Latest education updates from around the world
Watch Connect 2023 Opening Keynote Live Here @10 AM PT
Meta’s annual Connect developer conference is kicking off today, which comes along with the big keynote about all things XR.
The company is undoubtedly getting ready to serve up a big info drop about Quest 3, its $500 mixed reality headset, but for all of the in-betweens we’ll be tuning in today, September 27th at 10 AM PT (local time here).
The invite-only dev conference is taking place on September 27th and 28th at Meta’s Menlo Park headquarters, making for the first year it’s had a real in-person component since COVID-19 shut down basically […]
Halloween Costumes for Men
Halloween costumes for men are the topic of our blog post today!
With the spookiest time of the year just around the corner, I know we’re all on the hunt for the perfect costume to make a grand entrance at that upcoming Halloween bash. I’ve got you covered! In today’s post, we’re diving into some fantastic Halloween costumes for men that will have you turning heads.
And hey, while you’re here, don’t forget to check out my specialized Halloween section for more fang-tastic resources. I’ve got a variety of goodies waiting for you there, from outdoor
AI Lesson Plan Tips
Best practices and tips for when you’re developing AI lesson plans
Holy Sheets! Minds-on Interactive Spreadsheet Adventures
Free interactive STEM spreadsheets can get your students started in both simple and complex computations.
Bigscreen Beyond Review – Promising but Incomplete, Just Like This Review
Bigscreen Beyond is the most interesting and promising new dedicated PC VR headset to come out in years, and while there’s a lot to like, we’re still waiting on a key piece that will make or break the headset.
Bigscreen Beyond has one goal in mind: make the smallest possible headset with the highest possible image quality.
Generally speaking, this unlikely headset (born from a VR software startup, after all) has ‘pulled it off.’ It’s an incredibly compact VR headset with built-in SteamVR tracking. It feels like a polished, high-end product with a look and feel that’s all its […]
PvP Battler ‘Glassbreakers’ Gets New Champion, Steam Open Beta Coming in October
Glassbreakers: Champions of Moss, the 1v1 battler from Polyarc launched into early access late last month, is releasing a new character today which aims to “hook” players into returning for more tactical rat-bashing action.
Revealed last week, new champion ‘Mojo’ is now available for players on Quest, which for now is the only platform with an open beta.
Polyarc says can wishlist Glassbreakers now on Steam, with a planned open beta release slated to arrive sometime in October.
Mojo (aka ‘MJ22’) brings a few new ranged abilities to the 1v1 real-time battler, such as the ‘Free Hugs’ ability which lets Mojo […]
12 Amazing Halloween Decorations
Halloween decorations are the topic of our blog post today!
The season of spookiness is upon us, and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably buzzing with excitement to get your outdoor space looking like something straight out of a horror movie. But hey, choosing the right decorations can feel overwhelming, right? Don’t sweat it; I’ve got you covered. In this post, we’re diving deep into the different types of outdoor Halloween decorations that can transform your yard into a bone-chilling spectacle.
We’ll talk about everything from the classic hanging decors that instantly add a layer of eeriness, to inflatables […]
Valve Launches SteamVR 2.0 Beta, Bringing Long-awaited Platform Features into VR
After a period of significant silence about VR from the company, Valve today surprise-released a beta for SteamVR 2.0, a major upgrade to the platform’s VR interface which finally brings more of the platform’s core capabilities into VR.
Valve originally said it planned to release “SteamVR 2.0” in 2020. But it would be Valve without the infamous Valve Time. So here we are three years later and SteamVR 2.0 has been released in beta.
This is a major upgrade to the SteamVR interface which better aligns SteamVR with the modern Steam and Steam Deck experiences.
Valve […]
Best Halloween Mugs for Your Bewitching Brews
Halloween mugs are the topic of our blog post today!
As the season of spookiness draws near, what better way to get into the spirit than with some wickedly awesome Halloween mugs? Whether you’re sipping on some pumpkin-spiced goodness or stirring up a midnight brew, a festive mug can add that extra dash of magic. Today, I’m bringing you a roundup of some of the coolest Halloween mugs and tumblers that are just dying to be part of your fall festivities.
But hey, the fun doesn’t stop there. If you’re all about Halloween like I am, be sure to check […]
New AirPods Pro Support ‘groundbreaking ultra-low latency audio protocol’ for Vision Pro
With the early 2024 release of Vision Pro quickly approaching, Apple is steadily updating its products to prepare for the new headset.
In addition to an upcoming spatial capture feature on iPhone 15 Pro, Apple also says its latest AirPods Pro wireless earbuds (2nd-gen, now with USB-C) will support lossless audio with ‘ultra-low latency’ to ensure that what you see and what you hear are closely synchronized for an immersive experience.
What Apple is calling a “groundbreaking wireless audio protocol” is powered by the H2 chip in the AirPods Pro 2 and Vision Pro. The specifics of the protocol haven’t […]
‘Neos VR’ Metaverse Creator Unveils Spiritual Successor ‘Resonite’
It’s been a bumpy ride for social VR platform Neos VR over the past two years partly due to being removed from Steam for heavily featuring its own cryptocurrency. While Neos VR was eventually reinstated on Steam, original Neos VR developer Tomáš “Frooxius” Mariančík has since departed the project and now announced a spiritual successor called Resonite.
There’s a fair bit of drama surrounding Neos VR, something you can read up on over at Ryan Schulz’s blog, which delves into the cryptocurrency-fueled rift between Mariančík and Karel Hulec, CEO of the app’s publisher Sorilax. The two have completely parted ways, with Hulec still […]
Duet AI for Google Workspace: How to Use It for Teaching
Duet AI brings the power of artificial intelligence into Docs, Sheets and more Google tools to make life easier.
Publicly Available Digital Collections
These publicly available digital collections from libraries, museums, and other institutions provide great resources for students and teachers
A Visual Chart on Summative Vs Formative Assessment
Summative vs formative assessment is the topic of our blog post today!
Navigating the realm of educational assessments can feel like a tightrope walk. On one side, we have formative assessments—those ongoing checks that help us tweak our teaching and help students steer their learning. On the other, there are summative assessments, which act as final verdicts on what a student has grasped. But how do they differ, and when should you use one over the other?
I’ve sifted through some compelling resources, including Frey and Fisher’s “Literacy 2.0” and the Eberly Center’s insights, to bring you a […]
40 Positive Affirmations for Kids
Today we’re stepping into the transformative world of positive affirmations for kids. Now, before you think this is just another feel-good gimmick, let me assure you that a growing body of scientific literature is backing the practice of positive affirmations.
In her bestselling book “The Whole-Brain Child,” neuropsychiatrist Dr. Dan Siegel delves into how affirmations can help children develop emotional resilience by activating neural pathways associated with positive thinking and problem-solving.
Why is this important? Well, as any teacher, parent, or person who was once a kid will tell you, […]
Amazon Prime Day Discounts for Teachers
Amazon Prime Day discounts for teachers are the topic of our blog post today!
Amazon’s Prime Day is much more than just a sale; it’s a bonanza of exclusive deals, catered to Amazon Prime members. So, if you’ve ever wondered why you should be a Prime member, Prime Day is a pretty compelling answer. Let’s dig into the highlights:
What is Prime Day?
Prime Day is Amazon’s exclusive sales event for its Prime members. It’s like Black Friday, but specifically for the Amazon ecosystem. With deals on everything from electronics to fashion and even small businesses, it’s like a […]
The Ultimate Guide to Teacher Appreciation Gifts That Make the Grade
Teacher appreciation gifts are the topic of our blog post today
When it comes to showing gratitude to the educators who mold our future generations, sometimes a simple “thank you” just doesn’t cut it. That’s where teacher appreciation gifts come in. But let’s be honest, finding the perfect token of gratitude can be a head-scratcher.
You want something that’s thoughtful, useful, and maybe even a bit fun. So, how do you move beyond the standard apple-on-the-desk scenario? Well, you’re in the right place, because I’ve got a lineup of teacher appreciation gift ideas that range from practical to pampering, […]
Update to SteamVR Suggests Valve is Still Working on a Standalone Headset
Valve is a notorious black box when it comes to basically everything. A recent update to Steam client for VR though suggests the company is still working behind the scenes on what appears to be its long-awaited standalone VR headset.
As revealed by tech analyst and consummate Steam data miner Brad Lynch, a recent update to Steam’s client included a number of VR-specific strings related to batteries, which seems to support the idea that Valve is currently readying the platform for some sort of standalone VR headset.
The update also included mention of […]
‘Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR’ Gets First Gameplay Trailer, Coming to Quest in November
Ubisoft announced Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR back in June, staying that we’d get the Quest exclusive sometime this holiday. Now the studio has revealed a first look at gameplay, and announced the official release date.
Coming to Quest on November 16th, the new Assassin’s Creed Nexus VR trailer shows off a few clips of each of the game’s three protagonists: Ezio (Assassin’s Creed II), Connor (Assassin’s Creed 3), and Kassandra (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey).
From the gameplay trailer, it seems there’s going to be a good slice of parkour, melee, and ranged combat too—basically what you’d expect from the long-awaited Assassin’s Creed VR game. Ubisoft […]
Videos Can Be More Effective Than In-Person Learning
Learning by videos outperformed in-person lectures in an analysis of more than 105 studies looking at college students.
Fast Travel Games Partners with MoonHood on Claymation-based VR Game
Fast Travel Games announced it’s partnering with MoonHood, a new game studio founded by the creators of Lost in Random (2021) and VR game Ghost Giant (2019). MoonHood is creating a VR-supported game that aims to replicate the look and feel of claymation.
Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, MoonHood aims to “immerse players in strange worlds handcrafted in actual clay, cardboard and what have you,” studio says on its new website.
MoonHood says it’s hired a team of sculptors and miniature painters to create physical objects as the basis of their first project, which is currently unnamed. The sculptures are then 3D scanned […]
Varjo Cuts Price of High-end Aero PC VR Headset by 50%
Varjo, the Finland-based creator of high-end XR headsets, announced their businesses and prosumer-focused SteamVR headset Aero is now permanently 50% off its original $2,000 price tag.
Aero is essentially a pared down version of the company’s strictly enterprise headsets, offering industry-leading fidelity and advanced features such as eye-tracking.
Released in October 2021, Aero was (and still is) the company’s least expensive headset; it’s now priced at $990 (€990), bringing the Helsinki, Finland-based company into a new price segment which its hoping will appeal to at-home simulator fans.
Ther news was revealed at during […]
Crafting Memorable VR Experiences – The Interaction Design of ‘Fujii’
Creating a VR that truly immerses the user is no easy feat. To pull this off correctly requires a careful blend of graphics, animations, audio, and haptics that work together in deliberate concert to suspend disbelief and engross the user. Fujii is a joyful interactive adventure and a masterclass in rich VR interactions. The President of Funktronic Labs, the studio behind the game, is here to tell us more about his design approach.
Guest Article by Eddie Lee
Eddie Lee is the President and co-founder of Funktronic Labs, an LA-based independent game studio that focuses on delivering high-quality […]
Screencastify: How to Use It for Teaching
Screencastify lets you screen and self record to create powerful guidance videos with ease
Seesaw for Schools: How to Use It for Teaching
Seesaw digitally stores and shares student work with teachers and guardians, easily.