Ditch That Textbook Podcast :: Education, teaching, edtech :: #DitchPod

195: Snow days ahead? Ideas you can use in class or remotely Jan 15, 2024

In this week’s episode of the Ditch That Textbook Podcast, Matt and Karly dive into digital escape rooms, 2024 vision boards, design prompts, and other ready-to-use resources to get you through those snowy winter days.

News and updates:

Background remover is coming to Google Slides!

Big idea: Digital Escape Rooms

A digital escape room is a type of online game. It’s typically a digital version of a physical escape room, where participants are “trapped” in the room. They must solve puzzles and riddles to escape the room (or complete a specific task).

Our Digital Escape Room resources:

-More than 40 free digital escape rooms on our digital escape rooms page.

-Step-by-step instructions to make digital escape rooms

-Enroll in our online course: Getting Started with Digital Escape Rooms.

-Check out our newly updated Digital Escape Rooms Wakelet collection where you can find ALL of the resources above plus even more. (You can also get our Wakelet collections sent straight to your inbox by clicking on the subscribe button next to our name!)

Tech Tips:

-Create your own Lego Minifigure with Microsoft Designer

-Save time with Gmail template responses— Did you know that you can create templates in Gmail for emails you write often? They are easy to create and could save you lots of time! (Click on the settings wheel / settings / advanced / enable templates … then compose an email to create the template … three dots / templates / save draft as template … in email: three dots, templates).

Quick Teaching Strategies:

-Hopes and Dreams HyperDoc: This online lesson includes videos, quotes, and prompts to get them thinking and talking about the future. They will even use tools like Google Drawings or Canva to help them create their own special quote. After that, they can write a letter to their future selves and even create a vision board as an extension activity.

-Host a rock, paper, scissors tournament— Turn a fun, simple game into a fun ice breaker, brain break, or team-building activity. This post from Guide, Inc has everything you need to know!

Template of the week: Canva Vision Board

Welcome 2024 by designing a vision board or a single word/phrase that represents a goal or focus for the year with Canva EDU. bit.ly/CLCchallenge24

194: Recapping the Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit Jan 08, 2024

The Ditch Summit may be over but we can use what we learned all year long! In this episode of the Ditch That Textbook podcast, Matt and Karly recap some of their favorite ideas shared by our Ditch Summit spotlight sponsors including tool updates, tech tips and templates you can use right away. Matt also shares ideas from his session AI in the Classroom: Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond.

News and updates:

Adobe Creative Express has some great updates!⁠

Matt’s back in the classroom! You can follow Matt’s on Twitter ⁠⁠Twitter.com/ @jmattmiller⁠⁠ to see some pictures, thoughts and updates

Big idea: AI in the Classroom: Today, Tomorrow and Beyond

How can AI help me right now?

AI can give us ideas and save us time (Thought Partner). AI can be a Thinking Partner/Collaborator Example. AI can create lots of examples. Diffit.me⁠. AI can provide feedback ⁠Curipod.com⁠. AI can be a fantastic accessibility tool ⁠Goblin.tools⁠

Where is AI Headed? How will it impact education?

Read: ⁠6 ways to prepare students for an AI future⁠ Read:⁠Scary Smart: The Future of Artificial Intelligence and How You Can Save Our World⁠ and⁠The Coming Wave: Technology, Power, and the Twenty-first Century's Greatest Dilemma⁠

Tech tips:

Use the audio feature in ⁠Book Creator⁠ for prereaders or those learning to read or those learning a new language. Read ⁠Growing authors: 15 ways to use Book Creator to publish student writing⁠ for more ideas.

Chromebook Accessibility Features are built into the device! Learn more: Turn on Chromebook accessibility features

Quick Teaching Strategies:

Gamify class with ⁠BookWidgets⁠! With some of the widgets (like pairs matching) you can have a reward word. You can make this an exit ticket where students have to show you or whisper the reward word to you as they head out the door.

Record with ⁠ScreenPal⁠ for directions, for students who are absent, for a day with a substitute teacher or anytime you need to clone yourself to be in two places at once!

Template of the Week:

FigJam Trading Cards! Creating your own trading card is such a fun way to build community and learn about one another. Have everyone create their own card to share a picture and a little bit about themselves with one another. Read more ⁠How to use FigJam in the classroom: 20 ideas + templates - Ditch That Textbook

193: No prep end of semester project ideas Dec 14, 2023

In this episode of the Ditch That Textbook podcast, Matt and Karly discuss the latest news and updates in education technology. They highlight Google's release of the Gemini AI model and Quizizz's new feature allowing students to refer to videos or documents while answering questions. The big idea for this episode is end-of-semester projects, with Matt suggesting the creation of infographics using tools like Google Drawings or Canva, and Karly recommending student-created quizzes as a way for students to show what they know. They also share tech tips, quick teaching strategies, and a template of the week to support you as we wrap up the semester.

News and updates:

Google releases Gemini AI model
Let your students refer to videos or documents while answering questions. Go to Quizizz AI Create, paste your YouTube link and toggle the "Allow students to watch this video while answering" button to generate a Multi-Part Comprehension Quiz!

The Big Idea: End of Semester Final Project Ideas

Create an infographic: Infographics are very brain-friendly. They create a powerful verbal/visual mix that helps encode information in students’ long-term memory. Plus, they can be fun to create! They can end up being these visually stimulating products of student learning … the kind that students want to share with others!

Utilize one of these 20 Google Applied Digital Skills lessons to get students creating at the end of the semester to showcase their skills.

Tech tips:

Use Magic school tools + Raina the chat bot to create a lesson plan or outline from the resources generated. Check out this video to get to know Raina.
Try a podcast from GZM media in your class! GZM Shows is an awesome resource for teachers looking for podcasts for the classroom. Browse the podcast library and access resources such as lesson plans, discussion guides, and explore boards.

Quick Teaching Strategies:

Use Magic School’s Quote of the Day generator. Write the quote on the board and have your students respond as a bell ringer or exit ticket.
Try a 5 clue challenge!

Template of the Week:

Free time interactive choice board is a compilation or the sites shared in this post 40 sites for students with free time on their hands.
Use the resource as is by sharing the choice board link with your students.
Reuse the Genially template by clicking on this link and then "Reuse this Genially". You will need to be logged into your Genailly account. Learn how to create your free account here.

192: Celebrate CS Education Week and the Hour of Code Dec 04, 2023

In this episode of the Ditch That Textbook podcast hosts Matt Miller and Karly Moura share news about Magic School's new SEL lesson generator and a contest for sharing Ditch Summit. They discuss CS Ed Week resources including 20 ways to celebrate the Hour of Code and explore creativity with AI and NASA's Space Jam. They also provide tech tips on creating fill-in-the-blank image generator prompts and using virtual versions of robots. Matt and Karly share quick teaching strategies like writing a message in binary for students to decode and asking an AI assistant for common misconceptions about content. They also share a template of the week and ideas for using it.

News and updates:

Magic School has a new SEL lesson generator! Other new-ish tools from MagicSchool.ai include their Real World Connections Tool and the Standards Unpacker Tool.
Win prizes for sharing Ditch Summit?!?!?

Here’s how you can participate …

Go to DitchSummit.com and sign up.
In your Ditch Summit welcome email, you’ll get your unique referral link. (If you got an earlier welcome email, it might not have a link. Just sign up again.)
Go share your link far and wide! Every time someone clicks your link and signs up for the summit, you’ll get a referral.

Learn more in this issue of the DTT email newsletter.

The Big idea:

Computer Science Education Week Resources

20 Ways to celebrate the Hour Of Code
Unplugged CS resources include Hello Ruby, Kodable Unplugged and the “Program the Teacher” activity from CSinSF.
Explore Boards Creativity with AI & NASA’s Space Jam
Flip and NASA Live Event

Tech tips:

Create fill-in-the-blank image generator prompts with Microsoft designer. Check out this Tweet from Becky Keene for a link to an example prompt.
Use a virtual version of robots or physical computing devices to enhance your instruction. Visit Bee-Bots online, Ozobot simulator, and MakeCode for Micro:bits.
Robots you might want to try in your classroom:

Quick teaching strategies:

Write your students a message in binary and have your class decode the message as a warm up. Use Binary Translator and give your students the Binary Code Translator Key.
Ask an AI assistant for common misconceptions about your content (#5 in this post Lesson planning with AI: Save time and get ideas)

Template of the week

Learning awards template

Share with us on social media!

