Handwriting--Still Primary Tool of Communication and Knowledge Assessment

Handwriting, still a major form of communication, can be frustrating for both student and teacher. Regardless, it must be taught and honed so it becomes natural and automatic, says Paula Heinricher, an occupational therapist and speaker at the most recent "Handwriting Without Tears" workshop in May. "Handwriting Without Tears" is a company which offers resources to help educators teach children how to print and write in cursive with less frustration. Heinricher believes that it is important to model handwriting, then allow kids to practice through hands-on activities (not just copying text).
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Game Over? Not When it Comes to Student Learning Through Games!

In the age of video games and mobile devices, young students seem to learn better when their instruction combines virtual reality and real world application, according to Carnegie Mellon University. Researchers came up with a study that tested how technology could best contribute to learning through a testing platform called, "NoRILLA". Testing 92 children ages six to eight, researchers wanted to see if they learned better in a mixed reality or a screen-only educational game. They tested before and after the game to retrieve sound results. The end result: Students learn up to FIVE times better combining virtual reality with the real world. Read more about the results here.