Chuck Ridgeway is the Automation Technology Manager & Senior Customer Advocate at Horner Automation in Indianapolis, Indiana. As an engineer in the automation and robotics industry for over 30 years, Chuck has seen both the changes and valuable uses of automation and robotics in our world, and is an important voice for educators to hear about the value of STEM learning for future careers. Horner Automation has been part of some truly unique projects in their many years in the industry, cr...

Chad Miller teaches Technology, Enginering, & Design as well as Computer Science in North Carolina. But he wasn't always a teacher. His experiences as a computer aided draftsman helped him learn the business of architectural lighting, and in the process problem solving, iteration, and more skills that kids in CTE courses need. As an educator, he has always been passionate about STEM and providing real world examples in his classroom. He also enjoys helping with clubs and mentoring groups,...

For over 15 years, Simply Technologies has been sneaking digital manufacturing into classrooms—one buzzing spindle and slightly terrified teacher at a time. So far, they’ve helped over 3,500 North American schools bring STEM to life in very real, very loud, very safe, and very hands-on ways. Their father-son company, Simply Technologies, has (unofficially but confidently) placed more CNC machines in schools than anyone else on the continent. They like to say they created CNC for teachers who...

With a cardboard box and a spark of imagination, in 2008, Makedo was born. More than just tools, Makedo empowers kids to become problem-solvers, innovators, and collaborators. Today, Makedo isn’t just a product line of blue screws & cardboard tools; it’s a vibrant, global community of makers dedicated to building a better future for people and the planet through imaginative, purposeful play, one cardboard creation at a time. (Check out the Makedo website for lessons and resources to use t...

After 10 years as Quizizz, a new way and a new focus has necessitated the change to a new name: Wayground. Kyle Niemis is the Head of Community at Wayground (formerly Quizizz), educator, and co-founder of ClassroomQ. "Wayground provides educators with a supplemental learning platform that brings together instruction, practice, and assessment in an AI-supported hub that helps students hit grade-level standards faster." Used in 90% of US schools & over 150 countries worldwide, educat...

PJ Creek was teaching social studies and science in middle school. He always referenced his periodic table poster on the wall, but didn't have anything similar to help with social studies. His problem lead to creating the Periodic Table of the Presidents, a poster that shows information about the presidents in a periodic table shape and style. That poster lead to more great infographics on topics like the Amendments, National Parks, the Constitution, the Pledge of Allegiance, and more! ...

Robotics education is highly incorporated into upper grade levels because of its connection to careers. But elementary robotics is often one-off projects and fun time. The leadership at Woodland Hills School District in Pennsylvania is ensuring that every kid gets to do a lot more with robotics. Tina Dietrich is the STEM Coordinator at Woodland Hills School District, where she leads initiatives to integrate hands-on STEM and robotics programs into the K-12 curriculum. Tina is passionate...

As education faces new challenges from technology and an ever-changing labor market, the need for public-private partnership in education is as important as ever. Local governments and business organizations everywhere are realizing this need, and building partnerships and advocacy groups to help make these necessary connections. The state of Michigan has long relied on public-private partnerships to prepare students for jobs of the future, and it has adjusted its work to include STEM, STEAM,...

Born a patriot, Dr. Leslie Gruis spent 30 years as a mathematician and intelligence officer at the National Security Agency, where she helped develop technology solutions that balanced national security with civil rights. She later served at U.S. Cyber Command and the National Intelligence Council. Now retired, she writes and speaks on privacy, surveillance, and democracy—making complex topics accessible for everyday Americans. Dr. Gruis is the author of Privacy: Past, Present, and Future, Th...

Elliot Lichtman started teaching online classes in computer science when he was a freshman in high school. Small classes quickly grew into a series of larger and longer offerings, and from those, his book The Computer Always Wins was born. Elliot is currently a sophomore at Yale University. In The Computer Always Wins, Elliot Lichtman teaches some of computer science’s most powerful concepts in a refreshingly accessible way: exploring them through word games, board games, and strategy g...

