Latest education updates from around the world
Smiling Mind: How To Use It to Teach
Smiling Mind meditation app brings calm to the classroom.
5 Practical Tips for Teaching Phonemic Awareness
Welcome back to another post in our series on phonemic awareness! If you’ve been following along, you know we’ve already tackled the varied scholarly definitions of phonemic awareness, explored the different reasons why phonemic awareness is important, and sifted through phonemic awareness annotated bibliography to give you the cream of the crop in research.
Today, we’re shifting gears a bit to focus on the how-to aspect of it all. We’re talking about practical tips for teaching phonemic awareness backed by research.
Tips for Teaching Phonemic Awareness
Below are some actionable tips drawn […]
New ‘Half-Life 2’ VR Mod Lets You Dual-wield Gravity Guns (or any other weapon)
A recently released fork of one of the premier VR mods for Half-Life 2 (2004) added a number of features that should make you feel a little less like Gordon Freeman, and a little more like John Wick.
Mod creator Vittorio Romeo calls the unofficial fork of SourceVR Team’s HL2VR mod ‘HL2VR Unleashed’, which includes unique VR interactions such as dual wielding, universal melee attacks, and a virtual stock for customizable shouldering positions—basically turning you into an indiscriminate Combine-killing machine.
You may also recognize Romeo from his work on a VR mod for classic […]
Best Sites for Educator Professional Development
These professional development sites for education will help teachers refresh and update their practice
3 Resources for Teaching & Learning More About AI
AI tools are everywhere but here are some teaching resources for understanding how this technology works and how it might impact society.
Building a representative STEM pipeline needs to start in kindergarten
Key points:
Destigmatizing STEM fields is the first step in building a STEM pipeline
Students are more likely to pursue STEM when they see STEM educators who look like them
See related article: 3 essential tools to make elementary science easier
For more news on STEM learning, visit eSN’s STEM & STEAM page
The demand for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals outweighs the supply. The number of U.S. technology job vacancy postings in September 2022 exceeded 804,000, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a need for 3,800 new aerospace engineers every year […]
20 of The Best Inspirational Math Quotes
Inspirational math quotes are the topic of our post today. I scoured the web and curated for you these wonderful math quotes to spark a love and appreciation of math among our kids and students. These little nuggets of wisdom capture so much of what I love about the world of mathematics and its transformative power in education. They encapsulate a broad range of feelings, attitudes, and deep insights about this often misunderstood subject.
Inspirational Math Quotes
Here are some inspirational math quotes to share with your kids and students:
“No human investigation can be called real science if […]
40 Hilarious Retirement Jokes
Welcome back to another post in our “Education Entertainment” series! Today, we’re stepping away from classroom tech and diving into something we all look forward to, but often with mixed feelings—retirement. Yes, the golden years when we swap lesson plans for travel plans and staff meetings for… well, absolutely anything we want.
Now, whether you’re counting down the days or clutching onto your red pen for dear life, retirement is a stage that comes with its own quirks and questions. And what better way to navigate this new chapter than with a little humor? That’s right, I’ve compiled a […]
5 Best AI 3D Model Generators
AI 3D model generators are the topic of our blog post today!
3D modeling has come a long way, transcending from complex CAD software to more user-friendly platforms. We in the education sphere have benefited a lot from developments in this technology. And now that AI takes over 3D design, the learning possibilities are even bigger.
In fact, the emergence of AI 3D Model Generators is becoming a locomotive of creativity and higher-order thinking within educational settings. They’re taking learning experiences to an entirely new level—making abstract concepts more comprehensible, turning theoretical knowledge into tangible models, and triggering […]
Pico Shutdown Rumors are False, Says Parent Company ByteDance
A recent rumor, which alleged that TikTok parent company ByteDance is slated to spin down its XR hardware subsidiary Pico Interactive, is false, the company says.
China-based publication EqualOcean reported late last week that ByteDance is set to “gradually abandon the PICO business.”
The report alleged the person in charge of Pico recently went to Singapore to report to ByteDance founder and CEO Zhang Yiming, maintaining Pico’s performance in the past few years has “not met expectations, and there is no hope for the future.”
3 best practices to create a STEM-focused school
Key points:
STEM education has myriad academic and career benefits for students
STEM-focused schools can engage their surrounding communities and stakeholders to craft strong learning programs
See related article: 5 science and technology videos to get students talking
For more news on STEM learning, visit eSN’s STEM & STEAM page
The benefits of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education are numerous, and one would be hard-pressed to find a school district that doesn’t have a project, initiative, class, or lesson with the acronym in its title. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in […]
Sam Labs: How To Use It to Teach
Sam Labs is a block-based creative tool that helps with STEAM learning is a physical and digital way.
My Student Was Submitting AI Papers. Here’s What I Did
Like many educators across the globe, I was thrust into a brave new world of modern teaching that I had not been trained for and to which an appropriate response was unclear
15 Animals that Start with A
Animals that start with A are the topic of our blog post today!
In the realm of the animal kingdom, diversity is the name of the game. From the stealthy predators of the deep sea to the agile hunters of the African plains, each species brings its own unique set of traits and behaviors to the table. As an educator with a penchant for nature, I find that diving into the fascinating world of animals not only broadens our understanding of biology but also offers us valuable life lessons in adaptation, survival, and coexistence.
