The IDEA Blog

As winter break approaches, this is the perfect time to reflect on the past school year while planning ways to recharge and return to school refreshed for 2025. One tradition that always helps me reset during this time is revisiting some of my favorite seasonal classics. Each film beautifully embodies three timeless lessons we can all benefit from: the power of reflection, the importance of gratitude, and the opportunity for growth.

AI has become an integral part of everyday life, especially in education. From personalized learning to administrative assistance, AI holds the potential to revolutionize how we teach and learn. As educators, it's crucial to shift AI from being a hurtful tool to a helpful one in the classroom. This blog discusses how educators can harness the power of AI to support students, enhance learning experiences, and improve educational outcomes.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has created waves of excitement and apprehension across many industries, including education. For K-12 educators, AI holds the promise of transforming teaching and learning. Yet, many teachers also harbor concerns: Will AI replace my role? Can it be trusted? Will it widen the digital divide? These fears are valid, but they don't have to hold educators back. Instead AI can lighten the load of educators' plates and provide a way to change the face of student projects.

* Note from IDEA: This is a different kind of blog post than we usually run. However, in the interest of acknowledging the complex feelings educators are experiencing around AI and to be transparent about the practices that educators are experiencing in their own education so that others may benefit from their perspectives, we are publishing it.

Gamification is a powerful tool that brings the excitement of games into learning environments. It not only makes learning more fun but also helps build critical skills in a memorable way. This blog from IDEA Governing Board Member, Sara Reynolds, explains gamification and lists effective ways to introduce game-based learning into classrooms.

Common Sense started Digital Citizenship Week as a dedicated time to highlight the importance of helping kids, families, and teachers navigate our 24/7 digital world.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful resource that can transform classroom activities. This blog explores three ways teachers can harness AI to simplify reading with AI summaries, streamline podcast creation, and boost learning with music and AI.

As educators, we must continuously learn, reflect, and adapt our teaching practices to ensure that our classrooms are inclusive spaces where all students can thrive. This means challenging our assumptions and being mindful of the diverse ways students engage with learning. Are you creating an environment where every student—introverted or extroverted—feels valued and able to contribute?

The rise of AI has created a gap in our education system. It is imperative that we teach the importance of taking the time to determine fact from fiction. While digital citizenship and media literacy have been part of the curriculum for over a decade, the rapid advancement of AI requires a shift towards AI literacy. Many organizations and universities are developing valuable resources for educators, but AI companies need to prioritize ethics and transparency from the beginning of new developments and collaborate with educators to create a comprehensive curriculum.

With the school year just a couple of months away, Jeremy is sharing how he uses the summer to rest so he'll be ready to go come August. During this switch from a busy schedule to having extra time, it’s important to remind yourself not to be critical while resting, working, or playing.

I recently read Jonathan Haidt's book, The Anxious Generation. Released in March 2024, the book reveals a multitude of research studies supporting what we, as educators, have witnessed over the last 15 years in the classroom: decreased motivation and attention span, and unhappy, depressed students. This blog discusses my three main takeaways from Haidt's book.