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This website explains the different parts of TPACK and a little bit of the history of TPACK.

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TPACK is the knowledge teachers use to integrate technology in their teaching. Each of the seven components of the TPACK framework are explained.

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A website that talks about TPACK and lists some benefits and drawbacks of TPACK.

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TPACK, or Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge, is a framework for the integration of technology in the classroom. The TPACK framework is a helpful guide to providing students with a high-quality educational experience, when technology is incorporated in the classroom.

Though its history is difficult to track, TPACK seems to have first been presented in research written by Punya Mishra and Matthew J. Koehler in 2006, and has since evolved into the framework teachers use today.

TPACK identifies three forms of knowledge:

Technological Knowledge: Knowledge about technology, including thinking about and working with technology, tools, and resources.

Pedagogical Knowledge: Knowledge about pedagogy, including practices or methods of teaching and learning.

Content Knowledge: Knowledge about the content or subject area to be learned or taught.

The TPACK approach does not view these knowledge areas in isolation. Instead, the framework emphasizes the intersections of these knowledge areas, as seen on the diagram:

Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK)

Technological Content Knowledge (TCK)

Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK)

Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)

In the center of the diagram, you will see TPACK, which is the model for how to teach with technology.

TPACK therefore gives teachers a framework to combine their knowledge of technology, pedagogy, and content for an innovative approach to teaching and learning.

TPACK vs. SAMR

In better understanding how teachers can use TPACK as a guide, it is best to look at TPACK in contrast to the SAMR model. For more information about the SAMR model, visit my recent blog post.

Though at first glance TPACK and SAMR seem to have similarities, the two models are actually quite different.

SAMR - which stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition - is best for providing a high-level view of technology integration in the classroom. SAMR is simple. The issue with SAMR, however, is that it might be overly simple.

TPACK does not treat technology as separate from teaching and learning. Instead, TPACK incorporates the interdisciplinary nature of pedagogy, content, and technology.

As we teach, we combine our knowledge of the content (the material or subject we are teaching) with our knowledge of pedagogy (how to teach). As technology becomes increasingly more ubiquitous in the classroom, we also have to add our knowledge of technology into the mix: combining content, pedagogical, and technological knowledge.

The TPACK Model: Benefits and Drawbacks

With all theories and models, there are benefits and drawbacks to TPACK.

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of TPACK is that it allows teachers to examine and reflect on their practice and how technology is integrated in the classroom (SAMR does the same).

TPACK also recognizes the critical intersection between content, pedagogy, and tech. The reality is that tech isn't going to transform our classrooms or solve our problems if it is viewed in isolation. Transformation really occurs when tech is viewed in relation to teaching and learning.

Unlike the SAMR model, which is often viewed as too simple, TPACK has been viewed as too complex by some educators. Similarly, some educators also believe that TPACK might not be practically useful.

At the end of the day...

TPACK is a framework that can be effective in guiding teachers to incorporate technology into teaching and learning in meaningful ways. TPACK views tech integration as the intersection of knowledge areas - pedagogy, content, and technology. Consider using this framework as you continue to develop your own personal philosophy around technology in your classroom.

Resources

The resources below helped inspire this blog post. Check them out for more information on TPACK.

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All About TPACK: A Teacher's Guide to the TPACK Tech Integration Model

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TPACK, or Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge, is a framework for the integration of technology in the classroom. The TPACK framework is a helpful guide to providing students with a high-quality educational experience, when technology is incorporated in the classroom. Though its history is difficult to track, TPACK seems to have first been presented in research...

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In this presentation, there are some already finished ideas for using Google in the classroom. They can be modified to fit a certain topic or use the idea listed in the tool.

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Students are able to complete activities of things that the teacher taught them.

Teachers are able to create lessons that are interactive for the students.

I would use this in my classroom to assign my students activities when we are working on a topic. This would be done either individually or in a small group. I would also use this in my classroom to create an interactive lesson when my students need a little extra practice on a topic.

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Pear Deck is on a mission to help teachers create powerful learning moments for every student, every day - using the tools you already know and love.

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Not fully connected to a learning objective, but it is a great way for students to have physical movement inside of the classroom.

I would use for a brain break or to practice mindfulness. I would also use this as an indoor recess option for when students can't go outside.

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Students are sent on a scavenger hunt. This can be used to create interactive lessons, on field trips, etc.

Promotes collaboration between students and student engagement.

I would use this during a lesson that my students need a little bit of extra support in. Another way I would use this is during a field trip to add a little bit of extra fun and my students would be able to see things that they might not have been able to see before.

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The Original Interactive Experiences App | Goosechase

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Inspired by scavenger hunts, Goosechase is an online platform that helps you run real-world interactive experiences for your communities. Try it today for free!

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This website explains what SAMR is and how to use it in the classroom.

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Incorporating technology has always been a part of our teaching, but now with distance learning and teaching digitally, we have to incorporate more than ever! Learn about the SAMR model and how it affects online learning and the technology you use in the online classroom!

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At the end of the website page there is a slide show that breaks down SAMR and how to use it as the teacher and the student.

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Ideas for student centered learning and ways to use technology to engage them. They can be engaging and students can work on them or you can have your students assigned to topics by you.

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Teacher essentials - Canva Design School

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Instructional strategies for student centered learning. There are also some tips to remember about implementing student-centered instruction.

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We often hear that classrooms should engage in more student-centered instructional strategies, or that teachers should use more student-centered instruction. However, what does that mean? Does it mean every student is using educational technology that provides a "personalized" learning path? Does it mean that students are engaged in project-based learning? Does it mean an "anything goes" classroom with less rigor? Does it mean a classroom with a less formal structure?

To these, I would answer, respectively, "most probably," "possibly," "definitely not," and "it depends on what you mean by less formal...." For instance, it is true that a student-centered classroom-which uses what is often called learner-centered instruction -will have more personalization than traditional classrooms. It is also true that student-centered instructional strategies may seem less structured (and, at first glance, a bit "less formal") than traditional instruction. As students collaborate, conduct their own research, and create work products that look different from traditional essays and tests, classrooms can become messy and noisy environments. But this is not "anything goes." Instead of enforcing a quiet classroom of students dutifully attending to the teacher's lecture, the teacher's role is focused on ensuring that students are fully engaged in learning, and are actively working and collaborating on rigorous content that meets their personal learning needs. The teacher may also find that a student-centered classroom results in the teacher not knowing the answer to every question that arises-that's good news because it allows the teacher to model learning in an authentic setting!

While student-centered instruction has been used to mean many things, there are agreed-upon learning principles that form the foundation for a student-centered classroom: for authentic learning to take place, students must be engaged in what is learned, how it is learned, and what it looks like to exhibit expertise. In this post, we share a set of strategies that allow these principles to be realized in your classroom.

6 Key Learner-Centered Instructional Strategies

Student-centered instruction begins with an attitude that puts students at the center of the educational experience. There isn't a single strategy that absolutely defines a student-centered classroom. There are, however, some strategies that are common across a wide variety of learner-centered classrooms.

1. Support Student Voice and Choice

The key to a student-centered approach is allowing students to share in classroom decision-making, such as allowing students to determine the form of a learning product. As an example, after students read their next book, provide an option for what format they want to use for their book report:

Of course, this does not mean reducing rigor: students should understand, and preferably have input into, a grading rubric that makes clear the expectation of rigorous work. As students become more familiar with having a voice in classroom decisions, and as they understand the responsibility they have in ensuring rigor, students can be given more control. Students can determine how they will learn about a topic, the learning resources to be used, and how they will show competence in the area. As this shift occurs, you may find that students demand a deeper understanding of the "why" of learning and how it applies in a real-world context. For instance, a persuasive writing unit may become an analysis of media posts; or for older students, a unit on logarithms may become a project on understanding how we measure the strength of earthquakes.

