OTIS Professional Development for Educators : Blog

New Professional Development Coming to OTIS for Educators in November

November is a great month for educators to engage students in important holidays such as Election Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving. November is also a great month to familiarize yourself with the latest in EdTech trends as you prepare for the second half of the year. Check Out What’s Brand New in November! Escape from […]

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November 06, 2025

4 Elements Required to Create an Effective Rubric

Project-Based Learning or PBL, is an effective teaching method, in which students learn by actively engaging in meaningful and real-world projects. These projects are student-led and designed to foster the growth of 21st-century skills, such as collaboration, problem-solving, and communication. With PBL, you can blend content mastery and meaningful work to create powerful learning experiences, […]

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October 30, 2025

How to Create Holiday-Themed Activities Using AI

Are you ready to embrace the holiday spirit in your classroom, but don’t know where to start? Let AI be your guide! With fall and the holiday season right around the corner, many teachers find themselves unsure of how to celebrate with their students. One of the biggest challenges is aligning holiday-themed lessons with standards […]

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October 22, 2025

Best Practices for Using AI to Support Differentiation

The future is here! Due to the evolution of technology, AI is accessible with the click of a button. AI is now everywhere and is beneficial to students and teachers alike. There is so much you can do with the correct tools and knowledge. Harnessing the power of AI is especially important when it comes […]

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September 25, 2025

Building AI Literacy in Classrooms: Hands-On Robotics and EdTech Tools for Future-Ready Skills

As AI technologies become embedded in our daily lives, educators are recognizing the importance of preparing students to interact with these tools and develop AI literacy. From voice assistants to recommendation algorithms, AI is everywhere. Understanding how these technologies work is no longer optional – it’s essential for building digital fluency, computational thinking, and future-ready skills. In Teq’s […]

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September 23, 2025

Back-to-School Essentials with OTIS for Educators

Feeling anxious about heading back to school? Don’t fret! OTIS for educators is the perfect platform for you. OTIS offers virtual professional development courses designed to support educators and transform learning. Gain free teaching resources, fall craft ideas, and back-to-school essentials with OTIS for educators! Once you sign up, you’ll find online professional development courses […]

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September 17, 2025

New Online Professional Development for September

OTIS for educators is gearing up for back-to-school with a whole new schedule of online professional development for September 2025. We’re committed to providing high-quality online training to support educators as they get ready to tackle a new year. Here’s some of the courses available that educators can expect this fall: Online PD for AI […]

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September 04, 2025

A Quick Guide to Incorporating AI into iBlocks

Welcome to the digital world! As technology continues to advance, Artificial intelligence (AI) has infused itself into nearly every aspect of our lives. As such, it is important for students and educators to understand how and why AI is used. In order to prepare learners with future-ready skills, we first need to learn how to […]

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August 21, 2025

Six Strategies to Boost Math Engagement with Unruly Splats

Ready to revamp your classroom? Let’s get unruly! Unruly Splats are colorful floor tiles that light up, track points, and trigger sounds. Using a simple Bluetooth connection, they link to any device and allow students to play interactive games. Get the class out of their seat while boosting STEM skills and student engagement. Splats are […]

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August 07, 2025

Enhance iBlocks and Classroom Learning with Killer Snails

Imagine being able to put the excitement of making new scientific discoveries in students’ hands. Well now you can make your dream come to life, with Killer Snails! Through extended reality experiences and games, students are able to connect with real-world issues in a fun, engaging, and immersive way. This is the perfect complement to […]

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July 24, 2025

We’re Headed to the Sunshine State for FACTE!

Teq is soaking up the sun for the 59th Annual Florida Association for Career and Technical Education Conference (FACTE)! Taking place from July 20th to July 23rd, 2025, this premium event serves to connect career and education professionals. We’re ecstatic to network with educators and vendors to make this event come to life. Don’t miss […]

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July 18, 2025

New Online Professional Development for July

OTIS for Educators has rolled out a fresh lineup of online professional development courses for July 2025. Thus, continuing its mission to support educators with flexible, high-quality online training. Here’s some of what’s available and also what educators can expect for PD in July: Online PD for AI in the classroom 1. Best Practices for […]

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July 17, 2025

We’re Flying Down South for the 2025 NCAPCS Annual Conference!

Teq is headed to the beaches and mountains for the 2025 North Carolina Association for Public Charter Schools Annual Conference (NCAPCS)! Taking place from July 16th to July 18th, 2025, this top-tier event features our premier edtech, STEM, and project-based learning solutions. Don’t miss out on this amazing event! Come see it for yourself at […]

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July 16, 2025

4 Summer Microlearning Essentials

It’s summertime and life is feeling easy! You’ve done what feels like the impossible and made it through another school year. Now that you’ve gone through some highs and lows, it’s time for a little relaxation! Once you’ve decompressed, it may be time to start thinking about the upcoming school year. One option is turning […]

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July 10, 2025

Building Connections with PenPal Schools

Why PenPal Schools? Want to unlock a world of learning for your students? PenPal Schools should be your next destination. They have connected over 500,000 learners in over 130 countries with the mission to promote learning and empathy for people everywhere. Motivate students to learn a new language and build connections with PenPal Schools! […]

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July 02, 2025

Hands-on Manipulatives for ELL Comprehension

Learning a language can be fun but it can also be a bit overwhelming at times. When learning English, it can be especially difficult due to the unique nuances. Between idioms, words that start with silent letters, to homographs and tenses, there is a lot to take in. To top it off, some letter combinations […]

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June 26, 2025

7 Apps for Early Childhood Education

Apps can provide a way to introduce and reinforce concepts across a variety of disciplines. Whether used in class, after school, or to prevent a summer slide, there are a variety of options to keep students engaged in their learning. Here are some of the top apps for early childhood education. Note: the following content […]

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June 12, 2025

Learn While Staying Active With Lü!

When thinking of our fondest memories in school, many of these moments that we remember were when we were actively engaged. In elementary school, I fondly remember playing thrilling games of “Capture the Flag” in gym class or taking part in competitive review games to help study for upcoming exams. The Lü Interactive Playground can […]

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May 22, 2025

9 Resources for Enriching Civics Education

In recent years, schools have seen a decline in the emphasis of civic literacy throughout student learning. This can be attributed to sources including the Brookings Institution and the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy. What is civics education? Civics includes knowledge of governmental structures (local, state, and national), constitutional principles and rights. In […]

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April 17, 2025

Pioneering AI in the Classroom with UBTECH Education

UBTECH is an industry leader in STEM education, providing robotics kits for students of all ages and skill levels. These kits provide students with hands-on activities that allow them to develop the necessary skills needed to tackle real world issues. UBTECH uKits allow students to tackle more than just science and engineering challenges. They will […]

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April 08, 2025

4 Ways ActiveFloor Encourages Interactivity and Play

Gone are the days of stagnant, traditional classes! It’s time to introduce your students to ActiveFloor! This go-to gadget allows educators to present academic content in a fun and gamified way. How does ActiveFloor work? It’s simple! This interactive learning solution comes with a projector, computer, tracking camera, and floor mat. The system can fit […]

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March 20, 2025

4 DIY Spring Cricut Crafts

Looking for easy DIY crafts? Want to spruce up your classroom? Grab your Cricut and let’s leap into springtime! Cricut-cutting machines are the perfect tool for improving classroom instruction and promoting creativity. With unlimited designs and various materials, the possibilities are endless. Cricut can cut out designs, decals, labels, and assist with any project you […]

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February 27, 2025

Let Ozobot EVOke the Fun Back Into Math

There aren’t a lot of people who can say that math is their favorite subject. It certainly has never been my strongest. I wanted to run and hide the moment there was any mention of math. The reason why I despised the subject was because in my day, it was all about memorization. There was […]

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February 13, 2025

Cleaning and Disinfecting Your SMART Board

As part of Teq’s professional development team, one of the most frequently asked questions we get when doing a SMART Board training is, “How do I clean and/or disinfect a SMART Board or interactive flat panel and its accessories?” Cleaning your SMART Board should never be a daunting task. Lucky for you, the procedure has […]

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January 24, 2025

Creating Your Own Games in Breakout EDU

Are you looking for a fun and interactive tool to engage your learners? Breakout EDU can help students unlock a love for learning by applying knowledge with higher order thinking, a developing growth mindset, and perseverance. The Breakout EDU platform boosts teamwork, empathy, and problem-solving through learner-centered experiences. Students can solve digital and kit-based games, […]

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January 09, 2025

Ready, Set, Read! – Top 5 Resources for Gamifying Literacy

Reading has a magical ability to transport you to different worlds and forgotten times. It can teach you new things and provide an escape from reality. The writing process can provide authors with alternate forms of communication and imagination. However, for some students, reading and writing can feel like a chore. In order to build […]

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December 19, 2024

Fun with Lasers in the Classroom Using xTool

When I was growing up, lasers were devices that you could only see in sci-fi movies or cartoons. Lasers were inventions from the distant future. It turns out that the distant future was not so distant! Lasers are now a part of everything from construction sites to medical procedures! We are able to have fun […]

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December 10, 2024

Teq and OTIS Bringing Free Courses to New PA Teachers

The first few years of teaching are daunting enough as it is. As the new school year is underway, the teacher shortage is affecting states across the country, including Pennsylvania. As a result, the Pennsylvania Department of Education developed an Educator Workforce Strategy. This strategy outlines goals and aims to address critical needs in regards to […]

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October 15, 2024

3 Reasons to Update to SMART Notebook 24 for the New School Year

Summer is quickly coming to a close. Let’s make sure we are ready to hit the ground running when your students start walking through those classroom doors. SMART Notebook has recently released the latest update to its software – Version 24. Be sure to check out what’s new and familiarize yourself with these updated features […]

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August 28, 2024

Starting the School Year Recycled

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces 4.9 lbs of trash a day. Additionally, public schools are estimated to produce over 14,500 tons of waste every day across the United States, via earthday.org. These statistics are startling, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed. However, schools can make small and simple changes that […]

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August 22, 2024

3 Back-to-School STEAM Activities for Little Learners

Back-to-school season is a time of new procedures, learning opportunities, friendships, and so much more. For all students, we want to provide engaging activities that get them excited for the school year ahead. Specifically, for little learners, creating hands-on and interactive STEAM activities will help to promote a positive learning environment that empowers student voice […]

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August 08, 2024

SMART Technology and Transforming Classrooms

Technology continues to evolve in and out of the classroom. It is important that educators understand the solutions they are working with. In many cases, they are left puzzled when faced with new technology, such as display panels, with no one to help troubleshoot. However, the partnership between SMART Technologies and Tequipment Inc. (Teq) with […]

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July 25, 2024

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