Tired of spending countless hours crafting lesson plans? Are you searching for a way to inject more creativity and engagement into your classroom? Google Gemini can do the heavy lifting for you giving you back time for you to focus on what matters. Google Gemini, a cutting-edge language model, offers teachers a powerful tool to streamline their lesson planning process and create more impactful learning experiences for teachers to springboard their curriculum.
How Can Gemini Assist Teachers?
Brainstorming Ideas: Gemini can generate a wide range of lesson ideas based on your specific subject, grade level, and learning objectives. Whether you need inspiration for a new unit or want to explore alternative approaches to a familiar topic, Gemini has you covered.
Creating Engaging Activities: From interactive games to thought-provoking discussions, Gemini can help you design activities that capture students’ attention and foster deeper understanding.
Developing Assessments: Need help crafting quizzes, tests, or projects? Gemini can assist you in creating assessments that accurately measure student learning and provide valuable feedback.
Customizing Lesson Plans: Gemini can tailor lesson plans to meet the unique needs of your students, whether they require additional support or advanced challenges.
Saving Time: By automating many of the time-consuming tasks associated with lesson planning, Gemini allows teachers to focus on what truly matters: inspiring and empowering their students.
Ready to try it out?
In this video, I provide a step-by-step guide on how to use Gemini to create an effective lesson plan while using the PARTS model for prompting. Watch now to learn how this powerful AI tool can transform your teaching experience and help you deliver exceptional education to your students.
Canva’s text masking feature transforms newsletters and student work into captivating visuals, enhancing school communications and promoting creativity.
Tired of boring newsletters? It’s time to spice up your school communications with Canva’s text masking feature. This powerful and underutilized tool can turn your classroom newsletters into eye-catching emails they will want to read quickly. Imagine transforming your newsletter headline into a captivating image that reflects your school’s spirit or the current theme. It’s not that difficult and well worth your time. After doing this the first time, you’ll do it every time!
Let’s take it out of your hands now and placing this magic in the hands of students. Imagine transforming a research paper into a visual masterpiece by masking the title with a relevant image. Or, having your students create eye-catching posters for science experiments or history projects. Text masking can turn ordinary assignments into standout presentations, helping students express their creativity and understanding in a unique and engaging way. These artifacts can then be included in student portfolios and follow students throughout their educational career. Check out the video above for a step-by-step tutorial on how to do this.
Susan Crouse, the Founder of Kinazium, was inspired to create a construction set that enhances the robotics curriculum after seeing the Sphero prototype at a conference. Kinazium provides a hands-on learning experience for students, allowing them to design mazes and games while developing innovative design skills. The product has gained attention and positive reviews, leading to successful distribution and integration into classrooms and homes.
Susan Crouse Contributing Writer, Susan Crouse
-Editor’s Note: Today’s guest author is Susan Crouse, Founder of Kinazium. In this post, she discusses her inspiration for Kinazium, the premiere construction set for hands-on invention. Her story is an inspiration to how an idea can come to fruition with vision, dedication, and perseverance. To listen to our full podcast conversation, click here.
I am a Colorado native and I was intrigued when I saw the Sphero prototype at a conference. Ever since, I wanted to create something to enhance the Sphero experience. During my one-day sojourn in 2016 to CES, the huge Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas, I saw Sphero rolling around on a big table. It immediately struck me that classroom robots were missing an opportunity for enriching the robotics curriculum. Kids could be in inventing robotics challenges while developing innovative design skills.
An Ozobot making its way through a programmed course
Up to this point teachers were taping courses for robots on the floor, Others had kids create cardboard constructed environments, which was cool, but this put a lot of burden on the teachers, including lots of cleanup pulling up all tape from carpet and floors. Teachers weren’t using robots nearly as much as they might because too much curriculum development was on their shoulders. They also were spending a lot of time controlling the chaos that can happen with robots in the classroom, particularly rolling balls that quickly divert attention to the tasks at hand.
Early Prototype with our Beta Family (Those boys are now in college!)
We thought, what if we created a kit so kids could create robot courses and challenges and we could include the “A” in STEAM education. It was just weeks later I met with my son and a few of his friends and we formed Traxart Toys. I already had a basic vision for the product. A construction set where students could design all kinds of mazes and games themselves, that got robots off the floor and put them in a 3D environment. Using this kit would encourage hands-on design, 3D thinking, trial and error, teamwork and more. The team agreed and the energy and ideas these young recent college graduates brought allowed us to quickly rapid prototype Kinazium using 3D printing, hand cut mats and waterjet cut walls. By March we were showing it behind a curtain at the Boulder County STEM fair with rave reviews. We started working on accelerometer sensors to make game invention possible and in a twist of serendipity we were introduced to, Jim Axwell, an ex-Sphero executive that essentially had exactly what we needed. We created our own control software and a free app for Apple and Android. This extra option lets students gamify Kinazium by inventing timed and point-based games.