Use #Ditchbook or tag @jmattmiller or @Karlymoura on Twitter/X

Don't forget to join the Ditch That Textbook email newsletter at DitchThatTextbook.com/join and be sure to subscribe to the show.

191: Plan lessons faster with AI Nov 27, 2023

In this episode of the Ditch That Textbook podcast, hosts Matt Miller and Karly Moura delve into the exciting world of lesson planning with AI. They explore free tools that can help educators save time, offering quick teaching strategies and tech tips that can be implemented immediately. Additionally, they provide updates on education news and share innovative ideas for utilizing the template of the week.

News and Updates

YouTube will show labels on videos that use AI
We have a new community! Join AI for Admins, an email newsletter and community providing AI tips, discussion, and policy ideas for school/district leaders.
The Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit is almost here! Get all of the details and snag your FREE ticket at ⁠DitchSummit.com⁠

The Big Idea

Artificial intelligence can help you write lesson plans faster -- and give you new ideas you might not consider. Here are some tips and strategies you can use. Check out our post Lesson planning with AI: Save time and get ideas.
Ask an AI assistant for a lesson plan. Suggested tools: ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Bard, Perplexity, Anthropic Claude.
Use AI tools to create lessons or parts of lessons for you. Suggested tools: MagicSchool.ai, EduAide, Diffit Curipod.

Tech Tips

This idea comes from Nadine Gilkison, she suggests using responses from your students’ interest surveys to help craft AI prompts. Using resources like MagicSchool.ai’s “Make it Relevant” tool you can generate ideas that make what you’re teaching relevant to your class based on their interests and background. Check out: Student interest surveys to connect learning to their world - Ditch That Textbook
Use Google Forms to record data about your students. Check out: 25 practical ways to use Google Forms in class, school

Quick Teaching Strategies:

Try the add-and-pass strategy but add an AI twist by having an AI assistant generate the prompt for you! Ask AI to begin a story using your content. Have students either finish the story or use the add-and-pass strategy to complete it. Check out: Add and pass: A fun activity to get them moving AND creating - Ditch That Textbook
Create a checklist for common feedback for students. Read: How do I give feedback to 100+ students?

Template of the Week

⁠Be the Bot template from Ditch That Textbook

Don't forget to join the Ditch That Textbook email newsletter at ⁠DitchThatTextbook.com/join⁠ and be sure to subscribe to the show.

190: The Ditch That Textbook Podcast is back! Nov 20, 2023

Welcome to the revival of the Ditch That Textbook Podcast, hosted by Matt Miller and now joined by Karly Moura! In this exciting new season, we will be recapping the content shared in the Ditch That Textbook newsletter, along with other news and updates from the education world. Join us as we dive into a big idea, delve into quick teaching strategies, and discuss a template of the week, designed to empower educators with practical tools for their classrooms. Get ready to be inspired, informed, and equipped to revolutionize your teaching approach.

News and Updates

The Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit is almost here! Get all of the details and snag your FREE ticket at DitchSummit.com
Google Slides is getting GIFs and Stickers!

The Big Idea

Magic School AI has lots of tools to help save you time. Special Education teachers can check out their IEP generator.
Use Canva's Magic Media to create quick recap videos of your class's week or school events.

Tech Tips

You can use ChatGPT-4 for FREE with Microsoft's Bing Chat. Learn more about it in our post 4 ways Microsoft uses artificial intelligence to support teaching and learning
AI for Education has an entire AI prompt library for educators.

Template of the Week

Yelp Review Template from Ditch That Textbook
April Watkins created a Virtual Field Trips choice board and then had her students write a Yelp Review after their visit. (Note: April created her own Yelp Review template to use with her students. You can create your own or use ours.)
Lindy Hockenbary gave her students a prompt "Imagine you are an animal. What environment do you live in? Evaluate the environment that you live in by writing a Yelp review of that environment."
Chad Miller had his students write Yelp Reviews of inventions that helped societies thrive.
Mr. Topliff asked his students to write a Yelp Review to assess various viewpoints of key revolutions.

Next Week

AI lesson planning
AI for Administrators

Don't forget to join the Ditch That Textbook email newsletter at DitchThatTextbook.com/join and be sure to subscribe to the show.

189: Two words to guide your remote teaching and learning Jul 29, 2020

Back to school is getting close. And as we get closer, many educators are thinking about how remote learning fits into their teaching plans. As we make those plans and create strategies, there are two important words to keep in mind, and how we balance them will have a lot to do with our students' success. In this episode, we will talk about those two things and how we can use them successfully.

188: Press record to give students instructions Jul 28, 2020

There are lots of digital tools out there to help students record their thinking. video tools. Audio tools. There's a lot to choose from. but what if we, as teachers, use some of those tools to give our students instructions? This could be especially important during remote learning. In this episode, I'll talk through the idea, which was first shown to me by fellow educator Holly Clark.

187: A fun tip for recording remote learning videos Jul 27, 2020

When we do instruction remotely, it's nice to be able to record videos for your students. You can record instructional videos, daily check-in videos, announcements, and more. Lots of educators are using Flipgrid (flipgrid.com) for this. In this episode, I share a couple of quick tips to level up your videos for your students on Flipgrid.

186: Awesome Teacher Summer #3: Google/Microsoft training May 27, 2020

Are you a Google-using educator or a Microsoft-using educator? Both companies offer training for educators that goes WAY beyond simple support pages. Google has the Google for Education Training Center, which helps you get Google certified and provides courses for learning their products. The Microsoft Educator Center offers lots of courses on a wide variety of topics -- on Microsoft products and others. In this episode, I'll tell you all about them both.

185: Awesome Teacher Summer #2: Global EdTech Academy May 26, 2020

Imagine a conference you could attend that had lots of really, really good presenters. Imagine they were presenting on lots of topics that really interested you. Now imagine that conference happening for free, every day, and virtually. That's the idea behind the Global EdTech Academy, a project by CUE and Microsoft. They include lots of presentations, master classes, and office hours you can attend for free. In this episode, I'll tell you all about it and where to get signed up!

184: Awesome Teacher Summer #1: EdTech tools May 25, 2020

Summer is a great time for us to renew and recharge. But once we have, sometimes we want to level up our teaching skills. In this episode, I'll share a handful of courses you can take on edtech tools that will widen your teaching repertoire.

183: Student-created unboxing videos May 21, 2020

YouTube has some pretty fun videos to watch. That should be no surprise. it is the second largest search engine in the world! YouTubers have found very creative ways to engage their viewers. We can look to YouTube for inspiration on the activities we ask our students to do! In this episode, I share a fun idea for your next video activity with your students -- The unboxing video!

182: 10 options for online whiteboards May 20, 2020

I love having a whiteboard to write on whenever I'm in a classroom! But when we are doing remote learning, or when we want to engage students in digital spaces, sometimes the whiteboard doesn't translate into those spaces easily. What can we do? In this episode, I will share lots of options for recreating a whiteboard in digital spaces.

181: A FREE remote learning online course! May 19, 2020

We have had to do a lot of adapting and learning in a short period of time with our adjustments to remote learning. To help provide some ideas and solutions going forward, I have created a free online course about remote learning. in this episode, I will tell you what to expect if you enroll and a little bit about what you might learn.

180; Tech Like a PIRATE is out! May 18, 2020

After a hiatus of more than a month, I'm back! My new book, Tech Like a PIRATE, is now finally available! In this episode, you will hear all about it. Plus, I will share where you can find lots of free resources whether you buy the book or not! Plus, you can read the "lost chapter" of the book, the one I wrote that didn't make it in print!

179: No-internet remote learning (part 3) Apr 09, 2020

when all of our students don't have equal access to the internet, what can we encourage them to do to keep learning going? In this episode, the third in a series of activities you can do with no internet, I share four final ideas to help keep the learning going and help students develop themselves as learners.

