How esports can boost teamwork skills
Teamwork and communication are the top skills employers are looking for, a new survey of hiring managers reveals. That bodes well for the students at a Los Angeles…
21st century skills
Learning through gaming
When students are so deeply engaged in a task that they can’t wait to dive in — and at the same time, they’re learning fundamental skills that are…
15 skills students need for success — and how to teach them
21st century skills. Social and emotional learning skills. “Soft” skills. Whatever you choose to call them, there is a set of skills that are essential for success in…
Bridging the gap between science and coding
Students exposed to coding and programming at an early age are well equipped to take on higher-level computer science courses in high school—and they also build essential skills…
Great K-12 robotics apps for users of all abilities
K-12 robotics is having more than a moment--it's on its way to establishing itself as a necessary component of a 21st-century education. While it can seem overwhelming, it's…
Teaching faculty to think like innovators
The rapid pace of technological change has forever transformed the face of the global workplace. In fact, its future is unimagined; 85 percent of jobs that will exist in…
3 ways to promote grit via literacy instruction
J.K. Rowling. Bill Gates. Oprah Winfrey. These are no doubt names that most students recognize as successful. But what often goes overlooked is the perseverance needed to achieve…
Here’s how to foster creative problem solving
Last year, Adobe conducted a study of Generation Z students (ages 11-17) that found students and teachers believe creativity is critical for success in the future workforce. Based on…
Why creative thinking might be our strongest asset
Developing a creative mindset is more important than ever before, not just for our students, but for educators as well. The advancement of technology, the connectedness of society,…
The New Librarian: Building confidence through coding
When reading became more digital with the introduction of tablets and e-readers, libraries became pressured to innovate and remain relevant. As a former classroom teacher and current literacy…
Putting the SEL into PBL
In project-based learning (PBL), teachers present students with a real-world problem and challenge them to solve the problem through research and inquiry, often collaborating with each another and…
Innovative tech standards want your feedback
None of us would leave for a destination without a plan of action, without a direction and the right equipment to complete the journey. We all know that…
Can robotics teach problem solving to students?
Throughout my 35 years of teaching, I’ve watched students grow up in what I lovingly call the “worksheet generation.” In this environment, students are accustomed to a very…
Encourage critical thinking by turning your class into a Socratic Seminar
With so much talk about the Common Core standards and truly increasing our student’s argumentative powers and critical thinking skills, ... Read more
The 4 conditions that support deeper learning
Teachers must exchange their traditional instructor role for that of a "learning strategist" in order to achieve deeper learning outcomes, according to a new white paper from the…
Is it time to redesign your curriculum for the 21st century learner?
A new framework advocates for carefully curating what students learn. Is it time to rethink your curriculum?
Teach students to communicate effectively in the Innovation Age
Communication looks different in the Innovation Age compared to the Information Age of yesteryear. Here's how to help students succeed
Inside the school that immerses students in Spanish — and technology
A Spanish immersion program makes full use of technology in the classroom
What do we really mean by risk taking in the classroom?
It's important for students to learn risk taking skills. But how do schools do that without taking some big risks themselves?
Most Popular in 2015, No. four: 8 things every teacher can do to create an innovative classroom
Innovation can’t be tested or graded — but it can be built up Ed. note: We’re counting down the top ... Read more
5 critical 21st century skills that go way beyond the 4 Cs
Teach students to think like entrepreneurs with these 21st century skill sets that use the 4 Cs in some very direct ways.
Why overwhelmed educators should stick to these simple tech tools
Tech is shifting faster than teacher training can keep up. The solution is to keep it simple. I recently had the pleasure of spending a few hours in…
These 6 questions determine if you’re technology rich, innovation poor
Think your school is innovative with tech? Answer these 6 questions and prepare to reassess At the start of a ... Read more
The 5 keys of any successful Career and Technical Education program
Since its inception, the discipline of Career and Technical Education (CTE) has transformed into a rigorous educational program that continues to address students’ skills and training as they…
Obama touts ed tech, 21st century skills
The jobs of the new economy will require higher-order skills such as “problem solving” and “critical thinking,” President Obama said during his State of the Union address Jan.…
Congress’ chance to help students get 21st century skills
The Huffington Post reports that at the local level, it has become increasingly clear that as states, districts, and schools are raising standards and increasing their focus on…
Ways teachers can bring 21st Century skills into high schools
Lessons taught in high schools often skimp on 21st century skills such as collaboration and real-world problem solving, according to a report released last week by Gallup, says…
Oral history project blends technology, tradition
When 21st-century skills are used to connect with 20th-century individuals, the results can be powerful.
Integrating the ‘four Cs’ into instruction
While policy makers and education leaders have been talking about the need to teach 21st-century skills for more than a decade, not enough attention has been paid to…
Follett Challenge showcases how schools are integrating 21st-century skills into instruction
More than 100 educators recently took Follett Software’s challenge to create and submit a video showing how they incorporate 21st-century skills such as critical thinking into the curriculum,…
The key skills today’s employers desire
Education stakeholders are quick to champion students’ need for “21st century skills”—but what do employers say they want students to learn? And, how should schools adapt as a…
Seven steps to implementing critical student skills
A new book outlines seven key steps to help schools integrate the "4 Cs"—communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity—into their instruction.
How classroom games can help build reasoning skills
While most students enjoy games, even the simplest kind—such as tic tac toe—can help children develop important 21st-century skills such as critical thinking and mathematical reasoning, experts say.
New initiative offers digital media ratings
A new learning ratings initiative will evaluate the learning potential of websites, video games, and mobile apps and will offer ratings and reviews to give parents, teachers, and…
Seven standards for effective professional development
Terms like “work collaboratively,” “share what you know,” and “problem-solve as a team” are commonly associated with the kinds of 21st-century skills that most people agree today’s students…
Districts share progress toward 21st-century learning
Incorporating technology to enhance student learning and creating teams of stakeholders to drive innovation in all school endeavors are two of a handful of best practices that educators…
Digital badges could help measure 21st-century skills
How can schools accurately measure and categorize a student’s 21st-century skills? The MacArthur Foundation hopes to solve this problem with a new competition that calls on participants to…
Five characteristics of an effective 21st-century educator
We recently asked readers: “What are the qualities of an effective 21st-century educator?” Here are our readers' top responses.
Education groups applaud new ed-tech legislation
Educational technology stakeholders are applauding the U.S. Senate’s introduction of a bill called the Achievement Through Technology and Innovation (ATTAIN) Act and note that, if passed, the legislation…
School librarians targeted in budget crunch
How will students learn key information literacy skills, and how will teachers get help with integrating digital resources into their instruction, without a full-time media specialist in their…