When it comes to getting middle school students engaged and excited about learning, Jack Maher, a math teacher in New Jersey, knows there’s nothing like breaking out technology, whether it’s gamifying learning or using VR and AR; So Maher takes advantage of free, online resources at Verizon Innovative Learning HQ to easily integrate technology into his lessons. Maher also appreciates how students can experience the practical application of their new knowledge through the use of their tablets. “I think it really enhances their learning to be able to relate it to real-life situations,” he says. For a lesson on slope, Maher led his class in a discussion on how to measure a line’s steepness, then had the students apply that concept using the McGraw Hill AR app in a real-world situation: They designed ski slopes and skateboarding ramps, and watched to see if virtual skiers and skateboarders could handle their slopes, or if they floundered. That hands-on design really drove the lesson home for his student Chahd. “I am going to think about slope the next time I skateboard,” she says. “You're just going up and down all those ribs and hills, and now it makes sense how all that stuff is possible.” Verizon Innovative Learning HQ offers more than 450 tech-based, turn-key lessons from trusted educational partners in core curriculum subjects as well as emergent tech lessons, among others. The education portal is open to all educators at no cost, and with no other participation in Verizon programs required. Verizon Innovative Learning is a key part of the company’s responsible business plan to help move the world forward for all. As part of the plan, Verizon has an ambitious goal of providing 10 million youth with digital skills training by 2030. Educators can access free lessons, professional development, and immersive learning experiences to help bring new ways of learning into the classroom by visiting Verizon Innovative Learning HQ.

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