Andy Larmand

Not only can students use the micro:bit to learn about coding basics using MakeCode, it has a ton of secondary applications in STEM education. Join us on Thursday, March 4 as we team up with our partners from micro:bit to discuss integrating the micro:bit and its new features in remote, hybrid, or in-class education!

MakerEd tools allow students to connect their heads to their hearts using their hands. And, up until a year ago, so much good was being done in the classroom to advance social and emotional stability in students by using technology in creative ways. Now, however, there are all new reasons to focus on SEL in remote learning.

Whether students are coding with the micro:bit and MakeCode or using it with other STEAM tools, it’s a powerful tool for CS education in any grade. Speaking of its integrations, the micro:bit is compatible with a number of other technologies, allowing students to add exciting elements to various STEM projects!

Teachers in remote learning are now regularly picking and choosing what they will focus on in their remote instruction. Since there is simply not enough time to cover all they normally would, prioritizing the most important items has become the norm. But, how are these priorities determined?

Designed for MakerEd experiences in Grades 3 and up, the Mayku FormBox helps spark creative product design, on-the-fly fixes, and innovative design thinking. Oh, and it’s on sale now through Feb. 28! Keep reading to find out how to access this limited-time deal on a versatile tool for design and maker education.

Jil is committed to providing students with the resources and opportunities they would have access to in a traditional educational setting. She’s chosen to go about facilitating opportunities through the implementation of robotics tools. Jil sees this opportunity as a game changer for her students as she helps them discover hidden talents.

With a Class Connect subscription (that’s now included in bundle purchases), educators can access the brand-new Dash’s Neighborhood program. With this virtual coding environment, students can keep coding whether they’re learning in the classroom, at home, or a mixture of both this fall.

While not impossible, planning for STEM in remote or hybrid learning does present obstacles for educators, including finding the time to fit it into class meetings, creating lesson plans, and getting materials to students. Online STEM platforms have provided one solution, but, in order to replicate that classroom experience, it can become tricky.

This month, we hear from Anna Blake, who’s an elementary school technology integration specialist in the Elizabeth Forward School District (PA). Among some of the projects she’s helped lead with her students include combining coding and drones using Swift and challenging students to create programs to pilot their drones!

Though the ways in which students submit assignments might constantly be changing, they’re likely still responsible for creating essays, writing reports, or authoring other original content for any one of their classes. For this week’s blog, we explored ProWritingAid, an online writing and grammar resource students can use to enhance their writing.