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Tag: critical thinking

  • New research challenges fears about AI in the classroom

    Key points:

    Rather than replacing student thinking, when teachers design and guide AI experiences, the technology is most often used to deepen critical thinking and strengthen instruction, according to new insights from SchoolAI.

    The research, AI isn’t replacing thinking: Teachers are using SchoolAI to deepen it and boost engagement, offers educators, school leaders, and policymakers large-scale evidence of how AI is actually being used in classrooms.

    The report analyzed more than 23,000 teacher-created SchoolAI ‘Spaces’ used during the 2024-25 school year. These Spaces span English language arts, math, science, and social studies across elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. To answer the question of AI’s impact on student learning, we must first understand how it’s being used in the classroom. This study examined what teachers built and how students were asked to think when AI was involved.

    Across subjects and grade levels, the data shows that higher-order thinking appears far more often than simple recall. Seventy-three percent of lessons require conceptual understanding, while 59 percent ask students to analyze information, and 58 percent ask them to evaluate ideas or make judgments. More than 75 percent of AI-supported lessons remain grounded in core academic curriculum, showing that teachers are extending familiar instruction rather than replacing it.

    “There has been a lot of speculation about what AI might do to learning,” said Caleb Hicks, founder and CEO of SchoolAI. “This research gives educators, leaders, and policymakers something far more useful: evidence of what teachers are actually doing. When teachers design the experience and set clear expectations, AI becomes a way to push students toward deeper reasoning, analysis, and judgment. It supports rigorous thinking rather than replacing it, which is why AI can be a valuable tool for classroom learning.”

    The study also highlights how teachers are using AI to create interactive, engaging learning experiences at scale while maintaining academic rigor. In science classrooms, roughly 25 percent of Spaces encourage open-ended investigation, while role-play and simulation appear in 18-20 percent of reading and social studies lessons.

    At the same time, teachers recognize the importance of boundaries in responsible AI use. Teachers reinforce learning instead of simply looking up answers by designing experiences that push students toward deeper reasoning, not shortcuts.

    “This study was designed to look at practice, not predictions,” said Cynthia Chiong, principal research scientist at SchoolAI. “We wanted to understand the kinds of thinking teachers are intentionally asking for when AI is involved. The findings offer concrete evidence of how teacher-led design shapes meaningful and responsible use of AI in real classrooms.”

    Together, the findings challenge common fears about AI undermining learning. The research shows that when teachers lead the design, AI can strengthen critical thinking, increase engagement, and support responsible instruction across classrooms.

    This press release originally appeared online.

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  • Preserving critical thinking amid AI adoption

    Key points:

    AI is now at the center of almost every conversation in education technology. It is reshaping how we create content, build assessments, and support learners. The opportunities are enormous. But one quiet risk keeps growing in the background: losing our habit of critical thinking.

    I see this risk not as a theory but as something I have felt myself.

    The moment I almost outsourced my judgment

    A few months ago, I was working on a complex proposal for a client. Pressed for time, I asked an AI tool to draft an analysis of their competitive landscape. The output looked polished and convincing. It was tempting to accept it and move on.

    Then I forced myself to pause. I began questioning the sources behind the statements and found a key market shift the model had missed entirely. If I had skipped that short pause, the proposal would have gone out with a blind spot that mattered to the client.

    That moment reminded me that AI is fast and useful, but the responsibility for real thinking is still mine. It also showed me how easily convenience can chip away at judgment.

    AI as a thinking partner

    The most powerful way to use AI is to treat it as a partner that widens the field of ideas while leaving the final call to us. AI can collect data in seconds, sketch multiple paths forward, and expose us to perspectives we might never consider on our own.

    In my own work at Magic EdTech, for example, our teams have used AI to quickly analyze thousands of pages of curriculum to flag accessibility issues. The model surfaces patterns and anomalies that would take a human team weeks to find. Yet the real insight comes when we bring educators and designers together to ask why those patterns matter and how they affect real classrooms. AI sets the table, but we still cook the meal.

    There is a subtle but critical difference between using AI to replace thinking and using it to stretch thinking. Replacement narrows our skills over time. Stretching builds new mental flexibility. The partner model forces us to ask better questions, weigh trade-offs, and make calls that only human judgment can resolve.

    Habits to keep your edge

    Protecting critical thinking is not about avoiding AI. It is about building habits that keep our minds active when AI is everywhere.

    Here are three I find valuable:

    1. Name the fragile assumption
    Each time you receive AI output, ask: What is one assumption here that could be wrong? Spend a few minutes digging into that. It forces you to reenter the problem space instead of just editing machine text.

    2. Run the reverse test
    Before you adopt an AI-generated idea, imagine the opposite. If the model suggests that adaptive learning is the key to engagement, ask: What if it is not? Exploring the counter-argument often reveals gaps and deeper insights.

    3. Slow the first draft
    It is tempting to let AI draft emails, reports, or code and just sign off. Instead, start with a rough human outline first. Even if it is just bullet points, you anchor the work in your own reasoning and use the model to enrich–not originate–your thinking.

    These small practices keep the human at the center of the process and turn AI into a gym for the mind rather than a crutch.

    Why this matters for education

    For those of us in education technology, the stakes are unusually high. The tools we build help shape how students learn and how teachers teach. If we let critical thinking atrophy inside our companies, we risk passing that weakness to the very people we serve.

    Students will increasingly use AI for research, writing, and even tutoring. If the adults designing their digital classrooms accept machine answers without question, we send the message that surface-level synthesis is enough. We would be teaching efficiency at the cost of depth.

    By contrast, if we model careful reasoning and thoughtful use of AI, we can help the next generation see these tools for what they are: accelerators of understanding, not replacements for it. AI can help us scale accessibility, personalize instruction, and analyze learning data in ways that were impossible before. But its highest value appears only when it meets human curiosity and judgment.

    Building a culture of shared judgment

    This is not just an individual challenge. Teams need to build rituals that honor slow thinking in a fast AI environment. Another practice is rotating the role of “critical friend” in meetings. One person’s task is to challenge the group’s AI-assisted conclusions and ask what could go wrong. This simple habit trains everyone to keep their reasoning sharp.

    Next time you lean on AI for a key piece of work, pause before you accept the answer. Write down two decisions in that task that only a human can make. It might be about context, ethics, or simple gut judgment. Then share those reflections with your team. Over time this will create a culture where AI supports wisdom rather than diluting it.

    The real promise of AI is not that it will think for us, but that it will free us to think at a higher level.

    The danger is that we may forget to climb.

    The future of education and the integrity of our own work depend on remaining climbers. Let the machines speed the climb, but never let them choose the summit.

    Laura Ascione
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    Laura Ascione

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  • Digital dementia: Are we outsourcing our thinking to AI?

    Key points:

    I’ll admit that I use AI. I’ve asked it to help me figure out challenging Excel formulas that otherwise would have taken me 45 minutes and a few tutorials to troubleshoot. I’ve used it to help me analyze or organize massive amounts of information. I’ve even asked it to help me devise a running training program aligning with my goals and fitting within my schedule. AI is a fantastic tool–and that’s the point. It’s a tool, not a replacement for thinking.

    As AI tools become more capable, more intuitive, and more integrated into our daily lives, I’ve found myself wondering: Are we growing too dependent on AI to do our thinking for us?

    This question isn’t just philosophical. It has real consequences, especially for students and young learners. A recent study published in the journal Societies reports that people who used AI tools consistently showed a decline in critical thinking performance. In fact, “whether someone used AI tools was a bigger predictor of a person’s thinking skills than any other factor, including educational attainment.” That’s a staggering finding because it suggests that using AI might not just be a shortcut. It could be a cognitive detour.

    The atrophy of the mind

    The term “digital dementia” has been used to describe the deterioration of cognitive abilities as a result of over-reliance on digital devices. It’s a phrase originally associated with excessive screen time and memory decline, but it’s found new relevance in the era of generative AI. When we depend on a machine to generate our thoughts, answer our questions, or write our essays, what happens to the neural pathways that govern our own critical thinking? And will the upcoming era of agentic AI expedite this decline?

    Cognitive function, like physical fitness, follows the rule of “use it or lose it.” Just as muscles weaken without regular use, the brain’s ability to evaluate, synthesize, and critique information can atrophy when not exercised. This is especially concerning in the context of education, where young learners are still building those critical neural pathways.

    In short: Students need to learn how to think before they delegate that thinking to a machine.

    Can you still think critically with AI?

    Yes, but only if you’re intentional about it.

    AI doesn’t relieve you of the responsibility to think–in many cases, it demands even more critical thinking. AI produces hallucinations, falsifies claims, and can be misleading. If you blindly accept AI’s output, you’re not saving time, you’re surrendering clarity.

    Using AI effectively requires discernment. You need to know what you’re asking, evaluate what you’re given, and verify the accuracy of the result. In other words, you need to think before, during, and after using AI.