178: No-internet remote learning (part 2) Apr 08, 2020

When students don't have equal access to the internet, what's a teacher to do? There are lots of options for students who don't have regular access to the internet. We can encourage them to do certain activities that will help them grow in our content areas and as lifelong learners. In this episode, we will talk about three more ways to build our learners without focusing on the internet.

177: No-internet remote learning (part 1) Apr 07, 2020

If your students don't all have equal access to the internet during remote learning, you are not alone. Many educators have concerns about the equity of access during remote learning. However, there are still lots of activities students can do to advance their learning and make themselves better learners. In this episode, I will share three ideas to keep learning going and help students develop themselves as learners from home.

176: An app for your daily gratitude Apr 02, 2020

Could you handle a little extra happiness in your day? I recently found an app that helps you track and reflect on what you are grateful and happy for. This could be a great tool for us as educators. It could certainly help our students. And the prompts inside of it could make for great discussions and reflections for students!

175: What do students need from us now? Apr 01, 2020

With the world changing -- and our class situations changing -- during this time of pandemic, what do students need from us? Their needs may be different than they were when we were last face-to-face in class with them. On the OnlineLearningIdeas.com website, Holly Clark and I discuss five things we think students need from their teachers right now. In this episode, I summarize those five things.

174: What to do on video calls (Part 2) Mar 31, 2020

lots of educators are using video calls to do remote learning. But once you and your students are on a video call, what can you do? In the previous episode, I shared three ideas. In this episode, we take it to the next level with three new ideas!

173: What to do on video calls (Part 1) Mar 30, 2020

lots of educators around the world are connecting with their students through video calls. There are lots of different platforms to use. But once you get on a video call, what will you do with your students? There's so much more to it then direct instruction! In this episode, I share three ideas for using video calls with your students.

172: Step by step instructions without video Mar 27, 2020

When we want to give students step by step instructions, sometimes we turn to a screen recording video. Those videos are clear, but they can be big files that are hard to access for students with slow internet speeds. An alternative that uses very little data is Iorad, a tutorial tool that lets you create web-based instructions. In this episode, I share how you can use Iorad to give students instructions.

171: Recording video for slow internet speeds Mar 26, 2020

When students have a slow internet connection at home, remote learning can be difficult. It's especially difficult if teachers are providing large video files for them to watch. there are some steps we can take as educators to make those videos smaller and still effective. In this episode, I share a trick for creating smaller video sizes that will work better for students with slow internet speeds.

170: eLearning activities: #3 video activities Mar 19, 2020

if we want to keep learning going at home, having some ideas for learning activities can be helpful. In this four-part series, I am sharing some activity types that you can use when your students are learning from home. In this episode, I share a handful of video activities and video tools that students can use. There are even options when students don't have regular internet access at home!

169: eLearning activities: #2 creative slides ideas Mar 18, 2020

there is so much that students can do to learn from home! Whether they have internet access or not, slide presentations offer lots of options. And they don't have to look like the standard oral reports we have done on slides for years! In this episode, I share lots of creative ideas for using slides to demonstrate learning.

168: eLearning activities: #1 graphic organizers Mar 17, 2020

As we try to wrap our brains around what distance learning looks like, it's helpful to have some ideas and examples. In the next four episodes, I'm going to share several different types of activities you can provide students while they are learning from home. In this episode, we talk about the power of graphic organizers to help students navigate their thinking instead of just recall facts.

167: Empowering students to own learning Mar 11, 2020

When students take control of their learning, amazing things can happen. They go from being compliant followers to commanders of their own future. In his session at the NCTIES Conference, author John Spencer shared tips from his book about how to empower students. He encourages teachers to move up the spectrum from compliance students to engaged students to finally empowered students.

166: Finding game hooks to use in class Mar 10, 2020

We love games, and so do our students! When we can pull elements of games into class, it has potential for great engagement. North Carolina educator Chris Goodson shares some of his favorite game hooks in this episode. With some of his ideas, you may spark your own ways to make learning more like a game!

165: Creating in VR with Darcy Grimes Mar 09, 2020

virtual reality is beginning to spread, and so many of its uses have to do with consumption. What if students were able to create with VR? Darcy Grimes, a North Carolina educator and former state teacher of the year, shares how Google Tour Creator can help students learn how to create in virtual reality. You don't even need any fancy gear to make it happen!

164: Digital bell ringer activities to kickstart class Mar 06, 2020

The beginning of class is a crucial time everyday. Those first several minutes can set the tone for the entire day of instruction! If we want to make the most of those minutes, we can give students learning activities that really engage them and stimulate them. And our digital devices can help! In today's episode, I share several ways to kick off class with digital bell ringer activities. I'll also share the blog post -- with a free ebook and a tutorial video! -- where you can find 20 of them.

163: 10 WEEKS of freebies for my new book! Mar 05, 2020

My new book is coming out in April, and I want to celebrate by giving you lots of great free resources! The book, Tech Like a Pirate, shares how we can create memorable learning in the classroom with technology. It will be lots of fun! For the next 10 weeks, we will be sharing lots of free resources on the Ditch That Textbook blog. They will be related to each of the eight ways to Tech Like a Pirate. In this episode, I'll tell you more about it and where you can find those resources!

162: 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon/connection makin' Mar 04, 2020

Have you ever heard of the "6 degrees of Kevin Bacon" game? You're supposed to be able to connect any actor to Kevin Bacon with no more than six connections to other actors. Making connections can be a powerful classroom activity! Nate Ridgway, my co-author in the book Don't Ditch That Tech, has shared a whole folder of templates that help your students to do this. In this episode, I'll tell you about this activity and where you can get those templates!

161: Making infographics with Adobe Spark Mar 03, 2020

Infographics are very brain friendly. They blend together visuals and text in a way that's very sticky for the brain. I recently found a video tutorial by Claudio Zavala that shows how to create those using Adobe Spark Post. In this episode, I will share a few of the tips I learned from his video and show you where you can watch the whole thing on YouTube.

160: Social media hooks for classroom use Mar 02, 2020

many of our students are very interested in social media. We can tap into that excitement and enthusiasm, and we don't even need students to use those apps! There is an inherent draw that every social media platform has that gets us interested in it. If we know what that draw is, we can infuse our lessons with it. In this episode, I share a few of those draws that I see in a variety of social media.

159: 5 Chrome extensions to check out Feb 26, 2020

Chrome extensions add extra super powers to our Google Chrome web browsers. Teachers and students all over reap the rewards of them, too! In this episode, educator Michael Bertoni shares A few useful Chrome extensions from his presentation at the PETE&C Conference In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

158: Podcasting in the classroom with Heather Kelly Feb 25, 2020

Podcasting is on the rise. When we use it in the classroom, it gives students a voice. They are able to create with what they learn. Teacher Heather Kelly has seen great benefits from podcasting in the classroom with her students. In this episode, she shares the simple way she is publishing her students' audio work and tips for helping reluctant students to dive right in.

157: Promoting a solid democracy in schools Feb 24, 2020

We want students to be good citizens and productive members of society. But how can we advocate responsibly for the democracy that we all hope for? Pennsylvania teacher Mike Soskil (Twitter: @msoskil) is the editor of a book that will be published soon. It collects thoughts from classroom teachers and academics about this subject. In this episode, Mike shares a couple of things we can do from the classroom to promote a solid democracy.

156: A good fake news self assessment Feb 21, 2020

It can be tricky to discern fact from fiction these days. It can be even trickier to help our students navigate the digital waters of fake news and fact. In this episode, I share a good fake news self-assessment. It comes from the book Fact vs Fiction: Teaching Critical Thinking Skills in the Age of Fake News by Jennifer LaGarde and Darren Hudgins.

155: 5 FREE virtual field trips to check out Feb 20, 2020

Virtual field trips are so much fun. We can take our students to places all over the world without leaving the comfort of our classroom. Thankfully, lots of these virtual field trips are available for free. They include live video calls with people in museums, historic sites, and national landmarks all over the United States and beyond. In this episode, I will tell you about five great virtual field trips and where you can find more. Did I mention that they are free?!?

