Author: TeachThought Staff

by TeachThought Staff In 13 Brilliant Outcomes Of Project-Based Learning, we gave a quick example of project-based learning to illustrate the relationship between learning objectives and the products and artifacts produced by project-based learning. “As the name implies, project-based learning is simply learning through projects. What is being learned and how that learning is being measured isn’t strictly dictated by the project and any products or artifacts within that project. Rather, the reverse should be true: the desired learning objectives should help dictate the products and artifacts within the project. For example, instead of wanting students to plan a garden…

Beyond the Hype: Practical Big Data for Educators The term ‘big data’ can sound abstract, but in education, its power lies in revealing specific patterns that genuinely impact teaching and learning. For educators and EdTech professionals, grasping these concrete applications, not vague promises, is crucial. The education sector’s embrace of data is undeniable. The global Big Data Analytics in Education market, valued at $22.1 billion in 2023, is projected to surge to an astonishing $115.7 billion by 2033. This isn’t just growth; it’s a clear shift towards data-informed decision-making. But what might that actually look like in your school? Let’s…

26 Of The Best Free Artificial Intelligence Tools by TeachThought Staff This is obviously a field that changes fast. This list highlights free or freemium tools useful for educators and students in both K–12 and post-secondary contexts. Tools are grouped by function and include a concise explanation of what each one does. This is not an exhaustive list but offers a representative sample of current tools that support learning, teaching, and academic work. Research and Literature Review Tools ElicitA research assistant that uses natural language queries to retrieve, summarize, and compare findings from academic literature. ConsensusGenerates evidence-based answers to research…

A Conversion Chart For Reading Level Measurement Tools by TeachThought Staff If you’ve used AR (Accelerated Reader) as a reading motivation tool to set goals and track progress, you’re undoubtedly aware of its ability to assess general reading levels as well. The problem is, measuring reading level is really outside of its sweet spot as a literacy tool, with better resources available from DRA, DIBELS, Lexile, Reading Recovery, and Rigby, among others. There is also the issue of availability, with most schools only using one or two of these tools, primarily in early elementary school. But what happens if you…

by TeachThought Staff At TeachThought, we’re interested supporters of any learning taxonomy. (We even created our own, the TeachThought Learning Taxonomy.) Learning taxonomies help us think about how learning happens, highlighting that there are many ways to frame thinking. Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy Verbs adapt Bloom’s original cognitive framework for digital learning, helping K-12 teachers integrate technology while building essential thinking skills. The taxonomy organizes digital actions into levels like remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating, each with tech-based verbs that support specific learning goals. This means that we can have taxonomies for differentiation and taxonomies for thinking and taxonomies for…

by TeachThought Staff Bloom’s Taxonomy’s verbs–also known as power verbs or thinking verbs–are extraordinarily powerful instructional planning tools. In fact, in addition to concepts like backward design and power standards, they are one of the most useful tools a teacher-as-learning-designer has access to. Why? As research has suggested, they can be used for assessment design, curriculum design, lesson planning, personalizing and differentiating learning, and almost any other ‘thing’ a teacher–or student–has to do. For example, if a standard asks students to infer and demonstrate an author’s position using evidence from the text, there’s a lot built into that kind of…

by TeachThought Staff At TeachThought, we’re enthusiastic supporters of any learning taxonomy. (We even created our own, the TeachThought Learning Taxonomy.) Put simply, learning taxonomies help us think about how learning happens. Even if they’re ‘not good’ as we’ve often seen the DOK framework described, they still highlight that there are many ways to frame thinking and give us practice in realizing that potential. Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy Verbs adapt Bloom’s original cognitive framework for digital learning, helping K-12 teachers integrate technology while building essential thinking skills. The taxonomy organizes digital actions into levels like remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating,…

by TeachThought Staff At TeachThought, we’ve described Bloom’s Taxonomy as “a hierarchical ordering of cognitive skills that can, among countless other uses, help teachers teach and students learn.” Whether you’re designing instruction, evaluating an assessment, or observing a classroom, Bloom’s remains a powerful tool for understanding how thinking happens—and how we can better support it through intentional lesson design. Bloom’s Digital Taxonomy builds on this framework by aligning those same cognitive levels—Remember, Understand, Apply, Analyze, Evaluate, and Create—with common digital tools, media, and tasks. In doing so, it helps educators design technology-rich lessons that promote thinking, not just digital busywork. The…

1. Brian Johnson: How to teach ‘for’ students, not ‘at’ them Big Idea: Educators should prioritize student engagement by teaching for students, fostering active participation rather than passive reception. In his talk, Brian Johnson emphasizes the importance of shifting from traditional lecture-based teaching to a more interactive approach that centers on students’ needs and perspectives. He argues that by creating a classroom environment where students feel heard and involved, educators can enhance learning outcomes and foster a deeper connection to the material. 2. Melonie D. Parker: Advice for leaders on creating a culture of belonging Big Idea: Cultivating a sense…

by TeachThought Staff The activities below are designed to be simple, flexible, and fun, making them perfect for learners of all ages, whether you’re a parent, teacher, or an independent learner. Because this is a single post/article post (and not a full lesson plan or curriculum), we’ve focused on quick, inspiring ideas rather than step-by-step instructions. Most can be done with household materials or free online tools, and many can be extended or simplified depending on your child’s interest and age. See also 50 Project-Based Learning Ideas 50 Ideas For Simple STEM Activities For Kids 1. Balloon-Powered CarBuild a simple…