    The “source, please” problem

    One of the simplest ways to teach critical thinking is also the most annoying–just ask my teenage daughter. When she presents a fact or claim that she saw online, I respond with some version of: “What’s your source?” It drives her crazy, but it forces her to dig deeper, check assumptions, and distinguish between fact and fiction. It’s an essential habit of mind.

    But here’s the thing: AI doesn’t always give you the source. And when it does, sometimes it’s wrong, or the source isn’t reputable. Sometimes it requires a deeper dive (and a few more prompts) to find answers, especially to complicated topics. AI often provides quick, confident answers that fall apart under scrutiny.

    So why do we keep relying on it? Why are AI responses allowed to settle arguments, or serve as “truth” for students when the answers may be anything but?

    The lure of speed and simplicity

    It’s easier. It’s faster. And let’s face it: It feels like thinking. But there’s a difference between getting an answer and understanding it. AI gives us answers. It doesn’t teach us how to ask better questions or how to judge when an answer is incomplete or misleading.

    This process of cognitive offloading (where we shift mental effort to a device) can be incredibly efficient. But if we offload too much, too early, we risk weakening the mental muscles needed for sustained critical thinking.

    Implications for educators

    So, what does this mean for the classroom?

    First, educators must be discerning about how they use AI tools. These technologies aren’t going away, and banning them outright is neither realistic nor wise. But they must be introduced with guardrails. Students need explicit instruction on how to think alongside AI, not instead of it.

    Second, teachers should emphasize the importance of original thought, iterative questioning, and evidence-based reasoning. Instead of asking students to simply generate answers, ask them to critique AI-generated ones. Challenge them to fact-check, source, revise, and reflect. In doing so, we keep their cognitive skills active and growing.

    And finally, for young learners, we may need to draw a harder line. Students who haven’t yet formed the foundational skills of analysis, synthesis, and evaluation shouldn’t be skipping those steps. Just like you wouldn’t hand a calculator to a child who hasn’t yet learned to add, we shouldn’t hand over generative AI tools to students who haven’t learned how to write, question, or reason.

    A tool, not a crutch

    AI is here to stay. It’s powerful, transformative, and, when used well, can enhance our work and learning. But we must remember that it’s a tool, not a replacement for human thought. The moment we let it think for us is the moment we start to lose the capacity to think for ourselves.

    If we want the next generation to be capable, curious, and critically-minded, we must protect and nurture those skills. And that means using AI thoughtfully, sparingly, and always with a healthy dose of skepticism. AI is certainly proving it has staying power, so it’s in all our best interests to learn to adapt. However, let’s adapt with intentionality, and without sacrificing our critical thinking skills or succumbing to any form of digital dementia.

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    Laura Hakala, Magic EdTech

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  • 4 ways to transform your classroom through playful gamification 

    Key points:

    Every educator hopes to instill a lifelong love of learning within their students. We strive to make each lesson engaging, while igniting a sense of curiosity, wonder, and discovery in every child.

    Unfortunately, we don’t always succeed, and recent reports suggest that today’s students are struggling to connect with the material they’re taught in school–particularly when it comes to STEM. While there are many potential culprits behind these numbers (shortened attention spans, the presence of phones, dependency on AI, etc.), educators should still take a moment to reflect and strategize when preparing a new lesson for their class. If we truly want to foster a growth mindset within our students, we need to provide lessons that invite them to embrace the learning process itself.

    One way to accomplish this is through gamification. Gamification brings the motivational elements of games into your everyday lessons. It increases student engagement, builds perseverance, and promotes a growth mindset. When used strategically, it helps learners take ownership of their progress and encourages creativity and collaboration without sacrificing academic rigor.

    Here are just 4 ways that educators can transform their classroom through playful gamification:

    1. Introduce points and badges: Modern video games like Pokémon and Minecraft frequently use achievements to guide new players through the gaming process. Teachers can do the same by assigning points to different activities that students can acquire throughout the week. These experience points can also double as currency that students can exchange for small rewards, such as extra free time or an end-of-year pizza party.
    2. Create choice boards: Choice boards provide students with a range of task options, each with a point value or challenge level. You can assign themes or badges for completing tasks in a certain sequence (e.g., “complete a column” or “complete one of each difficulty level”). This allows students to take ownership of their learning path and pace, while still hitting key learning targets.
    3. Host a digital breakout: Virtual escape rooms and digital breakouts are great for fostering engagement and getting students to think outside the box. By challenging students to solve content-based puzzles to unlock “locks” or progress through scenarios, they’re encouraged to think creatively while also collaborating with their peers. They’re the ideal activity for reviewing classwork and reinforcing key concepts across subjects.
    4. Boss battle assessments: This gamified review activity has students “battle” a fictional character by answering questions or completing tasks. Each correct response helps them defeat the boss, which can be tracked with points, health bars, or progress meters. This engaging format turns practice into a collaborative challenge, building excitement and reinforcing content mastery.

    When implemented correctly, gamification can be incredibly fun and rewarding for our students. With the fall semester drawing closer, there has never been a better time to prepare lessons that will spark student curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.

    We can show our students that STEM learning is not a chore, but a gateway to discovery and excitement. So, get your pencils ready, and let the games begin.

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    Cory Kavanagh, Van Andel Institute for Education

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  • Lessons from DENSI: Weaving digital citizenship into edtech innovation

    Key points:

    What happens when over 100 passionate educators converge in Chicago to celebrate two decades of educational innovation? A few weeks ago, I had the thrilling opportunity to immerse myself in the 20th anniversary of the Discovery Educator Network (the DEN), a week-long journey that reignited my passion for transforming classrooms.

    From sunrise to past sunset, my days at Loyola University were a whirlwind of learning, laughter, and relentless exploration. Living the dorm life, forging new connections, and rekindling old friendships, we collectively dove deep into the future of learning, creating experiences that went far beyond the typical professional development.

    As an inaugural DEN member, the professional learning community supported by Discovery Education, I was incredibly excited to return 20 years after its founding to guide a small group of educators through the bountiful innovations of the DEN Summer Institute (DENSI). Think scavenger hunts, enlightening workshops, and collaborative creations–every moment was packed with cutting-edge ideas and practical strategies for weaving technology seamlessly into our teaching, ensuring our students are truly future-ready.

    During my time at DENSI, I learned a lot of new tips and tricks that I will pass on to the educators I collaborate with. From AI’s potential to the various new ways to work together online, participants in this unique event learned a number of ways to weave digital citizenship into edtech innovation. I’ve narrowed them down to five core concepts; each a powerful step toward building future-ready classrooms and fostering truly responsible digital citizens.

    Use of artificial intelligence

    Technology integration: When modeling responsible AI use, key technology tools could include generative platforms like Gemini, NotebookLM, Magic School AI, and Brisk, acting as ‘thought partners’ for brainstorming, summarizing, and drafting. Integration also covers AI grammar/spell-checkers, data visualization tools, and feedback tools for refining writing, presenting information, and self-assessment, enhancing digital content interaction and production.

    Learning & application: Teaching students to ethically use AI is key. This involves modeling critical evaluation of AI content for bias and inaccuracies. For instance, providing students with an AI summary of a historical event to fact-check with credible sources. Students learn to apply AI as a thought partner, boosting creativity and collaboration, not replacing their own thinking. Fact-checking and integrating their unique voices are essential. An English class could use AI to brainstorm plot ideas, but students develop characters and write the narrative. Application includes using AI for writing refinement and data exploration, fostering understanding of AI’s academic capabilities and limitations.

    Connection to digital citizenship: This example predominantly connects to digital citizenship. Teaching responsible AI use promotes intellectual honesty and information literacy. Students can grasp ethical considerations like plagiarism and proper attribution. The “red, yellow, green” stoplight method provides a framework for AI use, teaching students when to use AI as a collaborator, editor, or thought partner–or not at all.This approach cultivates critical thinking and empowers students to navigate the digital landscape with integrity, preparing them as responsible digital citizens understanding AI’s implications.

    Digital communication

    Technology integration: Creating digital communication norms should focus on clarity with visuals like infographics, screenshots, and video clips. Canva is a key tool for a visual “Digital Communication Agreement” defining online interaction expectations. Include student voice by the integration and use of pictures and graphics to illustrate behaviors and potentially collaborative presentation / polling tools for student involvement in norm-setting.

    Learning & application: Establishing clear online interaction norms is the focus of digital communication. Applying clear principles teaches the importance of visuals and setting communication goals. Creating a visual “Digital Communication Agreement” with Canva is a practical application where students define respectful online language and netiquette. An elementary class might design a virtual classroom rules poster, showing chat emojis and explaining “think before you post.” Using screenshots and “SMART goals” for online discussions reinforces learning, teaching constructive feedback and respectful debate. In a middle school science discussion board, the teacher could model a respectful response like “I understand your point, but I’m wondering if…” This helps students apply effective digital communication principles.