154: Student podcasts in Google Slides Feb 19, 2020

Voice is on the rise. Podcast listenership continues to grow. Smart speakers are selling like hotcakes. With all of this buzz around audio content, maybe now is the time to incorporate podcasting in your classroom. However, it doesn't have to be complicated. You can do it with a simple tool you may already use -- Google Slides -- and a free audio recording tool. I ran across a blog post by Jen Giffen (@virtualgiff) and love her solution for it. In this episode, I will share the steps that Jen provides for podcasting with Google Slides. Link: http://virtualgiff.blogspot.com/2020/02/podcasting-in-classroom.html

153 Your Google Classroom secret power Feb 18, 2020

We use Google Classroom to assign, collect, grade, and return work with students. Many teachers will use Google Classroom in a web browser on their laptop or desktop computers. But have you tried the Google Classroom mobile app? It has a couple of superpowers that the regular browser version does not. In this episode, I'll tell you about two of those features and why they are really helpful.

152: Google Slides templates and fixing them Feb 17, 2020

As teachers, a lot of times we like to assign students work using templates. Google slides is a great choice for doing that! But what do you do when students make mistakes and need to go back to a previous version? In this episode, I talk to Maria Sohn, who teaches technology and stem. She has a couple of unique ideas to share!

153: Ask this question for better results Feb 14, 2020

I ran across a really helpful question in a post on Twitter. It may help you, too!

152: Upgrade that textbook with augmented reality Feb 13, 2020

Augmented reality is showing up in more and more schools all over. But how can we use augmented and virtual reality in meaningful ways in the classroom? I love the approach that David Saunders used to upgrade 9th grade history textbooks with augmented reality. I found this example in the book Reality Bytes: Innovative Learning Using Augmented and Virtual Reality by Christine Lion-Bailey, Jesse Lubinsky and Micah Shippee.

151: Classroom tech: Should I use it? Feb 12, 2020

When I was a beginning teacher, I thought that technology use in the classroom was good no matter what. It didn't take me long to change my views on that, though. When we use tech in the classroom, we have to ask ourselves, " How is it improving learning? " In today's episode, I share a few questions we can ask ourselves to see whether we should be using technology in our lessons.

150: More Google Classroom organization ideas Feb 11, 2020

Your Google Classroom can get pretty organized sometimes, can't it? This is a pain point for so many who use it and other learning management systems! A couple of little tips can go a long way to getting it neat and tidy. At the TCEA conference in Austin Texas, I hosted a session on organizing your Google Classroom. Some of the suggestions from the participants were fantastic! I share them in today's episode. To catch the session resources from that presentation, go to http://ditchthattextbook.com/organize.

149: A new social media for educators Feb 10, 2020

So many of us educators turn to Twitter and Pinterest to get ideas and connect with each other. But there's a new social media that's developed specifically for educators that's coming out soon. in this episode, I interview one of the founders, Michael Crawford, to get all the details.

148: Bringing tech into the library Feb 07, 2020

Libraries in schools are getting a makeover. They don't just have to be a room full of dusty books! Kelly and Crystal from Pasadena, Texas, share how they're using technology to engage students in their media center.

147: Flipgrid, information literacy and coaching Feb 06, 2020

I'm at the TCEA conference in Austin, Texas! There's a lot to learn here. In this episode, I share several of my key takeaways from the first day.

146: You CAN do that with Microsoft! with Scott Titmas Feb 05, 2020

Many times, when we see the cool things that teachers are doing with Google products, we might assume that the same things can't be done with Microsoft. But that's not necessarily the case! Scott Titmas Share some of his favorite tips and tricks for making Microsoft products work for you in the classroom.

145: Offering custom PD with Stacy Saia Feb 03, 2020

teachers love to have choices in their professional development as much as students love to have choices in their learning! In this episode, Stacy Saia shares how her school district is giving teachers choice and how they learn professionally -- and how they are reaping great rewards from it.

144: Social media-inspired learning without the app Jan 31, 2020

So many of our students are fascinated with social media. any mention of one of their favorite apps can instantly grab their attention. We can pull elements of social media into our learning activities to engage those students! In a recent post on the Ditch That Textbook blog, We shared several templates and websites that can help you accomplish that!

143: Real-time classroom translation for free Jan 30, 2020

In so many schools around the United States and the world, we see a wide variety of native languages. Providing support to students and their families in their own language can pay great dividends in student learning. The Microsoft translator app lets educators connect with students and their families in their native languages and a wide variety of circumstances. In this episode, I share four places where it can strengthen family communication and instruction.

142: Brain-based ways to reach diverse students Jan 29, 2020

Understanding how the brain works and learns can help us teach and our students learn with more power. Understanding that each student's brain doesn't learn the same way is important, too. In Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zaretta Hammond, she shares how we can understand culture, how it is wired into our students' brains, and how we can reflect that in our teaching.

141: Three phases of learning for the long term Jan 28, 2020

When we learn how the brain prefers to learn, We can learn smarter instead of harder. I got so much valuable information and insight from the book Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain by Zarretta Hammond. in it, she talks about how we can teach in a way that recognizes all students in our classes and optimizes learning for their brains. in this episode, I share her insights on the three phases of information processing.

140: Take the Flipgrid 5 for student accessibility Jan 27, 2020

When students take activities home to do, sometimes they struggle. Sometimes the parents struggle! To add a layer of assistance to your activities, you might try what Nate Ridgway calls the Flipgrid 5. It's an easy way to add a short instructional video to paper-based assignments that you give your students. You can learn more about it on his website, TeachingFromTheRidge.com.

139: Free music/sound effects for class projects Jan 24, 2020

Lots of students do media projects when they need music or sound effects to make them sound their best. The YouTube Audio Library is a great source of downloadable songs and sounds.

138: 3 things I'm loving about Quizizz now Jan 23, 2020

Quizizz is one of several formative assessment tools that teachers are using all around the world. After loading it up recently, I noticed a few newer features that really impressed me. in this episode, I'll tell you what those features are and why you should be excited about them, too.

137: Being bored and brilliant in class Jan 22, 2020

We have so many mechanisms in our life to keep us from boredom. We check our phones. We listen to music and watch TV. But our brain likes to be bored! It does it's best thinking that way many times. I recently heard author Manoush Zomorodi talking about this idea on the Vrain Waves podcast and had to share some of my takeaways from it!

136: Four tools to check out from #fetc Tech Share Live Jan 21, 2020

During the FETC Conference, there were lots of tools and apps shared in a variety of sessions. During the Tech Share Live, The four prisoners shared some of their favorites. In this episode, I have picked four of them that are super interesting to me!

135: The optimal times to do different types of work #fetc Jan 20, 2020

When is the best time to do analytical work? Or administrative tasks? Or insight work? In his book When -- and in his keynote address at the FETC Conference -- author Dan Pink shared what science knows about how to optimize our day. There are fascinating takeaways from it for the classroom and for our daily lives.

134: Timing matters in schools from Dan Pink #FETC Jan 17, 2020

Timing is important in so much that we do in schools, whether it's the start of the school day or when we do different types of academic work. In his keynote at the FETC conference, author Dan Pink shared how schools and education can make better decisions on when to do certain things in schools. his insights were fascinating, and I share a few of them in today's episode.

133: Learning space design with Bob Dillon Jan 16, 2020

When designing our learning spaces, many times we think about going to Pinterest before we think about turning to research. In today's episode, The Space co-author Bob Dillon shares some practical things you can start doing right away to optimize your classroom for solid student learning.

132: Google Slides: Copy selected slides Jan 14, 2020

If you use Google tools very often, you are probably familiar with the feature to make a copy. You can find it under the file menu. In Google Slides, there's a new feature. Make a copy of a slide presentation and only take the slides with you that you need. In today's episode, we hear how to do it and how you might be able to use it.

131: Building relationships by being close Jan 13, 2020

We all know the importance of building those close relationships with our students. But did you know that being close in proximity helps us develop relationships too? Neuroscience tells us that being in personal space, between two and four feet from a person, can help us develop relationships. How often do we take the time to communicate with our students on that personal level?

130: 2 ways to mix up your Flipgrid activities Jan 10, 2020

Flipgrid lets students respond to a topic or a prompt with a short video clip. Many times, teachers simply ask a question And have students respond to it. What if students recorded those video responses with a new twist? How can we look at those video responses through a different lens that lets students play a different part? I have a couple of ideas you can try!