2. Provide Differentiation

Not all students are the same, and student-centered instructional strategies build upon this fact. Students enter the classroom with different strengths and different backgrounds, and a student-centered view of the classroom accepts these differences as an asset, not as a set of student deficiencies to be remediated. Sometimes differentiation means that students use personalized technology to gain competence in background skills needed for the unit. More often, though, differentiation can take the form of ensuring that there are multiple ways to access concepts and show competence, as outlined in the approach called Universal Design for Learning, or UDL. UDL has guidelines for engagement (the "why" of learning), representation (the "what" of learning), and action & expression (the "how" of learning).

Thinking about learning from such a high level can help you differentiate instruction from the student's perspective:

A wide variety of contexts allows students the choice of context

Information and concepts are presented in varying ways, for instance, using text, simulations, and animations

Some learning activities are independent, and some are collaborative

You may find that students take time to become comfortable with a student-centered approach to learning. You may find that your students need support in areas such as responsible decision-making and self-management, as described by the CASEL framework.

3. Foster Collaboration

A learner-centered approach requires that the learners interact with each other, supporting each other in learning and engaging in joint problem-solving. There are many ways to foster productive collaboration, including:

Students mentoring each other based on the unique strengths of each student (for instance, a student who typically underperforms in class may be the class expert in video editing)

Students engaging in a jigsaw assignment, in which each student is responsible for a key part of the assignment and teaches the others what they learned

Additional techniques for moving towards more collaborative learning strategies and techniques can be found in another one of our blog posts. As students learn to collaborate, you may find students who traditionally don't speak up in class display unexpected strengths when collaborating with their peers. Student collaboration allows students to experience taking some responsibility for their own learning, making clear that their own ideas are centered on the learning experience.

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Learn about student-centered instructional strategies that are common across a wide variety of learner-centered classrooms.

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This article talks about how to incorporate stations in the classroom for a variety of different levels.

In my classroom, I would use station rotation as a differentiation technique to promote student learning. I would also use this when I am working 1-on-1 with students to keep my other students busy learning.

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Ed Tech

When we think of stations or centers we often think of young children moving around the room to various activities. While stations can, and do, work well in lower elementary classrooms they also have a very important role in upper elementary, middle and high school.

Stations can provide time for practice, preview, review, collaboration, choice work time, and small group or individual teacher time.

What does station rotation look like in the classroom?

The number and type of stations might look different in every classroom but the basic idea usually stays the same. Students are in small groups and rotate around from station to station to complete a series of tasks while the teacher works with groups or individual students. Students may rotate to a teacher station as a group or the teacher may pull small groups or individual students out of the rotation to meet with them as needed.

Station rotation in high school

High school might be the last place you would think of when you picture stations in the classroom but they can provide valuable opportunities to meet with small groups of students. In the video below, How and Why to Integrate Station Rotation into Your Classroom, Catlin Tucker shows us what station rotation looks like in her high school classroom.

Station rotation in middle school

Kristin Daley Conti uses stations in her 7th grade science classroom all the time. She contributed the ideas below to give us an example of what stations might look like in a middle school science classroom. Click on the colored buttons to see the specific task cards for each station.

Station rotation in the elementary classroom

The elementary classroom is a fun and exciting place to bring in stations. You can keep all of the stations planned around one subject or use your station rotation time to incorporate practice in every subject area. Below is an example of what an ELA station rotation might look like in an elementary school classroom. Click on the colored buttons to see the specific task cards for each station.

Getting started with station rotation in your classroom

Effective station rotation doesn't just happen overnight. It does take some planning and teaching of procedures and expectations. Luckily there are lots of resources out there to help you . Here are a few of our favorites.

FREE station rotation task cards!

If you have never done stations before then planning them out might seem like a daunting and time consuming task. But helping you teach better and save time is what EfficienTEACH is all about! That's why we, along with the amazing Ditchbook community, have created these station rotation task cards that you can copy and adapt to your classroom. Just go to "file" then "make a copy" to add it to your Google drive. Or go to "file" then "download " and choose "Microsoft PowerPoint" if you are a Microsoft user.

You can make a copy of these cards anytime and edit them to fit your class. Be sure to check the original file as more cards will be added as other community members share their ideas. Just go to "file" then "make a copy" to add it to your Google drive. Or go to "file" then "download " and choose "Microsoft PowerPoint" if you are a Microsoft user.

Want to contribute a station rotation task card idea? It's easy! Just make a copy of this template and follow the directions on the slide.

10 tips for efficient station rotation in any class

We reached out the the incredible Ditchbook community to share their tips and resources for implementing station rotation in the classroom and we got some fantastic responses! Below you will find 10 tips, including more resources, from other teachers who are using stations in their classroom.

1. Utilize pre-created resources to save time.

I found this instructional strategies playlist very helpful especially to new teachers. When you scroll to page 2, all the strategies are listed under the different topics. When you click on a strategy, for example 'Brainiac' (rehearsal and practice playlist) it takes you to the page where the activity is explained in detail. Some of the activities, like this one, also have links provided on the left side for templates. This resource is like a one-stop-shop.
Source: lead4ward instructional strategies playlists

2. Use Teacherstack.com to set up your groups and rotations.

I wanted to share a few tips I've learned in the past few years of using stations in my seventh grade language arts classes. I use the free website called teacherstack.com. It is a game changer for me. It allows me to create classes and set up rotation series. If I'm using timed rotations, I can project which group everyone is in, what the stations are, and the time remaining in an easy to follow grid.

Teacherstack.com has taken away the problem of kids not remembering which station/task they rotate to. It also allows me to focus on working with my small groups instead of watching the time or starting a timer. There are even choices for transition music you can play in between stations. This helps my students with cleaning up and preparing for the next station in a more orderly and quicker manner. I know not all station rotation models are this structured and time dependent, but for when you want stations to be just that, this website is so helpful! (There are other great features on this site as well.)

3. Have a variety of stations to increase engagement.

Have a variety of centers - some that will be easy for students to manage on their own and some that require more supervision from the teacher.
Music room rotation ideas shared by Amber Houk

Reading Center - Students are listening and reading along with the book "The Jazz Fly" by Matthew Gollub

Instrument Center - Students are using the boomwhacker instruments to figure out the mystery songs.

Listening Center - Students are listening to Celtic music and free drawing if they would like.

Activity Center - Students discover clues about an instrument inside a paper bag. They organize their clues on a worksheet that's inside a dry erase pocket.

Movement Center - Students play two movement games that we've played in class - statue cards and movement word wall.

Music Game Center - Students create music using one of the games on the Chrome Music Lab.

Student rotation ideas shared by Rebecca Crim

A QR code (to a website, video, interactive learning game, etc.)

Manipulatives (board game, flashcards, pictures...really anything they can hold, touch, and move)

With the teacher (it's great to have a moment to check in with the students)

Create something as a group (an ad, a meme, a new invention related to the topic...the ideas are endless)

Create something as an individual (similar to above, only done on their own, usually back in their seats)

Favorite station or center activities shared by Jaime Rowland
Poetry Museum - allow your students to appreciate poetry before you begin to analyze poetry by putting up lots of different poems around your room. Students view the poems like they might view paintings in a museum. You can tie an assignment or just allow them to select a favorite.