    Connection to digital citizenship: This example fosters respectful communication, empathy, and understanding of online social norms. By creating and adhering to a “Digital Communication Agreement,” students develop responsibility for online interactions. Emphasizing respectful language and netiquette cultivates empathy and awareness of their words’ impact. This prepares them as considerate digital citizens, contributing positively to inclusive online communities.

    Content curation

    Technology integration: For understanding digital footprints, one primary tool is Google Drive when used as a digital folder to curate students’ content. The “Tech Toolbox” concept implies interaction with various digital platforms where online presence exists. Use of many tools to curate content allows students to leave traces on a range of technologies forming their collective digital footprint.

    Learning & application: This centers on educating students about their online presence’s permanence and nature. Teaching them to curate digital content in a structured way, like using a Google Drive folder, is key. A student could create a “Digital Portfolio” in Google Drive with online projects, proud social media posts, and reflections on their public identity. By collecting and reviewing online artifacts, students visualize their current “digital footprint.” The classroom “listening tour” encourages critical self-reflection, prompting students to think about why they share online and how to be intentional about their online identity. This might involve students reviewing anonymized social media profiles, discussing the impression given to future employers.

    Connection to digital citizenship: This example cultivates awareness of online permanence, privacy, responsible self-presentation, and reputation management. Understanding lasting digital traces empowers students to make informed decisions. The reflection process encourages the consideration of their footprint’s impact, fostering ownership and accountability for online behavior. This helps them become mindful, capable digital citizens.

    Promoting media literacy

    Technology integration: One way to promote media literacy is by using “Paperslides” for engaging content creation, leveraging cameras and simple video recording. This concept gained popularity at the beginning of the DEN through Dr. Lodge McCammon. Dr. Lodge’s popular 1-Take Paperslide Video strategy is to “hit record, present your material, then hit stop, and your product is done” style of video creation is something that anyone can start using tomorrow. Integration uses real-life examples (likely digital media) to share a variety of topics for any audience. Additionally, to apply “Pay Full Attention” in a digital context implies online viewing platforms and communication tools for modeling digital eye contact and verbal cues.

    Learning & application: Integrating critical media consumption with engaging content creation is the focus. Students learn to leverage “Paperslides” or another video creation method to explain topics or present research, moving beyond passive consumption. For a history project, students could create “Paperslides” explaining World War II causes, sourcing information and depicting events. Learning involves using real-life examples to discern credible online sources, understanding misinformation and bias. A lesson might show a satirical news article, guiding students to verify sources and claims through their storyboard portion. Applying “Pay Full Attention” teaches active, critical viewing, minimizing distractions. During a class viewing of an educational video, students could pause to discuss presenter credentials or unsupported claims, mimicking active listening. This fosters practical media literacy in creating and consuming digital content.

    Connection to digital citizenship: This example enhances media literacy, critical online information evaluation, and understanding persuasive techniques. Learning to create and critically consume content makes students informed, responsible digital participants. They identify and question sources, essential for navigating a digital information-saturated world. This empowers them as discerning digital citizens, contributing thoughtfully to online content.

    Collaborative problem-solving

    Technology integration: For practicing digital empathy and support, key tools are collaborative online documents like Google Docs and Google Slides. Integration extends to online discussion forums (Google Classroom, Flip) for empathetic dialogue, and project management tools (Trello, Asana) for transparent organization. 

    Learning & application: This focuses on developing effective collaborative skills and empathetic communication in digital spaces. Students learn to work together on shared documents, applying a “Co-Teacher or Model Lessons” approach where they “co-teach” each other new tools or concepts. In a group science experiment, students might use a shared Google Doc to plan methodology, with one “co-teaching” data table insertion from Google Sheets. They practice constructive feedback and model active listening in digital settings, using chat for clarification or emojis for feelings. The “red, yellow, green” policy provides a clear framework for online group work, teaching when to seek help, proceed cautiously, or move forward confidently. For a research project, “red” means needing a group huddle, “yellow” is proceeding with caution, and “green” is ready for review.

    Connection to digital citizenship: This example is central to digital citizenship, developing empathy, respectful collaboration, and responsible problem-solving in digital environments. Structured online group work teaches how to navigate disagreements and offers supportive feedback. Emphasis on active listening and empathetic responses helps internalize civility, preparing students as considerate digital citizens contributing positively to online communities.

    These examples offer a powerful roadmap for cultivating essential digital citizenship skills and preparing all learners to be future-ready. The collective impact of thoughtfully utilizing these or similar approaches , or even grab and go resources from programs such as Discovery Education’s Digital Citizenship Initiative, can provide the foundation for a strong academic and empathetic school year, empowering educators and students alike to navigate the digital world with confidence, integrity, and a deep understanding of their role as responsible digital citizens.

    In addition, this event reminded me of the power of professional learning communities.  Every educator needs and deserves a supportive community that will share ideas, push their thinking, and support their professional development. One of my long-standing communities is the Discovery Educator Network (which is currently accepting applications for membership). 

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    Stephen Wakefield

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  • Parenting 101: 4 Money rules to raise millionaires

    According to a recent Bankrate study, children who were raised with a strong financial education are significantly more likely to build healthy money habits and negotiate higher salaries as adults.

    No wonder parents today aren’t willing to leave financial success up to chance. Gamblizard reports that Google searches for “how to teach kids about money” have skyrocketed 92% in the past month alone.

    With Teach Children to Save Day coming up on April 27, personal finance strategist Jamie Wall has four essential money skills every parent should teach early.

    Teach kids to negotiate early

    Helping children learn to negotiate teaches them confidence and critical thinking. This skill doesn’t just help with salaries, it also builds resilience and self-advocacy across various life situations. Start small by encouraging your kids to explain their reasoning during decisions or budget trade-offs. Let them make their case for a new toy by suggesting ways to save for it or what they’d be willing to give up. Role-play common scenarios, like asking for a later bedtime or a larger allowance, so they get comfortable presenting their viewpoint and backing it up with logic.

    Introduce investing concepts early

    Investing might seem like an “adult” topic, but kids as young as 10 can grasp basic ideas like risk, growth, and diversification. Start simple: offer 1 toy now or 3 if they wait a week. It’s an easy way to introduce patience and the idea of long-term rewards. With older kids, try playing a stock market game or tracking shares of a brand they like to make investing fun and relatable. Encourage them to follow the performance of their chosen stocks over time and discuss how the value goes up and down. This hands-on approach teaches patience, the importance of long-term growth, and the power of small, consistent investments.

    Encourage budgeting with allowances

    Giving kids a regular allowance tied to specific responsibilities helps them learn to manage money hands-on. According to the AICPA, the average allowance is $30 per week, and children earn around $6.11 per hour for completing chores. That’s a real income they can learn to manage. Encourage them to split their money into categories: save, spend, and give. This introduces budgeting in a way that’s personal and meaningful, building a habit that can last into adulthood.

    Encourage entrepreneurial ventures

    Letting your child run a mini business, like selling handmade crafts, mowing lawns, or even creating digital content, can teach practical lessons about money, time, and value creation. In a national survey by Junior Achievement USA, 60% of teens said they would prefer to start their own business rather than work a traditional job. This shows a strong interest in entrepreneurship among youth, and early practice gives them a head start. They learn budgeting, setting prices, marketing, and even coping with failure — all within a safe, supportive environment.

    – JC

    By: Jennifer Cox The Suburban

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  • Critical thinking in the digital age of AI: Information literacy is key

    Critical thinking in the digital age of AI: Information literacy is key

    Key points:

    From New York to Texas, the pro-Palestinian protests sweeping U.S. colleges have become a flashpoint for viral disinformation, from falsely attributed “Jewish genocide” chants to debunked claims of Hamas presence. With the tenor of allegations reaching a fever pitch, Columbia University students have even launched their own fact-checking Twitter account. As this highly-charged moment collides with a hyper-partisan landscape, it offers a stark reminder of how disinformation thrives at the intersection of fierce emotions and polarized politics, threatening to drown out nuance, facts, and good-faith dialogue when they are needed most. All of this points to the urgency of tackling disinformation through information literacy.

    Disinformation has long played a role in global events. Technological change and increasingly global communications have made the deliberate spread of inaccurate information faster and more impactful. With the birth of AI, disinformation has entered a new era, rendering it critical to teach students how to question sources, spot fakes and be discerning consumers of news, social media, and information.  

    AI has dramatically complicated the information landscape by rapidly generating and amplifying deceptive narratives, deepfakes, and AI-generated visuals, drawing concern from global leaders as a major emerging challenge. The World Economic Forum’s latest Global Risks Report, which surveyed experts from academia, business, government, the international community, and civil society, named misinformation and disinformation from AI as the top global risk over the next two years–ahead of climate change and war.

