VARconnection

To wrap up our Spring Live Event, Douglas Stewart would like to highlight our amazing EdTech vendors and their insights.

Discover Hidden Connections Across Coding, Math, Reading, and Science with Wonder Workshop

5 Key Insights on Wonder Workshop’s STEM Solutions

1. Interactive Coding Solution with Comprehensive Features: Wonder Workshop’s platform, Make Wonder, offers an interactive learning environment for teaching coding and robotics. Wonder Workshop emphasized on various features of the platform which include not only coding pathways, diagnostic quizzes, and challenge cards, but also science activities aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), new teacher guides, and Spanish language support through Blockly’s premium content.
2. Emphasis on Early Age Learning and Skills Development: Throughout the presentation, the speaker stressed the importance of instilling coding skills from an early age. Wonder Workshop advocated that learning to code at a young age fuels creativity, problem-solving skills, and perseverance. Make Wonder aims to prepare students for future high-paying STEM jobs by igniting their lifelong learning passion and sparking their creativity.
3. Affordable, Customizable, and Accessible Learning Packages: The platform provides various packages that make it accessible and affordable for STEM classrooms, centers, and schools. These customizable solutions give educators flexibility to implement Make Wonder in different environments, such as technology centers, classrooms, after-school programs, and camps. The platform focuses on personalized learning and real-time progress tracking.
4. Tools for Seamless Curriculum Navigation and Skills Transition: The speaker described a clear learning path within the platform, starting with diagnostics and leading up to more complex areas like Blockly Pro content for transitioning to JavaScript. Other curriculum navigation tools include Blockly puzzles and challenge cards that offer additional guidance. The platform also provides a robust scope and sequence for learners to Code from K-five and more advanced applications.
5. Added Value through Bonus Resources and Collaboration: A subscription to Make Wonder opens up access to a wealth of extra resources including a cross-curricular lesson library, Wonder League robotics competition access, online courses for learning coding pedagogy, and a global educator community. The speaker ended the session by explaining options to expand access for additional teachers and retain students’ progress year-over-year, adding convenience and continuity for teachers and learners alike.

Watch Wonder Workshop’s Live Event on-demand here

Cardboard Construction Tools for Learning with Makedo

Exploring Creativity with Makedo Tools

1. Makedo: The Ultimate Creativity Tool. Makedo, a comprehensive toolset designed for creating with cardboard emphases on promoting creativity, resilience, and collaboration within students. Tools such as the safe saw, screwdriver, screws, and mini tool are highlighted for their safety and functionality.
2. Explore Inventive Kits. The Invention and Create kits specifically catered to educators. These kits comprise various tools suitable for different group sizes, thus ensuring inclusive learning and creativity irrespective of class scope. They also hinted at upcoming innovative products such as the RotoRing and hinge, promising avenues for extended creativity.
3. Eco-Friendly and Affordable Educational Resource. The rising popularity of Makedo products is emphasized by their educational value and sustainability. Makedo has also received positive feedback from educators who comment on the budget-friendliness and versatility of the products. The focus of Makedo on fun, collaborative, and sustainable play, with reusable, child-safe tools, was highly praised.
4. Hands-On Demonstration and Product Guides. The speakers carried out live demonstrations on how to utilize the tools to create various cardboard creations. There was also a direct showcase of how different sizes of screws (short screw for three layers and a longer screw for five layers, depending on the cardboard thickness) can be utilized effectively. Furthermore, the importance of using the right size screw based on the cardboard thickness was highlighted to ensure secure and sturdy creations.
5. Enriched Online Resources for Educators. Resources available on the Makedo website for educators were assessed. These include lesson plans and curriculum units designed to align with sustainability goals and STEAM education, thus providing educators with a comprehensive guide to seamlessly integrate Makedo into their teaching framework while also promoting essential values around sustainability. Recurrent emphasis was placed on the effortless cohesion of fun, learning, and creativity that Makedo offers.

Watch Makedo’s Live Event on-demand here

Explore STEAM Education for All with MatataStudio

Key Takeaways on STEAM Education

1. The presentation showcases MatataStudio’s STEAM education portfolio including their two primary product lines: Coding set and Microscopes. Coding sets are designed for students to learn programming and AI, offering robots like VINCI Bot, Tale-bot Pro, and Coding Set Pro, each with distinct features and educational benefits. MatataStudio offers a series of user-friendly digital microscopes, enhancing students’ learning experience and expanding scientific discovery.
2. MatataStudio places a significant emphasis on their educational robot lineup. Each robot caters to a unique learning requirement. The Tale-bot Pro, acclaimed for its ease of use, voice recording, and interactive educational activities, becoming ideal for introducing students to the basics of coding and problem-solving. Coding Set Pro, with its control tower for sequencing and expansion sets, provides an intermediate step for learners developing programming and robotic skills. The VinciBot, known for its screen for expressions, is compatibility with LEGO bricks, and geometry teaching capabilities, offering advanced learning opportunities.
3. The robots not only serve as a tool to learn programming but are thoughtfully designed with complementary educational features, bridging subjects like literacy, numeracy, science, and math. The integration of story mode, language support, and the facility of extensions like the Coding Sets amplify learning opportunities, leading to holistic development.
4. Software compatibility and curriculum alignment are key attributes of MatataStudio’s products. They ensure seamless integration into existing learning methodologies promoting continuity in education. Professional development opportunities provided by MatataStudio signify the continued assistance and training capabilities offered to ensure an optimized product experience.
5. Logics Academy and MatataStudio’s collaboration underlines the importance of regular training and updates. The session also emphasizes open communication, with a scheduled Q&A session and follow-up materials provided to attendees to ensure clarification of doubts and proactive learning support. MatataStudio offers significant contributions to STEAM education and their efforts to amplify learning opportunities for a wide range of age groups, from kindergarten to high school.

