Archives: Resources

If you use Apple’s Safari web browser, here’s the instructions for finding and installing extensions like AdBlock Plus.

To Google Translate is a fast and handy tool, making Google Translate easily accessible for everyday use. Select a word or text in your browser, right-click and select … learn more

Want to know how secure your password is? Type it in here. All testing is done within your browser; your passwords remain secure. For a master password, you’ll … learn more

This video from Violet Blue and Engadget explains why you need a password manager, how to set one up, and best practices. Two notes on the video: While … learn more

Adblock Plus blocks most/all of the ads when you view web pages and YouTube videos. This is especially good in a class setting where there are already plenty … learn more

SkyBot was a small, 3D printed drone kit designed to walk students, or even interested adults, through the concepts of basic drone and robotics construction. Their goal was … learn more

Drones that weigh less than 0.55 lbs. (250 g) including batteries do not need to be registered. Most toy and hand held drones fall in this category. Drones … learn more

About two dozen middle school students from around Kern County attended a very special STEM Camp, hosted by Bakersfield College. With potential college and careers in mind, students … learn more

The Drones for Schools program resembles a nesting doll for concepts in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. A drone is a complex machine, and once you peek inside, … learn more

This hour long presentation talks about using drones to build interest in STEM in middle school students. Includes both presentations and workshop sessions.

OK, you are probably much better off buying rather than building your first drone. This pages shows you the steps needed to create a drone, from different frames … learn more

Since 2004, volunteers have mentored the G3 Grady High School Robotics Team in Atlanta, GA, introducing students to technology careers and providing a glimpse into the engineering profession.

The Federal Aviation Administration at the beginning of 2021 released its Remote ID ruling for drones, which will require drones to broadcast their location as they fly. While … learn more

In the United States, anything that flies is under the jurisdiction of the FAA. This section of the FAA’s web site explains the rules and how to get … learn more

Here’s an archived list of how drones can be integrated into education, in areas from art to assembling tensile structures or bridges to ethics. As drones are versatile … learn more

Heather Wolpert-Gawron, a middle school teacher and curriculum coordinator, answers the question, “so what can you do with it?”. And notes that maybe we’re not “there” quite yet.

100’s of templates & extensions are available for LibreOffice. You can find similar sites with Google.

The official site for LibreOffice. You can get up-to-date information and download the latest version of LibreOffice here. This is the suite our webmaster uses and recommends.

The official site for Apache OpenOffice. You can get up-to-date information and download the latest version of Apache OpenOffice here.

Chris does an in depth comparison of LibreOffice vs. Microsoft Office, looking especially at the word processing and spreadsheet applications and the ability to switch back and forth … learn more

K-12 Dive provides in-depth journalism and insight into the most impactful news and trends shaping K-12 education. The newsletters and website cover topics such as leadership, school models, … learn more

These 6 funny, animated gifs may not help your next proposal, but they do bring home the reasons to look at backup options.

Jungle Disk is primarily for computer backup, but does allow some file sharing. Designed to easily and automatically backup your computers and share files between computers. All files … learn more

One of the most popular file sharing sites out there. While not a substitute for regular comprehensive backups, DropBox does provide a convenient way to back up and … learn more

You can use this page as an introduction to Astrophotography. It details experiences and ideas to help you capture your own star images, including maybe the Milky Way. … learn more

While today’s smart phones do not have the capabilities of a high-end SLR camera, the gap is narrowing every year. Schools like Stanford University are now offering classes … learn more

So, you might not be able to duplicate this rig at your high school, but you can use this as a springboard to explore what sort of interesting … learn more

In addition to portraits and landscapes, there is the whole area of product shots for advertising and eCommerce. This resource shows simple setups your students can use to … learn more

Mary Swanson posted this photo montage of images from Jefferson High School. Take your student’s photos and assemble them into a video they can share with parents & … learn more

This page looks at a machine learning algorithm developed at Yahoo Labs that distinguishes beautiful portraits from the not-so perfect. The results… The single most important factor is … learn more

What better place for photography ideas than Pinterest. Elizabeth Osborne has compiled over 250 photography ideas for High School students. Elizabeth teaches high school art, photography and 2D … learn more

Photographer Lorenz Holder demonstrates some easy & creative smartphone photography tips & tricks. New ways to look at panoramas, “free” zoom and macro lenses, easy tripod & shutter … learn more

