For over 15 years, Simply Technologies has been sneaking digital manufacturing into classrooms—one buzzing spindle and slightly terrified teacher at a time. So far, they’ve helped over 3,500 North American schools bring STEM to life in very real, very loud, very safe, and very hands-on ways.

Their father-son company, Simply Technologies, has (unofficially but confidently) placed more CNC machines in schools than anyone else on the continent. They like to say they created CNC for teachers who didn’t sign up for CNC—and it turns out, that’s a lot of them.

In September 2025 they launched Empower[ed] Academy—what they believe is the first-ever CAD/CAM/CNC Teacher Training & Certification program in North America. The goal is to help teachers confidently turn their students’ “Imagination to Reality”—without having to Google “what’s a post-processor” mid-lesson.

On this episode, Steve and Jeremy share insights and stories from 15 years of classroom CNC success, and some practical tips and ideas that teachers can use the day after they listen to the episode.

The founders of Simply Technologies Group Inc. in London, Ontario, Steve and Jeremy Stevenson, have worked within the digital manufacturing since 2009. As a father-son duo with deep industry expertise and a passion for innovation, they offer a diverse range of products, including CNC machines, CO2 laser systems, and GRIT Automation products. Beyond selling equipment, they are committed to education and support, providing in-depth training, technical assistance, and industry-leading resources to help customers get the most out of their investment, with the help of their support and training guru, David Logan.

Connect with Steve & Jeremy:

• Website: simplytechnologies.xyz
• Empower[ed] Academy: learn.simplytechnologies.xyz
• Instagram: @simply.technologies

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

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With a cardboard box and a spark of imagination, in 2008, Makedo was born. More than just tools, Makedo empowers kids to become problem-solvers, innovators, and collaborators.

Today, Makedo isn’t just a product line of blue screws & cardboard tools; it’s a vibrant, global community of makers dedicated to building a better future for people and the planet through imaginative, purposeful play, one cardboard creation at a time.

(Check out the Makedo website for lessons and resources to use their reusable screws in your classroom and home. And follow their social media to get more great ideas and inspiration to build and create with your kids.)

Colleen Graves has been an educator and librarian for over 20 years. In 2018, her passion for blogging about makerspaces and libraries shifted her education career into crafting content strategy for innovative edtech companies like Makey Makey, Chibitronics, and now Makedo. Now as the Education Content Officer, USA & Canada, for Makedo, she takes her Makerspace skills and is building lessons and helping educators find ways to get kids to use their brains and their hands.

Check out a few of the Makedo Lessons:

• History in the Making: hub.make.do/education/sel-lesson-plans/history-in-the-making-exploring-history-with-cardboard-costumes
• Cardboard Arcade 9+ : hub.make.do/education/sel-lesson-plans/cardboard-arcade-engineering-games-that-move-ages-9-
• Animal Adaptations: hub.make.do/education/sel-lesson-plans/animal-adaptations

Be sure to check out Colleen's books The Big Book of Makerspace Projects and 20 Makey Makey Projects for the Evil Genius

Connect with Colleen & Makedo:

• Website: www.make.do
• Twitter/X: @makedo
• Instagram: @makedo
• Facebook: @makedo
• YouTube: youtube.com/makedotv
• Colleen's website: colleengraves.org
• Colleen's LinkedIn: Linkedin.com/in/colleen-graves/

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show

After 10 years as Quizizz, a new way and a new focus has necessitated the change to a new name: Wayground.

Kyle Niemis is the Head of Community at Wayground (formerly Quizizz), educator, and co-founder of ClassroomQ. "Wayground provides educators with a supplemental learning platform that brings together instruction, practice, and assessment in an AI-supported hub that helps students hit grade-level standards faster."

Used in 90% of US schools & over 150 countries worldwide, educators can dive into a library of resources that are standards-aligned and mapped to curriculum. Import and customize your own trusted materials with dozens of question types and formats to motivate every student, not just the loudest or the fastest

Wayground allows you to vary the student experience across dozens of formats, modes, and question types and get clear data (for you and for them) that celebrates progress.

Set one of more than 25 accommodations for each student once and they're applied automatically moving forward. You can even adjust reading levels for groups of students and individuals.

Give it a try, it'll help.

Connect with Wayground:

• Website: wayground.com
• Twitter/X: @waygroundai
• Twitter/X for Kyle: @KyleNiemis

Chris Woods is the host of the STEM Everyday Podcast... Connect with him:

• Website: dailystem.com
• Twitter/X: @dailystem
• Instagram: @dailystem
• YouTube: @dailystem

Get Chris's book Daily STEM on Amazon

Support the show