Meet the teacher stations (I learned about this on Tik Tok ).

Station 1: Investigate the teacher - students look around the room and make inferences about their findings.
Station 2: Close Read the syllabus
Station 3: Student survey
Station 4: Collaborate with others to develop 5 teacher expectations
Station 5: Email Etiquette - email the teacher
Choice station rotation ideas shared by Stacy Benton
I am a second grade teacher who has tried every way to set up station rotations and centers since I started teaching 11 years ago. I have found a fluid approach most effective and engaging for my students. This approach gives my students choice as to the order in which they want to visit each rotation. It is their responsibility to visit and complete each rotation activity by the end of rotation time on the fourth day. The rotations remain the same each week. I just change the content being addressed. I also differentiate activities for certain students.

We use rotations four days a week for thirty minutes each day. The rotations are:

Vocabulary

Write and Video (using Flipgrid)

Seesaw Scavenger Hunt (using the week's decodable reader to search for a phonics skill)

Teacher Talk (I pull small groups or individual students to conference or practice with me)

Exemplar station rotation idea shared by Jane Schuster
As a science teacher station rotation is easily incorporated into many of our labs. For example, in my anatomy classes if we are doing dissections I will have each group of students locate a different structure and 'pin' it. Then the groups will rotate through to see each example before finding it on their own specimen.

4. Start small and go slow.

Teach the station / center expectations and process with a low/no-stakes task. Once students understand expectations and procedures, then add in content.

Start small--Begin with station/center activities that are short (5 minutes) to teach and reinforce expectations and build from there.

Try a few station / center activities prior to working in a teacher-led station so that students are used to the process.

5. Have some sort of product, outcome or exit ticket for each station.

When doing station rotation activities with older students (middle and high school), it's essential to have a "deliverable" for each station -- something they complete and turn in, or have you check off, before moving to the next station.

Sometimes this might look like:

After reading an article at Station 1, create an Adobe Spark Post (now CC Express) with a PDA about the topic.

After analyzing primary source documents at Station 2, submit a thesis statement that answers the question at the station.

Or, it might mean that they're adding information to a table or chart (hard copy or digital) as they visit each station, in which case I check their work after they're done with each station before they move on, to make sure they have all the info/content/skills they need.

6. Be flexible and add in some fun!

An argument FOR stations ... Planning for stations ... Incorporating fun ...
The reason that more teachers don't use stations is that teachers all feel there is too much curriculum to cover and we know that letting students out of their seats increases transition time. Therefore one might reason less teaching time is available with stations.

That said, I teach grade 9 and 10 science along with grade 11 University level chemistry. I use station labs all the time. Yes, we do lose transition time. BUT working with their friends and allowing students to move at their own pace reignites the joy in learning. So students are more willing to concentrate during longer lessons - so we actually cover more! Ironic, isn't it?

And I am also finding the pandemic has caused a hard reset in student behaviour. Students are grateful for everything again. They say thank you for lessons; they help clean up after labs; they are so happy and grateful for labs. And they are listening better and thinking about little ways to honour their friends. Hey - we're turning back into Canadians again!! As a person who is Canadian first, and any genetic heritage as a strong second, I love this.

Station labs require much more thinking and advanced planning on the teacher's part as well. I have to backmap my planning so that students receive enough formative assessment in the type and quantity of observations to make, the type of vocabulary I need to assess, the type of calculations I need them to understand and work through and a balance of fun reactions (generally involving Bunsen burners or something they can eat 🙂 along with slower reactions that are more like "a dry toast"- necessary but a bit boring because they take longer - like waiting for silver to precipitate.

I also love and use escape rooms, gallery walks, sidewalk chalk outside in warmer weather. Right before a holiday kids are wired, so right before March break we did a tie dye lab as a stations lab that was completely optional. There was no quiz, and nothing to hand in. Some students tie dyed their socks because they forgot to bring anything. Some students had a nap because they had written a Chem test for me, a physics quiz, a French immersion essay and they were 'burnt out. And some students had a math test on the the last day before the break, so they studied. And some meditated or chatted with their friends. It was perfect.

So, really, I guess what I am saying is that a teacher has to start building a positive and trusting relationship with students starting on the very first day of class.

Students have to understand why we need a safety agreement, how to build positive relationships with their peers and the teacher, how to pay it forward for their families. And mental health for students has to be number 1. I have to trust the students; they have to trust me. And if you've got that rapport with your students, there is absolutely no reason that any discipline should not be using station work!

7. Incorporate stations virtually.

I have found that creating Zoom Rooms (named by starting center name) and creating a google sheet with a tab for each "rotation" has been super helpful. This way students can see the task, pertinent links/resources, and outcomes they need for each rotation. If they are staying together as a group, they can "rotate" to the next center by clicking on the next tab (no need to actually change rooms-more efficient!) and I can send an announcement "time to go to next tab" as the next rotation at the designated time interval.

It takes a bit of time to set up, but once they get the hang of it, it is really fun. And (added bonus) you can quickly modify groups by exchanging students in different rooms as you feel is needed. Just remember to allow screen share from multiple participants and you are ready to go! Fun collaborative learning!

8. Use stations for timely feedback

One of my favorite teacher-led stations is feedback on writing. While students are working at the station on a portion of the writing, I meet with students one-on-one about a previously completed part of the task. If they are working on body paragraphs, I will meet with them about their introductions for instance.

9. If you're short on time pass the station

I teach U.S. History. I've found the quickest way to complete stations is to have all materials in a big envelope or folder. I arrange desks in groups and pass the folders from one group to the next. My classes are only 50 minutes, so time moving from one station to another often takes away from work time.

I don't always use this method. Sometimes I still have students travel around the room, but if we have a lot to work through, having them stay in their seats works much better.

10. Don't give up!

Don't give up if it's not perfect the first hundred times you try it. These are kids, not robots. They need training on stations.

Example: Using Padlet to Organize Station Rotations
Contributed by Donna Schies
You may have heard that station rotations are one of the best ways to meet all of your students' learning needs, and as true as that may be, it can be a nightmare to organize.

To streamline this process, I decided to use the EfficienTEACH station rotation task cards. They have a great layout with a consistent format that students can easily understand.

1. Provide task cards to students. I decided to embed these station rotation task cards into a Padlet ( padlet.com) so everything could be easily accessible from one simple link. Padlet allows you to organize resources under specific categories in their shelf format, which is what I used for my station rotations. See the image below.

2. Create a station rotation classroom map. I also used the task cards to create a station rotation classroom map so students would know exactly where they are going when they rotate, and exactly what they are supposed to be doing when they get there. Below is a picture of my classroom station rotation map which I also easily embedded on the Station Rotation Padlet.

3. Quickly student groups. Creating groups that work well together can be a tricky formula for teachers, but I have found a pretty easy way to generate some quick groups by using the toolkit in ClassDojo ( classdojo.com). I prefer groups of 3, because sometimes 4 can be too many. Plus, if you have partner groups, it never fails, someone is always absent. Below is an image of the groups created on ClassDojo. I hid their names, but you get the idea. Student groups were also easily included on the Padlet.

4. Use timers to manage time. I added two YouTube timer video links to my Padlet, one for 20 minutes and the other one for 15. This is mostly because some of my classes need more time to complete their work at each station. The timers that I used were both Among Us themed and my students really enjoyed that, but you could use any type of timer that you like. On the picture below you can see the teacher support that I have embedded in my padlet.

