Learn + Tools

Architecture,” from the International Child Art Foundation — with guest editor Frederick Marks, president of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture — explores the relationship of architecture and education, creativity and place, among other themes.

Developing a creative mindset is more important than ever before, not just for our students, but for educators as well. The advancement of technology, the connectedness of society, and the innovations that are taking place on a regular basis all point to creative thinking as a key asset in the digital age.

STEAM Education in the modern world continues to drive society forward. From the most fundamental principles to the intricate world of innovative technology, today's students need exposure to these important subjects. Teachers must have access to the right tools and resources that will help society continue to progress and prosper.

The AT&T Hello Sunshine Filmmaker Lab, produced by Fresh Films, will bring 20 teenage girls to Los Angeles for 8 days to learn the ins and outs of filmmaking. They‘ll have the chance to film a TV show under the guidance of mentors and professional creators, including some from AT&T and Hello Sunshine, Reese Witherspoon’s media company--maybe even Reese herself! This program is completely free and no experience is required. Apply now through June 10.

STEAM Education in the modern world continues to drive society forward. From the most fundamental principles to the intricate world of innovative technology, today's students need exposure to these important subjects. Teachers must have access to the right tools and resources that will help society continue to progress and prosper.

The Henry Darger Resource Kit for Educators is a free online resource designed to bring outsider artist Henry Darger into more classrooms than ever before. Drawing from Intuit's close association with Darger, the Kit investigates his life and works through comprehensive handouts, flexible grade levels, imaginative cross-disciplinary lesson plans and so much more! 

A new set of digital badges aims to help educators and industry leaders better evaluate students’ 21st-century skills. The 21st Century Skills Badges initiative, from Education Design Lab, is based on three years of research, design, and pilots and offers a suite of eight digital badges, often called microcredentials, along with a facilitator’s toolkit, to help educators and employers understand the skills students have cultivated.

Teenagers may be more engaged in makerspaces when given more autonomy over learning, some library media specialists say. Professor Sandra Hughes-Hassell also suggests creating a sense of shared ownership, in part, by referring to makerspaces as “our space" or "your space.”

The Lane Arts Council’s ArtCore program helps teachers to build and implement a curriculum that integrates the arts into other academic subjects at their schools. Several school districts in western Oregon participate in the program, which supports arts-integrated lessons aligned with national and state academic and arts standards for middle school students.