A good alternative to Photoshop is Corel’s PaintShop Pro. While not the gold standard, it provides many of the same features and can be easier for schools to … learn more

Explore the endless possibilities of digital imaging with solutions tailored for your unique needs. Whether you’re a digital imaging novice, enthusiast, or professional, work with software that lets … learn more

Pixlr, among other things, has simple and advanced photo editors you can use right on your web browser. They also make cell phone apps and desktop versions available … learn more

This video takes a quick look at the pros and cons of both Photoshop and GIMP. And good news! GIMP version 2.8, mentioned in the video, is now … learn more

GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a free, cross-platform image editor available for Linux, OS X, Windows, and more. GIMP can be used by graphic designers, photographers, illustrators, … learn more

Paint.NET is a free(!) image and photo editing program for Windows PCs. While not as “feature rich” as PhotoShop, it does a great job and loads faster than … learn more

There are a number of hybrid sites like FreeImages.com that provide both free and for-purchase photos. With over 300,000 free photos, sites like this can provide interesting images … learn more

The Graphics Fairy has over 4,500 free vintage stock images, illustrations, old pictures, antique graphics, and vintage printables. DIY and craft tutorials are offered as well. All images … learn more

Unsplash has over 2 million free high-resolution images “brought to you by the world’s most generous community of photographers”. Covers a wide variety of subjects with high quality … learn more

Check out a repository of digital images from the collections of the National Gallery of Art. More than 45,000 open-access digital images spanning over 700 years of art … learn more

Flubaroo is a free add on for Google Forms (part of Google Docs). In Google Forms, create a test with multiple choice answers then take the test yourself, … learn more

Engage every learner, anywhere with the most comprehensive solution for video recording and streaming, video content management, audience engagement, content creation, and assessments.

Smarter Balanced is a consortium of 15 states, one territory, and the Bureau of Indian Education working together to determine how the Smarter Balanced assessment system is developed … learn more

From 1993 to 2003, the Balanced Assessment in Mathematics Program existed at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. The project group developed a large collection of innovative mathematics … learn more

Take a look at sample assessment questions from Smarter Balanced.

This blog post from the Northwest Evaluation Association looks at easy-to-implement ideas for measuring student learning. One idea: Keep the Question Going. The teacher asks one student a … learn more

The National Assessment Governing Board is an independent, bipartisan organization that oversees the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as The Nation’s Report Card. You will find … learn more

The National Assessment of Educational Progress, first administered in 1969, is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what our nation’s students know and can do in … learn more

What is student-centered student self-assessment? No, it’s not the students grading their own tests and giving everyone A’s. What does it look like in the classroom? Do students … learn more

Standardized testing. Formative assessment. Competency-based learning. Report cards. Explore EdWeek’s full coverage of student testing

Louise Yarnall of SRI International answers the question of why assessment is important in education. Assessment is more than just recalling facts and dates, but ensuring the ability … learn more

Assessment involves the use of empirical data on student learning to refine programs and improve student learning. This article from Westminster College looks at the different definitions of … learn more

The Educational Testing Service site is dedicated primarily to their standardized tests; under teaching and learning is a list of current performance assessment studies and measures.

University of Delaware researcher studied teachers’ use of on-line essay scoring software in the classroom with third-, fourth- and fifth-graders. Results were mixed, with higher engagement from some … learn more

NCEO offers resources for administrators, educators, parents, and others concerned with the educational outcomes of all students: An extensive publications list that includes technical reports, state activity updates, … learn more

Connecting educators to what works. Includes many topics: Teachers Essentials, New Teacher, Technology in the classroom, and Professional Development. Education World is a complete online resource that teachers, … learn more

Autodesk’s Tinkercad makes a great classroom tool for 3D modeling. It’s free to use, runs within your web browser (so there’s nothing to install), and is beginner friendly, … learn more

Don’t want to create your own .stl files? Looking for project ideas or see how other people tackled things? Thingiverse is the go-to place for printed objects. Includes … learn more

Here’s a way of taking great 3D printing time-lapse videos. It’s a bit unorthodox, but it works great and definitely doesn’t involve burning your hands. Look for a … learn more

No only are 3D prints intriguing, but watching the process can be mesmerizing. Here’s an example time lapse video (no sound). Adding a simple time lapse camera can … learn more

Chuck shows you how to use Wire Printing experimental feature in CURA 4.0 to create unique pieces. He shows the settings you’ll need in Cura 4 and how … learn more

