We are excited to announce that we have won the 2020 EdTech Digest EdTech Cool Tool Award for best "Math Solution."

According to Victor Rivero, Editor-in-Chief of EdTech Digest:

This year has been different, to say the least. However, despite formidable challenges brought about by world events—including locked-down cities, standstill travel, and closed offices, businesses and schools—we endure.

Today, February 27th, marks the ninth annual celebration of Digital Learning Day.

According to the Digital Learning Day organization, "Digital Learning Day was started as a way to actively spread innovative practices and ensure that all youth have access to high-quality digital learning opportunities no matter where they live."

With education instruction and technology changing so frequently, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to keep up with the trends and terminology necessary to feel "in the loop" (especially with many education conferences right around the corner). 

One such education term that has emerged is student agency. This article explores the following frequently asked questions about this timely topic:

Today, Feb 11th, we observe and celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science declared by UN Women and UNESCO.

According to UNESCO, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science represents "an opportunity to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls." Furthermore, "gender equality is a global priority for UNESCO, and the support of young girls, their education and their full ability to make their ideas heard are levers for development and peace." 

Today, January 24th, 2020, marks the second annual observance of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization)-declared International Day of Education. On this day we reflect on how we can all contribute towards empowering the world through education.

According to UNESCO, "the 2020 celebration will position education and the learning it enables as humanity’s greatest renewable resource and reaffirm the role of education as a fundamental right and a public good. It will celebrate the many ways learning can empower people, preserve the planet, build shared prosperity and foster peace."

Adaptive learning. Personalized learning. Differentiated instruction. Online learning. Hybrid learning. The "flipped" classroom. Blended learning.

With both education instruction and technology changing so frequently, sometimes it can feel difficult to keep up with the trends and terminology.

Let's take a deep dive into blended learning, including:

The Common Core is arguably the largest education initiative in the United States of the last decade. Since its official launch in 2009, very few if any education topics have received as much positive and negative discussion and feedback as the Common Core. 

With such a massive impact on education as a whole, let's unpack the Common Core to better understand its history and present effects as well as envision what both state and national education standards will resemble moving forward.

Just in case you haven't heard, Fortnite is an incredibly popular video game that seemingly every kid, teenager, and young adult is mildly (or seriously) addicted to.

Although it is easy to write-off Fortnite as just another video game, it is important to understand the reasons behind Fortnite's meteoric rise and sustained popularity. Furthermore, we can examine Fortnite and see what teachers can learn from Fortnite's expansive playbook that has made it the most prominent video game at this point in time. Let's review:

What is Fortnite? 

Why is Fortnite so addicting and popular?

What can teachers learn from Fortnite?

“I’m not good at math.”

“I JUST don't get it!" 

"I don't know how to do it!"

As educators, we’ve all heard this before. Students often find themselves frustrated when it comes to their math abilities. The reasons are numerous and we may feel that they are "excuses" but in fact, students want to excel.  When students are having difficulty and become frustrated, they will respond with, "I hate math" or "I can't do it", and some stop trying altogether.