Using EdTech to Teach the Arts

Technology offers endless opportunities to expand and enrich the way students learn. While many of us grew up learning to draw with pencil and paper, shaping clay with our hands, or gluing stiff pieces of macaroni to construction paper, today, the ways in which students can learn are infinite—and decidedly less messy.

Beyond cutting down on cleanup time, using edtech to teach the arts offers other unexpected benefits. Technology allows students with disabilities new, more accessible ways of creating, evens the playing field for kids who believe they can’t draw a straight line, and increases engagement for learners who might otherwise be reluctant to learn the arts. 

Below are a handful of impressive edtech tools that can be used for teaching the arts.  

Google Arts & Culture 

A quick scroll on Google Arts & Cultures reveals a multiverse of engaging content for curious kids—and adults, too. Curious students can explore art and art history by color, a time period, a culture or a theme. 

The site provides virtual tours of faraway museums or galleries, as well as a collection of arts and culture-based games in addition to its deep dives on visual art. 

Smarthistory

The result of a collaboration of more than 500 professionals in the art world, Smarthistory is another great resource for educators and students. The site hosts a variety of webinars, videos, courses and multimedia textbooks on topics of art history ranging from ancient Egyptian artifacts to modern art. 

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts offers educators free lesson plans on subjects like visual art, theatre, opera, literary arts and more. Whether you’re prepping for a high school lesson plan on Shakespeare or an elementary school unit on the life cycle of sunflowers using Van Gogh’s paintings, the Kennedy Center offers a rich resource for educators. Eager learners can also view video-based art lessons from a roster of talented visiting teachers.  

PlayART app

A fun app designed with younger children in mind, PlayArt allows kids to use existing elements from classic artwork and add their own touch, encouraging both artistic exploration with a pinch of art history. 

Music Constructed

Music Constructed provides music teachers with a variety of lesson plans, teaching units and a wealth of ideas, as well as three tiers of professional development resources. The site also boasts an online forum where teachers can network, connect or ask questions of their peers. 

Soundtrap 

Students can collaborate on musical projects or podcasts through Soundtrap, a cloud-based app. Soundtrap lets students experiment with sound, recording, rhythm and more. Students and teachers can add tracks from home, allowing plenty of opportunities to collaborate, whether in the classroom or from home. 

Book Creator

With Book Creator, students can create impressing, multimedia comic books, magazines or books. Designed to include reluctant writers and kids with learning differences, the app allows users to incorporate voice recordings, videos, icons, emojis and more as tools for expression. 

Top Pinterest Finds to Help Your Students Avoid the Summer Slide

Once the last bell of the year rings, many students simply look forward to kicking back, having fun, and completely forgetting about school. But experts say it’s a bad idea to stop all learning because students could potentially lose some of what they’ve learned during school. The term “Summer Slide” has been coined to describe how students lose significant amounts of knowledge in math and reading over the summer. In fact, one study suggests third to fifth graders lose 20% of reading gains and 27% of math gains on average during summer break. Parents don’t have to sit back and allow this to happen. We’ve compiled some ideas from Pinterest on how to help kids read, write, discover and practice academics throughout the summer break.

Download a Review Packet

Set your students up to complete a review sheet every day. Pinterest shows a variety of review packet options, in all grades, that provide parents with fun ideas to reinforce fundamentals. Many of the packets contain pages upon pages of printable lessons, allowing parents to spread a little bit of learning throughout the summer break.

Stock Up on Learning Games

Is it still learning if it’s also fun? Yes! Games that integrate reading and math are a great way to keep students learning all summer. A quick Pinterest search brings up tons of options that parents can buy or make themselves. Create your own homemade games like word hunt scavenger-type games, matching games, and addition games. Or purchase an existing game, like Bingo, Zoom, or Spelligator.

Cook with Your Kids

Getting kids in the kitchen is an easy and satisfying way to teach and reinforce skills. Following a recipe teaches kids: reading, fractions and comprehension. Plus parents get to interact with kids one-on-one, providing a fun way to take a digital break. There are many Pinterest finds for kid-friendly recipes to try out this summer. As a bonus, your kids might just eat an extra vegetable or two.

Take a Virtual Field Trip

The world may be opening up, but organizations still recognize the value of virtual tours. Many museums still offer virtual tours so your kids can take a tour and discover new things, while you’re finishing up work or dinner. Google Arts & Culture lists world-renown museums from A to Z.