In this post, we’re taking a […]
40 Engaging Word Problems for 2nd Graders
Word problems for 2nd graders are the topic of our blog post today. Now, why are word problems such a big deal, you ask? Well, they’re like mini-stories where math is the hero, swooping in to solve everyday challenges. But they’re not just fun narratives; they’re a stepping stone to critical thinking, laying the groundwork for more complex math problems and life skills.
You see, word problems in second grade bridge the gap between pure numbers and real-life applications. Whether it’s figuring out how many apples Emily picked over the weekend or calculating the total time Ben spends on […]
Come see me speak at Engage by Kognity: the virtual event to spark transformation in education!
Engage is Kognity’s online event that will unite school and district educators from across the country for a day filled with learning, networking, and collaboration. Attend for free by using the code ALICEKEELER100
The post Come see me speak at Engage by Kognity: the virtual event to spark transformation in education! appeared first on Teacher Tech.
Toy Theatre Offers Tons of Educational Games
Toy Theatre is the topic of our blog post today. Toy Theatre is a platform that offers a wide variety of educational games tailored specifically for K-3 students. Going through the materials there I was indeed pleasantly surprised by the depth and variety of games it offers for young learners and all for free. So, let’s dive into what makes Toy Theater a worthwhile resource for the classroom, shall we?
Toy Theatre Games
Whether you’re teaching math, language arts, art, or music, this platform has got you covered. And it’s not just a few cookie-cutter games; each subject […]
15 Animals That Start with X
Animals That Start with X are the topic of our blog post today!
In the vast tapestry of the animal kingdom, creatures with names starting with ‘X’ may not be the most talked-about, but they’re certainly intriguing in their own right. From birds like the Xeme to amphibians like Xenopus laevis, these animals offer a fascinating glimpse into the diversity and adaptability of life on Earth.
In this post, I’ve collected a variety of animals whose names start with this elusive letter. And just as I always, I’ve provided credible sources for you to delve deeper into each creature’s […]
Best Free Halloween Lessons and Activities
Bring the scares — and the learning — with these Halloween lessons and activities.
VR’s Favorite Mini Golf Game Gets Spooky with New Haunted Course
Walkabout Mini Golf has been on a roll ever since it launched in late 2020, now counting 22 courses strong with the addition of a very spooky level just in time for Halloween: ‘Widow’s Walkabout’.
Developers Mighty Coconut say Widow’s Walkabout brings to the game a “mysterious cliffside manor [..] haunted by a playful spirit who’s possessed an eerie mini golf course like no other.”
The haunted course is said to pack in a bunch of spooky surprises and hints to an unsettling story the player can unravel. There is sure to be plenty of phantasmal objects, […]
Empowering Students Through co.lab-oration
The innovative co.lab program at Leyden High School District 212 in Illinois fosters collaboration, features design thinking, and provides a project-based learning experience
10 Reasons Why Phonemic Awareness Is Important for Early Literacy Development
Phonemic awareness is a key concept in early literacy development, a concept that never fails to spark passionate discussions among educators, researchers, and even parents. If you’ve found yourself perplexed by the term or simply want to deepen your understanding of it, you’re in the right place.
After diving into several research papers and synthesizing insights from esteemed scholars, I’ve pieced together a comprehensive look at why phonemic awareness is important for early literacy development. If you’re intrigued by the discussions here, you won’t want to miss my other post that delves into various scholarly […]
Designing Mixed Reality Apps That Adapt to Dynamic Spaces
Laser Dance is an upcoming mixed reality game that seeks to use Quest’s passthrough capability as more than just a background. In this Guest Article, developer Thomas Van Bouwel explains his approach to designing an MR game that responds dynamically to different environments.
Guest Article by Thomas Van Bouwel
Thomas is a Belgian-Brazilian VR developer currently based in Brussels. Although his original background is in architecture, his work in VR spans from indie games like Cubism to enterprise software for architects and engineers like Resolve. His Latest project, Laser Dance, is coming to Quest 3 late next year.
For the past year […]
‘Budget Cuts’ Halloween Update Twists Stealth Action into Stalker Horror
Budget Cuts (2018), the stealth action game, has always been about taking pensive steps, hiding in the darkness and not tipping off the killer robot guards on your way through the game’s liminal office space. Now developers Neat Corporation released a spooky update that flips the script, turning the game’s stealth action into stalker horror.
The studio today unleashed what it calls ‘Nightmare Mode’, bringing the main foe ADAM to the campaign levels of Budget Cuts Ultimate (2023), which includes both Budget Cuts and Budget Cuts 2: Mission Insolvency (2019).
Like Alien: Isolation (some are dubbing the update ‘ADAM: Isolation’) players must navigate what the studio calls […]
Hit Co-op Horror Game ‘Phasmophobia’ Delayed on PSVR 2 and PS5
Indie studio Kinetic Games announced it’s delaying the release of its hit co-op horror game Phasmophobia on PSVR 2.
The four-player psychological horror game was slated to land on PlayStation 5 and PSVR 2 sometime in August, but was later delayed to October following a fire incident at the studio’s office.
Now, Kinetic Games says in a Steam news update that the game is suffering another delay due to some “unforeseen challenges in adapting the game for consoles.”
“These combined factors have affected our development timeline more than we initially anticipated,” Kinect Games says.
“Additionally, in preparation […]