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"If "children grow into the intellectual life around them" (see L.S. Vygostky's Mind in Society), then what kind of intellectual life are we providing to the students in our classrooms and schools? Teachers all over the world have had to accept the compromise of focusing more on delivering prescribed curriculum than developing understanding - test-taking rather than learning. This, among other reasons, is why strategies focused on ingraining cultures of thinking have been such game changers in many of today's classrooms. One good example of this that I've worked with is the Cultures of Thinking Project, led by Ron Ritchhart as part of Harvard's Project Zero. The Cultures of Thinking Project focuses on two main ways of moving towards cultures of thinking: the eight cultural forces that act on a classroom, and documentation. Curious as to what that means? Continue reading for more."

"Having taught in various grades, and spending years as an academic advisor for new teachers, I've had the chance to spend time in various classroom environments. I've seen many different ways educators approach teaching--from the traditional learning model to some of the most innovative and creative classrooms. For the purpose of this article, I will focus on some of the most creative and innovative areas I've practiced or have seen over the past decade across classrooms."

"The coolest thing I ever brought into my teaching practice is Greenscreen technology. It makes the videos I create more interesting and gives my students creative superpowers. Greenscreen technology is an inexpensive technology to support, once you already have devices in your classroom. Teachers can get started with classroom greenscreen effects without spending anything on an app and very little on supplies. Here are my top 5 tips for getting started with green screen in the classroom."

"Over the years, many of us have personally experienced the growth of technology in today's classrooms. Instead of taking notes, students are now occupied by surfing the Internet, scrolling through Facebook, and messaging their friends on their smart phones, tablets, and laptops. Instead of focusing on the instruction, teachers are constantly required to interrupt class in order to remind those students again and again, that class time is for learning, not texting. However, as today's students are using more technological devices, it is imperative that teachers have access to the resources to keep pace with the growing tech culture. The use of smart phones, tablets, and other tech items in the classroom do not necessarily have to have a negative impact on student achievement. On the contrary, the increasing accessibility and growth of technology presents teachers with the unique opportunity to take advantage of those once distracting gadgets, and use them to facilitate academic achievement in new and innovative ways. In this capacity, teachers do not need to be constantly fighting for student attention, but can freely accept it, by introducing a new educational environment that will automatically encourage student participation. Below are some resources that teachers may find useful when attempting to implement technology into their classrooms, separated by 5 common areas that are increasingly important for teachers, and for an effective learning environment-Organization, Project Based Learning, Class Management, Presentations, and Assessment. "

"With technological breakthroughs, we have replaced certain aspects of our society with new tools, all while creating new opportunities for people to take up. While there is undoubtedly much debate as to the ethics of replacing man with machine, there is no denying the usefulness of using technology and devices to enhance our world space. Education is one such sphere of society that we are still trying to enhance with technology. As we have made progress, education and classroom learning have been slow to accept change, but it's getting there. In fact, with the comparatively small amount of progress we've made, we are already asking the question - will we even need physical classrooms in the future? We'll answer this question by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of e-learning and seeing if it's something that could replace traditional classrooms. Look here for a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages."

"Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving the next wave of technological innovation and is changing almost every industry around us. With the expansion and ubiquity of AI being a motivating factor in the decisions and need for all children to develop their understanding of Computer Science, it is logical that children also must need to develop their understanding of AI itself. We have two free teacher professional development MOOCs in AI available to suit your year level: Teaching AI in the Primary Classroom and Teaching AI in the Secondary Classroom. Our AI courses are presented in two related parts. Firstly, we provide school teachers with an overview of AI, unpacking AI and key concepts across both MOOCs. The second half of our AI MOOCs are specific to the year level you have selected (primary or secondary). In these units, we present the practical implementation of classroom activities that engage students in learning about AI, including support for teachers about the design and assessment of learning activities. You may complete one or both primary and secondary courses! From the 21st of June, our "Overview" units will be available to access, with the second half of the course being available in July. Registration is now open!"

"We often talk about iPads in K-12 classrooms, the availability of information on the web for college students to access, and a host of other similar topics in too many categories to mention. But we don't often broach the topic of technology in early childhood education classrooms. While we've seen some statistics on kids and technology usage, that information doesn't usually fall into the 'classroom usage' category. So we were interested to see this handy infographic which looks at the technologies early childhood teachers and administrators use (or don't use) in their classrooms, including how often they're used, what tech is used, and why they are used. Keep reading to learn more."

" 37 18 2 inShare 1 Print! 6 iPad Apps for Better Classroom Management If you're looking to reduce your paper trail, keep parents in the loop and find more efficient ways to manage your students' behavior, there are apps to help you do it. Below are some of the best apps to help teachers manage their classroom. The list has been generously created and shared with us by MaryGrove College."

"How about flipping your classroom using iPad apps ?There are now several apps out there to help you create tutorials and video guides to help your students learn while they are not in class. Be it you want to totally flip your classroom teaching or simply to provide extra help to students, the apps below will definitely help you make a difference in your students learning. But before you explore the list I curated below you need to check this video to learn about the importance of a flipped classroom."