5. Wrap it up with reflection. For reflection and accountability to the station rotation model, I included a Google Form survey on my Padlet that students complete at the end of the period. The survey that I use has reflection sentence stems to make the reflecting process more thoughtful. You can check it out below.

My students LOVED the station rotation activities and the organization of it all was made incredibly easy by using Padlet. Check out the big picture of it all below. I strongly suggest you try it out. It will make your life as a teacher so much easier and the quality and efficiency of your stations will create better learning outcomes for your students.

Here is a picture of my students working on their station rotation activities. They really did a great job collaborating and working together because they knew exactly what to do. After trying my stations this way, I honestly would not want to run stations any other way.

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Station rotation: Save time, engage students in any K-12 classroom

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Station rotation keeps students engaged in multiple activities. Plus, it isn't hard to set up! Here are some ideas.When we think of stations or centers we

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Take complex material and make it easier to learn and teach for students. You can create charts, diagrams, presentations and other things that could benefit students in the classroom.

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Infographic Maker Trusted By 11 Million Users - Piktochart

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With Piktochart AI, you can create stunning infographics, reports, presentations, and more in seconds. No design experience needed. Start for free.

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Create a book with your students. This allows for students who are not able to write very well to speak their words. Students are able to read, write and tell their stories digitally.

I would use this as a writing activity that all my students can participate in and we can create a book using the journal prompts they are given. I would also use this as a social story or to go over rules and expectation.

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Digital Storytelling in the Primary Classroom

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Use this powerful form of communication to build literacy for emerging readers and writers.

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Students are able write and create their own stories. You can create a class book or an individual book. Students can draw or have pictures in their book or a page of a book.

I would use this at the beginning of the year to get to know my students by having them or their families create a page that is all about them. I would also use this when I need to create a social story for students who are struggling in the classroom.

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Book Creator for Teachers - Teaching made easy - Book Creator app

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Experience genuine student engagement, inclusivity, and authentic learning throughout the curriculum with Book Creator. Teachers love it.

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A classroom management screen that allows you different options for your students to participate or have different types of classroom management.

I would use this all day in my classroom to show my students the time, what their voice level needs to be at, etc. I would also use this to have reminders of what they can and can't do as well as things we learned a lesson.

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Start creating your screens here, no account needed.

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Snorkl is an instant AI feedback tool for student engagement. Students can use it as an early finisher or in addition to what they are learning in the curriculum.

In my classroom, I would use this as an early finisher for a little extra practice. I would also use this in place of a worksheet or a pre-lesson activity to test my students knowledge on a topic.

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Different tools for student engagement and activities to use in the classroom.

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Lesson plan for Kindergarten Math subtraction stories. I do, We do, You do example

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Adventure and Challenge, observation and reflection, application to life

Supports students motivation and engagement, overall wellbeing and academic achievement.

I would refer back to this document when I need ideas for experiential learning. I would also use ideas from this document in my classroom when we are learning about a topic that could be better taught as an experience.

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Experiential learning for children aged 4-14 : My College

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This article has been published as part of the Rethinking Curriculum project, kindly funded by The Helen Hamlyn Trust. The Helen Hamlyn Centre for Pedagogy carried out a Rapid Research Review at the beginning of the Rethinking Curriculum project. This outlines various findings around experiential learning in primary schools and […]

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Examples: play, labs, field trips

Talks about different components of experiential learning like adventure and challenge, application to life and observation and reflection

I would use this for my parents to give them information about things we are doing in the classroom.

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By engaging in experiential learning, you can positively impact your life and the lives of those around you, while building confidence and character along the way.

A Look at Experiential Education

Understanding what experiential education is will be the first step of your journey. Simply put, experiential education is a way of framing the learning environment to focus on you, the learner. With experiential education, you become the lens through which all things are viewed. You take a pivotal role in shaping your learning environment, working either one-on-one or in groups to experience, problem-solve and analyze the ideas set before you.

As a broad methodology, experiential education doesn't conform to just one type of learning or one type of environment. In fact, experiential learning is effective in nearly all facets of life. It is applicable at K12 schools, colleges and universities, summer camps, work retreats, mental health programs, employer training facilities, substance abuse/addiction centers and many other settings.

The most common types of experiential education programs revolve around wilderness therapy, adventure education, corporate development training and classroom-based learning (primary, secondary and higher education).

Four Stages of Experiential Learning

Educational theorist David A. Kolb is credited with developing the Educational Learning Theory model, first published in 1984. There are four stages of learning in this model, and each one builds upon the previous in a holistic, well-balanced manner. Here are the four stages you will encounter in experiential learning:

1. Concrete Experience: In this first stage, the learner takes part in some type of activity, actively engaging with hands-on learning. It could be indoors, such as in a classroom or gymnasium, or it could be outdoors in an urban or rural setting. Regardless of the environment, the learner is encountering a new experience and actively absorbing new material.

2. Reflective Observation: During the second stage, the learner has completed the activity and now takes time to reflect back on the experience. Critical thinking does not occur at this stage. Rather, it is a time for observing what lies before and around the learner as a result of the activity.

3. Abstract Conceptualization: By the third stage, the learner has begun to think about the experience, to conceptualize a personal theory about what the experience meant or how it could be repeated (or modified).

4. Active Experimentation: In the final stage, the learner once again dives into an activity, applying the conceptualized theory to determine if the outcome is similar or different to what was first experienced. The learner will make decisions and problem-solve to determine how the best outcome could be achieved.

Key Principles of Experiential Education

Experiential education - the process used to achieve learning - involves several key principles that guide its overall approach.

Active learning, when the learner shapes the educational course through questions, experiments and creative thinking. The learner develops curiosity in all materials, taking time to solve problems and put forth conceptualized outcomes.

Learner initiative, when the onus is placed upon the learner for guiding the experience. It also means the learner takes responsibility for outcomes and will be held accountable for the successes and failures of each.

Holistic focus, when the learner's mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and social needs are taken into consideration.

Personalized experience, when the learning results are unique to each learner. The personalized results will also guide future experiences and shape the way the learner chooses to engage with participants, educators and community members.

Nurtured relationships, when the learner deepens a connection and learns to encourage reciprocal benefits. The most common relationships are between learner and self, learner and acquaintances/family, and learner and society as a whole.

Joint value, when the learner and educator both gain from the experience. Some of this value focuses on the actual successes and failures, while other aspects focus on the degree of risk-taking and unknown outcomes.

Safe learning environment, when the educator devises an experience in which the learner is able to question, problem-solve and learn in a safe, stimulating environment. The educator is responsible for presenting the initial experience, leaving the learner to take hold of the reins from that point forward.

Unbiased approach, when the educator focuses solely on the learner and the learner's perspective, refraining as much as humanly possible from personal biases, presumptions and judgments.

Taken together, these principles help shape the experience for every learner and every educator in turn. Your journey is never one of isolation; rather, you'll find it is a joint venture in which all parties benefit and work in tandem to enhance their own lives and sense of purpose.

See also: Experiential Learning in The Classroom Infographic

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What Is Experiential Education Infographic - e-Learning Infographics

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By engaging in experiential learning, you can positively impact your life. With experiential education, you are the lens via which all things are viewed.

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A fun and engaging brain break for students. You can assign the escape rooms to your students. You could also have them compete as a class to escape.