This post by Josh Price goes into more detail on the steps needed to turn a drawing into complete articulated 3D objects with Fusion 360. While has a … learn more

Want to do more than just extrude a 3D drawing? Need more control or accuracy? This video by Josh Price shows you the steps needed to trace over … learn more

Lithophanes were first created in the 1820s using porcelain. By varying the depth of the material, you can create a seemingly 3 dimensional black & white image that … learn more

3D printed artwork can take many forms, including 2D wall hangings. Here’s an example of what you can do when you take a line drawing and convert it … learn more

MIT gives us a glimpse into the future of 3D printing technology with an inexpensive printer that can print 10 materials at once, no assembly required. Combining multiple … learn more

We know about 3D printing with plastic, but what about printing magnetic fields? This video by Destin Sandlin looks at how Polymagnet has come up with a way … learn more

The Geneva Drive is an elegant mechanism used to convert rotary motion into intermittent motion. The link includes a YouTube video as well as the STL 3D printer … learn more

Awwww. Meet Peggy. When this little kitty was rescued, they found the lower portion of her rear legs were gone. The author was asked to design a wheelchair … learn more

This is an example of using a 3D printer to create the connectors and other parts needed to assemble an item, in this case a simple solar powered … learn more

Not only is this a fun print that shows how you can print moving mechanisms in place, but it’s practical too. Someone discovered you can spin the Air … learn more

This video shows not only the sphere being printed, but also the steps needed after the print to get everything to work. As you can see, 3D printing … learn more

The PLA Spring Motor Demonstrator was originally designed as a “proof of concept” tool to test whether a 3D printed PLA spring could power a gear train and … learn more

This model is an exemplar of many different 3D prining concepts. When the model is well designed, you can print a multi-part articulated item all-at-once with even an … learn more

This collection of bubble wands can be printed and used for students of all ages. Younger students can have fun while learning about bubbles. Older students with access … learn more

No matter where education takes place, Zoom can help engage students, faculty, and staff for learning, collaboration, and administration. See how Zoom supports remote and hybrid learning environments … learn more

Naveed Husain, from Teachers College, Columbia University, outlines 20 best practices for educators thrust into the remote-learning journey. The list includes: Be as present as possible through video … learn more

Many teachers have been caught off guard trying to figure out how to pull off lessons. Darin Nakakihara created this edtech tip to help teachers teach remotely. Darin … learn more

Sarah Martinez has curated resources to support teachers, parents and administrators in the transition to our “new normal” of remote learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sarah designed … learn more

Danielle Rochford has been teaching online for over 10 years. She put together this 52 minute webinar to address issues like: How do I get started? What should … learn more

The World Health Organization (WHO) has an information portal of their own with the latest information on the COVID-19 coronavirus, updated daily. Of particular interest will be the … learn more

This quick video from ABC News (posted March 10th) explains why officials are banning crowds, closing schools, and encouraging anything to avoid a lot of human contact. It’s … learn more

With everything that’s happening about the Coronavirus, it can be very hard to make a decision of what to do today. Should you wait for more information? Do … learn more

Mark Rober, a former NASA engineer and current “YouTuber and friend of science”, put together this video showing how easy it is to spread germs, including the COVID-19 … learn more

With schools turning to the Internet to facilitate education activities, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are stepping up to the plate, providing free Internet hotspots and continued service during … learn more

To say things are “up in the air” regarding fall college admissions is an understatement. This article from NPR outlines some of the current issues for H.S. seniors … learn more

At the end of March, 2020, 185 countries had closed their schools, affecting 90 percent of the world’s students. The speed of these closures and the rapid move … learn more

The current stay-at-home environment is challenging for learning on a number of fronts. This article talks about how school districts in Colorado are trying to overcome the disparities … learn more

PROTECTING, MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF ALL MINNESOTANS

This article by Sarah Gonser highlights some issues that we will all face as states start to prepare contingency plans for a highly unpredictable Fall 2020 school year: … learn more

This post by Krista Kaput looks at issues specific to Minnesota, but is a reminder that the COVID-19 crisis has caused ripple effects across the education system, raising … learn more

This post by Amy Takabori explains why building a sense of community for your school during a school closure is important and gives 4 tips on how to … learn more

Mike Rowe’s recorded a commencement speech to all those graduating from a trade school, and to those high school graduates about to enter one. In these uncertain times, … learn more