BACK TO SCHOOL TECH TREND: STEM/STEAM/STREAM
Right now there are three hot tech-related trends in education that involve technology. Each is attempting to use infuse investigation, problem-solving, and trial-and-error back into the school-day.
- STEM (Science, Technology Engineering & Mathematics)
- STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics)
- STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading/Writing, Engineering, Mathematics)
BACK TO SCHOOL TECH TREND: FLIPPED CLASSROOM
This is a term that parents of older students may hear about. It involves a rethink of the best use of classroom teaching-time vs homework-time. With the advent of "Khan Academy" and other sources effective online teaching videos/apps, students in flipped classrooms may now spend homework time learning the "nugget" of new material outside of class, then they can enter class ready to discuss/compare/extend/expand this learning within a social context of teachers and peers. It's akin to the very effective strategy used in most college classrooms and seminars.
BACK TO SCHOOL: MAKER MOVEMENT, TINKER-LABS & ROBOTICS
These three terms represent activities that parents may actually see happening in school spaces and school schedules. They involve such things as: "hands-on" learning, designing items with function in mind, and tinkering/building digital products and real-world products that can be tested, altered and perfected by students. As with sports, school robotics teams are a greatly valued for important forms of collaboration, goal-directed efforts, and coaching/mentoring roles from adults.