The first public showing of Kinaizum with Vicki Treadway at ISTE 2019
As all these things were coming together, we had a few pauses during the journey, including another startup and two of our founders marrying each other. But we persisted forward and at the Maker Faire in SF in May of 2019, launched our successful Kickstarter Campaign. Just following that event, a Pennsylvania teacher, Vicki Treadway, found Kinazium on Kickstarter and asked if she could show the product (a prototype) at ISTE 2019 in Philadelphia. Her efforts yielded our first international distributor, Modern Star, in Australia who saw Kinazium at the show! By Christmas we had manufactured and delivered over 125 Kinazium kits to homes and classrooms!
COVID came quickly on the heels of our first shipment and schools shut down. Using guerilla marketing, making videos and posting on social media, and finding posts by teachers using robots and telling them about Kinazium, we helped things continue to grow organically. We also worked on free curriculum and getting started videos.
Girls in Robotics Event At Soaring Heights K-8 Erie, Colorado
We met our goal of launching Kinazium on Amazon in 2021, which required adhering to many rules and achieving multiple approvals. I don’t recollect the exact first sale on Amazon, but in the last two years we have seen a big trend where schools often order through Amazon business. Amazon doesn’t share all the details of customers, but we can see info for the city and state so we have some idea of our reach. Between Kinaizum.com, Purchase Orders and Amazon, Kinazium has been shipping to most every state in the US including Hawaii. We also ship to Canada and have partners who sell in South America. Next stop is developing sales in European and Asian countries.
When ISTE landed in Denver this year, we were thrilled to have our first booth showing off Kinazium. We are an enthusiastic bunch and we literally pulled teachers into our booth, and 9 times out of 10 they thanked us when they left the booth Teachers were so intrigued and excited to see Kinazium, particularly with the Sphero Indi and Bolt robots! They loved how Kinazium puts design ingenuity into the hands of students.
A Kinazium setup at a tradeshow
It was also so wonderful to meet teachers for the first time that are using Kinazium in their classroom and each of them were thrilled to have us do a 20 second interview to share their experience. We have a warm satisfaction to realizing that our ideas for Kinazium became the reality we imagined. Helping teachers in the classroom by completing the robotics curriculum and engaging students in self-directed learning, which in turn makes them inventors! Nothing could make us happier. And the added plus for teachers of no more tape on the floor or collecting cardboard. We love seeing the wonderful creations students make on social media, and we enjoy talking with teachers and hearing how they have integrated Kinazium in ways we never imagined! We are thankful to them for acting as champions by spreading the word so more kids can enjoy and learn from Kinazium at home, in school and at camps. You can check some of their great work out on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and TikTok.
PS-Our original teacher champion Vicki Treadway left the classroom, and now runs her own consulting business, Vicki Treadway Consulting, helping teachers integrated tech into their classrooms! She still loves Kinazium.
In this video tutorial, I go over how to create your own phone wallpaper using Canva. And not just any wallpaper…wallpaper using the text mask feature to give your phone lockscreen that extra, personalized pop! This is all done using a free Canva account and no fancy upgrades are needed to pull this off. So what are you waiting for? Make sure you comment, like, share, and subscribe for more EdTech and Food content! Buen Provecho!
Over the years, I’ve built a network of incredible educators and tech enthusiasts through social media. Attending ISTE 2024 in Denver was like walking into a reunion of old friends, many of whom I had never met in person before. The excitement of finally putting faces to names was much needed. Meeting them face-to-face for the first time felt like reuniting with long-lost friends. We shared laughs, exchanged ideas, and deepened our professional connections. The energy was infectious, and I left each conversation feeling inspired and grateful for this vibrant community. I also got a chance to catch up with people I’ve known in real life for years. We exchanged handshakes, hugs, and picked up right where we left off the last time we saw each other at a conference. This is quite possibly one of the most important things to do at a conference of this size. It’s nice to know that no matter how much we feel we work in silos at times, there are others just like us doing great things in education. And that’s what this ISTE was all about!