    The stakes are high, especially as the U.S. approaches a critical election year–one that will undoubtedly be subject to disinformation, a force that voters will remember as having played a critical role in the 2016 and 2020 elections.

    As an academic who has studied how digital technology is used by governments and non-state actors for the purposes of repression and information control, these issues are especially concerning. There is an urgent need to promote greater critical thinking among young people, to give them the tools to detect what information is authentic and what has been manipulated. Information literacy, specifically across digital platforms, should be a mandatory part of every K-12 curriculum, to combat the rise of disinformation and develop more discerning students ready to take on an AI-driven future.

    How and where disinformation can take place

    Disinformation can show up anywhere, but it thrives on stories that appeal to emotions. Election issues and partisan politics are a prime example. During the pandemic, COVID-19 disinformation narratives, spanning the bizarre claims that the disease is spread by 5G and other conspiracies, spread faster than the virus itself–thanks to digital technology. Anti-vaccine groups essentially tricked Facebook’s algorithms into allowing posts that spread disinformation by using a carrot emoji in place of the word “vaccine.” Looking at climate change–another highly polarized and partisan issue–a probe into a subset of social media accounts revealed hundreds of AI-generated and stolen pictures used in greenwashing campaigns.

    Praying on the emotions that emerged after the deadly October 7th attacks and the ensuing attacks on Gaza, deepfakes powered by AI have spread at an unprecedented pace. Soon after October 7th, a fake story emerged that Qatar had threatened to cut off the world’s natural gas supply if Israel didn’t stop its bombing in Gaza, garnering millions of views before it was ultimately debunked. More recently, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been a target of disinformation, thanks to a network of fake accounts and websites that have collaborated to spread accusations about the agency’s ties with Hamas. 

    Not only is disinformation incredibly damaging to the delivery of accurate, verifiable information, it has eroded the public’s trust in some of our most reliable institutions. Only 32 percent of Americans say they trust the mass media, a figure that is tied with record-low levels in 2016.

    Engaging with disinformation and AI as teachable moments

    Disinformation can be rectified through fact checking, but in many cases, a false story has already done its damage before it is corrected. Another strategy is ‘prebunking,’ a technique gaining momentum that helps to build preemptive resilience to misinformation.

    We can combat the spread of disinformation by encouraging and teaching more critical thinking, especially about AI, algorithms, and deception, and the value of greater subject matter knowledge.  

    Whether you are a teacher in K-12 schools, a university instructor, or simply an individual who actively engages in online platforms, there are many steps that can be taken to ensure a greater understanding and literacy around disinformation and AI. This will in turn instill greater trust in the institutions and organizations that disseminate the information we are seeking.

    Context-based case studies, such as videos of celebrities and influencers, can serve as important teaching moments. In my classes, I’ve challenged students to discern what is a deepfake or AI-generated image through exercises such as reverse image searches. This teaches them to detect clues such as fuzzy details, inconsistent lighting, out-of-sync audio and visuals, and the credibility of the image source. We spend time analyzing and discussing the spread, origins, and nature of social media manipulation, which equips students with important data literacy skills.

    Bringing the study of disinformation to the classroom

    What we know about the world ultimately informs how we approach disinformation and deception. Today’s students need a cross-disciplinary approach that starts early, so the foundations of critical thinking and information literacy are instilled at a young age and stick with them as they grow and mature.

    In Finland, media literacy constitutes a core component part of the national curriculum, starting in preschool. They start with understanding the basic elements of media, and build from there to understand more complex elements, such as identifying sources. It is not a single subject–rather, it is taught across different disciplines, including Finnish language and literature, math, and art to grow a well-rounded set of analytical skills. In a survey published by the Open Society Institute in Bulgaria, Finland has ranked No. 1 of 41 European countries on resilience against misinformation for the fifth time in a row. Finland’s population also has a higher level of trust in news and other institutions, with 76 percent of Finns considering print and digital newspapers to be reliable, according to a survey conducted by market research company IRO research.

    There is no denying the impact of disinformation and the stronghold it is having on political processes around the world. We will doubtless see the use of disinformation throughout 2024 U.S. presidential election battle, but a concerted effort on developing greater critical thinking can help alleviate the impact. By becoming more knowledgeable about what disinformation is, as well as different countries, cultures, and subjects, we can better navigate the array of disinformation scenarios in the digital world and foster a questioning mindset.

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    Dr. Marc Owen Jones, Northwestern University in Qatar

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  • 3 free STEAM education resources to nurture student curiosity

    3 free STEAM education resources to nurture student curiosity

    Key points:

    According to the National Math and Science Initiative, STEM education helps students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, fosters communication, and bolsters teamwork. In my 25 years of teaching, I have learned that finding and infusing arts into STEM takes the learning even further. I am always on the lookout for STEAM-based resources and tools that engage and inspire my students. In my experience, I have found that using creative, dynamic tools significantly boosts student learning outcomes–but you need to know where to look.

    In my current role as a STEAM Specialist, where I teach students from Pre-K all the way to 6th grade, it’s important to use resources that can be tailored to their education level and lesson plans. Having access to STEAM education not only improves classroom outcomes, but better prepares students for the future. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the total number of STEM careers will increase at twice the rate–and pay more on average–than non-STEM jobs across the next 7 years.

    Interacting with STEAM content in the classroom is the first step to inspiring students to explore those career possibilities in the future.

    Finding good STEAM tools can feel daunting, so here are some of my favorite resources:

    STEM Careers Coalition

    The STEM Careers Coalition from Discovery Education is an alliance of industries and nonprofit organizations that provides access to STEM resources and connects students to industry professionals. The free resources are intuitive, easy to use, and tailored to be turnkey. The search features and filters make the career profiles and videos quick to find. There are suggested grade levels for each video and activity, linked questions, and suggested additional resources to follow up to the lesson. 

    The videos and questions can be embedded into Google Classroom or other learning platforms. This means you can curate content, activities, and lessons for students to complete without jumping to different platforms or tabs. It is a great way to integrate conversations regarding future careers into current STEAM lesson plans, and my students are always excited to connect what they learn in class to a real-life career and STEM professional.

    Whether you are encouraging space-obsessed students or inspiring the next generation of engineers, STEM Careers Coalition provides educational materials designed to reflect the diversity of the students watching. Not only is STEM Careers Coalition easy to use, but its commitment to making STEM education equitable and engaging more than earns this resource a spot on this list.

    Verizon Innovative Learning HQ

    Verizon Innovative Learning HQ offers engaging and cutting-edge resources to support educators and students around the world. This completely free-to-use resource gives you access to 350+ K-12 lessons and activities across all subjects. From stop-motion animation to orbits modeled using augmented reality to in-depth looks at cells and other organisms, there are hundreds of STEAM-focused lessons to choose from.

    The search function is very effective, allowing teachers to filter by grade level, subjects, standards, technologies involved, and more. It is easy to find a lesson tailored specifically to your students’ age and interests. The AR and VR apps offered immerse students in the content, making each lesson accessible and engaging. The AR/VR resources remain a student favorite in my classroom.

    This database offers a lot of strong, innovative materials that supplement more traditional classroom resources. The emphasis on downloadable apps and creative approaches to standards-based lessons offers news ways to teach STEAM concepts.

    Another reason I love Verizon Innovative Learning HQ is because it offers a wide range of professional development modules. These tailored professional development resources helped me sharpen my STEAM teaching skills and support teachers in developing new skills in the ever-changing educational landscape.

    STEAM lesson plans for LEGO Education Solutions

    With 400+ lessons ranging from Pre-K to 12th grade, these LEGO-based STEAM lesson plans are another versatile classroom tool. Combining coding and LEGOs into interactive stories, students get to investigate a wide variety of STEAM concepts right at their desks as they follow along with the demonstrations.

    Each lesson plan includes student worksheets and evaluative materials, write-ups on the relevant STEAM phenomena, and clearly-stated educational standards. The content is easily filtered by subject, grade level, and products needed to complete the lesson. Subjects include a wide range of STEAM topics, including computer science, social emotional development, math, creative exploration, and more.

    The lesson plans and building guides are free to access. The LEGO products referenced are extensive and can be used for more than one lesson; the SPIKE Essential Kit, for example, is used in almost 70 different lessons in various ways.

    This tool will engage your students in a new and dynamic way, helping them to understand complex topics and concepts through multi-step builds, discussions, and reflections.

    If you are looking for comprehensive digital resources, this list is a great place to start. All three of these suggested resources and activities offer ready-to-use, standards-aligned curriculum that are fun and engaging for teachers and students alike. As I prepare for the upcoming school year at the Allegheny Valley School District, I know that I can visit any of these awesome tools and find materials that will get my students excited to learn.

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    Lisa Gray, Allegheny Valley School District

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  • 5 ways to use technology for classroom creativity

    5 ways to use technology for classroom creativity

    Key points:

    Technology has enhanced the opportunities for students to be creative and engage in school work that is meaningful and unique.

