordable -- place to launch the skill of app development.
Integrating the Engineering Design Process and Challenge-Based Learning in STEM
By: Jamie Back. When I first learned how to integrate Challenge-Based Learning (CBL) and the Engineering Design Process (EDP) into my lessons, it was a total gamechanger. Here's what it meant for my instructional practice.
Getting Creative with Cardboard: The Perfect Mix of Learning and Fun
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over my 19 years as a parent is to keep it simple and to look for easy ways to tie together learning and fun. In this post, I take a look at a recent simple activity I organized that did just that.
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.
Library 3.0: How 3D Printing is Helping Reshape the Library Into a Lab
By: Lizabeth Arum. 3D printing is transforming today’s libraries into cutting-edge learning hubs and giving communities access to technologies that are impacting such fields as scientific research, architecture, manufacturing, engineering, healthcare and more.
Using Robots to Teach Elementary Students About Human Nature
By: Hannah DeRusha. Breaking down big ideas into bite-sized applications can help introduce young learners to a new way of thinking. My kindergarten and first-grade students are learning about human nature this year through experimental play using robots.