Latest education updates from around the world
Why Wet Dogs Are Smelly – Another Lesson Inspired by My Daughters
Spring and summer so far have been exceptionally wet here in Maine. It’s starting to make us all a little nutty. Regardless of the weather, our dogs still need to run around and go for walks. A few days ago I took our dogs for a walk in the pouring rain. When I returned my youngest daughter commented on the smell of our wet dogs. Of course, that prompted her sister to then say “why are they so stinky?”
Once again, my daughters raised a question that I’ve never thought about. I’ve just always accepted that wet […]
Three Self-paced Courses You Can Complete This Summer
If you’re interested in a professional development course that you can do while sitting outside this summer, 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 to Create […]
Amusement Park Physics Lessons
We’re going to Story Land today! It’s a fairy tale themed amusement park for little kids. It’s perfect for my daughters and their cousins who are coming with us. Going to Story Land is a good reason to share some science lessons that can be taught through the context of amusement park rides like roller coasters and spinning tea cups.
CK-12 has a lot of interactive simulations for physics and math concepts. One of those is this roller coaster simulator. The voiceover for the simulation is very robotic. The redeeming quality of
What is Legends of Learning and How Can It Be Used for Teaching? Tips & Tricks
Legends of Learning is a curriculum-aligned math and science games resource for students.
Cybersecurity Tips from CoSN’s CEO and a Digital Security Expert
Cybersecurity was the No. 1 concern of edtech leaders, a CoSN survey reveals. These easy-to-implement tips can help any school district quickly address cybersecurity weaknesses.
10 Key Teaching Advice Points for Teachers
With twenty years of experience navigating the rewarding yet demanding path of teaching, I have found myself continually evolving, not just as an educator, but also as a learner. After several years in classrooms, shaping young minds, and now as a scholar and researcher in the field of education, I’ve had the privilege to explore the intricate landscape of teaching from multiple perspectives.
The journey from chalkboards to interactive whiteboards, from textbook-based teaching to an era infused with technology, has been transformative. Through these experiences, I’ve garnered a wealth of insights into effective teaching practices.
Along the way, I […]
Meta’s Twisted Pixel Studio is Building an Unannounced VR Title with Unreal Engine
Following the studio’s acquisition by Meta late last year, we haven’t heard much about Twisted Pixel, a veteran VR game studio which made several exclusive titles for Meta. Now we’ve learned of the first details of the studio’s next project.
Following the launch of several non-VR games, Twisted Pixel Games in recent years has become largely focused on VR. The studio has built several VR games, exclusively published by Oculus Studios, for the Rift, Go, and Quest headsets. The most recent being Path of the Warrior (2019) for Quest and Rift.
After working closely with Twisted Pixel under Oculus Studios, it […]
Apple Reportedly Has No Plans to Make or Support VR Controllers for Vision Pro
If a recent Bloomberg report from Mark Gurman holds true, not only is Apple not planning to release a motion controller for Vision Pro in the future, but it may not even support third-party VR controllers at all.
When the Cupertino tech giant unveiled Vision Pro last month, it didn’t emphasize the headset’s ability to potentially support VR games, which have typically been designed around motion controllers like Meta Touch or Valve’s Index controller for SteamVR headsets.
Among Vision Pro’s lineup of content, which features a standard suite of Apple ecosystem and standard content viewing apps, the […]
Former Oculus CTO Reviews Bigscreen Beyond: “like a prop for a futuristic movie”
John Carmack, legendary programmer and former CTO of Oculus, is known for giving his unfiltered thoughts on almost every aspect of the XR industry. While he departed Meta in December, concluding his “decade in VR,” Carmack is still very interested in the medium, as he recently went hands-on with one of the latest PC VR headsets to hit the scene, the slim and light Bigscreen Beyond.
