As our society is becoming more dependent on technology, our schools are also adopting this trend. Schools are progressively storing more and more information digitally, on local networks or in the cloud. Alarmingly enough, the education industry ranked last in terms of total cybersecurity when being compared to 17 other industries in the U.S. Hackers … Continue reading
Filed under Online Learning …
Obstacles to Adopting Classroom Tech and How To Overcome Them
According to the Driving K-12 Innovation report by the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), the two major obstacles for K-12 innovation are the gap between technology and pedagogy, and the relationship between technology and the future of work. The Gap Between Technology and Pedagogy K-12 schools tend to purchase new technology without envisioning how … Continue reading
What’s Ahead for EdTech in 2019?
As we start kicking off the new year, let’s take a moment to discuss what’s ahead for EdTech in 2019. Computational Thinking, Robotics, and Coding As we see an increase in makerspace and STEAM, computational thinking, robotics, and coding will continue to grow in 2019. Schools will be looking for solutions to help their students … Continue reading
Top 5 Posts of 2018
Can you believe that 2018 is coming to a close? 2018 has been a great year to say the least. We’ve heard a lot about STEAM education, collaborative classrooms, and so much more. Here is your 2018 recap from VAR Connection. #1 Infographic: Decision Makers in School Districts #2 How to Increase Girls’ Interest in STEM … Continue reading
Flipped Classrooms: The Good and the Bad
We’ve been hearing about flipped classrooms for quite some time now. Schools who have implemented it find their students being more successful because they have hands on time with the teacher to work on problems they run into. However, with everything good, there are always some problems we run into. Here are some pros and … Continue reading
Empowering Students with Mobile Device Charging Towers
Administrators at DeForest Area School District in Wisconsin found themselves facing an interesting situation as they adjusted to students bringing their laptops, tablets and smartphones to school as part an informal BYOD initiative. District officials quickly realized that with students using devices all day, they needed a simple and safe way to store and charge … Continue reading
Transforming Learning with Video Games
With many new technologies in the workforce, engagement is critical to keep current on new information and mastering skills. However, keeping students engaged and trying to keep up with our fast-paced world can be difficult. The perfect way to keep students engaged is through video games. Video games capture attention, convert extrinsic rewards into intrinsic … Continue reading
Springfield Public Schools ‘IGNiTE’ Culture of Innovation Through 1:1 Initiative
Going 1:1 with mobile devices is no small feat for an individual classroom or school. Expand the initiative across an entire district, and logistical nightmares abound: infrastructure, maintenance, training, storage, security. The list goes on. So when the largest school system in Missouri introduced its district-wide 1:1 device plan, skepticism could have taken root. Instead, … Continue reading
Interactive Technology: How It’s Used in the Classroom
Remember when students learned from textbooks, videos, and lectures? Today’s classroom looks much different than it did a decade ago. Today’s learners can go to Africa without leaving their classroom or see the inside of a human body. Without a doubt, technology has changed the way students are learning. Big Deal Media conducted a survey … Continue reading
The State of EdTech – Where are We?
We are in a time where technology has the power to transform the field of education. In the last decade alone, we’ve seen many technological advances in schools from interactive touch boards to 1:1 device deployment. The way today’s students learn is different than how tomorrow’s children will learn. Here is the current state of … Continue reading