Educators just make things happen. All of you use your resources, aren’t afraid of new things, and love nothing more than new ways to get students thinking and doing. And it’s no secret we aim to put engaging products and solutions in the hands of eager educators who use them to empower students. This is the essence of our daily work.

So, when we had the opportunity to pilot KUBO, a plug-and-learn robot for elementary students, into nine classrooms across the US, we jumped at it!

Topics: IN THE CLASSROOM, Elementary School, ROBOTICS, Collaborations, STEM, Coding, 21st Century Skills, Hands-on Learning

I love popcorn. Microwave, stove-top, movie theater, street- and store-bought popcorn. I love it all. And I’m not keen on sharing my popcorn with others either. I’ll buy – or pop – you your own bowl, bag, or bucket, but I want my popcorn all to myself. I’m a generous person, but hey, this is popcorn we’re talking about! So, when I heard there was a Popcorn Lover’s Day, I happily volunteered to research and write about this awesome snack food.

Topics: IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Science, STEM, Resources, Physics

February 11 is National Inventors’ Day, a day to honor inventors of all kinds. But more than anything it’s a day to celebrate ingenuity. We’re surrounded by products, processes, and inventions that started as an idea – usually an attempt to solve a problem – and ended as something that makes our lives better in one way or another. National Inventors’ Day celebrates the creative genius in all of us.

Topics: IN THE CLASSROOM, STEM, Future Ready, Maker Ed, Hands-on Learning, innovate

When I was a kid, winter always seemed to bring at least one big snowfall every year. It’s possible these snowfalls seemed larger in comparison to the ones I see now simply because I was about two feet shorter back then, but whatever the reason, I remember engaging in numerous snowball fights over the years. As the fourth in a family of 12, and growing up in a neighborhood filled with children, I never lacked for fellow snowball fight competitors. So, I watched and learned a few tricks about packing snow to create the best snowballs and snow forts. What I didn’t know was that all this involved physics.

Topics: BEYOND THE CLASSROOM, IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Activities, Hands-on Learning, Physics

When it comes to education and business, we often think of them as two separate entities. While education, especially higher education, presumably leads to a career, there isn’t always a clear connection between what we learn in school and the skills we end up using on the job.

Topics: IN THE CLASSROOM, FUNDING, IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Culture, STEM, Trends, Careers, Career Expeditions, 21st Century Skills, Hands-on Learning, Workforce Development