By Brad Smith Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have become go-to tools for people who care about online privacy and security. Interest in VPNs surged after major privacy revelations, and for good reason: a reliable VPN encrypts your internet traffic so that eavesdroppers—whether ISPs, advertisers, or government agencies—cannot easily read it. VPNs also help users bypass … Read more

By Anna Yurovskikh Integrating video games and learning has become a mainstream approach in education. Teachers increasingly use game-based activities to boost engagement and improve knowledge retention. Below we explore the benefits of play-based learning, explain the key features that make games effective for young learners, and offer practical ways teachers and parents can apply … Read more

By Charles Sosnik The Learning Counsel organizes regional Digital Transition Discussion events to help education leaders address the practical challenges of moving schools and districts along a continuum of digital transformation. At a recent roundtable in our nation’s capital, administrators, instructional technology specialists, and classroom teachers gathered for an informal but focused conversation to identify … Read more

By Angela White Teachers and educators are increasingly adopting online assessment software to make testing more efficient, gain clearer insights into student learning, and streamline administrative tasks. These platforms help automate grading, reveal knowledge gaps, support differentiated instruction, and provide meaningful reports that guide curriculum improvements. With so many options available, choosing the right tool … Read more

Hybrid Logistics and the Human Role in Teaching By LeiLani Cauthen Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part series. Part one can be found on The Learning Counsel. At the heart of the problem is how most traditional public schools define teaching: a one-to-many model conducted from a stage. That structure normalizes itself … Read more

By Tamara Fyke Over the past year I’ve spoken with many educators—administrators, classroom teachers, and support staff—about social-emotional learning (SEL). Through these conversations my team and I sought to understand current practices and unmet needs. The most consistent request we heard was for greater adult capacity to deliver SEL: schools need confident, skilled adults who … Read more

STEM Jobs Classroom Training Series Expands Teacher Support to Connect Students with High-Growth Careers “Teachers play a critical role in revealing to students the beauty and excitement of studying science, technology, engineering and math—and then connecting those challenging subjects to the real world.” — Daniel Nichols, President of STEM JobsSM at Victory Media. PITTSBURGH, PA … Read more

The gig economy describes a widespread shift from traditional, long-term employment toward short-term, contract-based, and freelance work. This change is reshaping how companies hire and how individuals build careers. For college students in particular, the gig economy offers flexible ways to earn money, gain practical experience, and develop a professional portfolio while still in school. … Read more

How Laurel Magnet School of the Arts Pivoted to Effective, Equitable Distance Learning By Kiana Pendleton As Principal of Laurel Magnet School of the Arts (LMSA) in Laurel, Mississippi, I made it a priority to act quickly, communicate consistently, and provide a clear vision throughout the coronavirus pandemic. When our district closed school buildings in … Read more

By Paul Hafen As K-12 teachers work to keep hybrid classroom experiences on track and district IT teams harden defenses against increasingly common ransomware threats, another problem is quietly undermining both efforts: students finding ways to bypass school filters and security controls during class hours. These circumvention techniques, used for entertainment or distraction, are becoming … Read more