Okay, it isn’t exactly the same as it always has been, but is today’s teacher PD keeping up with the times, especially when it comes to technology? We expect educators today to be willing to use tech tools to reach and engage each of their students, but how can they do that if they don’t know how to use the tools, themselves? So, finding time for PD is often really important.
Since most kids think of the summertime as a chance to get away from learning, school and pretty much all academic-related activities, it’s sometimes tough to make sure that the months before school starts back up are meaningful. Sure, teachers can assign summer reading or projects, but there’s no way to be certain that students will really engage.
If students and teachers are not developing intellectually every single day, how are they going to succeed in today’s hands-on, project-based world? The importance of the constant presence of growth mindset in education is more important now than perhaps it ever has been—whether students realize it or not—and that’s why it’s our focus topic for this week’s post.
For many teachers, using educational technology in the classroom is the norm. For the vast majority of today’s educators, however, it’s a headache-inducing afterthought. The fact is, however, that using technology to teach necessary concepts in a modern fashion has its advantages. The issue isn’t really with what teachers teach, but more with how they teach.
Whether it’s blended learning, project-based learning or hands-on tinkering in a STEM-centered Fab Lab, modern educational tools have made it easier than ever for kids to become future ready. The goal of learning with technology is as simple as many top classroom products: prepare kids for a tech-filled work while honing key hard and soft skills.
One way to introduce students to STEM is to make it fun while they learn key skills through active interaction. Digital curricula are a great idea, especially if you can learn from educators who have initiated similar journeys. There are so many projects and fun activities students can do right in the classroom or take home for collaboration outside school.
For years, computer and Internet has become a necessity. We use them to work, perform daily functions, entertain ourselves, and learn. It’s evermore important that young people are exposed to this technology as early as possible. After all, if they are to rely on computers and Internet later in life, let’s make it readily available for use.
One thing I struggle with is teaching organic reading and math skills, and how much to teach students to tackle multiple-choice questions. Too often, they can say and write something that shows complete mastery of math and reading, but choose the wrong answer. I’ve found myself far too often telling my students, “One choice is always the ‘gotcha’ choice.
It’s just about that time again—the exhilaration (for teachers) and the dreading (for students) of going back to school. Or is it time yet? Have you ever wondered if every child in the world starts school on the same day or, if they don’t, how long have they already been in class? Well, the answer is that not everyone starts school at the exact same time.
With the obvious shift to jobs centering on STEM-rich areas, schools are gearing up to educate their students on science, technology, engineering and math in earlier grades and in more rigorous ways than in the past. The presence of and necessity for STEM skills in the 21st century is showing to be truer than ever.