    Why creativity?

    Creativity is an essential skill for all students to have. Creative projects help students connect new information to prior knowledge through critical thinking and problem solving. Assignments that engage students in creative practices motivate hard-to reach students and provide an opportunity for all students to be successful.

    Classrooms that include creative activities are those with students who are resilient and confident. Creativity pushes students to overcome challenges through productive struggle. This builds emotional development and lifelong skills that will help them in any future career they may have. Technology has made creative opportunities more accessible for teachers and students. With the use of technology, students are better able to apply their knowledge in different ways and be creative in their learning.

    These are 5 ways you can use technology to promote creativity in your classroom:

    1. Engagement with AI: There are several AI tools like School AI and Magic School that students can use that will promote their creativity. These tools have spaces where students can ask questions to historical figures, participate in problem-solving simulations, and learn through hands-on exploring. Using the AI spaces provides students with an immersive experience that is powerful and engaging. These spaces create a virtual experience that results in a deeper understanding of the content through applied creativity.
    2. Collaboration on Google platforms: Using Google Sites like Google Classroom, Google Slides, Google Docs or Google Earth makes for easy sharing and collaboration on class projects. These sites can be used for all subjects and grade levels and are limitless in opportunities. Google tools can be used for
      collaborative writing, assignment presentations, and implementing collaboration into assignments and daily routines helps build a sense of community in which students can work closely with one another, share ideas, and be creative in how they learn. All of the Google Workspaces have a wide variety of tools and resources for students to try out and implement into their work. Collaborating with Google will introduce them to new settings and content while being motivated and excited about their work. Working closely with peers allows them to think creatively.
    3. Experimentation and risk taking through coding: Coding has a lot of real world applications and is very engaging for students. There are several sites that students can use like Code.org and Scratch. Coding can be used in a variety of ways. Students can make a creative writing piece come to life, students can code a math learning game, or even share what they have learned about a science or social studies topic like an animal’s environment. When slowly introduced, coding is a challenging and exciting way to create projects for any subject. There are hundreds of tools and settings that students can get creative with and explore independently that lead students through a trial and error process causing them to think creatively.
    4. Interactive lessons: There are several web tools like Nearpod and Peardeck that help bring your daily lessons to life. Implementing interactive lessons provides students with the opportunity to participate in open-ended questions, collaborate with their peers, and think creatively about the content they are learning. Moving away from the traditional classroom setting and allowing students to be creative in how they learn will be beneficial to them.
    5. Open-ended assessments using online applications: Technology has given us an unlimited amount of resources for enhancing teaching and learning. Students are now able to show their learning in more ways than they have ever
      been able to before. There are many assessment platforms that encourage creative thinking from students in a way that works best for them. Students who are writers can publish on Book Creator or Storybird. For those who enjoy speaking can create a podcast using the Podcasts app. For students who love collaborating and creating presentations, resources including Canva and Padlet are great options. All of these modes for assessing allow students to be creative and apply their knowledge in different ways compared to a traditional assessment.
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    Macy Quinton, Elementary School Teacher

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  • Savvas Learning Company CEO Bethlam Forsa Named Most Influential Thought Leader in EdTech

    Savvas Learning Company CEO Bethlam Forsa Named Most Influential Thought Leader in EdTech

    PARAMUS, NEW JERSEY — Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation K-12 learning solutions leader, is proud to announce that CEO Bethlam Forsa has been named the “Most Influential Thought Leader in EdTech” by the 2024 SIIA CODiE Education Technology Awards.

    The CODiE Leadership Award for “Most Influential Thought Leader in EdTech” honors an individual who empowers and inspires the industry through the communication of their insight, expertise, and critical thinking.

    “I am truly honored to receive this prestigious CODiE Award and want to thank the SIIA for recognizing the importance of edtech innovation in supporting educators and engaging students,” said Forsa. “At Savvas, we are committed to developing the highest-quality instructional solutions that are powered by cutting-edge technology in order to personalize teaching and learning and help all students succeed.”

    In selecting her for this honor, the award judges commended Forsa for “her commitment to improving K-12 education through technology, [which] has not only transformed Savvas but has also made a lasting impact on the industry, earning her widespread recognition and respect.” The judges lauded her “visionary leadership and innovative approach that have positioned Savvas Learning Company as a frontrunner in the edtech sector, driving the company towards significant growth and setting a high standard for quality educational technology solutions.” They concluded, “Her contributions to the industry have been transformative, challenging traditional paradigms and shaping new perspectives on teaching and learning.”

    Administered by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software and digital content industries, the CODiE Awards is the only peer-reviewed program to celebrate the vision, talent, and advances of people and companies producing the most innovative education technology products.

    “The winners of the 2024 Education Technology CODiE Awards represent the pinnacle of creativity and excellence in providing products and services that connect diverse learners with educational resources and instructors,” said Chris Mohr, president of SIIA. “We are thrilled to honor this year’s recipients – the elite in their field – who offer solutions to crucial challenges in education today.”

    ABOUT SAVVAS LEARNING COMPANY

    At Savvas, we believe learning should inspire. By combining new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting, we design engaging, next-generation K-12 learning solutions that give all students the best opportunity to succeed. Our award-winning, high-quality instructional materials span every grade level and discipline, from evidence-based, standards-aligned core curricula to supplemental and intervention programs to state-of-the art assessment tools — all designed to meet the needs of every learner. Savvas products are used by millions of students and educators in more than 90 percent of the 13,000+ public school districts across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as globally in more than 125 countries. To learn more, visit  Savvas Learning Company. Savvas Learning Company’s products are also available for sale in Canada through its subsidiary,  Rubicon.

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  • 5 strategies to close the critical thinking gap

    5 strategies to close the critical thinking gap

    Key points:

    Achievement discrepancies among U.S. students remain persistent and troubling–despite decades of targeted interventions and whole-school improvement programs. To make real gains, teachers need to address the underlying problem: the critical thinking gap.

    Focusing on core cognitive skills sets students up for success throughout their academic careers. These five critical thinking strategies can help.  

    Why focus on critical thinking?

    Most academic interventions focus on core knowledge and basic skills: Let’s practice two-digit addition. Review the parts of the cell. Learn these vocabulary words. Read these passages for fluency. These kinds of exercises can help students make marginal gains in reading, math, and general content knowledge, but they don’t address the root of the problem: learning how to think and how to learn.

    Growing evidence points to the role of critical thinking in educational achievement. Students need to activate higher-order thinking skills and metacognition to effectively master and retain new content knowledge, synthesize it with prior knowledge, and apply it to new scenarios and domains. However, most students are not explicitly taught how to do this.

    Colin Seale, author of Thinking Like a Lawyer: A Framework for Teaching Critical Thinking to All Students (Prufrock Press, 2020), noted in an interview with ASCD: “When you start to look at how critical thinking looks in practice in K–12 classrooms, it’s often being treated as a luxury good. You’ll see critical thinking in an after-school mock trial program, or for an honors program that serves 8 percent of the school population, or for the special debate team or the selective entry school.”

    Teaching students how to activate critical thinking and metacognition will enable them to learn more efficiently and effectively. Fortunately, that can be done within the context of the existing curriculum. Here are some ways teachers can get started:

    1. Integrate critical thinking with content

    Critical thinking should not be something that is separate from and on top of everything else teachers are doing in the classroom. For best results, it should be fully integrated with the content that is being taught. Think about the standards you are teaching to. Most will have both a content knowledge component and a thinking component. For example, if the standard requires students to understand the causes of the Revolutionary War, they need to know specific content, but they also need to understand cause-and-effect thinking. Teachers can help students by explicitly calling out the type of thinking required–e.g., defining, classifying, part-to-whole relationships, sequencing, etc.–and making sure students know what that kind of thinking looks like.

    2. Give students a framework for thinking

    Once students understand the type of thinking required, they need a framework to support it. A visual framework supports the development of critical thinking skills. Making thinking visible and concrete helps students activate the type of thinking required by the task and organize their ideas effectively. While there are tons of graphic organizers out there, it’s most beneficial to have a consistent framework for thinking that spans grade levels and content areas. This supports the growth of automaticity in activating cognitive skills.

    3. Make learning active

    Models such as project-based learning and inquiry learning have been demonstrated to improve learning outcomes. But you don’t have to upend your entire curriculum or implement a complicated model to make learning more active. Building in time for debate and discussion and collaborative learning activities are simple ways to make learning more active and engaging. For example, students can work together to construct meaning using a thinking map. Look for learning activities that require students to go beyond simple recitation of facts and engage deeply with the content as they solve a problem, develop and defend a point of view, or create something original.