129: 2 tips to start gamification in your class Jan 09, 2020

Lots of teachers have seen great success with gamification. they incorporate the elements of games into their classrooms. If you haven't tried this and are thinking about it, you might be overwhelmed with getting started. You might worry that you don't have all of the pieces in place. In her book, Make Learning Magical, Tisha Richmond offers these two tips to encourage you to give it a try anyway.

128: Get busy on what you want to be known for Jan 08, 2020

It's so easy to get distracted by small tasks ... The kind of things that don't move the needle in the right direction in our lives. For me, that means emails, social media, meetings, and other things. It's important to keep the first thing as the first thing. This quote that I share in today's episode really reminded me to keep my priorities straight.

127: 5 ways to start with AR/VR in class Jan 07, 2020

Have you heard some of the buzz about augmented reality and virtual reality? they are starting to make more and more of a presence in the classroom. During the Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit, Jaime Donally shared some of her favorite apps and ideas for using augmented reality and virtual reality. In this episode, I share some of her suggestions so you can check them out yourself!

126: Iorad: quick tutorials and instructions Jan 06, 2020

If you need to create quick tutorials or instructions for students or parents, You definitely need to check out Iorad. This app creates tutorials on the web, not as a video, so the creation process is really fast and it isn't as data intensive. Use these to give students differentiated instructions for activities and even to share with parents too.

125: Part 2: Avoiding the "gotcha" game on tests Jan 01, 2020

When we only ask students a select few questions on a quiz or a test, it can lead to a game of gotcha. It's almost like we say, gotcha! I figured out what you didn't know! Instead, how can we create assessments that encourage students to show us what they know? in the last episode, I shared a couple of strategies to use. Today, I share two more.

124: Part 1: Avoiding the "gotcha" game on tests Dec 31, 2019

When we give traditional quizzes and tests, it's easy to play a game of gotcha with students. By asking only a select few questions, we are penalizing students for what we caught them not knowing. Instead, we could be empowering them to show us what they do know. In this episode, I'll share a couple of strategies for making that shift on your assessments.

123: Making memes in class with Google Drawings Dec 30, 2019

Memes have become so commonplace in social media and online. They can be a great learning tool! They can help students find the essence of what they're learning, expressing it with brevity and a bit of humor. Learn how to help students make memes quickly and easily using Google Drawings. This idea was shared in my presentation in the Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit (DitchSummit.com).

122: Tech Like a PIRATE Dec 27, 2019

Don't just teach a lesson. Create an experience! When I read that line in Dave Burgess's book, Teach Like a Pirate, it changed the way that I would teach. I started thinking about ways to teach that way with technology and the list grew and grew. This spring, I will release my newest book, Tech Like a Pirate, with tons of ideas you can use in class tomorrow!

121: Organize your Google Classroom Dec 26, 2019

Is your Google classroom a mess? Wish it could be more organized? there are a couple simple strategies you can use to take control! Your students will thank you when they can find what they need quickly.

120: What are your big wins? Dec 25, 2019

do you ever stop to think about your big wins? You know, the things that have gone really well over the last day, week, or month? or the last semester? Or your entire career? It's so easy to get wrapped up in our to do list and think about what we haven't accomplished instead of what we have.

119: What kind of culture are you promoting? Dec 24, 2019

in a presentation during the Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit, Toney Jackson talked about using rap, poetry, and hip hop in his classes. He encourages his students to have a creative outlet, and he does that purposefully through the culture he is creating in his classroom. Have you thought about the kind of culture that you are creating in your own classroom?

118: A network full of podcasts to check out Dec 23, 2019

You may have noticed at the beginning of every episode that I mention that I'm a member of the Education Podcast Network. The EPN is a great resource full of great educational podcasts to check out. there's a huge variety of topics, and I'm sure there's something that will be right for you. In today's episode, I talk about some of the great shows in the network.

117: The podcast about podcasts Dec 20, 2019

I learned so much from listening to podcasts. I can listen to them while I'm working out, while I'm on the road, or while I'm mowing the grass. There are so many great educational podcasts out there! I wanted to share a handful of my favorites in case you wanted to subscribe and listen to them as well.

116: The "tech upgrade" with interactive posters Dec 19, 2019

Sometimes, teachers who are reluctant to use technology don't know where to start. We know that we don't want to Substitute what we used to do with a digital version of the exact same thing. Learning doesn't improve that way. However, we can take an activity those teachers are comfortable with and do a tech upgrade. In this episode, I talk about an example of a tech upgrade -- multimedia interactive posters with Google Drawings.

115: Why OneNote is my notetaking app of choice Dec 18, 2019

I'm a big fan of taking notes on paper notebooks. I have used a variety of digital note-taking apps. However, this one app is changing my mind about how I take notes and keep them organized. That app is OneNote (OneNote.com). It's available for free. Plus, the ability to draw freehand with a stylus or pen is fantastic.

114: Who's speaking at the DTT Digital Summit? Dec 17, 2019

The Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit is a free online conference for teachers. Watch inspiring, practical videos. Get certificates for PD credit. In this episode, you'll get to know the speakers in the summit! Register: ditchsummit.com

113: Instead of note taking, RETRIEVE taking Dec 16, 2019

When you're a student, it's tough to things at once -- like listen to a teacher and take notes. You can't give your full attention to either one. with the practice of retrieve taking, students give their undivided attention to listening and then give their full attention to taking notes. It's an idea from the book Powerful Teaching that will be featured in the Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit. Register at DitchSummit.com.

112: Snow days, shaky Wi-Fi and offline access Dec 13, 2019

Sometimes, it's nice for students to be able to without an internet connection. when they are at home or on the bus or somewhere else that doesn't have Wi-Fi, this is where offline access is really valuable. This is especially timely in Indiana, where I live, because of e-learning days for snow cancellations. Here about some options for offline access in this episode!

111: NEW creation tools in Google Earth Dec 12, 2019

Google Earth calls itself the world's most detailed globe. It lets you look digitally at 3D maps, zooming in and out and gathering information. To this point, it has been largely a consumption tool. However, with the new creation tools, students can now create with Google Earth. You'll hear all the details and how you can use them in class in today's episode!

110: Ditch Summit, a FREE online conference for teachers Dec 11, 2019

It's an online conference for teachers, Netflix style! The Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit brings you dozens of fascinating video presentations. Earn professional development credits for watching them. And do it all from the comfort of your couch in your pajamas! December 21st through January 9th. Register: ditchsummit.com

109: Join the Hour of Code Dec 9-15 Dec 10, 2019

Coding and computer science are skills that are in demand in the workforce now. Want to encourage your students to learn more about them? The Hour of Code is an excellent opportunity! It takes place December 9th through the 15th, 2019.

108: The Ditch That Textbook Podcast is back! Dec 09, 2019

It's been more than a year since I published an episode to this podcast. I'm excited to say that I am back! The podcast will feature short daily episodes with tips, tricks, ideas and more.

107: Keyboard shortcuts to save you time Sep 21, 2018

Minute by minute, you can buy back time for what matters most with keyboard shortcuts. In this episode, I share some of my favorites that you can use to make yourself more efficient!

106: How does storytelling fit in your lesson? Sep 20, 2018

There's a story in everything. Our brains are wired for story. How can we incorporate elements of storytelling into teaching and learning?

105: How to "mixtape" your curriculum, 80's style! Sep 19, 2018

We used to use cassette tapes to record our favorite songs on "mixtapes" that we'd listen to over and over again. (At least I did.) Instructional coach Stephanie DeMichele suggests that we "mixtape" our instruction! She offers a framework for doing it, too.

104: Repetition suppression: The case for novelty Sep 18, 2018

Drive the same route to school for a while and you'll do it on autopilot. Why? It's easier on your brain that way. It can ignore what it's doing. That's "repetition suppression": you ignore what you do repeatedly. This isn't a good thing in the classroom. We don't want students to ignore. This makes the case for novelty!

103: FREE Ditch Summit presentations. Hurry! Sep 17, 2018

Until Sept. 21, 2018, eight FANTASTIC video presentations are available at DitchSummit.com! You'll get practical ideas and inspiration from all of the presenters. But don't worry if you miss it. There's a Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit every December. Head to DitchSummit.com to sign up for updates so you don't miss it!

