​Let’s talk about management systems for a moment. Classroom management is one of the crucial, key components of success in a Pitsco lab. If you’ve taught using Pitsco, you have likely seen the migration from Colleague to Synergy. Now, there is a migration under way to ITC.
 
ITC stands for “In The Cloud”, or a cloud-based management package. This technology makes the teacher more nimble, and gives back more control of the classroom instruction. We’ve compiled a list of the top benefits of using this classroom management system:

1. Real-time assessments
2. The ability to create custom assessments
3. A variety of student data reports
4. Content extensions
5. The ability to set Destinations, tasks, and Resources to required or optional

 
Students can monitor and manage their learning experience. 
Synergy ITC allows each student to log on – individually or with his or her partner – to complete assigned Expeditions, activities, and assessments. Students learn through hands-on, multimodal, collaborative activities while navigating through a digital Expedition at their own pace.
 
Each benefit amounts to one thing – more teacher control and more customization, which equals a better experience for both student and teacher.
 
Did you know? Pitsco adds an average of 10 features each month to ITC, based on user feedback. If you have a question or a suggestion, you can share via phone, email or live chat.
 
Have you used ITC management from Pitsco? Let us know what you think (and how we can help make your experience unforgettable!) 

We hear a lot about how important it is for today’s students to develop 21st century skills, in addition to ‘the basics.' The 4 C's (Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, and Creativity) are often described as the ‘new basics.’ Learn how 3D design and printing can help students develop these vital new basics on Makers Empire's blog.

We want to hear from you -- do you use 3D printing in your classroom? How is it helping you teach the 4 C's of Education? 

At Pitsco, they have always understood that the teachers are the experts. Classroom teachers are their greatest resource as they develop and refine curriculum. They use professional development site visits, surveys and forums to determine what is working well in the classroom, and what they could improve upon.
 
When asked, Missions teachers responded with feedback. And Pitsco listened…. And developed Missions 2.0, which will be launched in 2017. When updating, Pitsco focused on three areas of improvement:

• Implementation
• The Teacher Experience
• The Student Experience

The result? The curriculum is more customizable to every classroom. Educators have even more control over the structure and implementation in their classes. Read more about the specific improvements in the latest Network Magazine. What do you think? Will these updates improve the classroom experience for students and teachers alike?

Are you ready to add STEM to your Elementary curriculum? Contact Moss to learn more about Missions from Pitsco. 

Since Lincoln Electric introduced U/LINC, we have fielded many questions about this curriculum. We’re answering the three most common questions here:

1. Who developed U/LINC curriculum? U/LINC was developed with input from a diverse team of welding and education experts. Lincoln Electric tasked 35 independent instructors at high schools, career centers and community colleges around the U.S. with developing specific areas of welding training content. Through expert research and advice from curriculum experts at Texas A&M and the University of Missouri, U/LINC was born. 
2. Is U/LINC a catchy term for an online course in welding? U/LINC was developed because so many instructors were great welders, but had difficulty teaching their craft to students. Welders are the experts; U/LINC is just adding the classroom framework. Focus Areas Include: Classroom Instruction, Laboratory Instruction, and eLearning Modules. Welding is a hands-on subject. Because of this, U/LINC is more than an online class; it is a tool for flipped classrooms, allowing instructors (with field knowledge) to take their instruction further with structured lessons, real world insight, and context questions.
3. Does U/LINC only cover welding, or does it delve into other career opportunities? More than welding, U/LINC shares insight into the following career pathways:

• Manufacturing Engineering
• Automation
• Production Welding

 
As a welding expert, we would like your input – sign up for a 30 day free trial and tell us what you think. Would adding structured curriculum help your program succeed? 

​Consider this student: Abby is an agriculture student who was raised on a family farm. She sees her dad struggle with the same piece of equipment year after year. She thinks she has a simple solution. Her school has a Makerspace, and she has printed a part in 3D that she thinks will solve the problem. She has talked with her instructor about sharing the same design to other local farmers that have the same issue as her dad.
 
Is Abby ready for an Entrepreneurship course?
 
Entrepreneurs come in all shapes and sizes. While Abby is looking for a simple solution to a recurring problem, and is looking to share her solution with others. She has the shades of being a developing Entrepreneur.
 
Entrepreneurship coursework used to live in the Business departments almost exclusively. As we deepen our understanding about how entrepreneurs views obstacles, assess risk, develop solutions, innovate and solve problems, we are beginning to realize that Entrepreneurship coursework can benefit not only business students, but also agriculture students, engineering students, design students…  In short, anyone who innovates and problem solves could benefit from the framework laid out in Entrepreneurship coursework.
 
Entrepreneurship coursework is designed to provide:

• Structure – successful entrepreneurs typically follow an established process from development to market.
• “Real World” Feedback – is the idea viable? Is this feasible? Cost-effective? Community and industry experts can guide students as they examine these questions.
• A safe space to Fail – every idea needs to be revised and refined. With the proper tools, students can try and fail, refine and try again in the classroom with smart tools, from CAD, 3D Printing, Robotics, and any other number of tools. Each “failure” is a critical part of the overall development process.

 
Many schools are looking to develop entrepreneurship coursework. We can help schools connect the dots with smart tools from Pitsco Education (STEM framework) and Startup Genius (Entrepreneurship).
 
Tell us: what are you looking for in an Entrepreneurship program?