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
Makerspaces are becoming the favorite way to bring STEAM learning to the classroom. Research shows that makerspaces help elementary students develop critical thinking, design thinking, and problem-solving skills. Research from Macquarie University in Australia shows how teachers can use makerspaces to improve teaching and learning outcomes. Using makerspaces has led to higher student engagement, confidence, … Continue reading
Schools are relying more and more on technology for classroom instruction. As schools add more technology, they need to rely on a fast wireless connection. Telecommunication giants are racing to roll out the fifth generation of wireless technology to keep up with the changing technology. 5G will expand VR/AR for classrooms, create a more personalized … Continue reading
Have you ever heard of microlearning? Microlearning is a short burst of learning lasting 10 to 15 minutes. Educators have been doing this for quite some time but have been calling it microlearning. Let’s look at why microlearning is important. Microlearning aids retention. When students are learning bits and pieces of content at a time, … Continue reading
Technology is changing the way students are learning. Gone are the days of textbooks and in-class lectures. Students are expanding their learning and career opportunities by traveling through the human body, visiting Antarctica, and doing hands-on activities. Technology and innovation are becoming more of a priority in school districts. Here are three tools educators are … Continue reading
We’ve been hearing about STEM education for quite some time now. Even though we’ve been talking about STEM for a few years, a poll from 2016 found that only 40% of U.S. schools were offering programming or coding classes. In order to successfully implement a program, educators need to know where to focus their time … Continue reading
In a survey from Microsoft and YouGov, 1,000 parents expressed their opinion on tech in the classroom. Technology is viewed mostly as a positive aspect of the classroom by parents. However, there are some concerns about how much screen time students are exposed to. Source: Microsoft and YouGov
Research found that boys are 12 percent less interested in STEM careers than last year. The main reason young people aren’t pursing STEM careers is because they feel these careers are too hard. So how do we get students interested in STEM? A good place to start is with the tools used in the classroom. … Continue reading
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
It’s becoming easier than ever before to create an interactive classroom. While many classrooms have interactive technology, it will be a few years before schools have interactive whiteboards and individual tablets in every classroom. Flexibility with teaching methods Interactive displays allow teachers to think outside the box and integrate creative ideas when planning their lessons. … Continue reading
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