teacher Archives

AppWizard

January 28, 2026

Minecraft Club builds strong communities-in-common

At Oakestown Intermediate School, the Minecraft Club, led by sixth-grader Nicholas Voiles as mayor, promotes collaborative creativity and community building among students. The club operates under a social behavior contract signed by all members, emphasizing shared responsibility and democratic principles. Teacher Chelsy Darby facilitates the program, which has gained popularity since its establishment last year through Grandville Community Education. Club members meet weekly to construct a virtual city, engage in battles, and participate in challenge builds, each taking on specific roles like banker or sheriff. The club fosters friendship opportunities and enhances problem-solving, strategizing, and coding skills among participants. Members vote on decisions, reinforcing the democratic aspect of the club. Darby highlights the development of interpersonal skills as students collaborate and communicate during gameplay.

AppWizard

January 26, 2026

Block by block: Johns Island middle school students bring future rec center to life in Minecraft

Sixth graders at Haut Gap Middle School designed a future recreation center for Johns Island using Minecraft as part of a month-long competition. The winning design, created by Colin White, Hart Anderson, Elijah Robertson, and Russell Thiem, was presented to the City Council. The center is planned to be a 50,000-square-foot facility featuring a 25-meter swimming pool, a therapy pool, a yoga studio, indoor courts for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball, as well as outdoor amenities like additional pickleball courts, a basketball court, a playground, and a splash pad. The students creatively adapted game elements in their designs, such as using spider webs for basketball netting and snowballs as basketballs. City Councilman Jim McBride acknowledged the importance of the students' input, and Mayor William Cogswell humorously requested a motion to approve the budget for the new center. The construction will be funded through a million bond referendum approved by voters in 2023, with an anticipated groundbreaking in October and an estimated 18-month construction timeline.

AppWizard

November 23, 2025

Constance is a metroidvania that wants its monsters to mean something

Constance's store page on Steam presents her as a heroine in a vibrant yet deteriorating inner world, exploring themes of mental health, creativity, and inner purpose. The game features mechanics like boss health bars and pogo-jumping that seem inconsistent with its serious themes. It draws comparisons to titles like A Short Hike and Celeste, but Constance's journey often feels superficial, with violent encounters treated as currency drops. The dreamlike realms, including an astronomy area, raise questions about their significance but lack meaningful insight. Characters, such as Frida, are visually appealing but do not deepen the narrative. The game warns of its mental health themes but fails to explore them genuinely, with fleeting moments lacking dialogue or reflection. While gameplay mechanics are engaging and the environments visually stunning, the narrative lacks depth, leaving players wanting a more profound exploration of its themes.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

Flashnote Derby- music notes! For Android

Flashnote Derby is an interactive music education app designed for children to learn how to read music notes through a racing game format. Users identify musical notes to advance their virtual horses, with the speed and accuracy of their responses affecting their progress. The app allows users to review missed notes after each race and offers multiple answering methods, including playing notes on instruments or using an on-screen piano. It is customizable, enabling users to select specific notes from various clefs and adjust the difficulty level, including the addition of sharps, flats, and key signatures. The app features drills that increase in complexity and includes over a dozen instructional video lessons for beginners. Teachers can utilize the app for assignments and track student performance to provide targeted support. Flashnote Derby aims to make learning music enjoyable and engaging for various types of music students.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Top 10 AI Chatbot Apps for Android in 2025 – Try Free

In 2025, AI chatbots have become essential daily companions for millions of Android users, assisting with various tasks such as content brainstorming, travel planning, language learning, and engaging conversations. The Google Play Store features numerous innovative AI companions that integrate well with mobile devices, most offering free or freemium access. Key trends include optimization for mobile use, support for multiple AI models, and affordable access to generative AI. The top AI chatbot apps for Android in 2025 include: 1. ChatGPT by OpenAI: Best overall experience with fast responses and a memory feature. 2. Google Gemini: Deep integration with Google services, ideal for productivity. 3. Claude AI by Anthropic: Best for writing and reasoning, with a focus on long-form content. 4. DeepSeek AI: Lightweight and completely free, popular in emerging markets. 5. Nova AI Chatbot: Allows switching between multiple AI models in one app. 6. Meta AI Assistant: Integrated within social media platforms for casual use. 7. Chatbot AI: User-friendly with multi-model support, ideal for beginners. 8. Replika AI: Focuses on emotional support and companionship. 9. Brave Leo AI: Privacy-first chatbot that does not collect personal data. 10. Chatbox AI: Feature-rich with support for various interactions across multiple models. The selection criteria for evaluating these apps include performance, user interface, model variety, free access, privacy and security, and Android optimization. Future developments in AI chatbots may include on-device processing, contextual memory, distinct voice personas, and enhanced tool integration.

