Howdy, folks! Welcome to another in a series of biweekly ed tech news roundups. We hope you enjoy this one, and if you have a story you’d like to see included, let us know.
Branching Out with STEM
Understanding science, engineering, and technology is vital for students, regardless of what they hope to pursue in life. Educators are working to keep up with that demand, and do so in ways that benefit students with genuine learning and life experience.
- Middle school tech and computer teacher Robin Corbeil was struggling to connect her students with practical STEM skills. Then they started coding robots. [Education Drive]
- For students interested in science and engineering, a program in Wisconsin is helping them prepare for college and earn college credit, one of many examples across the nation. [Wisconsin State Journal]
Screening the Future
Connected devices open a world of information to just about anyone. As screens become a required part of daily life, new perspectives are emerging on the potential — and potential pitfalls — of an always-connected generation.
- Technology use is commonplace in higher education, even during lectures. A new study of college students from the University of Waterloo finds that students “think it is instructors’ responsibility to ensure they don’t surf the web in class.” [Ladders]
- Matthew Howell’s middle school students all had devices, thanks to a 1:1 program. Now, they’re making a point to consider their use by having regular screen-free school days. [edutopia]
Reading with Tech
Ed tech can improve many learning processes, including in non-STEM subjects. Educators are using technology to build literacy, tell stories, and even teach across subjects.
- In language arts, the “old essay model” is being reinvented with technology. Here are five ways educators are inspiring literacy through tech. [THE Journal]
- In Colorado, ancient fables are getting new life through students’ smart use of digital platforms. [CU Boulder]
…And Finally
The changing of the seasons governs much of the world around us. For students, it can be a prompt for learning. Whether it’s a salmon festival in California, an agriculture education day in Maryland, or a traditional fall festival in Florida, young people around the country are finding educational opportunities outdoors as the weather turns and autumn arrives.
