Many (most?) states now administer yearly assessments online. If students haven’t used online testing tools before, this can be a daunting task. Having computer devices as optional education tools is a massive difference from requiring students to use them for graded assessments. This can be intimidating for both students and teachers.

The good news: It doesn’t take as much time and practice as you might think to prepare. What it does require is a techie mindset, the acceptance that technology is part of the daily landscape, that it be integrated into assignments, practice, modeling, homework, assessments, projects, portfolios, grading rubrics, expectations.

There are ways to get students in shape that won’t take much out of your already-packed day.

“The future of education will be shaped by technology and educators who use technology effectively will stand out from the crowd.” – Dr. Anil Singhal

Here are strategies that will make your teaching life easier, bump up your effectiveness with students, save time complying with state standards, and prepare students effectively. As you’re in grade-level teams, planning lessons for next year, include these. They will add spice to classes, build flexible learning paths, and contribute to sustainable, transformative learning. Once you start using tech in the classroom as a tool (not a separate activity), you will find students self-selecting it when given a choice, coming up with their own ways to make tech today’s adaptive answer:

(more…)

As a working technology teacher, I get hundreds of questions from parents about their home computers, how to do stuff, how to solve problems. I share those with you. They’re always brief and always focused. Enjoy!

Q: My taskbar disappeared. What do I do?

A: Push the flying windows key (it’s located between Ctrl and Alt on the bottom left of your keyboard). That brings up the start button

Need more?

Windows 11

• Step 1: Check Taskbar Settings to see if the taskbar is set to auto-hide.

Open Settings by pressing “Windows + I” on your keyboard. Navigate to “Personalization” and then click on “Taskbar.” Ensure the “Automatically hide the taskbar” option is turned off. 

• Step 2: Restart Windows

Press “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” to open Task Manager. Look for “Windows Explorer” in the list, click on it, and then click “Restart” at the bottom right. This action will refresh the taskbar, bringing it back if it was unresponsive.

Windows 10

(more…)

Summer is a great time to reset your personal pedagogy to an education-friendly mindset and catch up on what’s been changing in the ed world while you were teaching eight ten hours a day. My X friends gave me great suggestions, but first:

A comment on the selections: I did get more than I could list so I avoided books with hot-button subjects teachers are divided on and focused on positive and uplifting reading. Yes, there is a lot wrong with education around the world but I wanted a selection of books that would send me — and you —  back to teaching in the fall with a can-do attitude for how to accomplish miracles with your next class of students.

Having said that, here’s a granular list of teacher-approved books to keep you busy this summer:

What Great Teachers Do Differently

by Todd Whitaker

What are the beliefs and behaviors that set great teachers apart? In this internationally renowned bestseller, Todd Whitaker reveals 19 keys to becoming more effective in the classroom.

This essential third edition features new sections on why it’s about more than relationships, how to focus on a consistent, engaging learning environment, and the importance of choosing the right mode―business, parent, child―to improve your classroom management.

Perfect for educators at any level of experience, for independent reading or for schoolwide book studies, this practical book will leave you feeling inspired and ready to do the things that matter most for the people who matter most―your students.

Take Control of the Noisy Class: Chaos to Calm in 15 Seconds

by Rob Plevin

You’ll discover:

• The simple six-step plan to minimise & deal with classroom behaviour problems
• How to gain trust & respect from tough, hard-to-reach students
• How to put an end to power struggles & confrontation
• How to have students follow your instructions… with no need to repeat yourself
• The crucial importance of consistency (and how to achieve it)
• Quick and easy ways to raise engagement and enjoyment in your lessons
• The ‘Clean Slate’ – a step by step method you can use to ‘start over’ with that particularly difficult group of students who won’t do anything you say.

(more…)

Wrapping up your school technology for the summer is as complicated as setting it up in September. There are endless backups, shares, cleanings, changed settings, and vacation messages that — if not done right — can mean big problems when you return from summer vacation. If you have a school device, a lot of the shutdown steps will be done by the IT folks as they backup, clean, reformat, and maybe re-image your device. If you have a personal device assigned by the school but yours to take home, the steps may be more numerous but really, not more complicated.

Here’s a list. Skip those that don’t apply to you and complete the rest. I won’t take time in this article for a how-to on each activity so if you don’t know how to complete one, check with your IT folks or DDG (Duck Duck Go–or Google) it:

(more…)

Flowers spark creativity and learning in classrooms. Today, the Ask a Tech Teacher international team is exploring how flowers inspire students in STEM, art, and ecology, how a bouquet can enhance tech-driven education and classroom joy. Learn how they blend with tech tools and can brighten educational spaces. 

Petals and Pixels: Flowers in Tech-Savvy Classrooms

Imagine a classroom where sunflowers nod on a windowsill during a coding lesson, or a science lab where students dissect daisies while a tablet app tracks their findings. Flowers bring a vibrant energy to education, bridging nature and technology in ways that captivate young minds. They inspire projects, from digital art to ecological studies, and foster a welcoming space for learning. They connect abstract concepts to tangible beauty, making lessons stick. To weave that magic into any classroom, anyone can order a bouquet of flowers and have it delivered, ideal for sparking inspiration or gifting to a teacher.

