Educational Services Blog

At the end of the year, it is said (or sung) that old acquaintance should be forgot. But as we prepare to close out the calendar and delve into a new one, we’re focused on what should be remembered from 2019: lessons learned, skills acquired, and relationships built.  

As silver white winters melt into spring, many parents complain of the already-forgotten holiday things; toys have been discarded, and gadgets are broken or low on battery. That’s why, when selecting a gift, it’s crucial to consider the long-term engagement potential and usefulness. The perfect gift is one that captures the recipient’s interest for months or years to come.

When the holiday season nears, weather gets cooler, schedules become busier, and students have a more difficult time staying on the “nice” list. But who can blame them? The anticipation of winter break beckons. Staying focused is so much harder when there are snowmen to be built and cookies to be decorated. For teachers, too, the weeks preceding holiday break are challenging; the list of curriculum to cover is long, but students’ attention spans are awfully short. 

Fall semester is in full swing and if your teachers are already feeling overwhelmed, implementing some of our favorite edtech tools and techniques from our partners could be the answer.

All teachers can relate. School has only recently resumed, and yet, your desk is buried under stacks of papers and miscellaneous school supplies. Post-it notes containing countless clerical to-dos are everywhere. Between the desk mess, a teeming inbox, and planning for upcoming lessons, it’s difficult to know what to tackle first.  

Once the last bell rings and the lockers empty out, it’s time for teachers to enjoy some “me” time and fit in a little professional development. There are a lot of avenues to take from conferences and workshops to work-on-your-own certifications.  

Chromebooks are the go-to edtech tool for classrooms across the country. They are durable, rugged, ultra-portable, easy-to-use, have a long-life battery and, most importantly, affordable. Many Chromebook options land in the $200 to $300 price range with the next performance level up costingabout $500 to $600. 

The last bell has rung, the hallways are clear and the lockers are empty. It’s that glorious time of year when schools empty of students and teachers and improvements begin for the next school year. And while the to-do list may be long, it’s essential for educators to take a real break this summer. 

As school curriculums evolve and adapt to technology, learning spaces are following suit. Stuffy, stodgy classrooms don’t reflect or benefit today’s learner. Instead, schools around the country are transforming classrooms to be more engaging, productive and reflective of the growing use of EdTech. 

When spring finally arrives, it’s not just classrooms, lockers and bookshelves that need a good cleaning but electronic devices as well. Just because a laptop case can be closed and a desktop shutdown, doesn’t mean the clutter magically disappears. The good news is the same principles that apply to cleaning physical spaces work in digital ones just as well.