Grants and funding. You’ve probably heard about about them for pushing classroom initiatives, but it often seems like a lot of time, confusion and work to even consider as an avenue. For that reason, grants are often pushed aside as an option when more pressing daily tasks need to take place in schools.

With SAM Labs' recent launch of the Season One Global Creators Competition, students from all over the world have the opportunity to dream big and put their design skills to work. With dozens of awards to win and a chance for their work to be showcased on an international stage, there’s no shortage of excitement this season.

Distance learning has truly transformed the learning environment for K-12 schools, as the COVID-19 crisis has forced educators to go completely digital with their curriculum. While teachers have found an abundant supply of content and tools online to rapidly turnaround their lesson plans to teach online, there still has been a huge adjustment. Additionally, parents have taken on the additional responsibility of supporting children learning at home while students increase screen-time usage and navigate learning without being in the classroom.

For many schools, the shutdowns caused by COVID-19 to prevent the spread of the virus across the United States have been unprecedented. This has left educators at many extreme disadvantages, from online curriculum creation to figuring out the best way to distribute content and support students throughout the process. Many teachers are probably now wondering, do I really know how to use online or digital learning now that I don’t even have a physical classroom to conduct my lessons? Is it still possible to create learning continuity as recommended by the CDC while distance learning?

Over the past few months, there has been a growing concern over coronavirus, the pandemic that is sweeping its way nation-to-nation and quickly taking foot into the United States. Within the past few weeks, schools across the nation have been swift in response, shuttering their doors and issuing mandatory closures to try to limit the risk of exposure and transmission between staff and students.