Walk into an early education classroom and you might see children exploring sensory-focused items (blocks, sand, water), hear singing with repetitive words and lines, and you will feel the joy and wonder that these young ones experience as they discover something new. You might also see technology playing a larger role in their learning environment. From tablets and robotics to interactive displays and 3D printers, educational technology is transforming how our youngest students learn new skills.  

New goals help bring the start of any new year to focus, and our education webinars are no exception. Our main goal is to help more teachers implement educational technology with confidence so that they, in turn, support their students through consistent and competent use of tools to engage learning. We realize that teachers have a lot on their plates so our webinars are short, straightforward, and designed to provide strategies that can be implemented right away. 

We are living in a time of immediate satisfaction – we want news, entertainment, even our food, NOW! This need for bite-size pieces of information has also influenced how our students learn. Teachers are beginning to give students short, two- to five-minute lessons that demonstrate and/or provide concrete examples. EOS Education by Boxlight has taken up this method of Nano learning to help teachers they work with effectively learn and practice new skills, especially those using technology. 

The mission to implement educational technology in classrooms has grown substantially over the last few years. Districts are driven to invest in ed tech solutions that are comprehensive, integrate with current learning management systems (LMS), and are turnkey. While having the technology is wonderful, not using them properly or to their full potential is still a struggle. This is where the SAMR model can help teachers maximize what they can do to enhance teaching and learning. 

Good communication is essential between teacher and student. When teachers communicate effectively with their students, the impact on learning is clear – students have a better understanding of what’s being taught. Of course, the flip side is that when class communication breaks down there is misunderstanding and frustration by both teacher and students which can impede learning. If you’re a teacher and you’ve felt this frustration because your students couldn’t hear you or misunderstood what you said, here are four steps to try to improve communication. 

Teaching is a profession that is the epitome of selflessness. No teacher goes in thinking that every day will be an absolute cake walk. Teaching is hard; it can be frustrating; it can be sad. But thankfully, there are those one-of-a-kind souls that head into their classrooms, paperwork and coffee in hand, ready to get down and do the work many couldn’t imagine ever doing. In support of our dedicated, tireless, and downright heroic teachers, here are some funny reminders of why we should appreciate them more. 

Interactive learning has moved from being an innovative strategy to a ‘must do’ to keep students engaged in the classroom. As technology has become more beneficial for instruction and student learning, teachers are at the forefront of why, how, and when to use ed tech effectively and efficiently. Interactive displays support connected and collaborative experiences for students, even if they’re remote learning. With more features and applications available on displays, teachers are incorporating their use regularly and seeing student participation and active learning improving in their classrooms. 

Back to school is a time full of nervous anticipation and excitement about what is coming this year for both teachers and students. If your class is set up with an interactive display and/or STEM education tools and materials, we can help! 

Today is Read Across America Day (March 2)! Established in 1998, the goal of Read Across America Day is to motivate all areas of society to engage in reading. Classrooms across the country will host special guests who’ll read aloud to students, schools will decorate hallways and libraries with images from their favorite stories, and children will happily share their own well-loved books with others. Use today to launch National Reading Month and encourage your students to experience the joys of reading through various activities that highlight what the written word can do! Here are three ideas to start: