SAM Labs Insights
Case studies from districts across the country, plus practical guides and ideas for bringing hands-on STEAM learning to your classroom.
How SAM Labs Solutions Align with the World Economic Forum Education Framework
Education must adapt to equip students with the skills they need to thrive. See how SAM Labs maps to the WEF Education 4.0 framework across personalized, inclusive, collaborative and lifelong learning.
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SAM Labs Launches FRST Platform to Transform Skills Assessment in K-12 STEAM Education
SAM Labs introduces FRST, a comprehensive platform to track and measure student skills development across K-12 STEAM and coding programs.
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Shaping Tomorrow's Innovators Through K-12 STEM Artificial Intelligence Activities for Students
Why introducing machine learning, neural networks, AI ethics and AI reliability into the K-12 STEM curriculum matters — and how it nurtures creativity and critical thinking.
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SAM Labs Offers TEKS-Aligned STEAM Education Curriculum
How SAM Labs lessons align with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) science standards, giving Texas educators a practical resource for coding and engineering.
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SAM Labs Expands Access to STEM Content With Spanish Curriculum
Launching Spanish-language content — a major step toward our goal of providing 100 million kids with computational thinking and skills for the future.
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The Power of Integrating Coding to Foster Computational Thinking Across Subjects
How weaving coding into mathematics, science, art and language arts cultivates computational thinking and prepares students for the digital age.
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The Best of Both Worlds: Enhancing STEM Learning through Hybrid Labs
Virtual labs deliver accessibility and safety; physical labs deliver hands-on tactility. Hybrid labs blend the best of both for comprehensive STEM learning.
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Maximize Space and Efficiency with STEM Carts
Practical tips for designing, optimizing and maintaining a mobile STEM cart — bringing hands-on STEM to schools without a dedicated lab.
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How to Use Social Media to Highlight STEM Success and Boost Enrollment
Strategies for showcasing your school's STEM program on social media — success stories, data visuals, live streams, and virtual tours that drive enrollment.
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More Diversity in STEM Starts in the Classroom
Why STEM lacks diversity — and concrete steps teachers can take in the classroom to break stereotypes, provide role models, and prioritize STEM for every student.
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Using Inquiry-Based Learning for STEAM Concepts
Inquiry-based learning is curiosity-driven and transfers learning authority to students. Here's how the process works — and why it pairs perfectly with STEAM.
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Unlocking the Future: The Importance of Computer Science in Elementary Schools
Why computer science belongs in elementary classrooms — building problem-solving fluency early so kids can thrive in tomorrow's digital marketplace.
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Case Study: SAM Labs 2024 Educator of the Year: Hannah Rings
Hannah Rings, the recipient of the 2024 SAM Labs Educator of the Year award, stands as a beacon of innovation and dedication in the field of STEM education. Her tireless efforts to integrate SAM Labs technology into her teaching practices have not only enriched the educational experience of her students but also inspired her peers.
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Case Study: SAM Labs Cultivates Problem-Solving Skills at Seattle Public Schools
At Arbor Heights Elementary, part of the expansive Seattle Public Schools district that serves 51,650 students across 104 schools, Sarah Gerhardt, a seasoned fourth-grade teacher, embarked on a transformative journey with SAM Labs.
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Case Study: Embrace Innovation, Collaboration, and Fun with Judson ISD and SAM Labs
With more than 24,000 students, the Judson Independent School District was looking to help students grow throughout their ongoing Academic Enrichment program, specifically geared for students in 4th and 5th grades. SAM Labs was the perfect fit to help students grow their STEAM skills and 21st-Century thinking.
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Case Study: Indian Prairie School District 204 Sees Promising Results with SAM Labs STEAM Solutions
In a move that's sparking creativity and collaboration across classrooms, Indian Prairie School District 204's recent integration of SAM Labs STEAM solutions is receiving accolades from students, parents, teachers, and board members alike.
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Case Study: STEAM Program Implementation Success with SAM Labs in Palm Springs USD
When the Palm Springs Unified School District wanted to implement a STEAM program into their elementary curriculum, they turned to SAM Labs to help them get started.
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Case Study: Student-led STEM: SAM Labs Elevates Learning at Ventura Unified School District
As STEAM becomes a bigger focus in today's job market, Ventura USD was looking for an easy-to-implement program that allowed for student-led investigation in an engaging manner. See how students and teachers embraced STEAM.
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Case Study: Incorporating SAM Labs into Elementary Science Education Shows Results
Blaine Elementary, part of the Blaine School District in Northwestern Washington, embarked on a journey to revitalize its STEAM curriculum at the start of the 23-24 school year, turning every science block into an opportunity for exploration and creativity.
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Case Study: Empowering STEAM Educators through Personalized Teacher Support
In August 2022, Jefferson County School District in West Virginia embarked on a transformative journey with SAM Labs to enhance its STEAM curriculum across 10 elementary schools serving 8,682 students.
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Case Study: Top Marks for Gifted and Talented Teacher & Student Satisfaction
Provide a stimulating educational environment? Check. Champion creativity and original thinking? Check. Encourage student responsibility for their own learning? Check. All while accommodating a diverse mix of learners and their different strengths.