I would use this in my classroom as a brain break. I would also use this as a tool to promote collaboration. I can also assign different escape rooms to my students as an activity for early finishers.

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Virtual field trips can be taken from your classroom and you can go anywhere in the world from your classroom. These could be used on a choice board for students to choose what that they want to do or they could be playing in the background if there is no talking during the video.

In my classroom, I would find a relaxing fieldtrip to have on in the background while my students are working and they can look at it for a brain break. I would also use this during science when we can't go to a certain place, but we want to see what it looks like in real life.

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Virtual field trips are a game changer. Not only do they fill in for real field trips when budgets and other roadblocks prevent in-person options, but virtual field trips also open doors to educational experiences all over the country and the world, both past and present. No fundraising or permission slips required!

(Note: For anyone who needs it, YouTube offers a closed-captioning option. Just click the CC button in the bottom right-hand corner.)

Amazon Career Tours are free virtual field trips that inspire students to pursue careers of the future. Tour whenever, wherever on Kahoot! Each tour comes with a Teacher Toolkit that includes a facilitation guide and student worksheets.

2. The Zoo

There are so many amazing online options when it comes to zoos that we couldn't narrow it down to just one. Most zoos have live webcams in some of their most popular exhibits, such as the KC Zoo Polar Bear Cam and the Giant Panda Cam at Smithsonian's National Zoo. However, some zoos offer a more in-depth look. You'll definitely want to check out the San Diego Zoo as their site for kids includes behind-the-scenes videos and stories, as well as a variety of printable activities and online games. Check out our full list of virtual zoo goodness.

3. The Aquarium

It's a similar story with aquariums. You have your pick of live webcams, but our favorites are the Georgia Aquarium's Ocean Voyager webcam (wait for the whale shark!) and the "Jelly Cam" at Monterey Bay Aquarium (so soothing). The Seattle Aquarium even has a 30-minute video tour. Want more under-the-sea fun? Here's our ultimate list of virtual aquarium field trips.

4. The Farm

The classic preschool field trip goes online! You can have your pick of dairy farm field trips, but we like this one from the Dairy Alliance and this one from Stonyfield Organic. Farm Food 360 gives students the opportunity to immerse themselves in Canadian farm and food tours-from raising pigs to making milk and cheese. We're also loving these virtual egg farm field trips from the American Egg Board.

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5. An Art Museum

We found 20 art museums with virtual tours, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art's # MetKids and its awesome Where's Waldo? setup. And you can't miss the world-famous Louvre in Paris (no passport needed!). Check out the current virtual tours: Traveling Materials and Objects, the Advent of the Artist, the Body in Movement, and Founding Myths: From Hercules to Darth Vader!

6. A National Park

From webcams at Hawaii volcanoes to a virtual run along the rim of the Grand Canyon, you have tons of options here. Our top pick would have to be Yellowstone. The interactive maps are a great way to see the Mammoth Hot Springs and Mud Volcano, but we think kids will be psyched about the Old Faithful Geyser livestream and the opportunity to make their own predictions for its next eruption. Check out everything the National Park Service has to offer virtually.

7. A Planetarium

Through Stellarium Web, kids can explore over 60,000 stars, locate planets, and watch sunrises and solar eclipses. If you enter your location, you can see all the constellations that are visible in the night sky in your corner of the world.

Take your students on a virtual field trip of a recycling center and a modern landfill. Plus, there's a full-on curriculum that includes lesson plans, take-home handouts, and more.

Nickelodeon teamed up with two astronauts on the International Space Station to demonstrate how slime reacts to microgravity and had kids reproduce those same demonstrations back here on Earth. It makes for an amazing 15-minute virtual field trip.

The Nature Conservancy has a brand-new virtual field trip entitled "You're the Scientist! Citizen Science, Frogs & Cicadas." Check out their full library of videos on topics like climate change and water security.

Discovery Education hosts a variety of virtual events -each with a companion guide with hands-on learning activities. Current offerings include "Making a New Life: The Courage of a Refugee" and "The Future Is Now" (architectural and engineering innovations). Stay tuned for their upcoming civics virtual field trip, "The American Ideal."

This virtual field trip from Great Lakes Now has three components: coastal wetlands, algae, and lake sturgeon. Each video is a quick five minutes long.

Explore online exhibits and discover the history and evolution of play. Check out board games that changed play, sports video games that shaped digital play, and the making of Monopoly to name a few.

Kids can learn about the most recent Census and how census data is collected and used. This virtual field trip also features interviews with subject matter experts and an interactive challenge.

The "Museum of We the People," the Constitution Center serves as a "headquarters for civic education." Check out the Interactive Constitution section, and be sure to watch the virtual tour.

Houston, we have a virtual field trip. Three, actually. All with companion educator guides. The star of the show is the behind-the-scenes tour of the Johnson Space Center.

Boise State put together this fully interactive virtual field trip with text, photos, audio, and video about the history of music. The four featured music locations are: Vienna, Austria; New Orleans, Louisiana; Cleveland, Ohio; and Bristol, Tennessee-Virginia.

This living-history museum provides a look into life in an early American community. The website offers five different webcams featuring areas such as the tavern and the armory.

This virtual experience of George Washington's home is incredibly well done. Enter the different buildings-from the opulent mansion to the chilling slave quarters-and click on different items for video and text explanations.

This virtual tour comes with a real tour guide! Blaine Kortemeyer is the Assistant Chief of Interpretation and Education, who lends his expertise on the building of this national monument. The 3D Explorer is also an excellent tool.

Take a visit to the National WWII Museum for "a cross-country virtual expedition to discover the science, sites, and stories of the creation of the atomic bomb." Don't forget to download the classroom guide!

For a look inside the iconic building, check out the 360° tour of some of the most historic rooms of the People's House, from the Situation Room to the Oval Office. Examine each room and check out the contents up close.

The National Museum of Natural History's virtual experiences are self-guided, room-by-room tours of permanent, current, and past exhibits. Be sure to send kids to the second floor Bone Hall so they can take a look at all different kinds of skeletons.

A collaboration with over 1,200 leading museums and archives, Google Arts & Culture is an incredible storehouse of monumental works of art. We recommend the Street View and Play sections.

Boasting the world's largest collection of 360° image videos, 360 Cities provides kids with the opportunity to see stunning panoramas across the globe, including their video of the ice floe on the Vistula River in Poland.

It's the official residence of the Queen of England, and boy, is it opulent! Get a peek inside the gorgeous Grand Staircase, White Drawing Room, Throne Room, and Blue Drawing Room.

See one of the wonders of the world with this amazing, thousands-year-old fortification system known the world over. This virtual tour has four scenes available (you have to pay to get access to all 14). The bird's-eye view of Mutianyu pass is a highlight.

Most of us recognize the giant stone statues of Easter Island, but what's the story behind them? Nova's online adventure "Secrets of Easter Island" delves into the mystery with a virtual tour.

National Geographic lets you explore the world's largest cave, located in Vietnam. Use the interactive map to enjoy the fully immersive experience (sound on!).

You don't need a time machine! Discovering Ancient Egypt has a ton of free resources, but it's the interactive pyramid map and 3D temple reconstructions that really give it a field trip feel.

Virtually visit Turn Back the Clock, a museum exhibit that ran for two years at the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago. Through compelling personal stories, innovative interactive media, and pop culture artifacts, the exhibit takes guests through seven decades of history-from the dawn of the nuclear age to significant policy questions our leaders face today.

