Vicki's Tech Hub

 I’ve recently started reading Teaching Outside the Lines: Developing Creativity in Every Learner by Doug Johnson, and it’s one of those books that quietly but powerfully reshapes how you see your work. Right from page one, Johnson references Sir Ken Robinson’s famous TED Talk, “ Do Schools Kill Creativity? ” — a talk that has circled through educator circles for years but somehow feels even more urgent now. Robinson’s assertion that we’re educating students out of their creative capacities hit me hard, especially as someone who works at the intersection of learning and technology. Johnson’s message is clear: Creativity isn’t always about big, flashy projects or colorful masterpieces. More often, it’s about quiet, unconventional problem-solving that leads to surprising solutions and fresh ideas. As I’ve read, I keep reflecting on how this connects directly to the role of technology in our classrooms. When used intentionally, technology is a powerful tool for this kind of creat...

 This week, second graders took a giant leap into the world of science and robotics as we explored the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas! We began the lesson by reviewing the basics of matter: Solids: Molecules are packed tightly in an orderly pattern. Liquids: Molecules are loosely arranged and can slide past one another. Gases: Molecules move freely and are spaced far apart. After watching the Phet Simulation Basic States of Matter, we became a molecule with our bodies! We represented rubber band, sponge, honey, water, oxygen, and steam molecules. Students felt how molecules moved in the three states of matter! Some comments from students included: "I learned that molecules in a solid stick together," and "Gas molecules are crazy! They just bounce off everything," and "Thick liquid like honey moves slower because the molecules are packed together more than something like water." Photo Credits: Sphero.com Then came the fun part—using Spher...