Bigscreen Beyond is a tethered PC VR headset that uses Valve’s SteamVR tracking standard, which starting at $1,000 for just the headset makes it an interesting value […]
Fact Check Explorer Expands to Image Checking
Around this time last year Google launched Fact Check Explorer. Fact Check Explorer is a tool that anyone can use to check the accuracy and origins of claims made in online articles. As I wrote last year, Fact Check Explorer isn’t an infallible tool. That said, it can be a good tool to use to help students get a better understanding of the context around claims that they may have heard from other people and or read on the Internet.
Last week Google announced that Fact Check […]
A Good Guide to Graphic Design in Educational Technology
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In this week’s Practical Ed Tech newsletter I mentioned that I recently went on a bit of a quest to find research about the value of good graphic design in the context of education. Thanks to Google Scholar, I was successful in finding some good information about the value of well-designed slides in education. Along the way I also came across a helpful guide to graphic design in educational technology.
In the summer/ spring 2021 issue of C2C Digital Magazine Renata Kuba published Presentation Matters: Basics of Graphic Design in Educational […]
Company Plans to Sell $40K Apple Vision Pro to People With a Desperate Need to Flaunt Their Wealth
“Luxury” accessory maker Caviar plans to sell desecrated customized Apple Vision Pro for the high, high price of $40,000. The ridiculous price is the whole point.
For anyone who has so much money that they don’t have anything left to do with it than tell everyone that they have it, Caviar plans to sell the Vision Pro ‘CVR Edition’, a customized $40,000 version of the headset that tacks on bulky and heavy additions with the goal of making the headset a “work of designer art.” Because clearly the $3,500 headset wasn’t expensive enough.
And yes, as far as we can […]
6 Best Homeschool Math Curriculum
Navigating the world of homeschooling can feel like charting a course through an ocean of resources, especially when it comes to a subject as vital as mathematics. In this post, I we’ve compiled a list of the best homeschool math curriculums to share with you.
These comprehensive, engaging, and highly-rated programs cater to a variety of learning styles, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to shine. I also invite you to check the FAQs section at the bottom of this post to explore answers to frequently asked questions about math curriculum.
Best Homeschool Math Curriculum
Here are our […]
A list of US Public Holidays
Federal holidays in the United States are public holidays that have been recognized by the U.S. federal government. On these days, non-essential federal government offices are closed, and every federal employee is paid for the holiday.
Federal holidays are designated by the United States Congress in Title V of the United States Code (5 U.S.C. § 6103). The Congress has the authority to create holidays only for federal institutions (including federally owned properties) and employees, and for the District of Columbia.
However, as a general rule, federal holidays are observed by all […]
VR’s Most Realistic Train Sim ‘Derail Valley’ Overhauled in “Enormous” Update
Derail Valley, the train simulator for VR and PC, launched into Early Access in 2019, positioning itself as the most realistic train sim out there. While Derail Valley is still in early access, indie studio Altfuture says locomotive fans can now jump back into the game and find a ton of new features waiting for them in what it calls an “enormous” update.
The so-called ‘Simulator’ update includes a load of new content, including dynamic VR hands, new locomotives, better world simulation, sandbox mode, and more.
Here’s all of the new and updated bits available in the Simulator update:
Create Custom Animation Paths in Canva Slides
Adding a little transition animation to your slideshow presentations can make things pop a little bit. But at this point we’re all conditioned to the standard “slide in,” “spin,” and “breathe” animations found in PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Canva. That’s why you might want to try adding your own custom animation path to your next slideshow.
How to Use Canva’s AI Image Generator
There is no shortage of AI tools available to teachers today. Some are stand-alone and some are being built into the tools we’re already using. Canva’s AI image generator is an example of a good one being added into a tool that is already popular with teachers.
Canva’s AI image generator is a simple text-to-image tool. Just type a description of the kind of image you need and Canva will create it for you. If you like what’s created, you can add it to your design. If you don’t like what’s created, click refresh […]
Apple Reportedly Cuts Production Targets for Vision Pro Due to Manufacturing Complexity
Apple has allegedly slashed production targets for Vision Pro due to manufacturing issues related to the mixed reality headset’s complex design, a Financial Times report maintains.