No, really! You can absolutely "go" to the red planet. With Access Mars, you can see the actual surface of Mars, recorded by NASA's Curiosity rover. Trust us-don't skip the intro. And if your kids liked that, check out this 4K tour of the moon. These may go down in history as some of the best virtual field trips your students get to experience.

Take a virtual tour of this historical battleship located on the Camden waterfront. This battleship has traveled more miles than any other!

No need to travel to Rome! Take in the amazing art and architecture located in the Vatican Museums with these 360-degree views.

Download the app and climb aboard the virtual tram line! Take a virtual walk through the Space Center Houston with informational stops along the way.

Virtually visit museum rooms in the famous Louvre located in Paris. Even check out The Louvre kids' site for student-friendly galleries and stories. You can't visit The Louvre without seeing the Mona Lisa, so check out their immersive Mona Lisa experience available in the app store.

This interactive tour of Ellis Island lets students explore places like the Baggage Room and the Stairs of Separation through short stories, historical photographs, videos, and audio clips. Students can also hear the stories of real kids who recently immigrated to the United States, explore colorful charts and graphs with immigration data, and watch a 30-minute movie that includes a Q&A with National Park Service Rangers who explain what coming to America was like for many immigrants.

38. Plimoth Patuxet Museums

Travel back to the 17th century with options for free, on-demand, digital resources or a live, 1-hour virtual school program led by a Plimoth Patuxet Contemporary Indigenous Museum Educator. Students explore Wampanoag daily life and history; discover the real history of Thanksgiving and the legend behind it; meet a 17th-century Pilgrim; get an interactive sneak peak into 17th-century wardrobes; and learn about simple machines and water power at the Plimoth Grist Mill. There are also options for virtual hands-on history workshops, including Wampanoag Pottery and Write Like a Pilgrim.

When you can't visit the museum in person, 3D virtual field trips to the Children's Museum Houston are the next best thing. All videos are produced and curated by museum educators and feature hands-on activities that can be done in the classroom. Topics include nutrition, math, states of matter, forces and properties of water, and more.

Beyond the Battle Field is a virtual field trip for grades 2-8 hosted by Lauren Tarshis, author of the I Survived historical-fiction series for kids. Students will meet a museum educator as well as the museum curator, and explore artifacts and documents from the American Revolution. Plus they'll hear the stories of teens who served during the war. There's also a Classroom Kit available with a vocabulary list and discussion questions by grade level.

If you liked this roundup of the best virtual field trips and want more resources like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters.

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40 Amazing Educational Virtual Field Trips

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You can't always get there in person, but lots of places will let you "visit" online. These are the best virtual field trips out there!

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Talk with a scientist from your classroom. Let the students ask questions and get answers right from the scientist. You could also connect with other classrooms around the world.

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Skype a Scientist matches your classroom, scout troop, or library with scientists for Q&amp;A sessions for free!

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This article provides information on project based learning and talks about how to use it along with some ideas of what apps to use to get started with project based learning.

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contributed by Katre Laan

The rise of technology used in classrooms has made learning much more interactive.

A decade ago, the emergence of iPads as an essential project-based learning tool. Today, there is a slew of tools available for teachers and students. Even the current trends in education include the use of new technology, from collaborative projects to examples of blended learning to old-school traditional textbook teaching executed with new and innovative tools.

For students, the core aim of project-based learning is to put theory into practice and gain new skills throughout the process. From prioritizing tasks to managing sources and summarizing concepts, they will be developing skills for life. As well as using interactive tools in group project helps students to grasp a better understanding of a concept.

A major advantage of digital tools used is better engagement in the classroom. For students it's the curiosity, for teachers it's a great tool to work with, to inspire and grade student work! A major advantage is that digital tools enable students and teachers to see the result immediately and make necessary changes within the tool and the project.

Browser-based tools and several apps used in education are especially useful for researching, storytelling, and collaborative video making. The aim of these tools is to encourage students to approach a task by asking open-ended questions and develop a concept of a task. They also enhance personalized learning, where students discover their own strengths, whether it is analyzing and mapping out ideas, research, or even editing.

Handy mobile devices allow students to be inspired when outside the classroom by creating and sharing ideas and creations instantly. The benefit of some of the tools is that they accommodate different approaches to projects. Whether the end result is a presentation, telling stories on an interactive timeline, or a visual board. Some apps can be useful in many ways.

Especially in the case of project-based learning, the passive 'teacher tells students' teaching has turned to a more 'hands-on' approach with students finding the best ways to present their own results. In small groups, they will be delegated tasks and feed ideas to one other. In collaborative projects, students have a chance to enhance their skills in communication, critical thinking, productivity, and problem-solving.

Here is a mini-guide to some of the project-based learning tools.

There are several project-based learning tools that teachers can use to help their students engage in hands-on, experiential learning.
1. Google Classroom
Google Classroom is a digital classroom manager that aims to simplify creating, distributing, and grading assignments. With Google Classroom, teachers can create online classrooms, distribute assignments, post announcements, and start discussions within the class.

Google Classroom is integrated with other Google apps, such as Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms, so teachers and students can share and collaborate on documents in real-time. Teachers can create assignments, set deadlines, and grade assignments from within Google Classroom. Students can turn in assignments, ask questions, and receive feedback from their teacher, all within the same platform.
2. Edmodo
This platform provides a secure online environment where teachers can manage class discussions, assignments, quizzes and polls.

Edmodo can be an effective tool for project-based learning (PBL) because it offers a variety of features that allow teachers and students to collaborate, share resources, and communicate effectively throughout the project.

Here are some ways Edmodo can work in project-based learning:

Edmodo allows students to work collaboratively on projects. Teachers can create project groups, where students can share ideas, ask questions, and collaborate on project tasks.

Feedback and assessment can also be improved with Edmodo, as it allows teachers to provide feedback to students on their work, which is essential in project-based learning. Teachers can grade assignments, provide comments, and give feedback on student progress.

Edmodo provides a platform for teachers and students to communicate throughout the project. Teachers can provide guidance, answer questions, and provide feedback in real-time, while students can share updates on their progress and ask for help as needed.

Edmodo can also be used for students to reflect on their project experience. Teachers can encourage students to reflect on their learning, what worked well, and what they could improve upon for future projects.It can be a valuable tool for project-based learning because it promotes collaboration, communication, resource sharing, feedback, and reflection.
3. Trello
Trello can help students in project-based learning by providing a visual and collaborative platform for organizing and tracking project tasks and progress.

As a project-based learning tools, its boards and cards can help students or teachers manage project tasks. Teachers can create a Trello board for each project and create cards for each task that needs to be completed. Students can then be added to the board and assigned specific tasks, which they can move from one stage to another (such as 'to do,' 'in progress,' and 'done') as they complete underlying activities and lesson items in their project.

Trello's visual interface also makes it easy for students to see the big picture of the project and understand their role in it. In a perfect world, students would use Trello to set deadlines for tasks, add comments and attachments to cards, and communicate with other group members about their progress but in many cases, that tight integration may be beyond their skill, or overkill for the project-based activities.
4. Padlet
Like Trello, Padlet is a digital bulletin board, useful for sharing ideas and collaborating on projects, whether teacher to students or student to student.
5. Canva
This tool allows students to create visually engaging presentations and graphics. It also has short videos and projects can be easily organized in folders.
6. Kahoot
This game-based learning platform allows teachers to create quizzes and other interactive learning activities, making it useful as a project-based learning tool for students to practice skills necessary to successfully complete activities in a PBL unit.
7. Scratch
Scratch is another potential project-based learning tool used in the right context. It is a free programming platform that allows students to create many products, including interactive stories, games, and animations.
8. Minecraft Education Edition
This massively popular game also can act as a project-based learning tool. Using a game-based approach to learning, students can use skills and concepts in math, social studies, architecture, literature and more making Minecraft a useful tool for teaching a variety of subjects while being a natural technology took to engage students.

