Inside the Design pulls back the curtain on the ideas, choices, and creative details behind our favorite EMC² Learning resources. See how the magic gets made, steal what works, and bring it into your own classroom. Free ideas, practical inspiration, no strings attached!
Is it August already!? Back to School season is fast approaching, and there are all sorts of flashy edtech gizmos and gadgets clamoring for teachers’ attentions as we set up our classrooms for the new school year. But which ones are worth our time? FETC to the rescue!
Eight cities. Eight weeks. Thousands of educators. A single lesson kept following us home: when people care about the learning, they want to see it through. Here’s what a summer of playful PD taught us about flow, reflection, and designing classrooms worth leaning into.
Run it back with us to Shippensburg University! Games were played, ideas were challenged, and teachers became learners again. Take a trip to the Keystone Technology Innovators Summit, where playful pedagogy, iterative design, and purposeful learning took center stage.
A painful fall off a livestreamed conference stage. A great book on the Science of Learning. An unexpected reminder that teachers aren’t always the best judges of our own lessons. Ready to laugh at my pain? Here’s what Make It Stick taught me after I missed the landing.
What happens after hundreds of teachers click “Submit” on the EMC² Learning annual summer survey? That’s when the real work begins. See how classroom conversations become priorities, priorities become projects, and surveys become systems to put the PDSA cycle into play.
Ever wonder how EMC² Learning decides what to build next? It isn’t guesswork. Go behind the scenes as we share the summer tradition, systems, and continuous improvement cycle that shape every resource we create. And maybe (read: definitely) score a freebie resource, too!
Three Innovative Schools Summits. Three cities. One mission. EMC² Learning is headed to Nashville to share two new sessions on purposeful gamification and AI-powered teaching, while learning alongside incredible educators who continue to shape the work we do every day.
What can classrooms steal from great board games? In the debut of Games People Play, John shares three recent favorites and the instructional design ideas they sparked—from fresh twists and heartfelt stories to thoughtful expansions that keep learning engaging. Read on.
We’re headed to Las Vegas for two sessions tackling one of education’s biggest questions: how do we preserve authentic thinking in the age of AI? Join the fun as we explore practical classroom strategies that put creativity, critical thinking and human connection first.
Last year, Murph taught me about community. This year, a 20-pound weighted vest taught me about mindfulness. Today’s post is a reflection on slowing down, embracing obstacles, and why the most powerful lessons often come one rep, one paragraph, and one idea at a time.
Flying into Orlando and back home the very same day, EMC² Learning is heading to ISTE Live ’26 for a whirlwind session on playful pedagogy, gamification, and authentic engagement. Fast trip. Big ideas. Zero guessing games. Join the fast-paced fun and let’s get our game on!
Fresh paint. Faster pathways. And a brighter experience from top to bottom? Say more! After the biggest behind-the-scenes overhaul in EMC² Learning history, the dust has settled and the “pedagogy theme park” is up and running cleaner, quicker, and better than ever before.
Assassin’s Creed in a history lesson?!? A recent classroom video went viral and has sparked all sorts of conversation in the edu-sphere. This blog post looks at what it reveals about engagement, task design, and how we can better support student learning. Just push play!
Back in the classroom and back in the trenches! As Michael celebrates 20 years in the classroom, John steps into a new school and a new hybrid teaching role… in the middle of the academic year! What’s next for EMC² Learning, you ask? Give a click for all the details.
These days, even the Vatican is drawing lines around all things AI! But teachers aren’t pastors. And teaching isn’t preaching. Join us for a closer look at AI, agency, and why the real commandment might not be rejecting the tool, but refusing to abdicate your calling.
Recently, John joined Dr. Ryan Read on The Pixel Classroom Podcast to discuss the new book, the changing state of education, and what real engagement looks like in an AI-shaped world. Tune in for an honest conversation about design, joy, and staying human in the details.
Run it back with us to Orlando for the Innovative Schools Summit! We’re bringing TWO high-energy sessions to the Theme Park Capital of the World to help you level up engagement, outwit the AI blindside, and play with purpose at any age. Grand Ballroom. March 14. Let’s go!
