A Teacher's Guide to EdTech: August 2024 Edition
Lindy Hockenbary
I partner with K–12 schools & EdTech companies to maximize the use of educational technology to create powerful modern learning experiences. Find help with instructional tech: gen AI, immersive learning, Minecraft.
?Swifties and Frenchies: A Back-to-School Inspiration Duo
As you gear up for the new school year, we're bringing a unique blend of inspiration—Swifties and Frenchies. Whether you're a Swiftie, a Frenchie fan, or an education lover, you will find a tip, tool, or tail (see what I did there?) to energize your 2024-25 school year.
This month's newsletter includes:?
Inspiration: What Educators Can Learn from Taylor Swift
Back-to-school time is exhausting—there, I said it. But just like Taylor Swift never misses a beat, you can find the energy to conquer the new school year. If you’re in need of some inspiration, take 15 minutes to watch my Hipipalooza keynote: What Hapara Educators Can Learn from Taylor Swift.
Channel your inner rockstar to boost your classroom mojo!
Swiftie tip: Once you register for Hipi-palooza (free!) you'll gain access to your backstage pass to the session recording.
Tech Tool Spotlight: Book Creator
Hipi-palooza spoiler alert: Every Swiftie knows the power of a well-told story. Book Creator offers another way to bring the storytelling magic into your classroom. If you’ve attended one of my trainings, you know I love tools that integrate multimedia seamlessly—and Book Creator is top of the charts for that.
As if embedded audio, video, images, voice record, annotations, autodraw, shapes, and icons wasn't enough, the Book Creator team recently added over 800 page templates of everything from comics to genre themes. Book Creator is a freemium tool so everyone receives basics for free and can upgrade to receive premium features.
I use Book Creator in my "Chopped: AI Stars" session as a way to bring stories to life. Check out the example below from one of my ISTE 2024 participants. This is the beginning of a story about Sherlock Holmes finding himself lost on space station with no memory!
Where in the World Is Lindy?
July and August had me feeling like I was on tour with Taylor Swift, hopping from gig to gig across the country!
I joined the learning.com staff in Portland, Oregon to share how to "work smarter, not harder" by leveraging AI tools. This was a great change of pace to my normal instructional-focused trainings.
If you aren't familiar with learning.com, they have an amazing curriculum focused on digital citizenship (and yes, AI literacy is included!), computer science, and more.
I was able to stay close to home and present three sessions at the Innovation Runs Through It conference in Missoula, Montana:
I facilitated "Incorporating Technology into Social Studies" for Georgia educators. Georgia's Social Studies standards include personal finance and economics, so it was right up my alley!
I somehow didn't take a single picture all day, so you are getting my tour manager, Guinness the Frenchie, instead. ??
Our partnership with Inspirit VR led Lindy to Albertville, Alabama and Chris to Colorado Springs, Colorado.
By this point in my August travel schedule I needed a very large Dunkin Donuts iced tea. ??
I had HUGE groups of middle and high school educators exploring the implications of AI on curriculum and instruction in Kentucky.
And look at me actually remembering to take a picture!
Earn Some Extra Dough ??
Do you have presentations or videos that you are willing to share? CreatorUp has partnered with an EdTech company to expand their K-12 content library—and they want your amazing work!
Content should be appropriate for a K–12 audience. Any subject or topic will be considered.
This is a great way to get paid for the content you are already creating for your students. Take a page out of Taylor Swift's book and monetize your talents!
Frenchie Break!
Free Access to Leveled World Literature Texts
I engage in daily conversations on the pros and cons of technology on education, learning, and society. One amazing benefit of technology is its ability to improve accessibility.
I learned of Adaptive Reader at a conference this spring. Adaptive Reader is leveraging technology to make classic world literature available at various reading levels and languages. For example, I have a physical copy of The Scarlett Letter in Spanish!
Adaptive Reader has announced that its English language leveled texts (including three reading levels) will now be available at no cost! This is a huge step forward for equity.
Learning Opportunities
Hot off the presses! My episode of the Make It Mindful podcast was released this month.?
I talk all things mindful adoption of technology in education with host, Seth Fleischauer.
If you would like to hear my thoughts on assessing in the age of AI in 30 minutes, view my session "AI-mazing Modern Assessments."
If you would like a more in-depth view of assessing in the age of AI, view my session "AI-Resilient Assessments: Strategies and Examples."
No Flip? No Problem! Learn how you can use ScreenPal in replace of Flip.
I will be presenting at the virtual Digital Learningpalooza in October. Join me!
THIS is fun!
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6 个月Thanks for featuring the CreatorUp opportunity Lindy Hockenbary! Great to be working with you.
English Literature Aspirants
6 个月Great to see the latest edition of "A Teacher's Guide to EdTech"! The mix of inspiration and tech tools is exciting. However, I've found that focusing on personalized learning experiences can also be highly effective. For instance, integrating interactive tech tools like Kahoot! or Quizizz can offer real-time feedback and boost engagement. In my experience, this approach has significantly enhanced student participation and understanding. Additionally, emphasizing student choice and autonomy in tech-related projects can lead to deeper learning. For example, allowing students to choose their projects often results in higher motivation and creativity. For more insights on leveraging habits to maximize educational impact, check out this book summary on "Atomic Habits": notion.habit10x.com/AH007 #wxdv
IB PYP ICT Educator_Google Certified Educator Level 2| Award-Winning Digital Learning & EdTech Innovator| Passionate Digital Storyteller (Ebooks,Video & Animations) | Freelance Content Developer & Editor | EdTech Trainer
6 个月Great article! ?? I use Book Creator with my learners. It's an amazing tool! ?? I’m excited to try Learning.com this September. As an ICT teacher, I think it will be a perfect fit for my lessons. Looking forward to collaborating on creating fantastic content for kids! ??
I partner with K–12 schools & EdTech companies to maximize the use of educational technology to create powerful modern learning experiences. Find help with instructional tech: gen AI, immersive learning, Minecraft.
6 个月Shout outs to Adaptive Reader Ethan Pierce CreatorUp Michael Tringe Learning.com Hāpara Book Creator (Tools for Schools) Montana Digital Academy Inspirit Banyan Global Learning Seth Fleischauer Shake Up Learning fobizz ScreenPal Digital Learning Collaborative