What can a couple of high school students do to encourage STEM interest and skills? For Edison Law and Revaant Srivastav, that meant starting the California STEM Academy, an online option to provide tutoring help in subjects such as Math, Science, Coding, and PSAT prep. They also help students with passion projects, as well as providing summer "boot camps" to build up specific STEM skills. And what started as just two students has grown to almost 20 students helping others to experience the j...

Should we teach our kids "21st century skills" or should we rethink what that means and start teaching "workplace durable skills"? Dan Thomas just retired from a 30+ year career as an educator in New York. He's been a STEM and PBL consultant, and a LEGO education, Makey Makey, and Code.org trainer. As a teacher, he's sought to revolutionize education through play and technology, believing that learning should be an adventure (with an occasional Dad joke thrown in too). He recently published h...

At what age should we begin focusing on STEM learning? According to Jeremy Anderson, the data overwhelmingly shows that students are already forming interest and thoughts on STEM careers when they're in elementary school. That makes it vital to look at how we include STEM career introduction at a younger age. In discussions about STEM, math often takes a backseat as focus shifts to science and technology. However, a strong math foundation is essential for students to succeed in these field, a...

The education software space is filled with plenty of choices for helping kids design and create. That's especially true in the CAD space, as programs like Tinkercad appeal to younger kids and Fusion/AutoCAD/OnShape & more are great for older students. SelfCAD is a new software choice that combines the best of block/shape design from Tinkercad and the higher level design of traditional CAD software. SelfCAD doesn’t require months of training, nor is it limited to professional engine...

For over 40 years, the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation (ASF) has supported the brightest minds in STEM, with its Astronaut Scholars making groundbreaking contributions—from launching payloads into space to pioneering agricultural innovations and advancing congenital heart disease research. The prestigious Astronaut Scholarship is known nationwide for being among the largest merit-based monetary scholarships awarded to college level STEM juniors and seniors. ASF has a life-long relationship w...

When so many coding resources are just digital, it's great to see new resources that combine hands-on learning with on-screen coding. Codie Blocks is a learning tool that brings the foundations of coding to children ages 3 to 7. Through a unique storytelling component with hands-on, block-based coding, Codie Blocks makes complex concepts approachable, fun, and developmentally appropriate. Featuring the Mia & Codie series as seen on PBS member stations, Codie Blocks introduces characters a...

When can we begin teaching kids about coding and computer science? If you were to walk into Allen Tsui's classrooms, you'd see kids as young as 3 understanding and working with code. How can you start? Allen has some great ideas, and it just takes trying! Allen Tsui is a Subject Specialist in Computing at Willow Brook Primary School Academy in London, UK. He has been the subject leader for Computing since September 2020 and specializes in teaching Computing to children as young as aged 3 (Nur...

Schools have two choices: innovate or fall behind. Steven Iglesias, the Director of Innovation & Technology, and self proclaimed educational disruptor, has been building a revolutionary STEM and technology program for kids at Doral Academy Preparatory School in Miami, FL. "I never set out to be in education—it happened by accident. I began my career as a baseball coach and a security guard. Next, I transitioned into teaching and later became an administrator. But technology? That was diff...

CYBER.ORG is a cybersecurity workforce development organization advancing K-12 cybersecurity education nationwide through no-cost curriculum and teacher professional development resources. Supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency through the Cybersecurity Education and Training Assistance Program (CETAP) grant. CYBER.ORG provides educators and caregivers with resources and training to teach cybersecurity education to K-12 student...

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, and there is a growing interconnection of robotics in CTE curriculums (and vice versa) happening in education. With a teaching background and a journey spanning two decades, Jason McKenna is the Vice President of Global Educational Strategy for VEX Robotics, a published author, and an experienced educator. His book, "What STEM Can Do for Your Classroom," has become an important resource for educators navigating the world of STEM. I...