Latest education updates from around the world
Best 5 Over Ear Headphones for Working Out
Over ear headphones for working out is the topic of our blog post today!
There’s a certain rhythm to life, much like the pounding of feet against pavement or the consistent pace of a long-distance run. As someone who’s been a passionate runner for the past 12 years, I’ve come to realize that the soundtrack to our strides matters.
The right pair of headphones can elevate a mundane jog to a transcendental experience. Over the years, I’ve tried and tested numerous pairs, always searching for that impeccable blend of comfort, sound quality, and durability that complements my active lifestyle.
This […]
Staying Organized With Google Drive Folder Descriptions
At the start of every new school year I have high hopes for doing a better job of staying organized than I did the previous year. This year is no exception to that rule. One area in which I hope to improve my organization is in Google Drive. For years I’ve simply relied on the search function to find files and folders. That’s all well and good, but it could be better. One way I hope to improve upon that system is by adding descriptions to my Google Drive folders.
When you right-click on a folder in […]
Two Ways to Create Simple and Focused Websites
Google Sites is fine for making simple sites, but the aesthetics still have a long way to go. Services like WordPress and Wix are great, but they have […]
Blooket Lesson Plan
This Blooket lesson plan is designed to help educators implement the digital tool into their instruction
What is CTRL-F and How Can It Be Used for Teaching? Tips & Tricks
CTRL-F is a research education tool designed to help kids think about checking facts in literacy.
10 Characteristics of Boring Teachers
Characteristics of boring teachers is the topic of our blog post today!
As a seasoned traveler in the world of education, I have taken on many roles in my journey. I’ve been a classroom teacher, navigating the daily ebbs and flows of student engagement, and I now stand before you as an educational researcher, continually exploring and expanding my understanding of the art of teaching.
Through the years, I’ve shared classrooms with wonderful colleagues whose energy and passion for teaching were nothing short of infectious. Their classrooms were vibrant hubs of inquiry, creativity, and active learning. On the other hand, […]
A New Accessible PhET Simulation
PhET is a free resource that I’ve been recommending for many years. It now offers more than 100 math, physics, chemistry, and biology simulations that you can use in your classroom for free. About two years ago PhET started creating new simulation and editing existing ones to add accessibility features. Last week PhET released the latest simulation to include accessibility features. Now there are now 46 PhET simulations that include accessibility features.
Quadrilaterals is the latest PhET simulation. With this simulation students can move the sides of quadrilaterals to see how […]
How to Add Audio to Almost Anything in Google Workspace
Mote is a great tool for adding audio comments to Google Docs, Google Classroom, and Google Slides. You can also use Mote to add audio to Google Forms and insert audio into Google Slides with just one click. Mote also lets you record audio messages to share directly in Gmail and or via QR codes. All of those things are featured in this Mote compilation video that I put together.
Harnessing the Power of Bloom’s Taxonomy: A Deep Dive into Bloom’s Verbs
As an educational researcher with several years of teaching experience, I’ve often found myself reflecting on my classroom days. What truly makes a lesson engaging? How can we guide our students towards higher levels of thinking and deep understanding?
The answer that has proved time and again its relevance in various eras and contexts, is our teaching approach. The way we design learning objectives and activities plays a colossal part in the success of our teaching. Bloom’s Taxonomy (no it’s not dead) is one of the main educational frameworks that can help you in this regard.
Bloom’s Taxonomy, a […]
Bloom’s Taxonomy Questions (Examples)
Bloom’s Taxonomy Questions is the topic of our blog post today!
As an educator deeply passionate about the myriad ways of learning and teaching, I’ve long held a special reverence for Bloom’s Taxonomy. This simple yet profound framework offers an elegant roadmap for guiding students through the many dimensions of knowledge, from the most basic level of simply remembering facts to the more advanced stages of analysis, evaluation, and creation.