    4. Ask better questions–and teach students to ask their own

    Increasing the rigor of the questions we are asking is another way to support critical thinking. That means asking questions that go beyond basic knowledge and comprehension to require higher-order thinking skills such as application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. (See some examples in the image below.) Even better, teach students how to ask their own questions. After introducing new content, for example, pause for a class brainstorming session where students come up with as many questions as they can, including basic clarification questions and higher-order “why,” “what if,” and ‘what else” kinds of questions. Then, students can work together to start answering some of these questions using the active learning methods above.

    5. Get metacognitive

    One important aspect of critical thinking is metacognition, or “thinking about one’s own thinking.” Students who are skilled in metacognition are able to recognize how well they understand a concept, where they need extra help or support, and how to apply and adjust learning strategies. Metacognitive skills include planning for learning, monitoring understanding, and evaluating the learning process. Like fundamental cognitive skills such as cause-and-effect or sequencing, metacognitive skills can also be explicitly taught. The questions in the Tree Maps below can help teachers get started.

    These essential strategies can be applied across all grades and content areas. When we help students develop fundamental cognitive and metacognitive skills, learning becomes easier–and a lot more fun.

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    Sarah McNeil, Thinking Maps

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  • Infusing PBL with edtech to enhance collaboration, critical thinking

    Infusing PBL with edtech to enhance collaboration, critical thinking

    Key points:

    Project-based learning (PBL) helps prepare students for college and beyond by actively engaging them in meaningful, relevant projects. In many situations, students will work on these projects for weeks or months at a time, which helps them develop deeper content knowledge when attempting to answer complex questions and resolve real-world problems.

    With advances in digital tools, many teachers are finding that using edtech tools in PBL enhances projects by providing direct access to greater sources of information and by allowing students to collaborate more easily. Some believe that leveraging the right technology is one of the best ways to support students during PBL activities.

    Using technology, students can communicate and collaborate in so many new ways. Edtech tools also enable students to learn beyond the four walls of the classroom, providing them with so many more opportunities to enhance their critical thinking skills and understand real-world situations.

    Collaboration in PBL

    Collaboration is an essential element in PBL. In the real world, students will often be required to collaborate with others to achieve their personal and professional goals. It’s important to teach students the art of effective collaboration when using the PBL approach.

    Some refer to this as supporting a project learning community (PLC). When students work together, they foster a shared sense of responsibility that better supports their achievement. With a PLC, students can learn how to listen better, they can learn how to be a team player and share in each other’s success, and they learn how to hold themselves and others accountable. These are all important skills to have when moving beyond the classroom and into the real world.

    The best way to support PLCs when using the PBL approach is to invest in the right classroom tools. This will help you maximize the effectiveness of the PBL method by enabling students to work better together in harmony.

    Below are some edtech tools to use when engaging students in PBL:

    PBL Project Designer

    PBLWorks, one of the leaders in the development of high-quality project-based learning, has created a tool to assist teachers when planning PBL projects. The PBL Project Designer walks teachers through each step when designing a project, offering them tips, instructional ideas, and links to resources.

    Collaboration Tools

    Collaboration tools are perhaps the most important when utilizing PBL. These tools can significantly improve project outcomes by enhancing communication, critical thinking, and innovations. Some useful team collaboration tools include:

    • Asana
    • Slack
    • Wrike
    • Lucidspark
    • Microsoft Teams
    • InVision

    These tools offer something unique, whether it’s helping with project management, communication, visual creation, or whiteboarding. These are some of the best tools available today and are already used by some of the top companies across various industries to help their teams collaborate. 

    Google

    The Google platform also offers numerous project-based learning tools that work well in the classroom setting when students are working together on projects. For example, Google Classroom can be used to create project materials. Google Docs and the Explore feature make it easy for students to create documents for their projects and easily cite their work.

    In Google Sheets, the Explore feature can also be used to analyze data for projects using machine learning technology. Google Earth and Google MyMaps are great features to help students when they are working on projects where they need to explore geographical or even environmental data.

    Google Meet is an excellent collaboration tool that allows students to easily connect through secure messaging and video conferencing.

    Translating PBL into real-world solutions

    Another benefit of using edtech in the classroom with PBL is that it can also inspire and enable students to turn their project experiences into real-world solutions, such as coming up with their own ideas for a tech startup.

    With so much technology and innovation at the tip of their fingers, many students have gone on to develop their own startups. Some of the most successful technology companies began at home or in a garage, such as Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.

    Wrapping up

    PBL is a powerful teaching method that can help better prepare students for their future. With so many new tools and technologies available today, there are countless ways teachers can enhance the PBL experience, fostering greater collaboration and critical thinking skills that will be vital to success once students move beyond the classroom.

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    Sam Bowman

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  • Poptential™ by Certell Revolutionizes Social Studies Education with Integration of American Principles and Launch of Engauge™ Teacher Dashboard

    Poptential™ by Certell Revolutionizes Social Studies Education with Integration of American Principles and Launch of Engauge™ Teacher Dashboard

    INDIANAPOLIS — Certell, the creator behind the Poptential™ family of free social studies course packages, announced a significant update to its digital curriculum and platform designed to help students better understand the principles that have shaped American history while giving teachers tools to better manage their classroom and improve learning.

    Poptential course packages have been updated to incorporate “American Principles” designed to foster a greater understanding of American civic life and sharpen critical thinking skills among students. Additionally, Certell introduced a powerful new dashboard for teachers called Engauge™, which helps instructors understand student engagement with Poptential e-books in real time.

    The integration of American Principles into Poptential social studies courses is a significant milestone. These principles are fundamental ideas that have shaped U.S. history, culture, and identity, serving as the bedrock of American civic life. The goal is to ensure that students not only grasp these principles but also understand why they were deemed essential by the nation’s founders.

    Julie Smitherman, a former social studies teacher and director of content at Certell, expressed the importance of this update, stating, “An understanding of American Principles is as relevant today as it was at the founding of our country. It equips students to analyze history critically and think independently when addressing current issues, preparing them to become engaged citizens.”

    The seven American Principles seamlessly integrated into Poptential are Civic Engagement, Egalitarianism, Entrepreneurship, Governance, Individualism, Liberty, and Trade.

    In addition to American Principles, Poptential e-books now feature Pop! exercises designed to cultivate students’ Passion, Original thinking, and Power to change the world. These exercises enable Poptential students to gain a profound understanding of the world and how they can positively impact society.

    Used with Poptential e-books, Engauge captures real-time data on student engagement with online materials and homework. The free dashboard provides teachers with a range of insights, including:

    ●    The ability to track completed, partially completed, and unfinished work.

    ●    Class-level data showcasing how students engage with the e-books.

    ●    Comparative data to assess individual student performance against class averages and other benchmarks.

    “Many data-driven tools provide formal assessments of students, but Engauge is different because it provides evidence of student engagement in the tools used for learning,” said Andy Wiggins, social studies teacher at North Central High School in Indianapolis, IN. “This behind-the-scenes look at student learning activity can help teachers set students up for success when it comes time for more formal assessments.”

    Engauge also serves as a helpful professional development tool for teachers. Since data-informed decision-making is at the heart of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs), Engauge can help teachers analyze student learning data to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement.

    Poptential courses offer comprehensive content for instructors, including lessons, e-books, bell ringers, quizzes, tests, and pop culture media to make learning engaging and relatable. Poptential offers course packages in American History, World History, U.S. Government/Civics, and Economics, all available for free at www.poptential.org.

    About Certell, Inc.

    Certell is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to fostering a generation of independent thinkers. With over 100,000 users across the United States, Certell’s Poptential™ family of free social studies courses has garnered numerous awards, including recognition from EdTech Digest Awards, Tech&Learning, Tech Edvocate Awards, the National Association of Economics Educators, and Civvys Awards. For more information about Poptential™ and Certell’s mission, please visit www.poptential.org.

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  • How Living Joyfully Becomes A Powerful Act of Rebellion

    How Living Joyfully Becomes A Powerful Act of Rebellion

    The Summary: In today’s divisive world, fostering critical thinking requires questioning ingrained beliefs. The challenge, of course, lies in separating oneself from the mind, a skill seldom taught. The burden of societal expectations hinders our pursuit of true joy. Reconnecting with inner wisdom and questioning the mind leads to slow but transformative progress, offering a path to health and happiness amid external distractions. Embracing joy becomes a rebellious act, unlocking individual power and connection to one’s heart.

    How badly do you want those knots of anxiety and worry to untangle? To not wake up feeling overwhelmed with the weight of the world (and your household needs) on your shoulders? What would it be worth to you to rise most days feeling loved, appreciated and with a sense of deep peace? It is all possible but there is a catch. To experience true joy in our lives requires us to live against the grain in just about every facet of life. Finding our way to such thriving requires that we question the accepted paradigms of the culture as it is today – that happiness ultimately will come one day when we earn more, spend more, have more, do more and be more. Too often this extends to the idea that in order to have it all, others must also have less.

