Tech You Can Touch
When we launched our Marketplace in August, it was focused mostly on interactive software products that provide rich digital learning experiences for your students. Over the past 9 months we have been fortunate to build partnerships with Nearpod, GoNoodle, GradeCam, and over 30 other amazing edtech software companies to help get these awesome tools in the hands of your students.
As always, we continuously looked to you, our amazing community of teachers and administrators for feedback and recommendations. We hone in on the most urgent needs in your schools and classrooms and focus on how we can make the purchasing process more streamlined and affordable. What we heard was an overwhelming need for additional resources that focused on hands-on learning or could be used in makerspaces.
We expanded the marketplace to include an increased number of vendors that you recommended that place an emphasis on hands on learning. We wanted to take an opportunity to highlight our partners that can be used to build out makerspaces, start robotics clubs, create 3D models, and more.
Best Buy
Best Buy EDU, a direct channel of Best Buy, makes it easier than ever to give students the tech tools they need to succeed. Best Buy will help guide you the best solution that meet your needs and your budget. Whether you are rolling out new devices in the classroom, launching BYOD initiative or upgrading the technology throughout your school, we can provide the support, products and protection that you need.
Best Buy is the trusted source for electronics in classrooms and homes across the country. Through our partnership you are able to get Chromebooks, tablets, and Google Expeditions kits for your classroom. The best part is we have secured pricing that provides you with up to 20% of the retail price as well as free shipping on all bundled packages.
Raise funds for Best Buy here.
littleBits
Let’s empower the next generation to have the creative confidence & curiosity to always ask why. To test ideas without fear. To take feedback without ego. To use their brains and hands to solve real-world problems when there isn’t a clear right answer. With littleBits, kids learn how to be more than just consumers of technology. They become inventors.
littleBits makes a platform of easy-to-use electronic building blocks empowering everyone to create inventions, large and small. Let’s empower the next generation to have the creative confidence & curiosity to always ask why. With littleBits, kids learn how to be more than just consumers of technology. They become inventors.
Raise funds for littleBits here.
Dremel 3D Idea Builder
The Dremel 3D Idea Builder makes it is easy to build objects with the Dremel on-board software and color touchscreen, which enables a preview of each model before you build. Additionally, the Dremel 3D Idea Builder comes equipped with a pre-installed extruder (the part where the filament comes out and builds your model), unlike other 3D printers that require you to install it yourself. This makes setup as simple as plugging in your printer, and you’re ready to build! Along with easy-to-use software, you can start turning your ideas into models and projects in minutes.
Dremel 3D curriculum-based lesson plans are written by actual teachers and subject matter experts and aligned with key education standards. These instructional guides will allow educators to get 3D printing integrated into classroom learning right out of the box. The Dremel Dreams program integrates 3D printing into the classroom with lesson plans and resources that are designed to nurture the confidence of educators and students as they explore hands-on applications of STEM in the classroom.
Raise funds for Dremel here.
Birdbrain Technologies
BirdBrain Technologies serves as a catalyst for transformative, maker-based learning experiences for all students. Founded at Carnegie Mellon University in 2010, BirdBrain was created to promote gender equality and diversity in engineering and robotics. The Finch Robot makes coding tangible in many programming languages ranging from Kindergarten to College-level computer science.
The Hummingbird Robotics Kit is comprised of lights, sensors and motors, allowing students to build a robot out of any materials. Both of these products empower students to take ownership of their technical and creative skillsets and engage in flexible problem-solving activities. Hundreds of thousands of students have been impacted by our products worldwide.
Raise funds for Birdbrain Technologies here.
mcSquares
mcSquares are the whiteboards of the 21st century classroom. Each square gives an individual voice to each student and then as all students easily snap their tiles together on a wall it creates a collaborative environment for all students to give feedback and collaborate together.
mcSquares are currently installed in hundreds of school districts around the country and dozens of colleges and Universities. Using mcSquares to deliver a lesson both enhances student learning experiences and improves assessment scores when compared to teaching without mcSquares. In a recent study, 41% of students utilizing mcSquares improved their post-test scores when compared to experiencing a lesson in which the teacher did not use mcSquares, and 72% of students preferred using mcSquares over paper and pencil.
Raise funds for mcSquares here.
Kano
Kano is a build-your-own computer and coding kit for all ages – as simple and fun as Lego. In 86 countries, kids aged 5 to 81 have used Kano to make art, music, games, gadgets, and more, learning & sharing over 25 million lines of code. We're the creative computing choice for over 900 education programs around the world, empowering thousands of young innovators. Kano is being used in classrooms, clubs, after-school programs and makerspaces to empower young people to develop their digital literacy, computational thinking and 21st century skills.
The journey is guided by engaging storybooks and plug-and-play pieces, before diving into an open-source OS to navigate computing basics. Gamified challenges guide the way through coding art, music, Minecraft, and much more.
Raise funds for Kano here.
Maker Maven
Unbox and Start Making™ effortlessly with your new Makerspace and STEAM education partner, Maker Maven! Their STEAM based activities encourage creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking skills needed for 21st century learning.
Maker Maven has partnered with the best companies in STEAM education to provide you with a variety of high tech and low tech maker activities suited for learners of all ages. Each kit comes with convenient curriculum-friendly task cards that provide guidance for both learners and facilitators.
Raise funds for Maker Maven here.
HUE
Has there ever been a better time to inspire the next Walt Disney or Pixar director? HUE makes colorful and affordable technology to inspire creative learning and teaching. We have a global presence and we take pride in our award-winning products.
HUE Animation Studio, a complete stop-motion kit, comes with software, camera, and illustrated book of ideas and tips. Fostering the 21st century skills of creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, the HUE Animation studio allows students from kindergarten on up to showcase their understanding and learning, all while they are engaged in a fun experience.
Raise funds for Hue here.
