VARconnection

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 →

How Cell Phone Usage Impacts Cyberbullying

Many of us probably assume that when cell phones are allowed in school, cyberbullying is more common. However, according to the U.S. Department of Education National Center for Education Statistics, this is not the case. A recent data point mentioned that schools who allow cellphones had less reports of cyberbullying. NCES asked principals about the … Continue reading →

Computational Thinking: The Skill Set for the Future

As we mentioned in our previous blog post “What’s Ahead for EdTech in 2019”, schools will be focused on developing students’ computational thinking skills with the help of robotics and coding. What is Computational Thinking? Computational thinking is a problem-solving skill that focuses on critical and logical thinking. It’s about solving problems systematically, then reaching … Continue reading →

How Teachers are Using Social Media

Social media is one of the best ways to reach teachers. Here’s what teachers are talking about and how you can join in on the conversation. Teachers share common goals and challenges and use social media to discuss with each other. They talk about education policy, post curriculum ideas, and show off student projects. If … Continue reading →

4 Important Education Programs with Increased Funding

Before the buying season for the 2019-2020 school year is upon us, awareness of the allocation of funding within schools may be helpful when making purchasing decisions. TRIO and GEAR UP Funding: $1.060 billion and $360 million respectively, an increase of $50 million and $10 million from 2018. Program Details: TRIO and GEAR UP are … 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 EdTech Trends from 2018

As we start our 2019 fiscal year, let’s take a trip down memory lane and talk about what EdTech was trending in 2018. STEM/STEAM We saw a huge push for STEM/STEAM learning opportunities, making 3D printers and coding and computer science products a huge hit in classrooms. At The Douglas Stewart Company, we launched new … Continue reading →

9 Way to Make a Better Makerspace

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 →

Where Tech is Headed in 2019?

The end of the year is upon us and it time to start talking about trends for next year. The IT analyst group at Garner released their top ten tech trends for 2019. While some school districts have started implementing some of these tools, we’d like to highlight what’s ahead for 2019 technology. Autonomous machines: … Continue reading →