teacher Archives

AppWizard

May 31, 2025

NYC students use Minecraft to reimagine inclusive, sustainable spaces in citywide challenge

The all-girl team from P.S. 86 participated in the Minecraft Education Challenge for the second year, focusing on designing a sustainable and inclusive space at Orchard Beach. The challenge, part of the Battle of the Boroughs, had 3,259 applicants, with 175 students in the semi-finals. The team, consisting of sixth graders Yoselin, Zeynabou, Pearl, Emily, and Sadika, was guided by their teacher Kim Judin. They proposed features like solar panels, wheelchair accessibility, and bilingual signage. Although they did not advance to the finals, the experience was valuable for team bonding. The Mayor’s Cup Finals are scheduled for May 31.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Queens students advance in Minecraft esports competition ahead of NYC’s first-ever Video Game Festival

On May 5, over 270 students from Queens participated in the semi-finals of the 2025 Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs at Thomas Edison High School. The event was organized by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, NYC Public Schools, and the National Esports Association. This year's competition saw 3,295 students submit 659 entries, a 37% increase from last year and more than double the participation from 2023. Participants used Minecraft Education to create models of a sustainable New York City. The winning teams from Queens are: - Elementary Division: Team Sigma from PS 24 Andrew Jackson, led by Kerry McGarvey and Principal Bani Singh. - Middle School Division: Neo NYC from J.H.S. 185 Edward Bleeker, coached by Ana Silva-Collins under Principal Michael Leung. - High School Division: Diamond Sword Bustamoney from World Journalism Preparatory School, guided by Ernest Lai and Principal Michael Roberts Bacchus. These teams will represent Queens in the Mayor’s Cup Minecraft Education finals during the NYC Video Game Festival at Convene Brookfield Place in Manhattan. The festival will feature esports competitions, virtual reality experiences, indie game demonstrations, cosplay contests, and a career expo focused on the digital games industry. Deputy Mayor Adolfo Carrión Jr. highlighted the event's role in promoting career-connected learning and the city's digital economy. The final round will take place on May 31.

AppWizard

May 6, 2025

Gardening and tech don’t always go hand-in-hand, but these solutions help make it more fun and less work

Tertill is a compact robotic weeder priced at 9 that helps busy gardeners by taking care of weeding tasks. It has sold out this season due to its popularity. The Seedtime app serves as a digital companion for gardeners, offering a free version and a premium subscription starting at approximately .55 per month. Users can input their garden details, and the app calculates optimal planting times and schedules. It allows manual input for crops not in its database and features a layout section for garden design. Recent updates include an AI-powered companion planting feature that suggests beneficial plant pairings and provides planting dates for crops not in the app's database. The app aims to streamline gardening tasks and enhance the overall gardening experience.

AppWizard

March 26, 2025

Google bolsters Android security for app developers and users

Google has announced a suite of improvements to enhance security within the Android ecosystem and the Google Play Store. Key advancements include: - Enhanced tools to protect businesses from scams and fraud. - Pre-review checks to identify policy and compatibility issues early in app development. - Transparent information on Google Play to build consumer trust. - Strengthened threat-detection capabilities using AI to combat malicious activities. Developers will receive earlier notifications about relevant policies within Android Studio, and the policy experience has been revamped for clearer updates and more time for changes. The Google Play Developer Help Community is expanding to facilitate knowledge sharing among developers. The Play Integrity API is being utilized for over 500 million daily checks to prevent fraud and abuse, with apps using these features seeing an 80% reduction in usage from unverified sources. Improvements for devices running Android 13 include enhanced security signals and automatic updates for developers. New badges for app categories, including a "Verified" badge for VPN apps, are being introduced to validate secure applications. Google is also focusing on creating a safe online experience for children and developing tools like the Credential Manager API for Digital IDs. Last year, investments in security measures prevented 2.36 million policy-violating apps from being published. Google Play Protect is evolving to counter new threats, and the company is collaborating with industry leaders to establish security standards through the App Defense Alliance.

AppWizard

March 17, 2025

This Play Store tweak could offer a new way to highlight quality apps (APK teardown)

Google is working on an update for the Play Store app listings to enhance user experience by emphasizing essential metadata, such as app ratings and awarded badges, which influence users' decisions. An APK teardown of version 45.3.21-31 indicates a revised interface that showcases ratings and badges more prominently with contrasting backgrounds and colors. Currently, app listings include basic information like a synopsis, categories, and ratings, along with credibility-enhancing badges. The updates are still in development and not yet public, aiming to improve the user interface and app discovery experience.

AppWizard

March 15, 2025

Pentagon Schools Instruct Use of Minecraft to Promote DEI Trojan Horse

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is using Minecraft to enhance social-emotional learning (SEL) among middle school students, focusing on skills like collaboration, communication, empathy, and problem-solving. The initiative has faced criticism for its connections to broader educational frameworks, including critical race theory (CRT). DoDEA serves over 67,000 military-connected students across 161 schools in various locations. The program has been rebranded as “resilience” initiatives, aligning with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's commitment to comply with executive orders prohibiting certain educational content related to DEI and CRT. Prior to these orders, Pentagon schools faced scrutiny for including controversial books in their libraries.

BetaBeacon

March 5, 2025

Suikoden STAR LEAP announced for iOS, Android

Publisher Konami and developer MYTHRIL have announced Suikoden STAR LEAP for iOS and Android. It will be free-to-play with in-game microtransactions.

AppWizard

February 28, 2025

N.J. teacher accused of uploading child pornography posed as a teen in chat app, officials say

Matthew Serwedes, a 48-year-old former technology educator from Union County, has been charged with second-degree distribution and third-degree possession of child sexual abuse material. He allegedly posed as a teenager on an encrypted messaging platform to engage with users and had uploaded images of child exploitation. The investigation began with a tip on December 5, 2024, leading authorities to trace videos of sexual abuse to Serwedes' IP address. During a search of his home, electronic devices were confiscated, and he admitted to owning the account used for the activities. Serwedes was placed on administrative leave from his teaching position, and the school district stated there is no evidence of student involvement. He remains in custody awaiting a detention hearing and plans to plead not guilty. Additionally, he wrote a six-page apology letter to the victims and their families.

AppWizard

February 6, 2025

Steam drops 4 free games you can download and keep with 0 subscriptions

Steam has released a new selection of free games for download, available starting February 5. The titles include: 1. Mystical Mushrooms: An interactive-fiction RPG where players control Cyne, a pink mushroom girl, navigating the world of Bhokniva to gather resources and fend off creatures. 2. Cat Rescue: A psychological thriller where players help a woman rescue her cat from a paranoid streamer, solving twisted puzzles along the way. 3. Dodgy Deliveries: A cooperative horror game where players team up to complete deliveries in a city that becomes dangerous after dark. 4. Scary Teacher 3D: A 3D puzzle-stealth game where players prank a character named Miss T while avoiding her detection through clever strategies.

AppWizard

December 11, 2024

I can finally finish Naiad two years after I played through its demo thanks to it shadow dropping during the Wholesome Snack showcase

Naiad is a minimalist adventure game that was officially released during the Wholesome Snack showcase after a demo in 2022. Players take on the role of a river guardian, protecting the ecosystem from human interference and emphasizing environmental conservation. The gameplay involves learning skills from nature, such as swimming like a duck and diving like fish, while completing quests like reuniting lost ducklings with their families. The game's art style is meticulously handcrafted, featuring a minimalist aesthetic with intricate details. Players are encouraged to reflect on their connection to nature while exploring this immersive world.