Contribution: This study synthesizes insights into the thematic focuses and linguistic attributes that resonate most in engineering faculty collaborations aimed at fostering entrepreneurial mindsets (EMs). It provides a roadmap for educators and institutions to effectively communicate and encourage entrepreneurial thinking in engineering.…

Making and makerspaces are currently an exciting topic in education. The constructionist nature of learning through making, however, creates an inherent tension for teachers -- one where the need to meet specific standards must be balanced with the open-ended, creative problem-solving that making supports. Unlike the traditional teacher-centered…

Markerspaces and areas to conduct collaborative STEM activities are becoming increasingly popular in schools, libraries, media centers, and community centers. These are numerous examples of rooms that were originally designed as traditional classrooms being converted into markerspaces or collaborative STEM work areas. This also involved the use of…

This month's Safety Spotlight focuses on holding students accountable for their safety actions in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) labs and makerspaces. Most teachers should understand the importance of a proper safety program. In this article, the author describes his work permit system for safety. The work permit system…

Recently, makerspaces have captured the imaginations of educators as resources for transforming school-based learning. Aligning informal making practices with the formal aims of the school curriculum, however, can present challenges. In this article, Philip Nichols and Kurt Salisbury show how educators in two very different contexts -- a suburban…

The author has always loved libraries. She has has always loved books and the experience of learning. Her idea of the best kind of library has changed over the years. Encouraging reading is just a part of what the 21st-century school library does. As a fledgling school librarian just starting to learn how to fly, the author wanted to create a nest…

Millions of teachers regularly turn to Internet sharing sites such as Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers for curriculum resources and ideas. While this innovative technology poses a number of advantages for teachers who are almost never given an appropriate amount of time to engage in curriculum planning, and who can supplement their…

For the last several years, the authors have implemented an integrated Mars Colony project for their third-grade classes. Students explored several considerations related to colonizing and inhabiting a new world, including food sources, types of citizens, transportation, and housing design. Nearly everything about the project was open-ended, full…

This article introduces a series of real-world classroom projects that demonstrate how to integrate robotics into art classrooms using Makerspaces as the preferred contextual framework. The goal of this article is to encourage art teachers to use the Makerspace concept, and the included project ideas, as a source of inspiration for their own…

Post-secondary education remains mostly inaccessible to non-traditional students. Many colleges do not have the proper resources or programs to effectively support a wide variety of learners who all present with different educational challenges and needs. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) promotes diverse teaching methods to benefit all…

The addition of the arts to STEM education, now known as STEAM, adds a new dimension to problem-solving within those fields, offering students tools such as imagination and resourcefulness to incorporate into their designs. However, the shift from STEM to STEAM has changed what it means for students to learn within and across these disciplines.…

The "NMC Technology Outlook for Cooperative Extension 2016-2021: A Horizon Project Sector Report" reflects a collaborative research effort between the New Media Consortium (NMC), the eXtension Foundation, and the Innovation Task Force of the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), the representative governing body of…

The "2015 NMC Technology Outlook for Scandinavian Schools: A Horizon Project Regional Report" reflects a collaborative research effort to inform Scandinavian school leaders and decision-makers about significant developments in technologies supporting teaching, learning, and creative inquiry in primary and secondary education across…

The 2012-2013 school year represents a pivotal juncture for DC Public Schools. Last spring, Mayor Gray and Chancellor Kaya Henderson introduced "A Capital Commitment," their ambitious plan to dramatically accelerate student achievement in the district over the next five years by providing all of their students with a safe, academically…

The Guide to Blended Learning is an introduction using technology and distance education teaching strategies with traditional, face-to-face classroom activities. This Guide has been designed to assist teachers adopt blended learning strategies through a step-by-step approach taking constructivist and design-based approach and reflecting on…