The power of Bloom’s Taxonomy doesn’t merely lie in the clear structure it provides for curriculum development and educational planning. It is also a pivotal tool for crafting purposeful, engaging […]
One Good Way to Record a Video in Gmail
Sometimes it is easier to reply to an email with a video than it is to write out a reply. For example, when a colleague asks me for help with Google Classroom I could write step-by-step directions or I could record a short screencast that would accomplish the same thing. Loom’s Chrome extension makes it easy to do that.
With Loom’s Chrome extension Gmail users can reply to email by simply clicking the Loom icon and recording a video. The video is then instantly uploaded to your Loom account and inserted […]
Slides, Assessments, and Bikes – The Week in Review
Good morning from Maine where we’ve finally had a nice stretch of summer weather, if you ignore yesterday’s rain. This week was full of bike rides, a backyard camping trip with my daughters, and general summer fun. I hope that you’ve had an equally great week.
Besides the fun mentioned above, I spent a lot of time working on the backend of PracticalEdTech.com to get it ready to load my courses into a new format that will truly be on-demand. In the meantime, you can still access all of the courses in their current version
25 Fun Ways to Introduce Yourself to Students
Ways to introduce yourself to students is the topic of our blog post today!
Ever found yourself standing in front of a sea of fresh faces on the first day of school, feeling a mix of excitement, anticipation, and just a tinge of nervousness? We’ve all been there. The first impression we make as educators can set the tone for the rest of the school year. It can ignite a spark of interest, create an atmosphere of camaraderie, and set the foundation for a warm, supportive learning environment.
But how can we introduce ourselves to our students […]
Spy Puzzler ‘I Expect You To Die 3’ Release Dates Revealed for Quest & SteamVR Versions, New Trailer Here
Schell Games announced that I Expect You to Die 3: Cog in the Machine is coming soon on Quest, with its PC VR launch coming in September.
On Quest, IEYTD 3 is set to launch August 17th, while it’s slated to arrive only a few weeks later on SteamVR, coming on September 28th.
Like in the previous two I Expect You To Die games, the third entry in the series again tosses the player into escape room-style puzzles, requiring quick wits to defy a host of deadly traps.
Solve complex object-oriented puzzles and maneuver your way ever closer to defeating the dastardly Dr. Zor and his […]
All About Batteries – And How to Preserve Your Laptop’s Battery Life
This week TED-Ed published a new lesson that addresses a topic that just about everyone who owns a cell phone has wondered about at one time or another. That question is “why do phone batteries get worse over time?”
Why Your Phone Battery Gets Worse Over Time explains how lithium ion batteries work, why they hold less energy over time, and how batteries are recycled. The end of the video dives into the topic of lithium supply and why not all batteries are recycled. Watch the lesson on the TED-Ed YouTube […]
Team Behind XR Productivity App ‘Immersed’ Announce Visor, a PC VR Headset for Work
The team behind XR productivity and co-working platform Immersed announced it’s creating its own PC VR headset designed for work.
Following the lead set by Bigscreen with its recently unveiled PC VR headset Bigscreen Beyond, Immersed has partnered a still unnamed “tech giant” to release its own VR hardware for the first time.
Dubbed the Immerse Visor, the tethered PC VR headset’s primary claim to fame is its slim and light design coupled with dual 4K micro OLEDs, providing a 100-degree field of view. It’s said to be “25 percent lighter” than a smartphone, probably putting its weight […]
An eBook for History Teachers and History Students
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At the start of every school year I like to review search strategies with students. If you like to do the same and want some new ideas to try this fall, take a look at my eBook Teaching Search Strategies to History Students.
In Teaching Search Strategies to History Students I outline activities that you can use in middle school and high school classrooms (grades 5-12). When you purchase a copy of the e-book you can use the activities exactly as written (you have permission to use the images I’ve included) or […]
Write Out – Poetry, Prose, and Parks!
A couple of years ago one of Kevin Hodgson’s blog posts introduced me to the national Write Out project. This is a two week, online event held every October.
