One of the coolest parts about my job at Pitsco is that I get to play with all of our products. OK, you’re right, around here we call it professional development. As a customer support specialist, I have to know how our products work so I can help customers with their questions. However, with as much fun as I have with our products, it might as well be recess for me. One product that I’ve gotten to know well over the last year is the Fable Spin Module by Shape Robotics. In this blog, I’m going to cover my top five favorite things about the Fable Spin.

Topics: IN THE CLASSROOM, ROBOTICS, Teacher Resources, Technology, Resources, Coding, Hands-on Learning

At the beginning of April, we celebrate April Fools’ Day, but, on March 31, there’s a little-known holiday called World Backup Day. It’s a good reminder to back up your computer before any pranksters accidentally destroy your data or – even worse – your computer!

Topics: BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, Teacher Resources, Culture, Technology, Trends, Resources, Engineering, Coding, Workforce Development

January 19 is National Tin Can Day. Yep, there really is a day for everything it seems. So why recognize this one? Well, we can’t pass up the opportunity for some hands-on learning! Tin cans are celebrated for the advancements they brought to food preservation in the early 1800s. Outside of their primary purpose, I’m thinking about celebrating the science of the tin can telephones. The Guinness World Record for the longest functioning tin can telephone is 796 feet!

Topics: IN THE CLASSROOM, BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Science, STEM, Resources, Activities, Hands-on Learning, Physics, innovate

It’s the time of year when many of us are thinking about gratitude and things to be thankful for. November is National Gratitude Month – what a great way to kick off this month with a whole lot of gratitude in your classroom. When we think of gratitude, one thing we think of is social and emotional learning (SEL).

Topics: IN THE CLASSROOM, BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Teacher Resources, STEM, Trends, Resources, Authentic Learning, Social and emotional learning, Activities, Hands-on Learning

What’s more refreshing than a cold, foamy root beer float on a warm summer’s day?

Imagine escaping the squelching summer heat by heading into a cool fountain shop for a creamy, foamy, fizzy treat. Root beer floats made an appearance into American culture at the soda fountain counters of the early 1900s long before air-conditioning.

Topics: IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Science, STEM, Trends, Resources, Hands-on Learning