See also What Teachers Can Learn From Minecraft
9. Nearpod
This platform allows teachers to create interactive presentations and quizzes that engage students in real-time.
10. Flip
Flip (formerly FlipGrid) is a tool to make short videos that can be used for video-based interaction between students. This video discussion platform is a great way for students to collaborate and share ideas, or brainstorming together at any stage of the project-based learning process.
11. Mindmeister
As the name suggests, this tool is great for mapping out ideas. A good way to start a project is by asking driving questions like what is the essence of a project? It's great for collaborative brainstorming in project planning and analyzing concepts. Flip is available for free in the Apple Store, and for Android users.

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10 Essential Tools For Better Project-Based Learning

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The rise of technology used in classrooms has made learning much more interactive. Here are 11 tools for better project-based learning.

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This website provides some tips and tools about what teacher directed instruction is and how it is used.

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Direct instruction - A practical guide to effective teaching

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According to
research,
direct instruction is one of the most effective teaching strategies. Although
often misunderstood, students who are taught using the direct instruction
method perform better in reading, maths, and spelling than those who weren’t.

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Using interactive whiteboards in the classroom could be a challenge, but looking through this article might help. In this article, there are ways to use interactive whiteboards effectively.

I would use interactive whiteboards to promote collaboration between peers. We would use it when we are working on a topic or exploring a new topic. I would also use this during art for my students to practice something or in place of paper and other materials.

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How to Use Interactive Whiteboards for Small Group Instruction - Class Tech Tips

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Learn how using interactive whiteboards can enhance small group instruction and collaboration in the classroom.

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Remote learning can be challenging. In this article, it talks about some tips that you as the teacher can do to help your students and make it more personal for them. You as the teacher has to facilitate learning for your students when you are online.

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3 Tips to Help Make Remote Learning More Personal - Class Tech Tips

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Learn how to make remote learning more personal with three quick tips and an interview with Thomas Murray, the author of Personal & Authentic.

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I would use this to create formative assessments before tests so that I can see where my students are at before we take the test. This will help me know what has stuck with them when we were covering content and what didn't. I can also use this to create assessments.

I can use this in my classroom by creating assignments for my students to complete at home. I can also create tests using this website.

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Pear Assessment: Formative and Summative Assessments Made Easy

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This is a game based website focused on reviewing content. I can create content or use the content provided in the website.

I would use this as a formative assessment for my students to review before a test. I would also use this as extra practice or a station in station rotation.

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Search and discover new sets from a large collection created by users.

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Students are able to create and record their answers.

I would use this to get an idea of where students are at as a preassessment before starting a lesson so I get baseline knowledge of where I need to start my lesson. I would also use this to get to know my students at the beginning of the year. I can use the content on the website or I can create my own.

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Seesaw creates a powerful learning loop between students, teachers, and families

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Promotes student engagement. I would use this as a summative assessment instead of a paper and pencil test so I can help students who struggle with reading and writing.

I would use this as a fun and engaging formative assessment so that my students don't know they are doing an assessment. I would also use this as an early finisher or a pre-lesson assessment.

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Easily create beautiful interactive video lessons for your students you can integrate right into your LMS. Track students' progress with hassle-free analytics as you flip your classroom!

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This is from a teacher interview I conducted. There is some information about some different ways another teacher uses technology as well as some ideas for how to use technology in the classroom .

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This is a lesson plan for Kindergarten Science. The topic relates to how to make things move by pushing, pulling and gravity. There are technology applications listed at the bottom of the lesson plan.

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This is a presentation about Snorkl. In the presentation I talk about what it is, how I would use it and there is a link to a sample classroom.

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This is a website that talks about Flipgrid. Flipgrid is an app that allows you to take videos of yourself or your students for assessments.

One way I would use this is as a formative assessment by having my students act something out and record themselves doing it. Another way I would use is as an assessment is by having them record themselves reading so we can listen to them read and figure out their reading level.

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External Apps Tutorials Table of Contents Flipgrid Overview Create a Flipgrid Topic Flipgrid Sharing Options Share a Flipgrid in Canvas - URL Share a Flipgrid in Canvas - QR Code Share a Flipgrid in Canvas - Embed Flipgrid Overview Disclaimer: Flipgrid has been re-branded as Flip. While most of the app’s functionality remain the same,

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Nearpod is a slide based assessment tool. You can use the presentations already created or you can create your own.

I would use this as a formative assessment to test my students prior knowledge of a topic. I would use this after we complete a lesson as their "worksheet".

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Students are able to take quizzes and get instant feedback. You can use the ones they have created already or you can create your own.

I would use this as a summative assessment because students get instant feedback and they are able to have it self paced. I would also use this as a formative assessment after a lesson.

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Effortlessly assess and engage your students while visualizing learning progress in real-time with instant results.

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Turns presentations into conversations with lots of interactions.

I would use this to check students understanding of a topic before a lesson. I would also use this to do some sort of quiz after a topic or lesson.

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Interact with your audience using real-time voting. No installations or downloads required - and it's free!

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IXL is personalized learning where I can track my students progress and assign them learning sets to complete in math, science, language arts, social studies and Spanish.

I would use this in place of a worksheet and assign my students problems to complete that correspond to the lesson we just worked through. I would also use this in a center for either early finishers or for morning work.

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IXL | Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish

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IXL is the world’s most popular subscription-based learning site for K–12. Used by over 17 million students, IXL provides personalized learning in more than 17,000 topics, covering math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish. Interactive questions, awards, and certificates keep kids motivated as they master skills.

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A literacy tool where you can create quizzes and boost interaction and engagement.

I would use this to help my students individually practice their literacy skills.

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Wordwall - Create better lessons quicker

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Need a fresh teaching resource that fits your class and teaching style? Create a customized pack of interactive and printable activities in just one minute.

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This is an article with multiple resources within it for STEM. There are links to the other resources within it about how to teach STEM in early childhood.

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Technology shouldn't be reserved for older students, especially since younger students can also utilize it to learn. While, in a perfect world, kindergarten students wouldn't have to be so familiar with the technologies that directly enable learning opportunities, these experiences with using EdTech in early education could be valuable to their overall skills development. In fact, it might also help them when trying some additional hands-on STEAM tools, which it's never too early for. There are early education technologies students can use to practice problem solving, engineering, math, and even coding. Whether by engaging children more successfully or actually introducing STEM experiences, the right technology has a place in early education.

Coding in Kindergarten: The Bee-Bot Programmable Robot

Let's start with one of the most well-known and reliable early education STEM tools-the Bee-Bot Robot. Created by the team, this tactile, bee-shaped robot provides young kids with an age-appropriate avenue for exploring screen-free coding in the classroom. It features on-board buttons students can use to create their programs-telling their robots to move forward, right, or left through a specific course or an open area. There are also a bunch of Bee-Bot accessories, including the Bee-Bot Card Mats for structured navigating, teachers can place on the mat to help reinforce CVC words in early learning, online lessons, and the Terrapin Robot Sensor. Finally, with the Bee-Bot Emulator, more experienced students can add a digital element and code online.

