Author: drsueb

The first few sentences are spot on. Seamless integration is what must happen for authentic learning to happen. There are also a few resources to check out.

http://flip.it/eEHQYz

At iBuild Academy, Inc. we strive to explore the possibilities.
We want kids to think outside the box and do something different. This article speaks volumes about curiosity and the desire to learn not just complete a task.

Source: Curiosity Is a Unique Marker of Academic Success – The Atlantic

Here is an excellent resource for finding upcoming ed-tech conferences. Both charts were created by EdSurge. If you are looking to share your knowledge presenting at conferences is a great way to share information and meet awesome people. Take a look and share it with others.

Source: K-12 Edtech Conferences You Need To Know For 2016-2017 | EdSurge News

Source: Higher-Ed Edtech Conferences You Need To Know For 2017 | EdSurge News

This is a question that I hear and get asked a lot. I am not sure why educators devalue what they can do for students. Technology does help us (teachers) do a lot of tasks quicker, create amazing sharable content, and allow students to become good digital citizens. Technology does not and cannot replace the soft skills needed to become contributors to our global society. Technology can think and change direction, there is no “with-it-ness” with the tools, that is a human skill. Technology will not replace teachers, but teachers who use technology will replace teachers who do not.

Every day millions of internet users ask Google life’s most difficult questions, big and small. Our writers answer some of the commonest queries

Source: Can technology replace teachers? You asked Google – here’s the answer | Harpreet Purewal | Opinion | The Guardian

I’m an Apple Teacher. Apple recognizes me for demonstrating my skills using Apple products to enhance productivity and inspire creativity in my classroom. Check out this link for more information, Apple Teacher

The power of a personal learning network shows itself to me in ways I could not have imaged 15 years ago. Today my peers, my students, my friends, and even some family members keep my network flourishing with timely ideas and knowledge. I have been delinquent in my sharing, but today I share an article sent to me from one of my current students. Good find and most appropriate as we head back to school.

As districts across the country purchase technology at a feverish pace, they must ensure they have a solid implementation plan.

Source: Why Pedagogy First, Tech Second Stance is Key to the Future

As I was going through my selected readings I come upon this article about cursive writing. I have not been a fan of teaching cursive for quite some time, but maybe I need to rethink or at least reconsider its importance. I have excellent handwriting and always have. I take time to form all of the letters to make a readable copy. Even my signature is readable, not a typical scribble I see by many. This article does make me think about what cursive writing can do for someone beside good penmanship. We need creative learners so maybe we need people who can write …and read…in cursive.

There’s a brain-building skill schools are teaching less and less.

Source: Want Smart Kids? Make Sure They Learn to Do This

On April 26, 2016, iBuild Academy, Inc. celebrated its Grand Opening. The event was well attended and open to the public. It was great to see so many community businesses supporting the idea behind the program. We are having fun with children through hands-on interactions supporting science, technology, engineering, and math themes. We have built physical fitness courses in Minecraft, programmed robots to follow a maze, attempted some Rube Goldberg machines, and built weight-bearing bridges so far. The more the children are engaged in the process, the more learning takes place. The biggest area of improvement with the children has been in their social skills. Respecting the space and working with others are two of the main areas we focus on as children are solving the challenges presented to them. The future is here and iBuild Academy is doing their part to instill life long learning in science and technology.

Today is the last day of the first month of operation for iBuild Academy, Inc. We had many firsts and I am proud to say Month 1 was a huge success. We had several children take monthly sessions in all three ecosystems, Minecraft, engineering, and robots. We had a huge turn out for our first Day Camp. Both sessions were full of excitement, problem-solving and fun. But I think the most fun was the Parent Night Out. The theme of the night was “An aMazing Adventure.” Everything the children did during the course of the event was based on a maze. The warm-up activity was a simple paper-pencil maze, that was pretty difficult. the teamwork started at that point. Then we started on the main even activities. In small groups students built a maze for the robots to move through, a marble maze was made in sticks and cardboard and then mazes on the ground and in the sky were created in Minecraft. The children were so busy we had to force them to stop so they could eat dinner. I find it very satisfying that iBuild Academy is immersing the minds of the children into creative problem-solving tasks that they are having fun doing. Parent Night Out hard a hard time ending. The good news is there is another one next month. March 2016 is Month 2. We already have children signed up for monthly sessions and Spring Break Camp. I predict another successful month. Take a look at the intense faces from the last 30 days.

Teaching kids to think is what iBuild Academy, Inc is all about. A skill that will stay with them for a lifetime. Children learn by playing games and practicing. They need to practice solving problems and testing problems. Preparing kids to take a test demonstrates what they remember at a given point in time. However, understanding how to pick a problem apart and start to solve it is when real learning shows up, a skill that is lifelong.

Source: The Future of Education