The EdTech Bites x Kami Walking Food Tour
One of the highlights of my ISTE experience was hosting my 7th Walking Food Tour sponsored by Kami. With 40 enthusiastic participants, including the Kami team, my boys, and myself, we embarked on a culinary adventure through Denver. Our first stop was Cherry Cricket Ballpark, where the burgers were as big as our smiles. Not only were they big, they were a different type of delicious. We tasted their Cricket Royale burger which actually is an award winning burger. Next, we savored the delicious flavors at Lazo’s Empanadas. There, we had spicy ground beef, spicy chicken, spinach and cheese, and fresh mushroom empanadas. They were to die for! I make a really good Chimichurri at home so when I saw they had one, I had to taste it. It tasted just like mine which told me one thing, my homemade Chimichurri tastes just like that of an authentic ! Argentinian restaurant. After that, we stumbled over to Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs, where we indulged in some of the most creative hot dogs imaginable. I got to taste their Vegan dog and let me tell you this… it was the most flavorful hot dog I’ve ever had! But we weren’t done yet! We waddled over to wrap up the tour at Marco’s Coal Fired, enjoying mouthwatering pizzas that left us craving more. They have a very interesting way of creating their pizza and the story behind it was unreal. They take a lot of pride and steps into making sure they pizzas are as authentic as can be. Oh, and we didn’t leave until we had a chance to try their Nutella pizza. Yeah, I said it… NUTELLA PIZZA!
The night was filled with laughter, storytelling, and new connections. It was more than just a food tour; it was a celebration of community and camaraderie. Watching everyone bond while breaking bread was truly heartwarming. If you ever get the chance to join a food tour, I highly recommend it. The memories and friendships made over a good meal are simply unmatched.
Presenting Sessions
Presenting at ISTE 2024 was an exhilarating experience. I had the opportunity to share my knowledge and passion through sessions on vocabulary retention, podcasting, and creativity. Each session was met with eager participants ready to learn and engage. I was a little nervous about one particular session that was scheduled from 4:30pm – 5:30pm on the first day of ISTE. I thought to myself “No one is going to show up for this session. Everyone is too tired to learn at this time and everyone is going to be eager to get back to their hotel room and get ready for all of the social events that evening.” Was I happy that I was wrong! People showed up and actively participated in the session. We even had a huge laugh at one particular Peardeck Flashcard Factory drawing someone did to illustrate the word “baster”. I’m pretty sure you can imagine what the drawing looked like. The highlight, however, was being part of a panel that discussed our favorite AI apps for teachers. I got a chance to share the stage with Alice Keeler, Victoria Thompson, Eric Curts, Sarah Thomas, Rachelle Poth, Mike Tholfsen, and Jaime Donally. This session was moderated by the one and only Vicki Davis. The exchange of ideas and innovative AI solutions for teachers was invigorating, and I left each session feeling proud of the contributions I could make to the education community.
I also had the opportunity to share my podcast and content creation knowledge at the WeVideo and Soundtrap booths. They were gracious enough to purchase copies of my book “Cooking Up Experiences In The Classroom: Focus On Experiences, Not Just Lessons” and give them out to those who attended my sessions at their booths. I shared different ways to incorporate podcasting into the classroom and how to facilitate this as a teacher using their tools.
Podcast Conversations
Podcasting at ISTE 2024 was an extraordinary opportunity to dive deeper into the minds of some of the brightest in the education and technology fields. I conducted 16 interviews with conference presenters, participants, and company representatives. Each conversation was a treasure trove of insights, stories, and experiences. To check these out, head over to the Podcast Episodes page, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.
Family Bonding and Memories
This trip was special for another reason—it was a chance to create lasting memories with my two boys. This was a boys trip as my wife decided to stay back in San Antonio. Having them by my side at the conference and on the Food Tour allowed them to see me in my element, sharing my passion with others. We walked to the Denver Capitol, recreating photos from our visit eight years ago, reminiscing about the past while creating new memories. The joy of seeing my boys connect with their cousins, my nephews who live in Denver, was indescribable. Their laughter and shared stories filled my heart with happiness.
The moments spent with my boys during this trip were a beautiful reminder of the importance of family. We bonded over shared experiences, from the excitement of the conference, hopping on Lime scooters and cruising through Downtown Denver, to the simple pleasure of a walk through the city. It was a reminder that while professional growth and connections are vital, the connections we nurture within our families are the most precious of all.
Conclusion
ISTE 2024 in Denver was an unforgettable experience, blending professional growth, culinary adventures, and cherished family moments. The connections I made, the sessions I presented, the fun of the Food Tour, and the special time with my boys all contributed to a truly remarkable event. If you ever have the chance to attend ISTE, seize it. The memories, inspiration, and connections you gain will stay with you long after the conference ends.