Unveiled during Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in early June, the $3,500 Vision Pro represents the first big step into XR for the company. Launching sometime next year, Vision Pro is a high-end headset that combines virtual reality displays with color passthrough cameras, allowing it to do both VR and AR tasks.
Apple’s China-based contract manufacturer Luxshare, allegedly the sole assembler of the device, is now preparing to make fewer than 400,000 […]
4 Best Hidden GPS Tracker for Car
As an experienced educator dedicated to reviewing edtech tools, I find myself treading a new path today. Generally, I’m here talking about the latest gadgets and technologies that can make teaching and learning easier and more effective. However, today’s topic, though a deviation from our regular theme, is equally critical considering its significance in our day-to-day lives.
It’s about GPS trackers for cars.
I’m delving into this subject not just because of its importance in keeping your vehicle safe—which undoubtedly it does—but also because of a variety of other reasons. In a world where technology is bridging gaps and creating […]
Can You Spot an AI-generated Image?
Google Arts & Culture has a lot of fun, interesting, and educational games for students. A couple of weeks ago I shared Return of the Cat Mummy from Google Arts & Culture. Last week, thanks to Tony Vincent, I learned about another fun game from Google Arts & Culture.
Odd One Out is a fun game from Google Arts & Culture. In the game you’re shown four images and you have to guess which one is the one created by artificial intelligence. You have four guesses before the […]
Short Lessons About the 4th of July
Everywhere I look this weekend I see signs and mentions of 4th of July weekend. My daughters (ages 5 and 6) have noticed them as well. That inspired my oldest to ask while we were driving home from Santa’s Village yesterday afternoon, “what’s 4th of July?” Of course, I was more than happy to explain that to her.
History offers the following excerpt from the America: […]
How Fireworks Work
It’s Fourth of July weekend and despite what feels like never-ending rain in Maine we heard some fireworks being shot off last night. Our dogs did not appreciate it. My kids thought they were neat. That prompted my youngest to ask about fireworks work.
If your kids are also curious about how fireworks work, take a look at the following videos from NPR’s SkunkBear, National Geographic, and Reactions to learn about the science of fireworks.
If you’re viewing this in RSS or email, you might need to click on the blog post title to see […]
Sony’s Mocap Device Lets ‘VRChat’ Users Unleash Their Inner Anime Girl
There are a few body tracking solutions on the market to help you on your quest to finally transform into a dancing anime girl, and Sony is now releasing its own previously Japan-only device in the US.
Mocopi, which gets its name from motion capture (mocap), was initially announced in late 2022, becoming available exclusively in Japan in early 2023. While a ton of vTubers worldwide already jumped the gun and ordered direct from Japan, now Sony is making it officially available in the US, priced at $450.
Mocopi comes with six small and lightweight inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors […]
Canva, Food, and Philly – The Week in Review
It’s Saturday morning! As I do every Saturday morning, I’ve made a list of the week’s most popular posts.
This week I spent a few days in Philadelphia at the ISTE Live conference. My trip was sponsored by Canva. While there I had some time to explore the city a bit and see some historical landmarks. I also enjoyed meeting new people and reconnecting with old friends. My only regret is that I didn’t have time to see everyone that I knew was there.
This morning I’m writing from Jefferson, New Hampshire where my family is getting ready […]
A Brief Introduction to micro:bit and MakeCode
On Tuesday morning I went to micro:bit workshop hosted by Gary Stager and Sylvia Martinez. It was a ton of fun. My only complaint, I wish it was longer because I wanted to keep playing with my new friends as we explored and tinkered together.
On Tuesday evening I shared some of my notes from the workshop. In those notes I included a short video introduction to micro:bit. If you missed it, I’ve included it below. During Gary and Sylvia’s workshop we worked with Microsoft MakeCode to program the micro:bit. It’s a block programming […]