Blog Posts

Admin

Admin
A few of Pitsco’s cool staffers contributed their knowledge and time to this post. We’re proud to have a great group of developers, writers, managers, builders, and creatives who can help bring the Pitsco Blog to life.

Recent Posts

Making spirits bright with the science of holiday lights

Posted by Admin on December 20, 2021

My favorite part in the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is when Clark Griswold’s 250 strands of lights on his house finally turn on. If you haven’t seen Christmas Vacation, Clark decorates his entire house – and I mean the ENTIRE house – with holiday lights. He brings out his whole family to see the lights all turn on at once. But, as he brings the two power cords together to turn it on, nothing happens. Later, after his wife flips the correct switch, all the lights flicker on, lighting up basically the whole city. A holiday miracle!

Although we might not go as all out as Griswold on our holiday lights, they’re a key piece in building the holiday spirit. And, as we’re getting into the holiday cheer at Pitsco, what better way to brighten our spirits than by learning the ins and outs of a string of lights?!

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Topics: BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Science, Technology, STEM, Engineering, Activities, Hands-on Learning, Art

Using Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) for personal growth as a teacher

Posted by Admin on December 06, 2021

(Authored by Jim Brown and James Jones, members of The Ambassador Group for Pitsco Education.)

Teachers of all grade levels face challenges on a daily basis, from elementary teachers tasked with teaching young students to read and recognize shapes and sounds to middle school teachers working with students who are beginning to gain more independence and figuring out their place in the world to high school teachers trying to prepare burgeoning adults for the real world.

In order to help students grow intellectually and emotionally, and to continue meeting their thirst for knowledge, we ourselves must stay thirsty – for knowledge, understanding, and new ways of teaching and reaching our students.

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Topics: Middle School, Elementary School, High School, BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Teacher Resources, Collaborations, Resources, Careers, Teacher Development, Professional Development, Conferences

Youth racing program creates new career opportunities for underprivileged communities

Posted by Admin on November 11, 2021

Since its founding in 1998, the Urban Youth Racing School (UYRS) in Philadelphia has earned a fair amount of publicity for the spectacular opportunities it offers to inner-city students. Sneak a peek during the school’s Build A Dream summer program, and you’re likely to see students learning about engines, designing cars, and racing go-karts as part of a simulated racing team.

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Topics: Middle School, High School, BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, Competitions, Science, STEM, Dragsters, Engineering, Careers, Authentic Learning, Activities, Future Ready, 21st Century Skills, Maker Ed, Hands-on Learning, STEAM, Workforce Development, Art

T-Bot® Hydraulic Arm: Improved features add even more learning

Posted by Admin on November 01, 2021

Nobody at Pitsco quite remembers for sure, but legend has it that the T in T-Bot® Hydraulic Arm stands for team.

It makes sense. The four syringes that drive the robot’s hydraulically powered movement can be held and operated separately. Each syringe affects a different axis. This naturally lends itself to several possibilities for problem-solving activities with multiple students. With a group of four students, give each student a syringe, assign the group a pick-and-place task, and watch all four communicate, cooperate, and think critically to get the job done.

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Topics: IN THE CLASSROOM, Middle School, High School, Collaborations, Technology, STEM, Engineering, Authentic Learning, 21st Century Skills, Hands-on Learning, Math, Workforce Development

Art and technology – the perfect pair for corn mazes

Posted by Admin on October 15, 2021

If you’re like me, this is one of your favorite times of the year. 🎃🥣🏈🍂

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Topics: IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Technology, Engineering, Activities, Hands-on Learning, Art