With innovation in technology comes opportunity for innovation in education.  New tools give you additional possibilities to reach students in different ways – perhaps by designing interactive activities that better engage them in material, or by allowing you to have some face time with online students who you wouldn't have been able to interact with previously.  With so many possibilities, we'd like to share a few ideas that you may be able to apply to your own situation, and start a dialogue around how you may have already begun or mastered the process of creating the "smart classroom." 

Chances are you’ve heard a lot about digital citizenship by now.  Many reputable and respectable organizations have devoted their life’s work to developing digital citizenship resources to promote its values in educators and learners worldwide.  We at the Global Digital Citizen Foundation are proud to be among them.  We all know the world is different now.  We’re all globally connected by technology, so making the world a better place by fostering a compassionate and mindful citizenry isn’t just the responsibility of a chosen few.  Now, it’s on all of us.  Don’t be worried, be overjoyed—especially if you’re a teacher.  You are in the perfect position to be the best source of digital citizenship development any student could hope for.  You’re not alone, either—we’ve gathered a list of digital citizenship resources and websites from people who are just like you, and that are behind you all the way. 

The most vital group within the 3D printing education equation that gets frequently overlooked are the teachers.  The people that are directly tasked with preparing students for the modern workplace.  There are fantastic educational pioneers out on the frontline, excited by 3D printing themselves, and transmitting this passion into their classrooms.  Moreover, increasing numbers of schools are buying into 3D technology for the classroom and the potential for facilitating learning activities across the newly developed 3D printing classes and curriculum. 

But for teachers, there has to be a purpose behind the potential.  Where do they go to find that purpose, particularly if they are not familiar with the 3D printing ecosystem themselves? 

By Phil HillMore Posts (406) Mike Caulfield wrote a post yesterday about a new Blackboard report on design findings regarding online students.  The focus of Mike’s post was that people often assume that the norm for an “online” student is … Continue reading →

The New Vision for Education project examines the role that technology can potentially play to improve education for the future.  In phase II, we investigated innovative ways to help students develop competencies* and character qualities** broadly defined as social emotional skills, which are critical components of 21st century skill framework but not a core focus in today’s curriculum. 

Can technology effectively facilitate the development of competencies and character qualities, in addition to cognitive skills?  If yes, what are the opportunities to capture to make it happen?  What are the immediate, mid-term, and long-term barriers to remove?  How can multistakeholders work together to create a roadmap for this vision? 

In seeking answers to these questions, the report assembles a list of 55 research-based digital product features that are highly correlated with the ten competencies and character qualities and identifies five nascent technology trends – wearable devices, leading-edge apps, virtual reality, advanced analytics and machine learning, and affective computing – that extend ways of fostering social emotional learning (SEL) and also offer potential for exciting new learning strategies.  The report concludes with recommendations to each stakeholder on actions to advance SEL and SEL technology adoption. 

On the side of the branched article ''What are the 21st-century skills every student needs?'',  the current resume outlines an issue that is impossible to leave aside in nowaday's e-learning spread.  Essentially, virtuality seems to replicate a world where an excess amount of needs constantly stress progression while disregarding the menace of a possible senseless or sterile community whose socia emotionall awareness may be already degrading. 

To survive in today’s world, it’s imperative for students to become innovators able to think both critically and creatively. 

Because of this, many schools are looking to STEAM education.  If you’re unfamiliar, STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Math.  STEAM education aims to help students see and use connections between all of these disciplines to become well-rounded. 

However, STEAM didn’t always exist.  In fact, the arts were never part of the original equation.  Read on to see how STEM morphed into STEAM and how to bring these important ideas into your classroom. 

When you hear the word blockchain does it make your head spin?  Wall Street analysts and fintech experts claim it could make traditional banking obsolete; Airbnb just acquired a team of blockchain experts; and the country of Estonia will use it to secure a million patient health records. 

But what exactly is blockchain, and what are its implications for higher education? 

Originally created as the underlying database for bitcoin (the peer-to-peer digital asset and payment system), blockchain’s technology is now being seen as valuable and purposeful beyond the financial sector.  The advantages blockchain provides to store information on a secure, permanent, historical ledger that can be both public and private will change how edtech applications approach student data. 

When you hear the word blockchain does it make your head spin?  Wall Street analysts and fintech experts claim it could make traditional banking obsolete; Airbnb just acquired a team of blockchain experts; and the country of Estonia will use it to secure a million patient health records. 

But what exactly is blockchain, and what are its implications for higher education? 

Originally created as the underlying database for bitcoin (the peer-to-peer digital asset and payment system), blockchain’s technology is now being seen as valuable and purposeful beyond the financial sector.  The advantages blockchain provides to store information on a secure, permanent, historical ledger that can be both public and private will change how edtech applications approach student data. 

If you've never heard me talk about Evernote, we probably haven't talked much.  Evernote is my all time favorite tool for every aspect of my life.  I use it for my personal life, this blog, my job, my freelance clients and everything in between.  The problem with Evernote is that it can do SO much, it's very easy to get overwhelmed when starting out.  My goal is to help you understand Evernote so that you'll use it and love it. 

I've been using Evernote for close to 3 years now.  It's one of the few programs I always have open on my computer.  It's also the app I use most on my phone.  I used to be a huge fan of notebooks (I still am), Evernote just lets me save those notes, search them and tag them.  If you're a student, business owner, blogger, mom or planning any kind of event, Evernote will be useful to you. 

Sharing your scoops to your social media accounts is a must to distribute your curated content.  Not only will it drive traffic and leads through your content, but it will help show your expertise with your followers. 

Integrating your curated content to your website or blog will allow you to increase your website visitors’ engagement, boost SEO and acquire new visitors.  By redirecting your social media traffic to your website, Scoop.it will also help you generate more qualified traffic and leads from your curation work. 

Distributing your curated content through a newsletter is a great way to nurture and engage your email subscribers will developing your traffic and visibility. 
Creating engaging newsletters with your curated content is really easy.