AppWizard

October 12, 2025

Police found secret messaging app on spy suspect’s phones

One of the suspects in the China spy case allegedly used secure communication applications on 'burner phones' intended for Beijing agents. Christopher Berry and Chris Cash were charged with transmitting secrets to China between 2021 and 2023, but the trial collapsed due to the Government's failure to assert that China posed a national security threat at the time of the alleged offences, leading to their not guilty declaration. Berry was stopped at an airport in February 2023, and suspicious applications were discovered on his electronic devices, which contributed to the charges. Berry is accused of transferring about 34 files to a Chinese handler, with the information reportedly obtained by Cash, who worked for the China Research Group and as a Commons researcher. Both men were arrested in March 2023 under the Official Secrets Act for conveying information detrimental to UK safety and interests. Berry is suspected of sharing information about internal government disputes over the Newport Wafer Fab semiconductor factory and accommodations for MPs during a visit to Taiwan. British intelligence identified Berry and Cash after detecting UK-related information in the Chinese intelligence framework. The potential for a successful prosecution was noted by experts, who criticized the government's reluctance to address espionage efforts.

AppWizard

October 3, 2025

Minecraft-style game based on Bude to help teach climate change

A customized version of Minecraft, named CoastCraft, has been launched by the Environment Agency to engage children aged nine to 14 in climate change issues, focusing on coastal erosion and flood resilience. The game is set in Bude, Cornwall, and encourages players to protect their environment while considering community needs. This initiative is part of a £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme, developed with Minecraft Education and Cornwall Council. The government is committing £7.9 billion over the next decade for coastal community protection. Students from Sir James Smith School and Windmill Hill Academy contributed to the game's development.

AppWizard

September 27, 2025

Polk County teacher accused of sending child pornography on messaging app

Eddie Chirino, a 34-year-old teacher from Tenoroc High School in Polk County, has been arrested for downloading and distributing child pornography, facing three counts related to promoting sexual performance by a child. The investigation began after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children alerted local authorities. Chirino used the Kik messenger app for sharing illicit videos, and during a search of his home, detectives found marijuana and evidence of child pornography on his electronic devices, including videos and chat logs. He was taken into custody and is held at the Polk County Jail, with the school district confirming his termination. The Polk County Sheriff emphasized a zero tolerance policy toward child pornography, especially involving educators.

AppWizard

September 26, 2025

Warframe’s new update is exactly what I wanted, with an adorable mushroom frame and much-needed mod quest

Players often start their Warframe journey with Excalibur, Mag, or Volt, but some are drawn to other frames, such as Garuda. The author found Saryn Prime, obtained from a Twitch drop at Tennocon 2024, to be a better fit for their playstyle. The primary frames they currently use are Nyx and Oraxia, with excitement for a new frame teased at Tennocon. The upcoming Warframe update, titled The Vallis Undermind, introduces a new area called The Deepmines beneath the Orb Vallis on Venus. Players must connect with a new bounty vendor named Nightcap in Fortuna to access this area. The update features a new resource called Fergoline, which players can feed to a creature known as 'The Prince' for visions of The Deepmines' history. Nokko, the 62nd Warframe, is a support frame with abilities such as Stinkbrain, Brightbonnet, Reroot, and Sporespring. He has a passive ability called Vital Decay. Players can unlock Nokko by purchasing him with Platinum or grinding Nightcap's bounties for blueprints. The Vallis Undermind update also includes The Teacher quest for modding education, a rework of Oberon, and new cosmetics. The update launches on October 15, and players logging in between October 15 and October 21 will receive the base Oberon frame for free.

AppWizard

September 6, 2025

Russia targets WhatsApp and pushes new ‘super-app’ as internet blackouts grow

Marina, a 45-year-old freelance copywriter, has experienced disruptions in WhatsApp and Telegram services due to new restrictions by Roskomnadzor, affecting communication for millions of Russians. The restrictions coincide with the launch of a state-sponsored app called Max, which is being promoted heavily and is required to be pre-installed on devices sold in Russia as of September 1. Max is designed to integrate various services, including government and banking, similar to China's WeChat, but raises privacy concerns due to its data-sharing policies. In addition to app restrictions, many regions in Russia are experiencing regular mobile internet outages, justified by the government as protection against potential drone attacks, but criticized by experts. The Kremlin's tightening control over internet freedoms has been ongoing since 2012 and intensified following the invasion of Ukraine. The government is working on a plan to limit online access to essential services during outages, further increasing control over the population's digital activities.