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Case Study: Making STEAM Lessons the Highlight of the Week
One of Sarah's biggest challenges as a 4th grade teacher is getting students engaged with the curriculum and helping them understand why what they're learning is important. STEAM lessons are now the highlight of her students' week.
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Case Study: Hardware Doesn't Have to be Hard! Portland Public Schools STEAM Case Study
For some educators, physical hardware can seem daunting to start working with, so you'll be happy to hear that 'simplicity' is a key theme in SAM Labs customer feedback!
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Case Study: Opinions and Advice from Teachers Using SAM Labs
Most educators are stretched for time, resources and support. When you're tasked with creating new STEAM projects and finding the right resources, learn how other teachers who have been in your shoes have achieved STEAM success.
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Case Study: When Coding Meets Art! Lake Oswego School District Case Study
Spotlight on three K-5 teachers in the Lake Oswego School District (Oregon) who are taking elementary class projects to a whole new level of creativity, ticking all the boxes for science, tech, engineering, art and math learning.
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Case Study: Endless Project Possibilities with Just a Few Blocks!
Mount Nittany Elementary School's universal STEM program gives each class 50 minutes of STEM learning every five days, centered around engineering and design, STEM careers and empathy units.
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Case Study: Designing Real-World Creations and Inspiring STEAM Superstars!
What really comes to mind about Kristen and her K-5 students' work with us is VARIETY! Since picking up our hardware blocks, she's really made the most of what they can do in her elementary school.
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Case Study: The Joy of Teaching STEAM through "Tinkering with Technology"
Education Technology Specialist Rob's STEAM and coding lessons encourage students from preschool through high school to use their curiosity to explore technology and make their own discoveries with help from SAM Labs.
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Case Study: Why Teachers Choose SAM Labs for STEAM and Coding
From STEAM and Learn to Code courses, to Maker and Creator Specialty packages, our solutions cater to a whole mix of ages, abilities and curriculum goals, and teachers derive joy from these projects in many different ways.
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Case Study: SAM Labs Helped Wicklund Elementary's Success with STEAM
At Wicklund Elementary, librarian Shawntel Schenck saw the facility's makerspace as a perfect opportunity to create STEAM activities for students. See how students and teachers embraced STEAM.
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Case Study: SAM Labs Makerspace Course Helps At-Risk Students Work on STEM Skills
How do you reach kids who are not interested in school? You help them build skateboards. That's how middle school teacher Stan Mercer does it with the SAM Labs Maker Solution.
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Case Study: STREAM on Wheels! Driving tailored learning experiences in Gresham-Barlow
In a spread-out school district, getting high-tech equipment onto school campuses is a challenge. STREAM Labs and The Tomorrow Bus, a new mobile technology lab traveling between campuses, solved that issue for GBISD.
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3 Ways to Implement STEAM
1. Choose the right technology 2. Give students a choice 3. Let collaboration happen naturally
STEAM vs. STEM Education - What is the Difference?
SAM Labs has the definitions, resources, and expert insight to help you answer “Is it STEAM or STEM” once and for all!
Top 5 Challenges of Assessing K-8 Students
We’ll discuss the 5 biggest challenges of STEAM assessments and how you can learn the solutions and best practices to assess STEAM.
What is Steam Education & Why Is It Important?
STEAM education is an exciting way to include cross-curricular subject matter in a meaningful way for students. Learn more about the benefits today!
Getting Teachers To Use New EdTech - Tips & Advice
Make sure your edtech investment pays off by getting your teachers comfortable and excited to use it!
5 Tips on How to Teach Coding to Elementary Students
We’ll talk about some things to consider when teaching coding to elementary students, equipping you with strategies to apply in the classroom.
Quick Ways to Teach Coding to Kids
Here’s our quick guide on how to teach coding to kids to make your life as easy as possible.
Career and Technical Education FAQs
Get all your Career and Technical Education questions answered. Learn what CTE is, what a CTE program looks like, and how teachers can boost CTE opportunities.
Tips For Using ChatGPT in Your STEM Classroom
Now that artificial intelligence is here to stay, it’s time to ask another question: “How can ChatGPT help students?”
How to Start an Elementary Robotics Club
Every day there seems to be a new AI platform or company that graces the news. Whether it's ChatGPT, Tesla’s self-driving cars, or Amazon Go – AI, and robotics, are everywhere.
The Ultimate STEM Classroom Supply Checklist
In this article, we'll provide you with a comprehensive checklist of essential STEM supplies and share budget-friendly tips to acquire them. Let's explore various avenues for finding materials on a budget and ensure your classroom is equipped to inspire and engage young minds.
How to Incorporate Robotics in Elementary School
Elementary school teachers have an essential role to play in preparing the youngest generation for a future saturated with technology. Here's a guide to help you incorporate a robotics curriculum into your elementary classroom effectively.
Problems with STEAM Education & How to Solve Them
While most educators agree that the benefits of STEAM learning are unmatched, it can be difficult to implement and ensure STEAM program success.
Redefining Success in Elementary Schools
21st century education has redefined the landscape of learning for educators worldwide. This article explores the key components of 21st century education and provides guidance for implementing these elements in elementary school classrooms.
How to Start a STEAM Program
It can be overwhelming to start a STEAM program from scratch, which is why we’ve created a basic guide for educators. If you’ve been wondering how to start a STEM program, this guide is here to help.