Blog Posts

Patty Cooke

Patty Cooke
Hello! I work as a communications content specialist here at Pitsco, writing, helping with publications, and working with other departments to help create awesome STEM materials and resources. I learned my love of storytelling from my dad, who constantly entertained me and my 11 siblings with the most fascinating, albeit fictional, stories. His tales kept us out of our mother’s hair for a while and probably saved her sanity. Our blog posts aren’t fictional, of course, but I still enjoy infusing the same amount of fun that Dad put into his stories. I hope reading these posts brings you equal enjoyment.

Recent Posts

Clean energy DIY: KidWind inspires stunning TETRIX® wind turbines

Posted by Patty Cooke on August 02, 2022

Alternative, or renewable, energy is a growing field, with solar, wind, water, geothermal, bioenergy, and nuclear resources all contributing. According to Energy.gov, “the clean energy industry generates hundreds of billions in economic activity and is expected to continue to grow rapidly in the coming years”.

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Topics: Competitions, ROBOTICS, Engineering, TETRIX Robotics, Hands-on Learning

Celebrating teacher power: Pitsco TAG reflects on educators who make a difference

Posted by Patty Cooke on May 10, 2022

What makes a good teacher? What inspires someone to become a teacher in the first place? And, what inspires them to keep teaching, even during tough times?

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Topics: Elementary School, High School, IDEAS & INSPIRATION, Teacher Resources, Teacher Development, Authentic Learning, Women in STEM

TETRIX® VR simulation software: A game changer?

Posted by Patty Cooke on March 17, 2022

I have a confession to make: I’m not a hands-on learner. I realize that might be a scandalous statement, seeing as how I work for a hands-on education company.

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Topics: ROBOTICS, Technology, Engineering, TETRIX Robotics, 21st Century Skills, Hands-on Learning

Kid Inventors’ Day: Celebrating creativity in all young inventors

Posted by Patty Cooke on January 17, 2022

Kid Inventors’ Day, a day to celebrate young inventors of the past as well as encourage today’s inventors, falls on January 17, every year, a fitting nod to inventor Benjamin Franklin because January 17 is also his birthday.

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Topics: IN THE CLASSROOM, Middle School, Elementary School, High School, IDEAS & INSPIRATION, ROBOTICS, Resources, Authentic Learning, Activities, Hands-on Learning, innovate

Using Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to grow as a teacher

Posted by Patty Cooke on December 06, 2021

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

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.

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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