Author: TeachThought Staff

contributed by Rob Steller Engagement isn’t an on and off switch. There are levels to student engagement and if a mind isn’t engaged, it’s nearly impossible for it to learn. In a way, education is already set up like a game. Students earn points (grades), gain levels (grades), and in a way, have leaderboards. There are class valedictorians and students are essentially ranked based on their grades when colleges are deciding who to accept. Currently, the typical grading system in schools has students starting off with a 100 average, which slowly (or quickly, depending on the student’s performance) gets lower and lower…

Cybersecurity 101: Essential Tips for Students & Teachers The rise of digital learning has transformed education, providing unprecedented connectivity and opportunities. However, this shift also brings serious challenges, particularly in online privacy and security. To navigate this evolving landscape, both students and educators must understand the essentials of cybersecurity. In today’s academic environment, cybersecurity is no longer optional – it’s a necessity. Protecting personal and institutional data is crucial, especially as digital threats become more sophisticated. A reliable VPN can play a key role in safeguarding online activities and ensuring secure access to educational resources. This guide explores fundamental cybersecurity…

Why People Play Video Games Why We Play Video Games: How Our Desire For Games Shapes Our World was first published in Game Informer magazine and then on gameinformer.com by Ben Reeves Gamers have spent countless hours saving princesses, dodging bullets, and dismembering Grecian monsters. What drives us to keep coming back to these experiences? Researchers worldwide have spent decades measuring games’ effects on our society: how they encourage or discourage violence, inspire creativity, or nurture laziness. However, people rarely ask why we play games in the first place. What drives us to collect coins, snipe aliens, or scale the walls of…

Critical thinking is a skill we’re told to cultivate, like reading literature or maintaining eye contact during small talk. It’s about stepping back, analyzing, and questioning everything, even when it would be so much easier to just agree with the loudest person in the room. But not all of us are wired to lean into logic, dissect every detail, or embrace the cold, hard facts. Some zodiac signs are, let’s say, a bit allergic to critical thinking. They’re the dreamers, the feelers, the ones who’d rather trust their guts than their Venn diagrams. See also 8 Of The Most Important…

Whether you’re using formative assessment for data to personalize learning within a unit, or more summative data to refine a curriculum map, the ability to quickly and easily check for understanding is a critical part of what you do. (Which was the idea behind 10 Assessments You Can Perform In 90 Seconds Or Less.) The following infographic Mia MacMeekin offers up 27 additional ways to check for understanding. Some aren’t necessarily quick–“Test what you learned in a new situation”–but there are a dozen or more other ideas that are worth adding to your teacher toolbox, many of which aren’t content-related, but rather…

School librarians have much more on their plates than just managing books, often spending a great deal of time educating students and teachers, learning about and implementing new technology, and reading up on the latest new releases for young adults and children. It can be a lot to keep up with, but luckily other librarians are sharing their wisdom, experience, and expertise via the web. We’ve brought together 121 excellent blogs written by teachers, librarians, tech experts, and book lovers that can act as amazing resources for any school librarian. If you add TeachThought to the list, that’s 121. : )…

The Precious First Few Minutes Of Class The traditional scene is familiar: Students drift into class while we announce “Your warm-up is on the board,” followed by the usual shuffle for supplies and various requests. But in today’s educational landscape, we can do better with these precious opening minutes. Why Opening Minutes Matter Peak cognitive readiness Prime time for memory formation Critical window for establishing engagement Opportunity to build classroom culture Sets the tone for deep learning Modern Strategies for Class Openers 1. Facts and Fibs Create facts and fibs about the upcoming topic on strips of paper. In groups,…

In today’s digital landscape, social media platforms have become crucial for educational engagement, especially in STEM fields. TikTok, a leading short-form video-sharing app, has gained immense popularity globally. Yet, in the USA, access to TikTok is restricted, hindering students and educators from tapping into its educational value. This piece delves into TikTok’s role in enhancing STEM engagement and the ways to bypass access restrictions in the USA. By grasping TikTok’s educational impact and the current restrictions, we can enable learners to continue their STEM exploration. This is achieved through the medium of short-form video content. Understanding TikTok’s Educational Impact and…

Use Classroom Management Platforms and Other Tools to Overcome Barriers in Learning a Language contributed by Al Kingsley, CEO of NetSupport Teaching a language, whether for ESL students or those learning something new like French or Spanish – requires largely the same teaching skills as any other subject. Yet, in some critical ways – especially for ESL students – the challenges are magnified by the comprehension barrier. Not unlike the barriers every student can face, students learning languages hit plateaus and lose focus, are unmotivated, get distracted, and probably most glaringly apparent, are hindered by lack of confidence. Edtech can…

In the digital age, branding has evolved into an art and a science, requiring businesses to craft unique visual identities that resonate with their audiences. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of this revolution, offering innovative tools to simplify and amplify the design process. From creating eye-catching logos to designing business cards and promotional materials, AI tools are transforming branding for businesses of all sizes. AI-powered branding: A game-changer for businesses AI tools like Dreamina provide businesses with accessible and cost-effective solutions for creating professional designs. Unlike traditional design methods that require extensive time, effort, and expertise, AI-powered tools…