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3D printing, a type of industrial robot which can synthesize three dimensional objects for a variety of purposes, is one of the most exciting technological, scientific, and creative innovations of recent years. Local libraries and other learning centers have begun to support an interest in engineering, technology, and creativity by housing 3D printers and providing demonstrations of the technology. There are several upcoming opportunities for families to learn about and utilize this new technology their your own projects.
Want to learn CSS or HTML? Ready to turn your app idea into a real app? Perhaps you’ve been wanting to make 3D drawings using SketchUp or itching to learn about LEGO EV3 Robotics? Look no further than the NERD (New England Regional Developers) Summit, a 3-day learning camp focused on helping people build coding, web design, and related skills, and to welcome everyone into this interesting industry.
Many sessions at NERD Summit are intended for self-directed teens and life-long learners; and there are lots of great FREE facilitate workshops for kids at the NERD Summit 2015.
The cell-phone…allows us to connect but keeps us connected to a stream of consciousness with little chance of a break…
This March, Holyoke Codes will be offering free STEM based workshops for youth. Holyoke Codes encourages and supports diversity in the field of technology, offering free workshops for youth to be involved in coding, robotics, and technology. Workshops are open to youth ages 7 and older and focus on community, peer learning, youth mentoring and self-directed learning. Space is limited, so be sure to pre-register!
It’s especially easy to get wrapped up in screen time during the winter, when it’s harder to play outside and the days are shorter. However, thanks to a new resource from Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, families have a new resource available to them that reminds us why it’s so important to engage in screen-free playtime in the first place. Geared towards parents, educators, and anyone else who cares about young children, the free (and printable!) pamphlet shares facts and simple suggestions for creating a happy and educational screen-free childhood.
Last week was Computer Science Education Week. In schools throughout the country, students participated in a national Hour of Code, demystifying the subject of computer science, whetting their appetites to go on and learn more. As part of last weeks campaign, the Computing in the Core Coalition compiled coding-based activities for educators of students of all ages…
Add some science to these hot summer days with STEMBite, a YouTube channel that offers snack-size videos focused on topics in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and the things in our everyday lives that they are related to…
After 17 Years, Cicadas Scheduled to Emerge from the Earth Along the Eastern Seaboard. Will They Be Emerging Here in Western MA? This year, for the first time since 1996, a Magicicada brood will emerge from the ground all across the eastern United States. This special species – unlike other cicadas – emerges every 17 years with the entire species growing and developing at the same time, creating synchronized cycles of growth,… Read More
Facing the Screen Dilemma Separates Hype From What Children Really Need Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood: Smart boards. Smartphones. Tablets. E-books, apps and more. The rapid influx of new screen devices and software poses a special challenge for the early childhood community. A unique offering from Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), the Alliance for Childhood, and Teachers Resisting Unhealthy Children’s Entertainment (TRUCE) provides help and support for childhood educators grappling with… Read More
Original Short Videos Aim to Fuel K-12 Students’ Interest in STEM Well-known education resource Khan Academy, a web site offering video-based learning to students, sparked a small revolution in the utilization of video in the classroom. Videos, once reserved for rainy days or special activities, can now be an incredibly valuable educational resource. Students are able to pace their own learning when using videos, as they can stop, repeat, and rewind as… Read More
3 Apps to Explore & Engage with Your Environment While adventuring outdoors to enjoy local landscapes this summer, families can integrate their mobile devices into their trek to create environmental learning opportunities! Three applications – CreekWatch, Leafsnap, and the WildLab – are all designed to teach users about their environment and to help monitor and conserve natural resources. All three applications provide ways for families to integrate technology into their outdoor adventures… Read More
Engineering Projects for Children at Home I continue to be amazed at the natural engineering instincts of young children. Ironically, with all the technology available to kids today (television, computers, tablets, video games), overuse takes time away from building and creating, both of which can lead our next generation of ethical scientists and engineers to solving some of the problems overuse of technology causes.
Kids Creating Video Games Many kids today are great at playing (consuming) video games but who will create the video games of tomorrow? I think it’s fine for kids to play appropriate video games in moderation. See Common Sense Media for reviews and ratings for video games. However, many kids today only consume content. What we really need in the future is for the next generation to create interesting, appropriate, and constructive… Read More
Technology Limits – A Personal Story In January I shared a general article on setting technology limits titled, My Top Ten Tips for Setting Technology Limits. Setting technology limits for your family is a personal decision based on the values that you have, so there is no one policy that will fit every family. So this month, I will share an intimate look at how my family works with setting tech limits….
My Top 10 Tips on Setting Technology Limit Many parents are unsure of how and when to set limits on technology use for their children (and themselves). I believe this is something we all need to think about, adults as well as kids. Setting technology limits is a personal decision based on the values that you have, so there is not one policy that will fit every family. As a parent and… Read More
Technology, Art and Kids I sometimes hear concerns from parents about technology and their children. Are they too young to use computers? Are they using technology too much? What I have found, in my experience using technology with students for over 20 years, is that it is not so much “how much” and “when” but “what.” In our work at the Williamsburg Schools, we aim to enable kids to use technology constructively… Read More
Westfield State University ‘Discovers the World’ through Geographic Information Systems Westfield State University will host GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Day free events on Wednesday, November 16th and Thursday, November 17th as part of National Geography Awareness Week, inviting high school students and teachers to attend. More than 10,000 organizations and 80 countries hold local events for GIS Day, which illustrates how GIS technology can be applied to our everyday lives. Global Positioning Systems (GPS),… Read More
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