Let Kids Read Whatever They Want

Reading doesn’t have to be limited to the same books and texts kids read in school. It’s summer. Let kids read their favorite comic, magazine or schedule weekly visits to the library. Pinterest is full of ideas on how to get kids reading more this summer. For example, make reading a challenge, complete with a reward for winning.  No matter which method you choose, shoot for at least 20 minutes a day.

Preventing the summer slide isn’t just a repeat of remote learning. It only takes minutes a day to make sure your students won’t fall behind come fall.

At Home Learning: Best Tech for Grades K-12

In the last year especially, our society has learned of the fundamental importance of technology to education. Not only does the access to technological support literally expand the classroom, but it also does wonders to engage students in different ways.

When it comes to at-home learning, it’s crucial to that all devices and programs are age-appropriate. Whether it’s hybrid learning, completely remote, or supplementing education at home, selecting such devices and apps requires some specific considerations. 

Check out our guidelines for at-home tech that’s best suited for K-2 students.

Recommended Devices:

• HP Chromebook x360 14b is stylish and sleek, but durable. The magnetic docking station eliminates the chances of losing the stylus (perfect for little ones), and it has a versatile 360° screen. The touchscreen is easy and engaging, allowing for pinching, tapping, zooming, and swiping. 

• It’s hard to beat the intuitive nature of an iPad. The new iPad has tremendous capability and versatility in performance. Its easy-to-use home screen makes app selection effortless, and switching between programs is seamless, even for young kids. The new iPad has all of the old one’s capabilities at a surprisingly great price.

• Google’s Pixelbook Go a flexible, highly proficient device. It features a lightweight design with a textured bottom, which is perfect for little ones and drop-prevention. Its fast connection and high-resolution duo cam is an ideal must have for virtual learning. With 12 hours of battery, this small machine packs a big punch.

Educational Websites:

With all that exists on the Internet, sometimes it’s difficult to discern educational sites with entertainment. These sites are recommended by both parents and educators.

• Starfall is a site designed for pre-K through third grade, and is focused on phonics and aims to support reading skills.

• Fuel the Brain is perfect for age-appropriate and educational games. Its activities feature all subject areas.

• XtraMath is a great site for improving mathematical computation skills.

• Stories are a wonderful way to learn, and they provide a creative outlet for applying knowledge. Storybird is perfect for curious and eager second graders who want to create and share their own imaginations; with this program, they can produce a story and even “publish” it in the library. 

• ABCMouse is a fun and functional site designed for ages 2-8. Make math, reading, science, and art interesting and engaging with over 10,000 activities. The program creates a step-by-step learning plan designed for each student.

K-2 learners are inquisitive and imaginative, and they need their technology to reflect their interests and capture (and keep!) their attention. These devices and websites are age-appropriate and created to keep young brains engaged and learning. 

Digital Resources for Learning At Home

The novel coronavirus is forcing people all over the world to change the norms of their every day lives. One of those norms is traditional in-school learning. Extended spring breaks that turned into indefinite closure periods have transformed most of the country’s schools into online forums. 

Parents and teachers are going to be tasked with the continuation of education in the home. Even for tech-savvy educators who are well versed in digitized tools are going to face challenges in the coming weeks. During this unpredictable time, many organizations and websites are offering free educational resources. These online opportunities allow learners the ability to continue to explore the world (and expand their minds) from the comfort of home. 

• Scholastic’s Learn at Home is providing 20 days worth of active educational material. It includes cross-curricular journeys to keep students engaged.  

• Students can embark on free, virtual field trips though Freedom Homeschooling. From Buckingham Palace to the San Diego Zoo to Mars, there is a relevant and interesting location for almost any unit. 

• Explore the Louvre, Sistine Chapel, and Guggenheim museum while remaining cozy on the couch. The Washington Post thoughtfully curated a list of historic sites that are offering virtual tours.  

• Tours of other iconic museums are available through with Travel + Leisure’s online offering. Peruse Van Gogh’s work up close at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam or “stroll” through the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. 

• For as long as schools are closed, Audible is providing free story listening. The collection of audiobooks is available to stream on desktops, laptops, phones, or tablets. 

• Over 3,000 e-book titles are available to borrow through the New York Public Library. From Winnie the Pooh to Atlas Shrugged, there’s something for every age.  

School closures are difficult for all. These resources will help combat loneliness by providing a lens into the wonders of the world.

How To Prevent Tech Injuries

Technology has moved us forward in many ways, but it can also have us curled up in pain if we’re not careful. Here are four common tech-related injuries that are as easy to get as they are to prevent (thank goodness).

Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)

If you use a computer for more than two hours a day, you could be at risk for computer vision syndrome, a condition characterized by eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes. While the condition is temporary, it can be frustrating, especially for people who must focus on computer screens for a large part of their days (and this adds up to about 70% of us, according to the American Optometric Association).

If you suffer from CVS, add frequent breaks to your daily routine, adjust the distance between your computer and your eyes, and keep your doctor apprised of any symptoms that don’t go away.

Tinnitus

Avid cellphone users--those who actually use their phones as phones--may be at a higher risk of developing tinnitus, a consistent ringing in the ear. While the connection is up for debate, some studies found that people who talk on cellphones for more than four hours a day were at an increased risk of developing tinnitus, which is difficult to treat.

Tech Neck

Tech neck is the catchy name for a condition that refers to degenerative neck changes due to poor posture, namely the shape we take while we are pouring over our smart phones and laptops. Maintaining this posture for long periods of time can lead to disc injury, muscle strain, nerve impingement, and ongoing related pain over the shoulders, down the back, and along the length of both arms.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is one of the reasons why repetitive motion injuries rank ninth for most common work-related injuries. The more time you spend hunched over your keyboard, the more likely you are to irritate the median nerve in your wrist, causing numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in your fingers and hand.

Preventing carpal tunnel, and all of these tech-related injuries, is as easy as maintaining good posture at the keyboard, elevating your wrists while typing to avoid nerve compression, and taking frequent breaks to stretch, focus, and move your body in a variety of ways. Make it a habit to remind yourself and your students to sit up straight, pull shoulders back and down, and place both feet flat on the floor.

Arey Jones is here to make educational technology a comfortable experience for all, which is why we’ve been an industry leader for more than 30 years. Learn more about Arey Jones.

5 “Cool” Ways to Learn Something New Over Winter Break

As much as we love educational technology at Arey Jones (and you know we do), we also enjoy time spent completely unplugged. This winter break, take a moment to explore the many off-line experiences that are right outside your door or in your game closet--and learn something new about the world, your family, and yourself in the process.

Get some fresh air.

Created in 1916, the National Park Service manages over 84 million acres of parkland in 417 areas, all 50 states, and four territories. Chances are you have a national park, a historical monument, a national or regional battlefield, a historic site, lakeshore, seashore, riverbank or scenic trail near you that is worth exploring. Bundle up and bring your camera; you’ll want to document and share what you find! 

Explore a museum.

According to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, there are over 35,000 active museums in the United States alone. A vital part of American culture, history, and the educational landscape, these museums provide rich and real content for every age of learner. From spy museums to planetariums, from art museums to zoos, there is a museum for every interest, hobby, and day of the week (for the next 96.3 years). Explore them all here.

Read.

Nothing passes winter boredom like an adventure between actual pages. Put your nose in book and your feet in a library--one of the 119,487 libraries in the United States alone. Despite being chock full of fact and fiction, there is no single annual survey that provides real-time statistics for all types of libraries--but that is ok. All you need to know is where to find one, how to get a library card, and which sorts of books you can’t wait to read. 

Get your game on.

Nothing connects families together like some good ol’ fashioned competition. Dust off generational favorites like checkers, chess, cribbage, or even a game of war with two decks of cards. Stay home, make some hot chocolate, and brew up some fun right in your living room. You may not make history, but you will make memories, one move at a time.

Will you be unplugging over the holidays? How will you pass the time this winter break? If you're researching about educational solutions to provide to your classroom, be sure to get in touch with us.

Tech-Free Family Time: 5 Ways To Make It Possible

While the National Day of Unplugging runs from sundown on March 3rd to sundown on March 4th, we think a dedicated unplugging as a family should happen more than just once a year. Here are five things you can do right now to disconnect from technology and connect with the ones you love.

Start on a fun note.

Once a week (or as often as needed), have everyone come to the kitchen with their devices and stand in a circle. Instruct everyone to hand their device to the person on their left. Give everyone 5 minutes to hide the device and then come back together to complete any one of the following activities. After the activity is done, the hunt can begin. To make it fair, change the wifi password until all devices have been found.

Revive family game night.

Maybe it’s a quick game of cards or an elaborate game of bingo. Maybe you make completing a crossword a group effort. Maybe you all gather around a puzzle and commit to locking in a minimum number of pieces. It doesn’t matter what game or activity you play, when you sit down as a family for a good ol’ fashioned night of bonding, everyone wins (even if they won’t concede the point until years later).