102: The power of the pause Sep 14, 2018

When we're teaching or presenting, we get in a state of speaking flow. The ideas are coming and we're spitting them out. But many times, we're moving faster than our listeners can process. A pause is a breath of fresh air and some mental processing time. It's powerful!

101: Some focus in the middle of digital distractions Sep 13, 2018

Students get bombarded by media and messaging all day long. Cell phones. Social media. Videos. And the communication that comes through all of them. How can they maintain a balance and live their best lives? Michigan educator Paul Murray has some suggestions.

100: Lessons from 100 podcast episodes Sep 12, 2018

Wow, 100 episodes! It's been a fun learning experience for me, and I hope it has been for you. I do a little reflection on the creation of this podcast and share three things I've learned from having created it. THANK YOU for being a listener and being on this journey with me. Here's to 100 more episodes -- and more!

099: Google Classroom: Differentiate like a NINJA Sep 11, 2018

Google Classroom lets teachers customize their students' learning experiences. But what are the best ways to do that? Michigan teacher Jacqueline Pora (@lasenorapora) shares several clever Google Classroom differentiation ideas that she uses in her class!

098: Solid gold lesson planning ideas Sep 10, 2018

Good teaching practices should be at the heart of what we do, and it's definitely at the heart of the HyperDocs framework. Sean Fahey (@SEANJFAHEY) and Karly Moura (@KarlyMoura) took that powerful framework and shared examples of how it could be spread to many areas of instruction with digital tools. Check it out!

097: Make learning ADDICTIVE with Brian Romero Smith Sr Sep 07, 2018

When learning is addictive, kids want to come back for more, says Brian Romero Smith Sr. (@brianrsmithsr). But how do we create that addictive learning environment? It all comes down to a few things, Brian says, and he shares them in this episode.

096: Tips to make your HyperDocs rock with Sean Fahey Sep 06, 2018

Have you caught on to the HyperDocs craze? Sean Fahey (@SEANJFAHEY) has made lots of HyperDocs in his own classroom. He shares tips to help your HyperDocs succeed in your own classroom!

095: Flipgrid + scavenger hunt = Fliphunt! Aug 24, 2018

it's a Flipgrid scavenger hunt! Kathi Kersznowski (@kerszi) tells us all about her newest creation and how we can bring it in the classroom.

094: Learning in the pause with Shaelynn Farnsworth Aug 23, 2018

One of our most powerful tools as teachers is silence. It can reclaim students' attention. It can give students space to think. Sometimes, we just don't think of it -- or don't realize its potential. Iowa educator Shaelynn Farnsworth (@shfarnsworth) and I discuss.

093: Big changes for student voice with Flipgrid Aug 22, 2018

Flipgrid, the video response tool, is now totally free for anyone. And recently, lots of new features became available. In this episode, we'll outline some of them so you'll be ready to start using them this school year!

092: Google Classroom changes, 2018 version Aug 21, 2018

It's August, which means exciting changes to many of the tools we use in the classroom. Google Classroom has a facelift and some new features. We dive into several of them in this episode.

091: #EducatorGoals with Keven Rinaman Aug 20, 2018

If you're starting a new school year (or have already started one), goals may be top of mind right now. Keven Rinaman talks about goal-setting strategies and how to have a successful year with them.

090: Ditch Those Exams with Stephanie DeMichele Aug 17, 2018

Are traditional exams -- especially standard multiple-choice ones -- serving our students? Can we do better? Stephanie DeMichele, an instructional coach from Ohio, and I presented on this concept at a conference recently and share some ideas from it.

089: Firefly Classrooms with Troy Cockrum Aug 16, 2018

Did you ever spend time catching fireflies (or "lightning bugs") as a child? Author Troy Cockrum believes that learning should be more like that, where we capture our students' interests. He talks about the ideas he shares in his recent book.

088: A sticky note tech app smash! Aug 15, 2018

We usually use sticky notes in the physical world to gather and save ideas. But by smashing the Post-It app and Google Drawings together, your students can do some unique digital brainstorming. Kelli Lane, a tech integration specialist from Illinois, shares how.

087: The Quizizz you never knew ... Aug 14, 2018

Quizizz is a fun, student-centered study tool. Many teachers use it to help students review material they've studied. But other teachers are innovating and using Quizizz in very clever ways. Deepak Cheenath, co-founder of Quizizz, shares some ideas.

086: What the work world is begging us for Aug 13, 2018

Sarah Kearns has spent her entire career in the corporate world, now working as Director of Marketing for ViewSonic. Her perspective helps us see what the work world really wants from students and how we can help prepare them for it.

085: Ditch That Panel with Lance McClard Aug 10, 2018

Missouri administrator Lance McClard and I participated in a panel discussion at the ISTE Conference in Chicago. Lance shares some of his takeaways and his responses to questions, including: "What happens when everything blows up in your face?"

084: Real world connections with Sidekick Aug 09, 2018

What if your students could partner with organizations outside of school? If they could brainstorm solutions to big problems together? Sidekick Education is making that happen. Sarah Shaw shares how all sorts of classes are starting these projects.

083: Try the Connected Kahoot! Aug 08, 2018

Kahoot! games don't have to be limited to the students in your classroom. Steve Auslander (of Indiana, USA) and Steve Sherman (of Cape Town, South Africa) share how a video call can turn your traditional Kahoot! game into a "Connected Kahoot!" game.

082: Teaching for the long game Jul 20, 2018

Sometimes, the most important things we do in the classroom or school doesn't give us immediate results. We need to focus on the long game, according to Megan Hacholski and Michael Abramczyk.

081: The Martians in Your Classroom w/@rachaeledu Jul 19, 2018

The first person to set foot on Mars has likely been born, and there's a chance that she/he is in your classroom. What will that person need as a student, and how do we need to change as educators/schools to provide it? Rachael Mann, author of The Martians in Your Classroom, shares ideas from her book.

080: Let's do PD (or class!) at a destination! Jul 18, 2018

One of the coolest professional learning experiences I've seen was at a zoo. We did PD at a ZOO. I got to reflect with Kari Espin and Andi McNair of Region 12 ESC in Waco, Texas, about the experience and how classes/schools could do the same.

079: Create easy augmented reality in the classroom Jul 17, 2018

I found an amazing way to merge student art and creations with augmented reality at a recent visit to Region 12 educational service center in Waco, Texas. We talk about how it could be used in schools and the classroom.

077: Three FREE online conferences for teachers Jul 16, 2018

Now's the time to get FREE inspiration and ideas online! Check out three "digital summits" -- awesome speakers you can watch from the comfort of home on your time!

078: Concerns about "locked mode" in Google Forms quizzes Jul 16, 2018

Google recently announced that teachers could impose "locked mode" when giving students quizzes in Google Forms. This prevents students from switching to other tabs while taking a quiz. Lots of teachers certainly asked for this feature, and I can imagine why. But it feels like a move that moves us in the wrong direction heading into the future of education.

076: Co-teaching across the world from your classroom Jul 12, 2018

Mike Pennington learned early in his education career that instruction isn't limited to the teacher standing in the classroom. He shares how he co-taught with teachers beyond his state -- and how YOU can too!

075: Awesome animated GIFs with Jake Miller Jul 11, 2018

Animated GIFs are these fun, very useful moving images you see all over social media. But you can make your own -- so can your students -- and they can support teaching and learning! Jake Miller shares his expertise in this episode.

074: TONS of places to go virtually with students Jun 18, 2018

Looking for inspiration on using Skype, Google Hangouts and the like in the classroom? Ohio educator Ann Radefeld has plenty of experience and shares her ideas with us!

073: Video call guests: Just ask them! Jun 15, 2018

Todd Shriver teaches the "History of the 80s" elective class. There are no textbooks available for that class! He brings the luminaries of the 80s to his students. My takeaway from this episode: you never know who you can get until you ask!

072: How to make your OWN Google Expeditions Jun 14, 2018

Indiana educator Ryan Mitchell created an Expedition with his students of their town. He shares how they did it and tips to help it succeed.

071: 7 keys to providing stellar feedback Jun 13, 2018

How can we best help students to improve? The late Grant Wiggins provided a fantastic framework and suggested these 7 keys in a post on ASCD.

