Selecting books for kids can be fun, but it’s not always easy. The world of children’s books is vast and as varied as its audience. Matching a young reader with the book they’ll fall in love with is itself a labor of love. Luckily, children’s authors are happy to help, and every year they publish […]

Bill Nye possesses a power that millions of adults lack. It's something like the Midas touch, only instead of transforming everyday objects into gold, he morphs the boring into the cool. That's no simple task.

If you’re a part of the Spark network, you know that we’re always on the lookout for innovative tech tools. Last week, we showcased five unique tools that helped students and adults get creative in some seriously inspiring ways. This week, we’d like to shine a spotlight on four more new digital devices. From wireless […]

If you've been following this blog, we don't need to tell you that tech tools are a great way to make learning fun. You already know this, and if you're a parent, teacher, caregiver or simply a lifelong learner, you probably have your own strategies for making the most of digital learning tools in your daily life.

If there's a single tool that can get kids excited about the 2012 Presidential Election, Play the Election is it.

SparkTruck, an “educational build-mobile” is traveling across the country bringing unforgettable experiences to kids across the country, with stops in Pittsburgh September 12 - 15

The world of digital learning tools just got a dose of 90s nostalgia. Reading Rainbow’s rolled out with a new app for the iPad – one that was developed by LeVar Burton himself. For anyone who learned to read sometime during the last 30 years, this is obviously exciting news. For parents and educators, it […]

Forget the diary -- buy a domain instead and let your kids blog!

Are you a teacher hoping to make the most of your summer "vacation?" If so, use one, or all, of these tips to make the next school year your most successful one yet.

Gamification -- what is it? Check out the five inforgraphics we've rounded up for a visual explanation.

Learnist is a creative learning site that hopes to connect experts to amateurs and help us all learn something new in the process.

Summer reading is a little like eating broccoli. Kids who like it need no convincing, but those who don't? Getting them to change their minds is an uphill battle.

You've heard of DML, but have you heard of ZBL? Zombie-Based Learning is a new approach that uses the undead scenario to challenge students.

If you've made a promise to yourself, or to your kids, to attend more Pittsburgh events and have more summer learning fun this season, the Pittsburgh International Children's Festival is a great place to start.

A new trend in technology integration is sweeping the nation: Bring Your Own Technology, or BYOT, if you prefer.

Helping students retain what they've learned during the school year is important, but try to get your child to do some schoolwork during the summer months and you won't just be ignored -- you could face a full-scale mutiny.