computer science Archives

Best Classroom Drones for STEM Education: Comparing Tello EDU, CodeAir, and CoDrone EDU

Leave a Comment / Educator / Alicia Verweij

Drones have earned a permanent place in today’s classrooms—and for good reason. When used intentionally, they are powerful tools for coding for kids, strengthening computational thinking, and driving authentic project based learning experiences. In my own teaching, drones consistently boost student engagement because they turn abstract code into something students can see, test, and improve […]

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Cardboard history figures animated with microbit

Stop Motion Animation and STEM Tools Bring History to Life

Leave a Comment / Educator, Leadership / Alicia Verweij

Bringing history to life in the classroom doesn’t require a time machine—just a bit of creativity, a few innovative tools, and a STEM mindset. Using stop motion animation, along with hands-on resources like 3DuxDesign, Hue Animation’s stop motion studio, and the Hummingbird kit, students can explore the past through storytelling, design, coding, and engineering. This

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From Classroom to Career: The Power of Engineering Education

Leave a Comment / Educator / Alicia Verweij

Engineering education plays a crucial role in preparing students for future careers in STEM by fostering hands-on learning, problem-solving, and creativity. By integrating hands-on learning, problem-solving, and creativity, engineering education helps students develop the technical and critical-thinking skills needed in today’s workforce. Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, alongside innovative engineering tools and curricula, bridge

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Why Classroom Robots Are Your Secret Weapon for Building Essential Social-Emotional Skills

Leave a Comment / Educator / Alicia Verweij

Integrating technology into the classroom is essential. Robotics, in particular, offers a dynamic and interactive platform to teach vital social-emotional learning (SEL) skills. Hands-on robotics kits further enhance this process by giving students tangible tools to explore empathy, communication, and emotional regulation. These skills, including empathy, communication, and emotional regulation, are crucial for all students,

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Empower Young Scientists: Teaching Computational Thinking with VinciBot

Leave a Comment / Educator / Alicia Verweij

As educators, we’re often tasked with introducing complex concepts in ways that are accessible, engaging, and relevant to our students. Recently, I was asked to help explain computational thinking and how it can be incorporated into the classroom to enrich student learning. Computational Thinking (CT) isn’t just for computer scientists—it’s a problem-solving approach that can

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Empower Educators with Effective STEAM and CS Curriculum Solutions

Leave a Comment / Educator, Leadership / Alicia Verweij

Educators are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance learning experiences and prepare students for the challenges of the future. By integrating effective teaching strategies that prioritize student engagement, they can foster a more dynamic and inclusive classroom environment. As a classroom teacher and STEAM Integration Coach, I have seen firsthand the benefits of incorporating STEAM

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Immersive Learning for a New Era: The Future of Education and Industry

Leave a Comment / Educator, Leadership / Alicia Verweij

Immersive learning technologies have become an integral part of modern classrooms, revolutionizing education and industry. As a classroom teacher, it’s essential to stay informed about the latest advancements in educational technology to provide the best learning experiences for students. Augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and mixed reality (MR) technologies are already transforming the way

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Lighten Your Work Load: Use Products Offering Ready-Made Lesson Plans

Leave a Comment / Educator / Alicia Verweij

Creating new and innovative lesson plans for students can be challenging, especially when time is limited. Fortunately, some products offer ready-made lesson plans to make the job easier for teachers. These resources can benefit teachers who want to incorporate physical computing devices or cross-curricular teaching into their classrooms. The benefits of ready-made lesson plans are

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Take State Test Prep From Dreaded to Delightful

Leave a Comment / Educator, Leadership / Alicia Verweij

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CS For ALL: Where Does Your State Stand?

Leave a Comment / Educator, Leadership / Alicia Verweij

The jobs of the future will require computer literacy so it’s increasingly important that quality computer science (CS) education is an urgent priority for public school systems around the globe. Although CS has been offered in K-12 public schools for decades, it has not been uniformly required nor universally available. Yet, as society becomes increasingly

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