070: The benefits of student feedback Jun 12, 2018

Teachers can be hesitant to let students provide each other feedback. We can't control what they'll say and it takes effort to coach them to do it well. But student feedback is POWERFUL and we should consider all the potential benefits.

069: Optimal spacing between reviews Jun 11, 2018

How long is too long between review sessions of old material? How short is too short to be effective? Research has some guidance for us.

068: The power of #ISTE18 from home Jun 08, 2018

One of the best professional learning experiences you can get from home in the summer is #iste18 on Twitter. Learn how to tap into it!

067: Are you an over-consumer? Jun 07, 2018

Podcasts, blogs, social media, books ... They're all fantastic for ideas and inspiration. But still some point, it's time to do something.

065: Research says to ditch that rudeness Jun 01, 2018

It's easy to let ourselves slip, to express our frustration to students (and colleagues) in not so helpful ways. A study shows the negative effects of this and suggests some corrections to help. It's a great reminder.

064: Organizing and archiving Twitter with Wakelet May 31, 2018

Wakelet will let you save the web -- tweets, social media posts, links, images -- into curated lists. It's great for organizing and storing tweets for later.

063: How I make the videos in my online course May 24, 2018

Looking for a way to kick up your video creation game? Hear how I created the videos for my online course, Tech to Learn. (More info: http://DitchThatTextbook.com/part4)

062: The Create a World Project May 23, 2018

What can students do when they've learned about civilizations all over the world? How about create their OWN country in a world created by the class? Texas social studies teacher Ben Lewis caps off his year with this project. Even if you don't teach social studies, this is an inspiring project.

061: Several Seesaw tips from the teaching trenches May 22, 2018

Alexis Crutchfield, Katrina Yang and Brittany Bondy are believers in Seesaw, a platform for student digital portfolios and parent communications. Hear how these teachers use it in their classes at Sampson Elementary School in Cypress, Texas.

060: More power for your Genius Hour May 21, 2018

Genius Hour can put a spark in your class, giving students opportunities to pursue their passions. Fourth-grade teachers Kayla Swonke (Twitter: @kaylaswonke) and Lyndsey Kubos (Twitter: @lyndseykubos) share some ideas and lessons from implementing it in their classrooms.

059: What's your WHY, and has it changed? May 18, 2018

Our why focuses our lives. It's our reason for being. It's easy to lose sight of our why, and many times, our why changes over time. What's your why, and how has it changed over time? It's big questions like these that we tackle in this video: http://ditchthattextbook.com/part3

058: Google Forms Quizzes are getting smarter May 17, 2018

Google's machine learning is improving lots of its products. Now, it can help us create multiple-choice questions without brainstorming incorrect answers. See how these smarter Google Forms can make your life easier.

057: Creating engaging repetitions May 16, 2018

Repetitions help students make new concepts permanent. But mindless repetitions are a lot of action without great results. But creating engaging repetitions can make for sticky learning! Learn more about this in the video at http://DitchThatTextbook.com/part2.

056: The 50/30/20 model for learning May 15, 2018

How can we incorporate more passion-driven learning and more hands-on projects into our classes? I found this advice from Don Wettrick (@DonWettrick on Twitter). It's a framework for crafting our classes. It's an interesting take and one that could have HUGE benefits.

055: Avoiding tech overwhelm for students AND teachers May 14, 2018

When we let too many digital tools into the classroom, it can be overwhelming for students. And tech overwhelm is DEFINITELY an issue for teachers. Can we find ways to do new things with the tech students are already comfortable with?

054: You don't need the app to create the experience May 11, 2018

Our students have their favorite websites, apps and digital tools. We don't have to require them to use those apps/sites to get the same experience in class. Recreate the experience without the app! This is one idea from a free video series I'm doing in May. More details: DitchThatTextbook.com/series

053: GimKit: Like Kahoot with power-ups May 10, 2018

I've stumbled upon a new digital assessment/review tool that shows promise. It's like Kahoot with a store where students can buy power-ups to use in the game. It's called GimKit (gimkit.com). The free version is limited, but it's definitely worth checking out.

052: Perfection is the enemy of your goals May 09, 2018

It finally happened. I missed a day in my daily podcast. Actually, I missed two. So, according to Jon Acuff's book "Finish", today is the most important day in my podcast goals: the day AFTER perfect.

051: Now's the perfect time to reflect May 04, 2018

At the end of the school year, it's the perfect time to take stock of what's working and think about different ways of teaching in the future. I talked about this idea on Classroom 2.0 LIVE, a weekly web show at http://live.classroom20.com. Check this one out as well as future episodes!

050: Love TED Talks? Teach like them! May 03, 2018

TED Talks have inspired millions. How can they influence our classes? Rachael Mann of Teach Like TED talks about how we can empower student voice and help students express their ideas and their learning more effectively.

048: You are already teaching coding ... May 02, 2018

Some of the fundamentals of computer programming / coding, like if/then statements and logic, are likely already present in your class. By identifying them and changing how you talk about them, you may be able to highlight coding in class without changing much. Code Breaker author Brian Aspinall discusses that and more in this show.

049: What do our assessments reward? May 02, 2018

How can we create.assessments -- and assess student learning -- that truly demonstrates what they know? Brian Aspinall returns to the show to discuss.

047: Making the most of online learning Apr 30, 2018

When we switch our teaching from traditional means to the online world without making modifications, we miss out on the greatest parts of digital instruction. Michele Eaton shares how to make the most of it.

046: Escalate or de-escalate? Humanize or de-humanize? Apr 27, 2018

This quote by Haim Ginott had a HUGE impact on me as a young educator. It still speaks to me today. At the end of the school year, it's something we have to keep in mind. We have ENORMOUS power on the climate of our own classrooms.

045: 4 teaching skills I learned in the journalism world Apr 26, 2018

I (Matt) didn't major in education in college. It was journalism. I worked several journalism jobs before becoming a teacher. I wouldn't change it, though. Here are some great skills I learned from the journalism world that helped me as a teacher.

044: How to create Bitmojis for students Apr 25, 2018

Bitmojis are so fun! They're like cartoon versions of ourselves, and we can communicate via Bitmoji. Some are inappropriate, though, and the terms of use are 13+ years old. Here's a safe way to get Bitmojis in the hands of our students.

043: Hearing from EVERY student Apr 24, 2018

"If you're not hearing from every student in every classroom, you're doing it wrong." What do you think of this quote? Technology can help teachers hear from every student in ways we couldn't before.

042: About that ONE kid that's not paying attention ... Apr 23, 2018

It's happened to all of us. A lesson is going great and ONE kid is spacing out -- OR giving you the death stare. That student is all we can think about afterward. Remember that ONE disconnected student doesn't mean failure in teaching.

041: Use KQED Learn to learn and share with an audience Apr 20, 2018

Inquiry is a great way to help students own their learning and learn how to pursue their curiosity. KQED Learn is a platform that's set up for students to start exploring, discovering and sharing. It's free and it's ready for you to use immediately!

040: The power of lunch with students Apr 19, 2018

I was inspired by a story in the book "The Wild Card" by Hope and Wade King where a student had lunch with different groups of students for an entire month. How could that have a great impact on your relationships with students?

039: Battling naughty Kahoot! nicknames Apr 18, 2018

Do you struggle with students creating naughty nicknames in Kahoot! games? Kahoot! has created a new feature to eliminate the temptation of typing a naughty nickname. Check it out and see if it's a good fit for your class.

038: Internet access for any assessment? Apr 17, 2018

What would happen if we allowed "open internet access" during any assessment? I saw this question on Twitter from John Eick (@John_Eick) over the weekend and it had me thinking. What would happen?

037: 4 tips to live by on Twitter Apr 16, 2018

Social media can be our lifeblood of classroom ideas, inspiration and connections. Here are some suggestions for making the most out of Twitter / social media for educators.

036: My daughter Cassie reviews Poptropica! Apr 13, 2018

Poptropica is one of my sixth grade daughter Cassie's favorite games. She makes the case for using it to help kids learn.

035: On copy/paste cheating and "making" kids stop Apr 12, 2018

It's so easy to Google almost anything ... especially assignments. Can we "make" students stop? What's the solution?

