Report: How states can support digital learning | Space helmet designed by S.C. high-schoolers | Guide offers recommendations for designing online courses
The State Educational Technology Directors Association released a report offering guidance for states to help schools deliver digital instruction. Guidance includes enacting annual state digital learning plans, encouraging districts to develop digital learning plans and working toward equitable access to digital devices and the internet.
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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft launched on Saturday from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Nasa/Getty Images)
A team of students from a South Carolina high school have earned a finalist spot in the national NASA competition for their efforts in designing a polyethylene space helmet that blocks solar radiation. For the final round of the competition, the team will build a prototype of the helmet, which will likely incorporate sewing materials and 3D printing.
University IT professionals are critical now more so than ever in figuring out how to enhance the measuring of student success rates, writes Pete Koczera, senior manager of education strategy and transformation at CDW. IT teams need to focus on gathering and updating student profiles with new data to help aid in instructional design so that courses can be based on the needs of the students, he writes.
Reading comprehension is about more than just skill, asserts Douglas Fisher, professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University. In this blog post, he writes that students also must have the "will to read" and be inspired by what they are reading.
The nonprofit Khan Academy Kids has seen an explosion in use during the school shutdowns, but that comes at a financial cost, says founder Sal Khan. The widely used free learning platform is not in immediate danger but Khan says corporate sponsors could help fund costs including data storage, educational programming and software development.
Seven-year-old Curtis Rogers threw a backyard senior prom, with social distancing precautions, for his nanny, Rachel Chapman, who he hadn't seen in two months due to the pandemic. A tweet from Rachel's mom showing photos of the special event has attracted more than 64,000 likes and been shared over 11,000 times.
Google launched a "Sodar" tool that uses augmented reality to project a six-foot circle around mobile users to help them practice social distancing. The WebXR-powered tool is available for Android phones using the Chrome browser.
Call for Proposals: SmartBrief Education's 7th Annual STEM Pathways Summit
What effect will the coronavirus have on STEM and STEAM education? We want to explore this topic at STEM Pathways Summit 2020. We are seeking sessions from educators demonstrating ways to develop students' STEM and STEAM skills in this new reality. What are you doing to foster creativity, risk-taking, problem-solving, communication and collaboration among your learners? How are you teaching them to think differently about STEM and STEAM and how they can use these skills to contribute to the world? Tell us about your practices and programs that are redefining STEM and STEAM education in a COVID-19 world. Submit your proposal.
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