Get out of the house.

One sure way to distance yourself from technology is to create literal distance between you and your technology. Leave phones and tablets to charge at home while you pile in a car and treat yourself to a nice meal, ice cream, a walk in a park, or a family volunteering opportunity. If you feel uncomfortable traveling without a phone, bring yours along, but remind your family to hold you accountable, too; I had one friend who promised to buy ice cream for anyone who caught her using her phone during a tech free outing.

Get messy.

When you are trying to de-tech your family for a set amount of time, you may have to fight dirty. You can’t (or shouldn’t) use your devices when your hands are underwater or covered in flour or deep in mud, so get your crew together for a dip in the pool, a family baking party, or a gardening work day/mud fight.

Set boundaries.

If creating dedicated tech-free times is too difficult, try creating tech-free areas in your home. The dining room, for instance, is one sacred place where no devices should be allowed; not only does it distract from the conversations taking place, but food and beverages around devices are a recipe for disaster. Keep mealtimes mindful and inclusive with a firm no-tech policy at the table (and this goes for you, too, mom and dad).

You can also use technology to your advantage on a daily basis, offering the wifi password or a charging cable as the carrot for completing homework, a list of chores, or good behavior.

How do you balance family time with tech time in your home?

Bridge The Gap: How To Keep Parents In The Loop When Everything Is Online

As schools move toward paperless communication and less homework for elementary school students, parents feel less overwhelmed by the minutia of the school year. They also feel a lot more out of the loop when it comes to knowing what’s going on in the classroom and how they can help.

The movement toward less homework is supported by a study done by CNN, when researchers found that first graders received almost three times the amount of homework recommended by the NEA and the National PTA. While it’s clear children could use the downtime, what isn’t clear is how to engage parents in the learning process so that lesson plans can be supported at home—without the need to sacrifice sanity or trees in the process.

Knowing the material, however, is only part of the equation. Today’s technology not only allows parents to view their children’s progress in real time, but they also can see where and how they excel and struggle with subjects, tests, and organization skills.

“Parental and family involvement in a child’s education is essential,” said Erica Eichmann, at Arey Jones Educational Solutions. “We’re fortunate to live in a time when there are several ways to engage parents both off and online. The key is to keep educating and reminding parents where the resources are, encourage consistent and clear dialogue throughout the school year, and help families create learning-friendly environments at home.”

Here are 5 ways parents can engage more fully in their children’s education.

Define study time.

Parents who designate a time and space for studying and learning show kids that education is a priority. This could be as simple as designating a place in the home for homework that is close enough for questions and support, but far enough away so they won’t be distracted from finding answers on their own. In addition to the space, setting a schedule and routine around studying makes it just as important as games and dance events.

Learn the tools.

Parents should feel knowledgeable about every tool the school uses in their curriculum. If kids are using platforms like Blackboard, ClassTag, Wixie, Google for Education, and Dreambox during the day, parents should feel reasonably equipped to help and promote the use of these tools at home. Resources like bealearninghero.org are a great place to get started. Set reminders in your calendar every week to check classroom resources; this may seem silly, but we all know how fast time can fly. This holds you accountable as well; if your children have set study parameters, it’s good that you have set support parameters, too.

Reach out.

If you don’t receive consistent communication from the teacher, take on the charge. Find out how best to reach the teacher for non-emergency concerns, and make a warm introduction. Create a monthly reminder in your calendar to reach out, even if it’s just to say how much your child enjoys the classroom (teachers never tire of hearing positive feedback). If you have questions, ask. If you have concerns, state them clearly, and be just as clear that you expect to hear back if the teacher also notices something you don’t. If you have issues at home that may effect your child’s ability to learn (new baby, divorce, moving, etc.), make sure the teacher is given just enough information to be aware of any changes.

You and the teacher are two of the most important parts of your child’s educational team; you should be familiar with each other and help the other fill in the gaps.

Encourage accountability.

It’s always important to talk about goals, dreams and setting expectations for effort. Break goals into manageable steps so that students have the freedom to course correct. Not meeting a goal is disappointing, but not the end of the journey; the purpose is to teach resilience and resourcefulness in the hunt for the next best thing. If something goes awry, help students determine how they could have it differently for a better result, and help give them the confidence to manage the consequences and try again.

Engaged parents make a huge difference in the success of their students, so the sooner and more specifically you can get involved in your child’s education, the better off your kids will be.

Do you have any experience in a reduced-homework school? What are your thoughts?