    The short version: Turn off the news, shut off your phones and live your life. The more deep you go down the rabbit hole, the more you drag your spirit down, the less joy you embody. Th equation is that simple.

    This doesn’t mean we are to ignore the absolute horrors and tragedies of our world. Not at all. But we also can’t let it all overwhelm us and determine the energy we conduct our lives with.

    To be joyful becomes rebellious.

    We are trying to survive but have forgotten what it means to thrive. Our natural state of being is to be joyful, well, healthy, vital, brave, optimistic and experience a true sense of belonging, connection and unity. This is a human in the full expression of humanity. We are born here and as we exit childhood, forget too quickly.

    We can remember what it is we have always known but it requires that we take radical responsibility for where we are today, have the bravery to accept what isn’t working and the discipline to do the work to change what needs changing in both our minds and the moment-by-moment choices we make in our lives. Like shooting for the stars, adjusting the trajectory even slightly can land us somewhere entirely different.

    How to live more joyfully

    This of course is no simple task. It’s not as simple as deciding it to be so.

    To thrive and live joyfully means we are not eating the same food, working with the same goals, watching the same movies, reading the same news, shopping at the same stores, or valuing what we’re supposed to value in the ways in which we’re expected.

    This is why living joyfully might be our greatest act of rebellion.

    To be joyful is in direct contrast to the norms. We meet up with friends and instead of gossiping, expelling on the chaos of our lives, or how we aren’t enough, we spiral up, we share, engage, hope and dream. We look for solutions for our challenges and how we can be part of the unity solution for the world. We live today as we planned for yesterday and continue planning to level up tomorrow. We think critically and question everything. Is this (still) working?

    To live joyfully is shifting the metrics used to measure success

    Doing this in our world today, amidst the divisive influences that surround us, requires us to deeply know our own minds and hearts, to learn to question just about everything, and of course, to brave real answers, even if the result could be a shattering of the foundational values we have lived from.

    We have not been trained in our culture to separate the self from the mind, let alone be able to know one’s own mind and question whether what it tells us to be true. We may have heard wisps of the words that we are not our minds, but who actually practices this? To question what our minds tell us, that voice inside your head, is at the root of critical thinking.

    Is this actually true?

    What if the opposite is true?

    Do I truly believe this, or is this just what I’ve been told my whole life?

    To make the teaching of critical thinking standard practice would undermine a system that requires, for its own survival, that we follow blindly and accept the division as normal.

    Rise and ShineRise and Shine

    We get carried with the tide. We lose our joy. We wire into the fear and become lost to ourselves.

    We pack our bags, and carry them on our shoulders, full to the brim with intergenerational trauma, the stories we are told by our parents and grandparents, the blatant lies and false beliefs we’re bombarded with  from educators, headlines, government, and society in general. 

    We carry these packs around with us as the anxiety, fear and longing for peace bubbles up within without knowing how to touch it. We keep adding to the burden we carry and the joy slips further away. 

    We were never given the keys to access this place within us, to get back what we lost.

    In general, we have forgotten the skills we need, the work we need to do, and that it is available to us always. What we need to do is simple: amplify the whispers of our own hearts and follow the path of being well and joyful. We tap into our intuition, the heart wisdom that only knows the signs and signals of the present moment we are in. Can it really be that simple?

    Simple? Yes. Easy? Not at all.

    The challenge, why most are scared away, is because that inner knowing does not lie and cannot be denied. Once you listen to those whispers, they get louder, more powerful, and you see the accuracy of it all. We start to see that we can’t achieve the goal of joy, peace, love, health and happiness with aggressive action, followed by instant gratification. It’s a slow creep of progress where one day we feel more joy in a single minute of the day then we did the day before. One drop at a time.

    But when we can do this– ask the questions of our mind, and live with the exquisite intention of living joyfully, the work is being done. The baggage we carry falls away, slowly to be sure, but it’s happening, and we soon become buoyed by the tidal wave of both insight and compassion. We remember that all of life is connected.

    Looking around. Is this working?

    We are tired, overwhelmed, burnt out. Health in mind, body and spirit is achieved by the few who have the mind to break free, while too many remain plugged into the screens that continuously highlight the lack in their lives, and that filling that void comes from everything other than the true solution of looking within and summoning the discipline to do the work.

    In time, we may find ourselves on the brink of it. The distractions have gone quiet for a moment. The momentum and motivation is building but then– BOOM.

    We’re pointed in a new direction. Pointed at a new distraction. THAT is the cause. They are to blame. We remain plugged in to the frequency of fear and make that our reality. Find the evidence to prove it to be true. Me versus them. Blame and shame so responsibility is never taken.

    We must keep asking: What is mine? What have I collected that is not? What is true and real? What beliefs are beneficial to me and others, and which are harmful?

    The one truth we can trust is that which is truly good and beneficial to the full expression of the human, is also good and beneficial to our collective.

    To live joyfully in a world pushing us to be sick, divided, forever wanting, othering, heads down working, and relinquishing any sense of personal responsibility is truly the greatest act of rebellion.

    We each individually have more power within us than we’ve been led to believe. Now is the time to tap into it. Your health is your wealth. Your connection to your heart is your super power. This could change everything. Joyful living, tuning into your heart’s wisdom is what will make us wildly powerful, empowering and magnetic.

    Meghan Telpner

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  • How Living Joyfully Becomes A Powerful Act of Rebellion

    How Living Joyfully Becomes A Powerful Act of Rebellion

    The Summary: In today’s divisive world, fostering critical thinking requires questioning ingrained beliefs. The challenge, of course, lies in separating oneself from the mind, a skill seldom taught. The burden of societal expectations hinders our pursuit of true joy. Reconnecting with inner wisdom and questioning the mind leads to slow but transformative progress, offering a path to health and happiness amid external distractions. Embracing joy becomes a rebellious act, unlocking individual power and connection to one’s heart.

    How badly do you want those knots of anxiety and worry to untangle? To not wake up feeling overwhelmed with the weight of the world (and your household needs) on your shoulders? What would it be worth to you to rise most days feeling loved, appreciated and with a sense of deep peace? It is all possible but there is a catch. To experience true joy in our lives requires us to live against the grain in just about every facet of life. Finding our way to such thriving requires that we question the accepted paradigms of the culture as it is today – that happiness ultimately will come one day when we earn more, spend more, have more, do more and be more. Too often this extends to the idea that in order to have it all, others must also have less.

    The short version: Turn off the news, shut off your phones and live your life. The more deep you go down the rabbit hole, the more you drag your spirit down, the less joy you embody. Th equation is that simple.

    This doesn’t mean we are to ignore the absolute horrors and tragedies of our world. Not at all. But we also can’t let it all overwhelm us and determine the energy we conduct our lives with.

    To be joyful becomes rebellious.

    We are trying to survive but have forgotten what it means to thrive. Our natural state of being is to be joyful, well, healthy, vital, brave, optimistic and experience a true sense of belonging, connection and unity. This is a human in the full expression of humanity. We are born here and as we exit childhood, forget too quickly.

    We can remember what it is we have always known but it requires that we take radical responsibility for where we are today, have the bravery to accept what isn’t working and the discipline to do the work to change what needs changing in both our minds and the moment-by-moment choices we make in our lives. Like shooting for the stars, adjusting the trajectory even slightly can land us somewhere entirely different.

    How to live more joyfully

    This of course is no simple task. It’s not as simple as deciding it to be so.

    To thrive and live joyfully means we are not eating the same food, working with the same goals, watching the same movies, reading the same news, shopping at the same stores, or valuing what we’re supposed to value in the ways in which we’re expected.

    This is why living joyfully might be our greatest act of rebellion.

    To be joyful is in direct contrast to the norms. We meet up with friends and instead of gossiping, expelling on the chaos of our lives, or how we aren’t enough, we spiral up, we share, engage, hope and dream. We look for solutions for our challenges and how we can be part of the unity solution for the world. We live today as we planned for yesterday and continue planning to level up tomorrow. We think critically and question everything. Is this (still) working?

    To live joyfully is shifting the metrics used to measure success

    Doing this in our world today, amidst the divisive influences that surround us, requires us to deeply know our own minds and hearts, to learn to question just about everything, and of course, to brave real answers, even if the result could be a shattering of the foundational values we have lived from.

    We have not been trained in our culture to separate the self from the mind, let alone be able to know one’s own mind and question whether what it tells us to be true. We may have heard wisps of the words that we are not our minds, but who actually practices this? To question what our minds tell us, that voice inside your head, is at the root of critical thinking.

    Is this actually true?

    What if the opposite is true?

    Do I truly believe this, or is this just what I’ve been told my whole life?

    To make the teaching of critical thinking standard practice would undermine a system that requires, for its own survival, that we follow blindly and accept the division as normal.