This year’s NWP Write Out begins on October 8th and runs through October 22nd. The idea of the project is to inspire writers through outdoor settings, particularly National Parks settings, but I think I any outdoor setting will suffice.
Write Out 2021 is a combined effort of the National Writing Project and the National Parks Service. The theme […]
12 Amazing Science Teacher Shirts
Science teacher shirts is the topic of our blog post today!
Are you looking to express your love for science in a fun, wearable way? Perhaps you’re seeking the perfect gift for that extraordinary science teacher in your life who sparks curiosity and nurtures the next generation of Einsteins? The collection below has you covered.
Our collection of science-themed t-shirts, designed with the charm and wit that makes science so intriguing, is here to save the day. Each shirt is a conversation starter, an educational opportunity, and most importantly, a celebration of the wonderful world of science.
Whether it’s chemistry, […]
6 Awesome Math Teacher Shirts
Today’s blog post is all about celebrating the unique charm of educators who love math and are not afraid to show it! Here, we’re featuring the top picks of math teacher shirts that blend comfort, style, and a love for the numbers game in a way you’ve never seen before.
These shirts are more than just apparel, they are conversation starters, ice-breakers, and most importantly, a declaration of your pride in the noble profession of teaching. So whether you’re a math teacher yourself, or you’re looking to find the perfect gift for one, sit back and let us […]
10 Beautiful Teacher Shirts
Welcome to our curated collection of teacher shirts! Crafted with creativity and a whole lot of love for educators, these unique pieces serve as a wardrobe staple for any teacher or education enthusiast. Each shirt in our collection combines style, comfort, and a dash of inspirational messaging that captures the essence of the rewarding, yet challenging journey of teaching.
Whether you’re looking for a gift for that special teacher in your life, or you’re an educator wanting to express your passion through your attire, our range of teacher shirts offers something for everyone.
Related: 12 […]
After 6 Years in Person & 3 Remote, Why is Meta Connect Still Not Held in VR?
Oculus Connect. Facebook Connect. Meta Connect. Whatever the company is calling its annual XR developer conference, it’s been nearly a decade since the first Connect was held—all of them either in-person or exclusively livestreamed. Pandemic notwithstanding, they all had one important thing in common: none of the conferences used the company’s core XR technology to virtually connect people. Why is that?
Started by Oculus in 2014, Connect was where the earliest of early adopters could meet and learn how to make their games and apps happen for the first consumer VR headsets. Engineers, designers, and creatives from around the world made […]
‘Asgard’s Wrath 2’ Video Teases ‘endless dungeon’ Mode with Asynchronous Social Gameplay
Meta’s Sanzaru Games released a new look at Asgard’s Wrath 2 in a developer diary video that, in addition to showing off more of the upcoming action RPG, teases an opportunity to put your combat skills to the test against other players.
The studio says that in addition to its main narrative-driven quest, Asgard’s Wrath 2 is going to feature an “asynchronously social dungeon-crawling mode” where you as the Cosmic Guardian will “take part in an ongoing battle that evolves over […]
Seven ClassTools Templates to Try This Year
ClassTools has long been a favorite resource of mine for creating all kinds of fun, online activities for social studies classes. As the new school year approaches it’s a good time to take a look at seven of my favorite ClassTools games and activities templates.
Play Your Dates Right is one of the templates that I like to use to create a game that is focused on helping students recall the sequence of historical events. In the video embedded below I demonstrate how to create a simple timeline-based game with the Play Your Dates […]
Three Self-Paced Courses for the Start of the School Year
If you’re interested in a professional development course that you can do while sitting outside before the summer ends, take a look at the courses I offer through PracticalEdTech.com.
Animated Explanations!
This five-part course teaches you everything you need to know to create and teach with your own animated explanations. In the course you’ll learn why the process of creating animated explanations is valuable to your students and to you. You’ll learn how to make everything from a simple one-frame animation to a complete animated video. Click here to learn more and get started today!
How […]