034: Google Apps for Littles: Believe they can! Apr 11, 2018

Littles can use Google tools too! In this book by Christine Pinto and Alice Keeler, they show you how!

033: What to do now that Padlet isn't totally free Apr 10, 2018

Padlet, a digital bulletin board-style collaboration tool, recently announced that it is no longer totally free. How should we deal with digital tools we have to pay for?

032: Student podcasts with @WeVideo and @Flipgrid Apr 09, 2018

Student voice is a hot topic in education right now. But how can you give students that microphone in an authentic, doable way? Andrew Fenstermaker and his fifth-grade students show you how! Twitter: @a_fenstermaker

031: Learning sketchnoting with #Sketch50 Apr 06, 2018

Sketchnoting (or visual notetaking) is a very brain-friendly way of learning ... and it's TONS of fun! Hone your sketchnoting skills (and introduce it to your students) with #Sketch50! Check it out at sketch50.org or the #sketch50 hashtag on Twitter.

030: Using OK GO's phenomenal music videos in class Apr 05, 2018

The band OK GO has the coolest music videos! There's a lot of math and science behind these videos. They have recently created a fantastic resource for the classroom to help you inspire students academically with their music videos: OKGOsandbox.org.

029: Making FUN animated Google Classroom headers Apr 04, 2018

Students that use Google Classroom are greeted by header images every time they log in. Create your own custom Google Classroom header image. To give it some added flair, use animated GIF images to make it move! Hat-tip to Paul West (@pdubyatech on Twitter).

028: Using brackets in class with Brackify Apr 03, 2018

March Madness and the men's college basketball tournament has people all over the United States buzzing with excitement. How can we use brackets to carry that excitement over into the classroom? Check out Brackify.com as a free digital tool to use.

027: The future of technology in education ... Apr 02, 2018

What's it going to look like? Really, it's anyone's guess how tech will influence education in the future. But an interview with Microsoft's CEO piqued my interest and got me thinking about it.

026: Bringing a hip hop program to middle school Mar 29, 2018

How can hip hop influence and inspire students at a middle school in Bronx, NY? The effects can be farther-reaching than you might think. Listen as a principal, musician and filmmaker combine to influence student lives. More info: casadocumentary.com.

025: Where to start with AR and VR in the classroom Mar 28, 2018

Augmented reality and virtual reality are becoming a reality for classrooms. Mike Drezek shares some cool ways teachers can start incorporating this cutting-edge technology in class for little to no money. (Mike's Twitter: @m_drez)

024: Student connections all over the world Mar 27, 2018

Mike Drezek connected students to India. Those students' worldview was widened. How can you make similar connections? It may be easier than you think. Mike shares some ideas. (Mike's Twitter: @m_drez)

023: Introduce your students to penguins and Antarctica Mar 26, 2018

Genny Kahlweiss's students sent a flag to a research station in Antarctica, where it was flown for three days. They video chatted with scientists and named penguins. How cool! How did she do it? She shares how YOU could do these things, too! (Genny's Twitter: @kahlweiss)

022: Fabulous @Flipgrid ideas! Mar 23, 2018

Flipgrid's short video response platform has taken the education world by storm. What are some of the coolest ways teachers are using it? Flipgrid's Joey Taralson and Adam Parker-Goldberg share some ideas!

021: A full-color yearbook with Google Slides?!? Mar 22, 2018

Can you really produce a whole yearbook with Google Slides? Jennifer Scott's school did, complete with full color and a fancy cover. The total cost: $10. Plus, she has resources so you can do it, too!

020: Sharing your brand with Ben and Josh Mar 21, 2018

Branding isn't about making money and being famous. It's about sharing your story and letting people know what you stand for. Ben Cogswell and Josh Harris share how students and schools can benefit from a little branding.

019: Alice Keeler and conversation in the math classroom Mar 20, 2018

Alice Keeler says there's something missing from math instruction. It's dialogue. Math is more than putting your head down and completing problems. She talks about what we can do to change that.

018: Dave Burgess and March Madness in the classroom Mar 19, 2018

March Madness is upon us, and America will be watching lots of college basketball. How can we use this in the classroom? Dave Burgess, author of Teach Like a PIRATE, shares some ideas you can start using right away. (Dave's Twitter: @burgessdave)

017: The afternoon dip, and how it affects students Mar 16, 2018

There's a trough in our thinking abilities in the afternoon. It can have a profound effect: as much as having a couple alcoholic drinks. How can we position students to succeed -- in class and on standardized tests?

016: Our digital work doesn't have to be 8.5"x11" Mar 15, 2018

With online documents and slides, we often stick to the status quo for size. If certain work isn't going to be printed -- or displayed on a projector -- why do we keep it in traditional letter size? Here's a case for rethinking our digital working spaces.

015: The juice that makes @Flipgrid even better Mar 14, 2018

We spend so much time helping students with their writing skills. Giving them some guidance on speaking can have huge benefits. Here's a model for it, and it works GREAT with Flipgrid.

014: The fear of the blinking cursor Mar 13, 2018

Have you ever started a project and got stuck before you ever got started? There are some things we can do to help students overcome that obstacle and get started.

013: A small nudge toward growth mindset Mar 12, 2018

Many of us know of "growth mindset" as the idea of "yet" -- I can't do it *yet*. But there are other small adjustments we can make in the classroom to help students better develop growth mindset.

012: A fascinating read: How to Fix the Future Mar 09, 2018

How to Fix the Future is a book by Andrew Keen, a self-proclaimed Internet pessimist. He's written five books about how destructive technology has been to our lives, but this book is an optimistic one about how we can act more responsibly for a brighter digital future. It's a great fit if you use or talk about technology in your classroom and/or personal life. (I think that covers most of us ...)

011: How voice typing can free up your teaching life Mar 08, 2018

I believe in voice typing! Also called dictation, it's when you speak and your device converts it to text. It's SO much faster than typing with your fingers (or thumbs). Imagine what you could do if you got through your emails or other work just a little faster ...

010: Educators -- Do this, DON'T do that in social media Mar 07, 2018

Twitter is the BEST thing that happened to my teaching career. It really saved it. However, there's a balance to be maintained, and if we're careful, Twitter (and other social media) can consume our lives instead of help them.

009: Personally created GIFs can make your students' day! Mar 06, 2018

GIFs are super fun. They're those moving image files you see all over social media. There's this fun tool you can use to record your own animated GIFs with your webcam. Add them to student work for feedback, to a class website, to Google files ... almost anywhere!

008: Studying the way the brain craves Mar 05, 2018

So often, we encourage students to study by putting info into their brains by re-reading notes and chapters. But brain science tells us it's more effective if we study by pulling info FROM our brains. A great strategy for this is the digital brain dump.

007: Push this button for more learning Mar 02, 2018

There's a button we use in many digital learning tools to keep kids from cheating. But it can do more than that! Learn how it can be used to help kids learn too.

006: Why you need a class podcast -- and how to make one for FREE Mar 01, 2018

Podcasting is a growing medium. It let's you learn by listening -- consume content -- while doing something else. Students can share learning with an authentic audience by creating a free podcast. Learn how!

005: The power of student voice Feb 28, 2018

How can we encourage students to use their voice -- in learning, in positive ways, to make a change -- in class and throughout our lives?

004: Google Drawings: Tricks you didn't know! Feb 28, 2018

Google Drawings is a great tool to help teachers and students create eye catching images digitally. There are some cool tricks to it that you might not know. In this episode, we cover some of them. You won't want to miss it!

003: Using Story Speaker w/Google Home in class Feb 26, 2018

Story Speaker lets you create interactive "stories" or interactions with your Google Home. Learn how you can create them with NO CODING ... just a Google Doc and this add-on!

002: Padlet: New features, new possibilities Feb 23, 2018

Padlet, the web tool that lets you add digital sticky notes to a virtual bulletin board, has been around for a long time. But with new features -- take pictures, record video, and more -- there's more to love than ever. If you haven't checked it out recently, it's worth looking at!

001: Welcome to the Ditch That Textbook podcast! Feb 23, 2018

I'm so excited to start this podcast! My goal is to equip, inform and inspire educators five days a week. In this episode, I will tell you what to expect from this show and tell you a little about myself.

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