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.  

What do you remember doing when you were 4 years old? Maybe it was playing with blocks, sorting shapes, coloring inside and outside of the lines, or making mud pies. This was certainly my experience! But for my daughter and many children like her, technology played an influential role in their early development. In fact, it is not uncommon to see toddlers walking using smartphones to watch videos or play games. As we progress through the 21st century, there is a significant focus on integrating more technology to maximize the teaching and learning experience, including for our youngest learners (i.e., pre-K, ages 4 and up). But does concentrated use of educational technology benefit their learning development? 

For many students, winter break is a welcome relief from assignments, essays, tests, and all that goes with going to school. But for those who now have these young ones at home and want to keep them busy (besides time on their devices or creating their “watch list” on the family streaming channel), try a few of the activities below. Not only will the activities keep them occupied (so you can work, cook, nap...), they might just help keep their learning juices flowing until it’s time to head back to school.  

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. 

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. 

We’re living in a time in which posting updates and sharing news on social media instantly is the norm. The immediate gratification of seeing simple messages that convey information that may impact views and actions can be applied to the needs of a school. Campus communication that can clearly, quickly, and reliably share alerts and information is essential for the overall safety and sense of well-being that staff and students need. With nearly all schools implementing technology – whether on a large or small scale – all need to know what can affect them. 

Classrooms are quickly becoming technology hubs for teachers and students, with interactive displays at their core. While many teachers feel comfortable with interactive whiteboards and projectors as the ed tech to serve their needs, interactive displays have certain advantages over those classic tools. Here are at least 10 advantages of interactive displays to power learning. 

,In the past few years, teachers and students have progressively made changes in how they teach and learn. With more options for remote learning, teachers have found instructional practices that work for them and are relatively simple to implement. Below are six practices that have become regular parts of fully remote teaching and learning.