Watch MatataStudio’s Live Event on-demand here

Unleash Your Creativity with 3Doodler

Unlocking Creativity: The Educational Impact of 3D Pens

1. The video introduces and expounds on 3D printing pens by 3Doodler, a company with a mission to make such a creative tool accessible and easy to use. The unique selling proposition of these pens is their ability to enhance problem-solving, critical thinking, and project-based learning across varying age groups and abilities.
2. An informative comparison is made between typical 3D printing methods and 3D printing pens, putting emphasis on the flexibility and creativity that the pens offer. This versatility opens more opportunities for problem-solving, where individuals can think critically and engage in hands-on project-based learning.
3. Concrete examples of how these pens are currently used across different educational settings are shown. Case studies of its application in innovation labs, maker spaces, classrooms, summer camps, and the Girl Scouts’ Dream Lab impressively showcase the integration of 3D printing pens into enhancing learning experiences. It is apparent from these real-life uses that 3D pens are not only easy-to-use tools but also an effective medium to grasp 3D learning concepts rapidly and increase student engagement.
4. Through conversation, 3Doodler describes how the company has gathered educators’ feedback to inform the design and development of educational products and learning packs. These inclusive kits consist of 3D pens suited to different age groups (Start pens for 6-13, Create Plus pens for ages 14 and up), alongside lesson plans, stencils, and all at a reasonably lower cost compared to conventional 3D printers. These educational tools not only demonstrate the product’s versatility beyond its initial design, but also the company’s commitment to support teachers using this innovative toolset.
5. In the concluding part of the discussion, 3Doodler demonstrates the usage of the Start Plus pen, explaining how it allows for the creation of 3D objects by welding two-dimensional pieces together. This presentation underlines the pens’ suitability as effective tools for STEAM instruction, project-based learning, and critical thinking.

Watch 3Doodler’s Live Event here

Innovative AI Solutions for Classroom and Workplaces with IPEVO

Key Takeaways on Versatile AI Translation and Camera Technology

1. Versatile Technological Solutions: IPEVO discusses a range of technological solutions designed to ease communication and enhance convenience. These include versatile cameras that can function as a dock cam, handheld device camera, science camera, among other uses. The portable microphone system is created to capture the user’s voice accurately, aiding in precise verbal AI translation.
2. Vurbo.ai Audio System: IPEVO highlights the efficacy and affordability of a Vurbo.ai audio system, specifically designed for conferencing needs. They stressed its ease of use and provided examples of schools that have benefited from the system by significantly transforming their meetings.
3. Advanced Vurbol.ai: An essential focus of the event is the introduction of Vurbo.ai, a software-based interpreter capable of being used on any device. The AI product supports two-way translation for over 104 languages, with provisions for adding new languages and specific domain terms for enhanced accuracy. Emphasis was placed on its application during a school board meeting, demonstrating its impressive capabilities.
4. P2V Camera and Vurbo.ai Features: The speaker provided a customer solution, pointing out the P2V camera as a highly versatile and popular tool for capturing intricate details. They also showcased a vurbo.ai feature for real-time translation using various language options, a profanity filter, subtitles, captions, and translations in diverse colors and fonts.
5. Secure and User-Friendly AI Programming: The video underscores privacy as a key aspect of Vurbo.ai, stating unequivocally that data stays on the device of the user for safety reasons. Mention was made of regular updates and new features, designed based on user feedback, and a promise of monthly language additions. Vurbo.ai stands out for its user-friendly nature, being highly responsive to user needs.
6. Product Discussion : The transcript included a conversation discussing a deal registration with IPEVO for resellers. The speakers discussed the ability to scan text for translation, future OCR capabilities, and the availability of languages for translation. They also discussed a beta version available for testing using a QR code. The effectiveness of the language model employed by Vurbo.ai was particularly highlighted.
7. Closing Notes and Invitation: Finally, the conversation maintained an emphasis on the importance of translation for schoolteachers. IPEVO’s commitment to seamless communication through advanced technology demonstrates a desire to support educators and schools.

Watch IPEVO’s Live Event on-demand here

Missed our Live Event series? Don’t worry! Watch on-demand now.