Educational Technology News

Experts share their most successful teaching methods for elementary and middle schoolers.

No matter how you spin it, digital tools and technology won't do a thing for students unless a highly-qualified teachers are at the helm.

"In today’s Wild West media environment of falsehoods and competing claims, how can students separate fact from fiction and judge the credibility of online information for themselves?"

"Traci Chun, a teacher-librarian at Skyview High School in Vancouver, Washington, is all done with shushing. “When my library is quiet, that’s a red flag,” said Chun. In fact, the busier it is, the better—whether it’s kids experimenting with the Makey Makey circuitry or uploading designs to a 3D printer, or a class learning media literacy or a student seeking advice on a video she’s editing at one of the computer workstations."

"When considering school reform, it may be advantageous for administrators to think of their schools as businesses. If the structure of the school were to reflect the business model, we would work from the assumption that students in the school system are customers, schools are the businesses, teachers are the employees/supervisors, and the administrators are the CEO’s."

From gurus to classroom tech champions to communities, we’ve got the latest batch of top K–12 blogs.

What Kind Of World Are We Preparing Students For? The Future Isn't Digital & Technology Is Just A Tool

"This morning I saw a parent on Facebook post “Does anyone have a 3rd grader and can take a picture of the social studies study guide? Ours was accidentally left at school and my kid is upset.” My question was… is it not posted online?"

Google has recently released a brand new version of Google Earth for both Chrome and Android. This new version has come with a slew of nifty features teachers can use for educational purposes with students in class.

The founder of online encyclopaedia Wikipedia has announced plans for a crowd-funded news website offering stories by journalists and volunteers working together, an initiative he hopes will counter the spread of fake news.

A number of factors, including lack of guidance and management issues, lead educators to restrict students' access to 3D printers.

The most dangerous phrase in the language is “we’ve always done it this way.”

A district media specialist shares her PD program for preparing librarians to be school leaders in the 21st century.

The journalist who thought up this game says she saw the need before "fake news" was even in the vernacular.

"Technology adoption in K-12 classrooms across the United States is growing at a fast rate, with students coming into the classroom demanding more creativity and interaction in their learning. The EdTrends Report highlights this reality, showing that not only ed tech increasing in usage generally, but that teachers are also needing to adjust quickly in order to handle technology's rapid saturation into the classroom."

"Though information is easier to access than ever, there is also an unprecedented number of contradictory viewpoints. Students in K-12 schools may have difficulty making sense of these discrepancies. How can they discuss these issues with peers in a constructive manner? How can they figure out which news sources are credible? Now, more than ever, educators must teach media literacy."

What are the copyright laws teachers should be aware of? And when is "creatively acquiring" a lesson crossing the line? Find out how to model good behavior.

Customized tech, the LMS and video conferencing are all tools today’s younger gen parents like to use for communicating.

Why education must adapt now in order to accommodate Gen Z—but how?

One of the most frustrating issues modern parents face is how to manage children’s screen time.

Google Earth Just Got Better–& More Existential by Ashley McCann One of the most awe-inspiring features of Google Earth is how it allows you to get a sense of your place on our planet, in both a micro and macro way.

"As a high school science teacher, nothing frustrates me more than when I can’t check out the computer lab because it’s already full. Now, granted, I should probably sign up for it well in advance (and not the day before like I usually try to), but it is my firm belief that, as a dynamic educator, I should be able to put a capable device in front of my students on any given day."

Digital tools can help give students a platform to demonstrate their honesty, courage, and integrity in the classroom on a regular basis.