"The year I started teaching seventh- to twelfth-grade English in Minneapolis, Prince launched his song about urban ruin, "Sign o' the Times." That song was an apt musical backdrop for the lives of my students, most of whom lived in poverty and challenged me daily. That year also afforded me the opportunity to be assaulted with a stone, two chairs, a Rambo knife, a seventh-grade girl's weak jab, and dozens of creative swear words. Fortunately, classroom order improved when I learned that successful classroom management depends on conscientiously executing a few big strategies and a lot of little ones"

"Mention robots to many English teachers and they'll immediately point down the hall to the science classroom or to the makerspace, if they have one. At many schools, if there's a robot at all, it's located in a science or math classroom or is being built by an after-school robotics club. It's not usually a fixture in English classrooms. But as teachers continue to work at finding new entry points to old material for their students, robots are proving to be a great interdisciplinary tool that builds collaboration and literacy skills. "For someone like me who teaches literature by lots of dead white guys, teaching programming adds relevance to my class," said Jessica Herring, a high school English teacher at Benton High School in Arkansas. Herring first experimented using Sphero, essentially a programmable ball, when her American literature class was studying the writing of early settlers. Herring pushed the desks back and drew a maze on the floor with tape representing the journey from Europe to the New World. Her students used class iPads and an introductory manually guided app to steer their Spheros through the maze. Herring, like many English teachers, was skeptical about how the Sphero robot could be a useful teaching tool in her classroom. She thought that type of technology would distract students from the core skills of reading, writing and analyzing literature. But she decided to try it after hearing about the success of another English teacher across the country."

"With Pokemon Go, Google Cardboard and Google Expeditions making virtual reality the hottest thing in tech, teachers may be wondering how they can capitalize on the trend in the classroom. Imagine studying underwater ecosystems and taking the whole class scuba diving with just a smartphone and a $6 headset. The benefits of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) include increased engagement, appeal to visual learners and shared experience among students. Although the immersive experience is enhanced with a headset, the 360-degree experience is still worth exploring. Teachers can take advantage of many of the VR apps using the individual laptops, iPads or smartboards already in the classroom. While VR is changing quickly, the resources below are a good starting point."

"Quite often, we find ourselves focusing on what we can do in our classrooms while using our Chromebooks.  I've even heard once or twice technology in terms of "Classroom" and "Mobile" technology.  This, of course, brings up the question, "Why not think of classroom technology AND mobile apps in the same sentence?" Today, lets take a look at 8 great apps that should be found in your mobile classroom in 2017."

"Although the main goal when I proposed the Tap Into Teen Minds iPad Project was to increase engagement and student achievement in the mathematics classroom, I also wanted to eliminate items used in the traditional mathematics classroom and determine whether costs could also be reduced simultaneously."

"Having a BYOD classroom can be a great way to bring technology into your classroom when you might not otherwise have it. You're letting your students use technology that they're likely quite familiar with, and both teachers and parents agree that students are much more engaged when they're using technology. But implementing a BYOD classroom can also be an absolute nightmare if you don't plan well. Instead of highly engaged students easily using their devices, you may find yourself with some students unable to load an app, others unable to connect to wifi, and your school IT specialist adding a filter for your name to his email inbox."

"Teachers can't escape the growing trend of technology in the classroom. It's more than just hype. More schools are buying tablets for use in the classroom, with Apple's tablet sales to the education sector doubling last year. As a mobile software company whose product is used extensively in education, we dream big about the future of technology in the classroom. We have worked with numerous great teachers who have successfully leveraged tablets to improve the learning experience for students. Are you tempted to join the trend? Here are ten tips for introducing tablets into your classroom."

"I have a couple of more 3D printing projects that I haven't written about this year, but by the time this posts it will be the last day of school, and I feel like this would be the right time to reflect on what a year of 3D printing in the classroom was like. I started the year with a lot of ideas and excitement, but I wasn't really sure how the year would pan out. Looking back now I couldn't be happier. The level of learning that occurred this year was more than I expected. As excited as I was at the prospect of using a 3D printer in the classroom, I was nervous that I wouldn't be able to figure out how to tie it to the curriculum. I wondered if my students would be able to understand how it works and be able to use it effectively. I was concerned that I wouldn't have time for projects with all the other demands that happen in a classroom. My concerns were overshadowed by the novelty and the excitement of the printer. I think that is what many of my students felt too. They were curious, excited, and bewildered."

"When adopting technology in the classroom, one of the key concerns for teachers and administrators is classroom management. I am often asked if there is a way to "lock down an iPad screen" or "ensure students cannot go to inappropriate websites" (e.g. Social Media). In other words, how do we keep students on task and ensure that they are not distracted by the novelty of gadgets or communicating with friends via texting or social media? Often, teachers will take up devices (such as mobile phones) to avoid the issue of students texting or checking Facebook on their phones (eliminating access to a powerful, pocket computer in the process)."

"Rachel Langenhorst helps teachers in her district find solutions for those issues. She used to teach social studies, but is now the K-12 Technology Integrationist and Instructional Coach at Rock Valley Community Schools in Iowa. "Really be cognizant of the digital tools you're picking and why you are picking them." She put together a list of favorite digital tools for the social studies classroom and shared them during an edWeb webinar. She emphasizes that, as with any classroom technology, teachers need to be careful not to just substitute a tech tool for an analog one. Instead, technology should be used to enhance classroom learning in ways that wouldn't be possible otherwise, including expanding learning beyond the classroom walls."