I recently had the privilege of attending and presenting at the Elementary Technology Conference (ETC) 2024 in beautiful Galveston, Texas, hosted by the Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA). This event brought together educators, administrators, and technology specialists dedicated to integrating technology into elementary education. It was an awesome experience filled with learning, sharing, and connecting with passionate individuals committed to enhancing teaching and learning through impactful technology use.
Presenting at ETC: Micropodcasting and Vocabulary Retention
One of the highlights of my conference experience was presenting two sessions. The first session focused on Micropodcasting Ideas for the Classroom. I shared practical tips and creative strategies for incorporating short, engaging podcasts into the curriculum to enhance student learning and engagement. From storytelling to student interviews, micropodcasting offers a dynamic way to give students a voice and bring the curriculum to life.
The second session was on Strategies for Vocabulary Retention. Vocabulary is a crucial component of literacy, and I provided various strategies and tools to help students retain and understand new words. Interactive games, digital flashcards, and context-rich activities are just a few methods we explored to make vocabulary learning both effective and fun.
Engaging Conversations and Insights
Thanks to TCEA and MagicSchool.AI, I also had the opportunity to do some podcasting while at the conference. I engaged in enriching conversations with fellow educators and experts on a variety of topics. MagicSchool was gracious enough to sponsor all of my episodes recorded at this conference. If you’re unfamiliar with MagicSchool, peep this blurb:
If you’re looking for a solution for AI in education, check out MagicSchool AI. MagicSchool is the leading AI Platform in education with over 2 million users and 3,600 school and district partners worldwide. Save educators time with teacher tools, build safe and responsible AI experiences launched by teachers to their students, and experience AI purpose built for education now. It’s free for educators and you can sign up in seconds. It also meets the data privacy needs for k12, we do not sell data or train on student data, protecting the privacy of all users. Sign up now at www.magicschool.ai
I was able to record six episodes with wonderful guests and presenters who shared excellent insights and stories. Each episode is highlighted below and linked to its specific blog post. You can listen to each episode from the embedded players below or on your favorite podcast app. I’d like to send a special thank you to the guests. for many of them, it was their first time being on a podcast, nevertheless an in-person one. You all did a great job and I look forward to chatting with you more in future episodes.
One recurring theme throughout the conference was the unique challenges and needs of elementary educators. It’s clear that there is a strong demand for more conferences and professional development opportunities specifically designed for those teaching our youngest learners. Elementary educators play a crucial role in shaping the foundation of lifelong learning, and they deserve targeted support and resources to excel in their roles. With that being said, I would like to give a HUGE shout out to TCEA for putting together one of my personal favorite conferences. Not only is the backdrop to this conference the Gulf Of Mexico, it offers teachers the opportunity to work outside of their silos and do something they otherwise don’t have time to do, connect! And the fact that it is during summer means that there is no need to plan for a substitute teacher! To all those who attended, I can’t wait to hear how you implement what you have learned into your teaching practices. Buen provecho and see you in Galveston next June!
The Official EdTech Bites ISTE Walking Food Tour Of Denver Is ON!!!
ISTE Live 2024 is around the corner and I’ve partnered with Kami for another unforgettable walking food tour. This time, in Downtown Denver! This event will take place Sunday, June 23rd 2024 from 5:45pm-8:00pm. Watch the Livestream Announcement below on Twitter/X.
To sign up, click on the image below and fill out the Google Form. This does not automatically secure your spot. On June 9th, 2024, the form will stop accepting responses and the first 40 people who signed up will receive an email with instructions to send payment and secure their spot. If after 24 hours all 40 spots are not filled, I will send the email to the next ten people and continue that process until all 40 spots have been secured. Those 40 people will then receive a confirmation email with details and a map of where to meet. If you want to attend with your team or colleagues, we will need one submission per person. Do not submit one response on behalf of multiple people.
Things To Consider Before Signing Up
We will be walking about a total of one mile
We will be meeting about 2 miles away from the conference center so it will be your responsibility to secure transportation to and from the food tour
There will be gluten
There are vegetarian dishes at every stop of the tour
If you are the first 40, pay, and have to cancel, there are no refunds
We cannot give itemized receipts so do not plan on submitting this payment to your district as a meal expense for reimbursement
In this video, I reveal how to use a little known hack with Google Docs and Google Keep. This will allow you to pull text from images, like screenshots, and use the text directly in a Google Doc. Stop inserting those screenshot images into your Google Docs only to end up with multiple fonts, sizes, and quality. Do this instead!