    Rise and ShineRise and Shine

    We get carried with the tide. We lose our joy. We wire into the fear and become lost to ourselves.

    We pack our bags, and carry them on our shoulders, full to the brim with intergenerational trauma, the stories we are told by our parents and grandparents, the blatant lies and false beliefs we’re bombarded with  from educators, headlines, government, and society in general. 

    We carry these packs around with us as the anxiety, fear and longing for peace bubbles up within without knowing how to touch it. We keep adding to the burden we carry and the joy slips further away. 

    We were never given the keys to access this place within us, to get back what we lost.

    In general, we have forgotten the skills we need, the work we need to do, and that it is available to us always. What we need to do is simple: amplify the whispers of our own hearts and follow the path of being well and joyful. We tap into our intuition, the heart wisdom that only knows the signs and signals of the present moment we are in. Can it really be that simple?

    Simple? Yes. Easy? Not at all.

    The challenge, why most are scared away, is because that inner knowing does not lie and cannot be denied. Once you listen to those whispers, they get louder, more powerful, and you see the accuracy of it all. We start to see that we can’t achieve the goal of joy, peace, love, health and happiness with aggressive action, followed by instant gratification. It’s a slow creep of progress where one day we feel more joy in a single minute of the day then we did the day before. One drop at a time.

    But when we can do this– ask the questions of our mind, and live with the exquisite intention of living joyfully, the work is being done. The baggage we carry falls away, slowly to be sure, but it’s happening, and we soon become buoyed by the tidal wave of both insight and compassion. We remember that all of life is connected.

    Looking around. Is this working?

    We are tired, overwhelmed, burnt out. Health in mind, body and spirit is achieved by the few who have the mind to break free, while too many remain plugged into the screens that continuously highlight the lack in their lives, and that filling that void comes from everything other than the true solution of looking within and summoning the discipline to do the work.

    In time, we may find ourselves on the brink of it. The distractions have gone quiet for a moment. The momentum and motivation is building but then– BOOM.

    We’re pointed in a new direction. Pointed at a new distraction. THAT is the cause. They are to blame. We remain plugged in to the frequency of fear and make that our reality. Find the evidence to prove it to be true. Me versus them. Blame and shame so responsibility is never taken.

    We must keep asking: What is mine? What have I collected that is not? What is true and real? What beliefs are beneficial to me and others, and which are harmful?

    The one truth we can trust is that which is truly good and beneficial to the full expression of the human, is also good and beneficial to our collective.

    To live joyfully in a world pushing us to be sick, divided, forever wanting, othering, heads down working, and relinquishing any sense of personal responsibility is truly the greatest act of rebellion.

    We each individually have more power within us than we’ve been led to believe. Now is the time to tap into it. Your health is your wealth. Your connection to your heart is your super power. This could change everything. Joyful living, tuning into your heart’s wisdom is what will make us wildly powerful, empowering and magnetic.

    Meghan Telpner

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  • Successful Entrepreneurs Need to Hone This One Skill

    Successful Entrepreneurs Need to Hone This One Skill

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    “We have interest from new investors,” a new acquaintance, Tom, told me a few years back after a conference. He assured me that this new injection of funds would help his startup reach new heights. Needless to say: He was overly confident, overzealous and wanted to grow as fast as possible.

    It’s a tale as old as time: Inexperienced entrepreneurs believe the only way to succeed is by focusing solely on immediate profits.

    Unfortunately, Tom failed to take into account different variables such as a solid business plan and building a quality product with high market demand. His business became just another statistic in the 90% of startups that fail.

    I’ve been CEO of my company, Jotform, for more than 16 years now, and I’ve seen the above scenario play out more times than I’d like to count. And what I’ve discovered is the same as what Harvard Business Review contributor Helen Lee Bouygues points out when she writes that the root cause of these organizational failures comes down to a lack of critical thinking.

    “Too many business leaders are simply not reasoning through pressing issues, taking the time to evaluate a topic from all sides.” However, she does offer some good news: Critical thinking is a skill we can all learn.

    Related: Truly Independent Thinkers Have These 5 Traits

    Why entrepreneurs need to hone their critical thinking

    When I first launched my company in 2006, I did something that sounds unheard of today: I didn’t quit my job. I had people insist I take the “all or nothing” approach. They told me my business wouldn’t succeed unless I took things seriously and dedicated myself completely to my startup.

    I’m glad I didn’t listen.

    We’ve eventually grown to have more than 15 million users, and we’ve done so with $0 funding.

    And I can attribute a large part of this to prioritizing critical thinking.

    You see, I went against the norm and didn’t quit my day job cold turkey. I didn’t feel the need to take on a co-founder or bring in investors. My company has always been a bootstrapped business. And I’ve preferred to grow slowly and steadily for the past decade-and-a-half rather than reach the top of TechCrunch.

    So, let me tell you what did happen: By the time I left my job, the product I had worked on replaced my salary and gave me a runway to spend my time building Jotform.

    For this reason, I’d like to help you develop your critical thinking skills — based on my own experience and expert advice — to ensure your organization’s success.

    Related: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Better Thinking

    1. Don’t be guided by assumptions

    As I mentioned above, many people told me I was making a big mistake by holding onto my job. “You’re taking on too much,” some colleagues warned. “You’re not fully committed,” others would add.

    I had to bypass their voices to hear my own.

    As important as it is to question other people’s assumptions, it’s equally important to question our own. As Bouygues writes, “a questioning approach is particularly helpful when the stakes are high.”

    She notes that if we’re thinking about long-term company goals that will take years of effort and expense, we need to ask the following ourselves the following questions:

    • Can we determine how business will increase?
    • Have we done our research about our expectations for the future market?
    • Have we questioned what possible alternatives there are?

    All of this analysis is necessary for thinking critically and taking the best course of action.

    Related: The Real Reason Why Most Businesses Fail (And What to Do About It)

    2. Improve your reasoning

    It’s tempting to want to dive right into a new project without fully weighing all the pros and cons. And this doesn’t just happen to newly minted entrepreneurs — it applies to even the most seasoned among us.

    Yes, we can indeed gain more critical thinking skills with time and experience. But rather than learn through costly missteps, we can also improve our reasoning through logic. One way to do this is by examining different arguments and considering if they are supported by evidence.

    “Do all the pieces of evidence build on each other to produce a sound conclusion?” Bouygues asks. “Being aware of common fallacies can also allow you to think more logically.”

    For example, before taking on a new project at Jotform, we make sure to do our homework by sending out customer surveys, analyzing feedback and taking the market and competition into account. Rather than let our excitement take the lead, we rely on a thorough process of solid reasoning.

    Related: Escape Your Head: How Overthinking Can Injure Entrepreneurs in 2023

    3. Step outside your bubble

    Here’s a trap many of us fall into — surrounding ourselves with only those in our industry.

    “This is a problem,” writes Bouygues. “If everyone in our social circles thinks as we do, we become more rigid in our thinking, and less likely to change our beliefs on the basis of new information.”

    To hone our critical thinking, it’s imperative then that we leave our bubble. And we can do so by taking small steps.

    One way I apply this is by taking up a practice of talking to people outside of tech or by having lunch with individuals who have different backgrounds than my own. Aside from these active measures, I also make it a point to switch up my daily reading — preferring books that are also outside my industry.

    Experts agree. “Training yourself this way will help you escape your usual thinking and gain richer insights,” Bouygues advises.

    My suggestion? Don’t just read or listen to podcasts about business or tech (if that’s what you’re normally into). Read novels and listen to talks given by thought leaders outside of your normal environment. And remember:

    “While luck plays a role — sometimes small, sometimes large — in a company’s successes,” Bouygues adds, “the most important business victories are achieved through thinking smart.”

    In other words: Go against the herd mentality. Use logic, question your assumptions and above all, don’t allow yourself to remain stagnant.

    Related: Critical Thinking Is the Skill Many Leaders Lack

    Aytekin Tank

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  • Escape Your Head: How Overthinking Can Injure Entrepreneurs in 2023

    Escape Your Head: How Overthinking Can Injure Entrepreneurs in 2023

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    It’s hard not to find yourself chronically overthinking. We worry about our health, our finances and our future. We can easily slide down the slippery slope of trying to deliberate ourselves into a better situation.


    Morsa Images | Getty Images

    But according to clinical psychologist Helen Odessky, that couldn’t be more counterproductive. As she told the Headspace blog:

    Aytekin Tank

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  • 8 Positive Actions You Can Take After Getting Negative Feedback From Your Team

    8 Positive Actions You Can Take After Getting Negative Feedback From Your Team

    Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

    Managers are expected to be resilient and take bad feedback gracefully, but these are skills that don’t come naturally to everyone, of course. Being criticized by a team, for example, can be particularly hard for managers to swallow.

    These practical steps will guide you through that challenging process, and help turn the tide toward learning and professional betterment.

    Joanna Kulbacka

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