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""Before the term started, a lot of people were feeling under-confident, especially in primary schools," says Swidenbank. "All evidence now shows confidence is on the up." The biggest challenge remains the knowledge gaps, she asserts. But Codeacademy's own figures show the extent of the dent being made in that area. It has had 100,000 new student signups in the past three months and has partnered with more than 2,000 schools since September, bringing its total to more than 3,000. The biggest change, has been a growth in confidence -- in both teachers and students. Keeping on top of the learning is the key to ensuring that confidence thrives, and Swidenbank has seen the results of that firsthand."

"I'm one of four teacher facilitators for our Junior Coding Club. We meet once a week during second nutrition break to code. The group's made up of many beginner coders, but also a couple of advanced coders. At lunch today, one of the advanced coders came rushing into the classroom, so excited to share his news. He decided to put a hold on Code Academy, and start using Scratch. During the week, he used the computer version of Scratch to create a flight simulator. This simulator was truly incredible! This Grade 4 student was so thrilled about what he did, that it was hard not to also feel thrilled. While it was wonderful to see this student so passionate about learning, it was also amazing to hear all of the thinking behind his choices. I was honestly in awe! He thought of everything. He even researched to find out the details about planes at take-off, and used this information in his simulator. He could explain all of his choices and the thinking behind these choices. In this short video clip below you can hear just a tiny snippet of this explanation."

This is a terrific class taught by author and online educator Ann Bell. Cutting Edge!

Quest based learning platform?  A very edgy idea.

The worlds of Brian Selznick's Wonderstruck and The Invention of Hugo Cabret offer rich possibilities for classroom learning in every area of the curriculum. Read our guide to teaching with Brian Selznick's award-winning books, filled with rich resources for teachers and students. From a virtual field trip inside the American Museum of Natural History-the setting for much of Wonderstruck-to discussion guides, classroom activities, and interviews with Selznick, it's all here!

This is the third article in a series published by Zane Education on Visual Learning and the use of subtitled educational videos. This article looks at the benefits of using subtitled educational video by the average child or student that does not suffer from any difficulties or disabilities. Very useful information for teachers and parents alike!

integrating ICT into the teaching of English

"Finland's classrooms are very different from America's -- far more permissive, with less of an emphasis on academics. There are no standardized tests until high school, and children get 15 minutes of recess in between lessons -- more than an hour of recess a day. "Play is important," one Finnish teacher told the Smithsonian magazine. "We value play." Yet Finnish kids always get good grades on comparisons of student achievement between countries. Their average scores on the Program for International Student Assessment, a test that's given to 15-year-olds in 65 countries, are among the highest in the developed world. As a result, critics of education reform in the United States often cite the Finnish example. It's a stark contrast to America's reliance on using test scores in public school teacher evaluations, or the strict, "no-excuses" model of discipline in charter schools that many have touted as improving academic results. Now, Finnish schools are embracing an even more radical approach to teaching. One major initiative is to encourage teaching by topic instead of by subject. According to The Independent, instead of teaching geography and foreign language classes separately, teachers will ask kids to name countries on a map in a foreign language. Instead of separate lessons on history and economics, they'll talk about the European Union."

"Did you know that your students can use coding to show the lifecycle of a butterfly? Create a history timeline or interactive story? Demonstrate fractions or probability? With our new STEM Project Library - featuring ready-to-use project templates that support many academic areas - you can easily enhance STEM learning by making coding a part of what you already teach, while adding a new level of fun for your students."

Why playing with algebraic and calculus concepts-rather than doing arithmetic drills-may be a better way to introduce children to math. Math curriculum specialist Maria Droujkova notes in the article that "Calculations kids are forced to do are often so developmentally inappropriate, the experience amounts to torture," Introducing mathematics that is open-ended and play oriented keeps kids engaged with it, instead of being turned off and feeling deficient.

"Being a good digital citizen is more than knowing your way around the web. It's about connecting and collaborating in ways you didn't even know were possible. "