Author: By Omar Shepherd, Curriculum Specialist, STEM/Career Education (CTE), Orange County Department of Education & Denise Fabris, Teacher, Burlingame Intermediate School

eCampus News features expert insight from educators, industry experts, and policymakers. Below, you'll find news articles and opinion pieces from our vast contributor network. Click here to view our featured contributors, who regularly share their expertise with our reader community.
STEM & STEAM Education

5 tips for inclusive STEM learning experiences

When students who would never sign up for a robotics or coding class do so because we’ve introduced it to them, it’s a win-win for everyone

By Omar Shepherd, Curriculum Specialist, STEM/Career Education (CTE), Orange County Department of Education & Denise Fabris, Teacher, Burlingame Intermediate School

Preparing students for STEM careers and advanced learning opportunities is about more than just teaching math, science, engineering, coding, and computer science to the youngsters who want to dabble or specialize in complex subjects. We also have to work to get more students interested in these STEM learning opportunities, and … Read More

STEM & STEAM Education

5 ways edtech builds cross-curricular connections to STEM content

There are a number of edtech tools and resources to help educators weave STEM learning into all manner of core courses

By Carrie Willis, Technology and STEAM Director, Valley Preparatory School

Cross-curricular connections throughout different subject and content areas help to make lessons more meaningful and relevant for students. Thoughtfully-crafted STEM lessons that leverage technology-rich resources similar to what your students are using outside the classroom are great ways to engage students in interdisciplinary instruction. As a STEM educator, I work … Read More

STEM & STEAM Education

How to choose a STEM platform to support hybrid learning

An educator offers valuable insight on picking a STEM platform and technology provider that can withstand the rigors of today’s unique learning environment

By Meredith Nations, Robotics Teacher, Causey Middle School

If ever there was a time that underscored the need for strong STEM education, it’s now. Our students—the future scientists, engineers, and world leaders—need skills that only STEM can provide. To best cultivate these young minds, our teachers need equitable access to platforms that will help them in every and … Read More

STEM & STEAM Education

3 reasons virtual STEM is here to stay

Virtual STEM offers engaging learning opportunities for students—opportunities that have proved essential during COVID

By Alan Downward, Ph.D., Science Team, Flinn Scientific

Virtual STEM can be defined in various ways – some educators define it as broadly as an online recording of any STEM-based topic, while others are more specific, saying virtual field trips or activities are required for it to be virtual STEM. Regardless, the most important qualification for virtual STEM … Read More

Special Education

5 ways to remotely engage families of students in special education

Students in special education programs can thrive during remote learning if families feel supported and prepared

By Rachael Storey, consultant, Riverside Insights

First things first: educators, you deserve a standing ovation for switching your classrooms to remote learning almost overnight this past spring. While you continue to have significant challenges facing you as remote learning continues in many districts, I have no doubt that you will all rise to the challenge and … Read More

Special Education

Now is the time to transform how we teach students with autism

A 30-year education veteran lays out his vision for how schools can best support this growing population of students

By Dr. Gregory Firn

America, we may have a problem. The CDC recently announced new prevalence rates for autism. The increase from 1 in 68 to 1 in 59 children identified as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is significant because we know that 95-97 percent of children with autism are being served in America’s public … Read More

Special Education

3 ways to improve special education outcomes

By collecting and using data more intelligently, we can plan special education strategies that drive real, systemic improvement

By Andrew Henry

When you combine a steady growth in the number of students receiving special education services with rising expectations for the educators who serve these students, all of whom have very diverse needs, you get a “perfect storm” of challenges for K-12 leaders. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 6.6 … Read More

Special Education

For students with special needs, class is still in session–online

Online learning is a big adjustment for most students, but these four strategies can help students with special needs adjust

By Jenny Kendall

For the past 20 years, I’ve been fortunate to help students with special needs receive the high-quality education they deserve. During this time, I’ve guided them and their families as they navigate the common misconception that online learning can’t work for them. It can and it has. But for those … Read More

Special Education

Digital teaching for students in special education

With learning happening online and at home, students in special education have unique needs that can be creatively addressed with digital tools

By Kimberly Coy, Ph.D.

For more than seven years, I worked in a fully online public school that served general education and special education students in kindergarten through high school. During my teaching time, I specialized in special education needs. Since then I have worked as a professor at California State University, Fresno, conducting … Read More

Special Education

How AR can help students with special needs

AR can be a stepping stone to a more inclusive learning experience for students with special needs

By Ciarán Mather, contributing writer

According to the World Health Organization, around 15 percent of the world’s population lives with some form of disability or special educational needs—and of that 15 percent, 2 to 4 percent experience significant difficulties in functioning. However, the global disability prevalence is thought to be higher than previous WHO estimates, … Read More