Next on our list of the best early EdTech tools is the Root Robot, which is a great (and very unique) device for introducing children to coding. The Root is compatible with iPads, iPhones, and Android devices and it uses touch interactions that help kids learn about coding in a number of different ways. It's one of the best robots for coding in kindergarten, and its iRobot Coding platform, specifically, helps young kids start out with progressive programming. Best of all, their Root not only moves horizontally-but also vertically-and students can use it to try some robot drawing, too. It can scale white boards and kids can create programs to make it climb. Plus, there is a completely virtual option with the iRobot programming environment. It starts off super simple, so it's perfect for young students!

Using the Cubetto Before Kindergarten

Next, is the Robot-a staple of early STEM education. It's a multi-part system with three elements in total: the robot itself, its control board, and directional tiles. It's intended for kids as young as three years old with a sweet spot in Pre-K and kindergarten. Obviously, they don't need to know how to read to code with the Cubetto, but they will start developing logic, pattern recognition, and cause-and-effect skills while using it. Essentially, they place the directional tiles in the slots on the control board to build a program. The robot will then run their program and move left, right, or straight. The best feature, however, is the function section of the control board. When students place function blocks in programs, their robot will perform the sequence from that special section. This gives young kids a great introduction to new elements of coding.

3Doodler Start 3D Printing Pen

Despite it technically being classified as a 3D printing pen, the 3Doodler Start is purposefully designed for early education. It is bulky and easy for younger students to hold. Plus, it features a large, centrally-located button for starting and stopping their 3D prints with ease. Children could use the 3Doodler Start as early as kindergarten and it's even a viable STEAM solution throughout elementary school. Besides practicing 3D printing and design, students can also build critical motor skills and see how simplistic technologies drive invention. Best of all, when it comes to the 3Doodler Start vs. the 3Doodler Create, there's no external parts and it comes with a 10-project activity guide to help students get started.

Finch Robot 2.0 in Kindergarten

When it comes to this robotics solution from BirdBrain Tech, the has evident connections to early education. Children can try programming the Finch 2.0 in six different coding languages. Its two most basic coding languages, however, are perfect for your younger students. Known as FinchBlox and BirdBlox, the BirdBrain team developed them specifically for their robots. FinchBlox, particularly, was new with the Finch 2.0. It's 100 percent icon-based, meaning pre-readers can utilize this language when creating Finch Robot programs before they can even read. If they master this level, they can then move on to BirdBlox, which is block-based. It's still appropriate, however, for kindergarteners, first grades, and second graders.

Yes, Squishy Circuits are pretty much exactly what they sound like! They're also truly fantastic at engaging young students in creative play and STEAM learning. The Squishy Circuits kits come with some conductive dough, but that's also available to purchase separately. Kids can use it to construct simple models through which electricity can travel. Their kits also feature other components, like LED lights and fans, that students can power with the portable battery. Since the dough is conductive, young students can try making various devices and see how electricity travels through circuits and powers their . There truly are so many ways for students to create with the Squishy Circuits components. Plus, all the up-close interactivity helps make it a great tool for use in the early grades.

Marty the Robot V2 in Kindergarten

While the Marty V2 Robot can actually help teachers introduce some more complex coding concepts, it's just as relevant in early education. Thanks to its unplugged mode, students can choose to use their Marty V2 screen-free when they first start out. The robots have built-in color sensors, allowing children to get it to travel from one color to another. While doing this, they should start to mentally connect inputs and outputs. Plus, the Robotical team has created a bunch of unplugged coding activities for using the Marty Robot V2 in these types of settings. Then, once children get a feel for this humanoid robot and its behavior, they can try block coding using MartyBlocks Jr. and, eventually, the Scratch-based MartyBlocks environment.

The Marbotic kits can help Pre-K and kindergarten students learn letters, numbers, counting, and spelling. The various kits come with physical, stamp-like blocks of the digits 0-9, the letters A-Z, or both. With these tactile tiles and a tablet, kids can take part in educational games for preschoolers or those who are slightly older. Like with the Cubetto and Finch robots, children can also begin learning with the Marbotic solutions before kindergarten. As they play, they'll boost familiarity with some of the most important symbols they'll need to recognize-letters and numbers. They must complete challenges that involve sequences, solving math problems, and answering questions by stamping the correct character on the tablet screen.

In addition to these items, students in the early grades can also benefit from using tech tools like the Dash Robot and the KEVA blocks. To learn more about these tools or purchase them with educational discount pricing, be sure you visit our store! And, for more information about all the best technology products to use in the classroom, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram!

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8 Early Education Technology Tools: STEM In Kindergarten

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Kindergarten is actually a great time to capitalize on curiosity and introduce beneficial tech tools, like the Cubetto and Bee-Bot Robot.

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Copy and paste a reading, add a lesson or standards or objectives and let the AI come up with questions for you to use on a quiz or test.

I would use this in my classroom to help me come up with questions for a quiz or a test. Another way I would use this is to help generate messages for parents when I need help coming up with something or to fix the message I came up with.

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AI question generator. Input a reading and align standards or learning outcomes so the AI writes multiple choice, fill in the blank, short answer, and essential questions that can be exported to Kahoot, Quizziz, Google Forms, Microsoft Forms, Gimkit, Moodle, Canvas, Blooket, and Quizlet.

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An AI-powered platform designed for educators and students, offering a range of tools to streamline teaching and learning tasks. It provides over 60 AI tools for tasks like lesson planning, differentiation, assessment creation, and communication.

I would use this in my classroom to help create quizzes and tests for my students. I would also use this to let my students potentially create something when they are learning. This would be a great thing for coming up with social stories, quizzes, etc.

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Formative has been an assignment and quiz platform for a long time, allowing teachers to ask students a variety of question types. Now it has incorporated the power of ChatGPT to generate new standard-aligned questions and hints for learners as well as student feedback.

I would use this in my classroom to create assignments and have my students complete them on Formative so they can get instant feedback and figure out where they need to get extra practice. Another way I would use this is to create assessments for my students to complete so I can track their progress.

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Formative gives you the teaching tools to engage, instruct, and assess

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Formative helps teachers unlock additional superpowers, improve student engagement and accelerate learning. Start seeing real-time student responses today.

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Teachers and students begin by stating their learning objectives. MirrorTalk then generates personalized reflection prompts. As users verbalize their thoughts, the AI analyzes their responses and offers immediate feedback and insights. This helps identify learning gaps, assess mindsets, and provide guidance for improvement.

I would use this to create lessons based off the objectives I give it. I would also use this to differentiate for my students so I can understand where they are at in their learning and what they are struggling with.

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Mirror Free

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Building better reflective thinking foundations for students and teachers automatically.

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Teachers assign practice work through Class Companion, and the AI provides feedback and analysis on student submissions

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AI to help teachers give instant, personalized feedback on written assignments. Engaged practice for students, time savings and insights for teachers. Use built-in assignments or add your own. Supported subjects include Social Studies, English, Science, and World Languages.

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This diagram shows how GoNoodle can be used to support student learning through music and movement.

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Venn Diagram Team Whiteboard in Pink Grey Basic Style (1)

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ClassDojo is used to collaborate with parents on prompting and rewarding behavior. It can also be used to show that students can use their emotions and promote friendships by using points as a reward system.

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They want concerns addressed as so as possible