Flowers fit seamlessly into tech-driven education. They fuel curiosity in STEM experiments, add depth to creative assignments, and soften the hum of devices with natural charm. They’re tools for engagement, helping students explore science, art, and community through hands-on and digital means, all while keeping the classroom lively. (more…)

Something broke in American education these past years. Too many students don’t reach grade-level metrics and no one can agree on the cause. I went out to our international contributors for ideas. They had a lot, but this one I thought I’d cover first:

Is the Traditional Classroom Becoming Obsolete?

You might argue that the traditional classroom still plays an essential role in education, but the rapid growth of online and hybrid models suggests otherwise. As students increasingly seek flexible and interactive learning experiences, the conventional approach may not meet their needs any longer. This shift raises critical questions about the future of education: How will teachers adapt their roles? What innovations might redefine the learning environment? Understanding these dynamics could reshape your perspective on what effective education looks like today.

The Rise of Online Learning

Online learning has increasingly become a staple in education, with studies showing that over 30% of students now prefer it over traditional classroom settings. This shift raises questions about the efficacy and long-term viability of conventional education methods. You might wonder why this preference exists. Data indicates that online learning offers flexibility that traditional classrooms often can’t match.

Students can learn at their own pace, tailoring the experience to their unique needs, which can enhance engagement and retention.

However, you should also consider the challenges that accompany this rise. Not all online platforms deliver quality education, and the lack of face-to-face interaction can hinder social development and collaborative skills. Reports highlight that many students struggle with self-discipline in an online environment, leading to higher dropout rates compared to traditional settings.

Moreover, issues like digital divide—where not all students have equal access to technology—raise concerns about equity in education.

Ultimately, while online learning’s popularity is undeniable, it’s essential to analyze its limitations and implications critically. As you explore this educational landscape, understanding both the advantages and drawbacks will be vital in determining the future of learning. (more…)

Here’s what most educators and parents innately know as a truism of education:

“If you can’t explain something simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” –Albert Einstein

Peer-to-peer learning–acquiring knowledge from a peer group–has become a popular strategy as teachers move from a “teacher-lecturer” education model to “teacher-guide”.  Often, it is a less stressful way to develop lifelong learners. As a pedagogical strategy, it can be effective in reinforcing critical thinking, cooperation, creativity, and problem solving–traits that are difficult to teach but essential for students who want to become productive, happy adults.

What is Peer-to-peer Learning

Peer-to-peer learning is where individuals learn from and with each other rather than relying on a traditional teacher or instructor. It involves collaboration, knowledge sharing, and mutual support among peers—typically people at a similar level of expertise or experience—working together to achieve a common learning goal. Participants exchange ideas, explain concepts, ask questions, and provide feedback. The process fosters critical thinking, communication skills, and a deeper understanding of the subject matter, as teaching others reinforces one’s own knowledge. Examples include study groups, coding boot camps where participants critique each other’s work, or online communities where users share expertise. It’s built on the idea that collective learning can be just as effective, if not more so, than top-down instruction, leveraging diverse perspectives and real-world problem-solving. (more…)

A friend of mine told me this story:

“On a chilly winter evening in New York City, Sarah (not her real name) was struggling with the cold and the cost of her subway ride home when an elderly man noticed her plight. Without hesitation, he gave her a fully loaded subway card, explaining he had more than he needed. He also offered her a homemade sandwich, insisting it was no good to waste food. This unexpected kindness brought tears to Sarah’s eyes, warming her not just with the promise of a meal and a ride home, but with the profound reminder of human compassion in an often indifferent world.”

That was one of many Random Acts of Kindness experienced in a world known for just the opposite. Now, February 9-15, 2025 in America is Random Acts of Kindness Week and is when everyone encourages acts of kindness without any expectation of consideration in return.

“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” — Mark Twain

What is Random Acts of Kindness Day?

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Day is twenty-four hours when anyone who chooses to participate agrees to perform unexpected acts of kindness to pay it forward for that time they need a little bit of unexpected care.  We flaunt our altruistic side by doing something nice for another without a thought for the consequences.

Why is Kindness important?

Why kindness is important seems obvious, but really, it isn’t. I can name a whole lot of people who have succeeded despite being, well, jerks so why should we think there’s merit in a gentler approach?

(more…)

Here’s the outline for a seminar I teach in schools before the holiday break, to excite teachers about what they can accomplish “the second half” of the school year:

Every year, I make New Year resolutions and ignore them. I don’t promise to fulfill them. I don’t even check my progress and revise as needed. I make-and-forget, check it off the New Year’s To Do list and move on.

This year, I’m trying something different: resolutions that aren’t quantified, that won’t take extra time from my too-busy schedule. Resolutions that are, instead, about my teaching mindset. Here’s my list:

I will learn one new tech tool a month

There are so many. I get massive lists of webtools, websites, apps, extensions, and links in my inbox, mostly proclaimed as “the tool I can’t do without”. Every month, I’ll pick one and try it.

Just to be clear: Today’s tech ed tools aren’t like they used to be. The ones I’m interested in are easy-to-use, intuitive, easily differentiated for varied student needs, and free or inexpensive. Anything that requires a time commitment to learn and buckets of creativity to use is off the list. My schedule is too packed for that sort of commitment. And, I’ll unpack them with the students, authentically, as part of a project we do.

To get me started, add a comment with your favorite tool — the one I should start in January.

(more…)