I recently had the privilege of attending and contributing to the FETC Conference in Orlando, Florida, and what an experience it was! As an educator passionate about leveraging technology to enhance learning, I had the opportunity to present two insightful sessions for fellow educators. The first was “Quick And Easy Student Projects Using Canva” and the second was “More Ways To Slay Vocabulary With Students”. In addition to this, I was also at the Meet The Author booth with other X-Factor EDU authors doing a book signing. This was a first for me. My book “Cooking Up Experiences In The Classroom: Focus On Experiences, Not Just Lessons” was released just days before FETC so the timing of it all was perfect! A HUGE shout out to Lumio for helping this book come to life. I’m usually the one in line for a book but this time, I was on the other side of the booth!
Click On The Image Below To Purchase The Book On Amazon!
While there, I also conducted some podcast interview. All of these episodes were sponsored by Lightspeed. If you’re not sure what Lightspeeed is all about, check out episode 190 with Shaun Fagan linked below! I interviewed some great guests (and friends) and covered topics such as student podcasting, creation over consumption, leadership, and Artificial Intelligence. All episodes are linked below so make sure you give them a listen here or on your favorite podcast app.
Beyond the conference halls, the evenings took on a different flavor as I had the pleasure of hosting two delightful food tours, sponsored by Kami. These tours not only offered a chance to savor the diverse culinary delights Orlando has to offer but also served as a unique platform for educators to unwind, connect, and share their experiences. I was almost brought to tears witnessing like-minded strangers coming together to break bread. There were lots of laughs and camaraderie on these tours and that is what I’m all about, breaking bread while having great conversations with even better people.
FETC is one of my favorite conferences and really contributes to my network and expertise. I always have great conversations while there, learn from individuals, and contribute to the learning as well. Check out the wrap up video and all of my podcast conversations below. See you at FETC 2025 and buen provecho!
If you haven’t already heard, I’ve partnered with Kami to host two Walking Food Tours at these two huge conferences. We’ll be hitting four restaurants at each event. Peep the details below and forward this post to others attending these conferences.
FETC Walking Food Tour Info
FETC Dates: 1/24 and 1/25 6:00pm-8:00pm ET and only 35 spots per night
Cost is $15 per evening
Stop 1
Stop 2
Stop 3
The Great Greek Mediterranean Food
Loading Zone Philly Cheesesteaks
Mecatos Bakery and Café
Chicken Skewer, Tzatziki, Hummus, Tirokafteri, Melitzanosalata dips, and pita bread
Loaded Cheesesteaks, Pizzaroni Cheesesteaks, Chipotle Cheesesteaks, Buffalo Chicken Cheesesteak, Teriyaki Chicken Cheesesteaks, French Fries, and Tater Tots
Various Southern American Dessert Pastries and Authentic Columbian Hot Chocolate
TCEA Walking Food Tour Info
TCEA Dates: 2/4 and 2/5 5:00pm-7:00pm CT and only 35 spots per night
Cost is $15 per evening
Stop 1
Stop 2
Stop 3
Coopers Old Time Pit BBQ
Veracruz All Natural
VooDoo Doughnuts
BBQ Brisket, Smoked Sausage, Mac & Cheese, and Potato Salad
Al Pastor, El Diferente (Refried pinto beans, potato, mushroom, poblano pepper, corn, avocado), Grilled Chicken, and Grilled Steak Tacos
Various donut bites
Things To Consider Before you Sign Up
There will be meat, dairy, and gluten
We will be walking about a mile total through Downtown Orlando and Downtown Austin
Those participating will be responsible for getting to the downtown area and back to their respective hotel
How Do I Sign Up and How Will I Know If I Got A Spot?
Click the appropriate image below and fill out the form using the email address you check most frequently
Check your email frequently for further instructions
If you’re one of the first 35 for each night, you’ll receive instructions to submit payment to secure your spot (If you submit payment and have a change of plans, I cannot issue a refund but you can give your spot away to someone else and handle reimbursement with them)
You’ll Receive your confirmation email by January 18th for FETC and January 30th for TCEA. If all spots are filled, you will receive an email stating so
As we get closer to the event, you’ll receive an email with the map, times, and further instructions
2023 Downtown Philadelphia ISTE Walking Food Tour Recap
Check out the 2023 ISTE Downtown Philadelphia ISTE Walking Food Tour wrap up to see what it’s all about. Hope to see you in Orlando and Austin!