Climb aboard! We joined The Dave Burgess Show for a full-circle conversation on playful pedagogy, student voice, and teaching boldly in an AI age. Michael and Dave go back to Explore Like a Pirate (2016) — and this episode proves the Pirate spirit is still sailing strong.
Ready to move your review day way beyond the usual guessing games? Check out EMC² Learning’s all new Stack Skirmish collection, which blends hands-on learning with some seriously solid teaching fundamentals. See what happens when Bloom’s Taxonomy gets a playful twist!
Snow days should still be snow days—but winter has a way of piling on. If you’re facing multiple closures or virtual days, we’ve got you covered. A blizzard of playful ideas that work for any content area, without forcing school-as-usual. When plans change, play adapts!
Texas educators: this one’s for you. At TCEA 2026, we’re leading three sessions on next-level gamification, AI-proof assessments, and authentic play in the artificial age. Wanna’ play? If you’re ready to move beyond chocolate-covered broccoli, we’ll see you in San Antonio.
At long last, the new book finally here! In an age of AI, learning can’t afford to feel mechanical. Playing with Purpose shows how thoughtful play, intentional challenge, and inclusive design help teachers create classrooms where curiosity thrives and learning sticks.
What if the real problem with teacher PD isn’t teachers at all, but the stories we tell about them? From wizards to witches, today’s blog post pulls back the curtain to reveal what educators truly want, need, and deserve. Read on and change your teacher PD… for good!
Happy 2026! Ring in the New Year with 1100 activities (and counting!) designed to energize any classroom. From quick wins to deep engagement, these playful, flexible ideas help students reflect, reset, and launch the year with momentum. Bonus: no confetti cleanup required!
Tired of scrolling, tweaking, and hoping a lesson works? This post explains why EMC² Learning isn’t just another Teachers Pay Teachers wannabe. Click to learn about how our quality control, pedagogy-first organization, and versatile designs can actually improve your craft.
Mark your calendars: EMC² Learning is headed to Orlando for FETC 2026! Catch John Meehan in workshops, speed learning labs, a poster session, and a book signing. From hands-on learning to big ideas, there are plenty of ways to connect, talk shop, and play with purpose!
Talk about something phish-y. A random Science Friday interview with Phish’s Mike Gordon took us on a long, strange trip straight into a deep dive on flow, neuroscience, and the surprising power of improvisational play. Ready to find the groove for your next lesson plan?
New to EMC² Learning? Welcome to the playful pedagogy party! But with 1,100+ activities, that all important first step can feel overwhelming. Fear not: this quick guide breaks down how our resources work and shows you how easy, flexible, and fun your classroom can become.
Our biggest news of the year is here: a brand-new book, 50+ UDL-upgraded EMC² resources, and a sneak peek at your chance to get ahead of the game for 2026 and beyond. There’s never been a better time to join the EMC² community and start playing with purpose. Check it out!
Shuffle up some serious engagement! Suit Strategies turns any lesson into a high-energy showdown of wit, risk, and reward. With plenty of themes and infinite flexibility, this EMC² Learning collection is your ultimate ace up the sleeve for student-centered excitement.
We’ve got mail! One teacher’s thoughtful question led to a deep dive on goal-setting, self-reflection, and how EMC² designs tools that make every classroom a place where playful learning can lead to serious results. Wanna’ see what they inspired? Pro tips await inside!
Ready to scare up some serious student engagement? Check out EMC² Learning’s Halloween Hit Parade — a frightfully fun lineup of seasonal classroom favorites guaranteed to spark smiles, creativity, and collaboration. No tricks here — just treats for classes ready to play!
Ready to Rumble?! Meet Story Spinner Smackdown: a plug-and-play lineup of themed arenas where one routine unlocks endless variety. Spin nine wheels, spark outrageous connections, and teach with joy. Millions of boards, flexible wildcards, zero prep—any grade, any subject.
Civolution is EMC² Learning’s most ambitious deep-game yet—part Civilization, part Sim City. Student teams build dynasties, unlock tech trees, and show epic mastery of your content. Use it for two days, a unit, or an entire semester! Give a click and let the games begin.
Back to school is in full swing! And that means that schools everywhere are putting schedules together for all kinds of in-service workshops, trainings, and conferences to help provide teachers with the support to get the job done right. Wanna’ learn with the EMC² crew?