Edtech Throwdown

Episode 192: Awesome Edtech for the Summer

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 192 called Awesome Edtech for the Summer. Every year when school ends we publish an episode where Guise and I share what we’ll be reading, listening to, and exploring over the summer break. 192 is that episode and this is another you don’t want to miss, check it out.

Summer plans

Nick

Podcasts

1. Science Vs: here are a lot of fads, blogs and strong opinions, but then there’s SCIENCE. Science Vs is the show from Spotify Studios that finds out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. We do the hard work of sifting through all the science so you don't have to and cover everything from 5G and ADHD, to Fluoride and Fasting Diets.
2. Mr. Barton Maths: How do you make a podcast about math? By coming at it from a human-first perspective and examining why so many students (and teachers) have an instinctual adverse reaction to the subject. Host Craig Barton is a former math educator and founder of diagnostic educational software company Eedi, so he has a fair bit of personal experience in the subject matter. U.S. listeners should note that Barton is based in the U.K.; while some of the references to the British education system may not resonate, the sentiment behind the content certainly will.

Books

1. Everything is Tuberculosis by John Greene
2. Teachers and Machines: The Classroom of Technology Since 1920

Grab Bag

1. Fully explore Canva Code. What is it good at, what is it not.
2. Nanolearning Unit Development: This is a good website that covers the differences between nano and micro and how to do implement them

Guise

Podcasts

1. Steph and Joe on the Go

Edtech Throwdown

Episode 191: 10 Canva Code Ideas for Teachers

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 191 called 10 Canva Code Ideas for Teachers. In this episode we’ll introduce, explain and analyze one of the features in Canva AI called Canva Code. We’ll also share 10 ways that teachers can use it to help spark your creativity when it comes to this exciting new feature. This is another episode you don’t want to miss, check it out.

What is it? Canva’s AI writes code for you to create specific games/apps/simulations/etc that function in Canva. When you’ve got the code just right by prompting and then adjusting with other prompts, you can publish it as a Canva website for easy sharing.

What do you do with the code? The code produced can be copy-pasted to other places OR just published directly in Canva as a Canva website.

Downsides:

1. Initial teacher response is often “why do i need to write code”?
2. It can take some time to get the code right to produce what you want
3. Does it exist somewhere else? For example, why make a quizzes app in Canva?
4. The prompt has a character limit, so you’ll have to adjust it as you go.
5. For example, start with a prompt that describes only the function of the app. Then adjust it afterwards related to design. Then again for differentiation, etc.

Why Use it: (what makes it worth the time)

1. TREMENDOUS capability for teachers to make things that don’t exist anywhere else online
2. Can ask it to add specific differentiations into any game/app created for whatever students you have
3. Skip labor intensive prep for physical games

Nicks 5

1. Interactive Periodic Table
2. Virtual Lab about Color Theory (Art Lesson)
3. Geometry Shape Explorer
4. Interactive Poem Creator
5. Interactive Classroom Timer

Guises’ 5

1. Interactive Worksheets
2. Escape Room Puzzles
3. Leaderboards
4. Classroom...

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 190 called Stump the Edtech Guru. In this episode, we’ll try and stump each other with some of the toughest edtech challenges we could think of. Each guru will have to come up with a solution on the spot. This is another episode you don’t want to miss, check it out.

• We compete with everything

Nick’s Scenarios:

• Scenario 1:
• The AI Essay Epidemic. Ms. Rivera teaches 10th grade English and has just assigned a personal narrative essay. As she begins grading, she notices several essays that seem... off. They're grammatically perfect, lack any personal voice, and a few students even use similar turns of phrase. The students cited AI use, and even included a link to a specific conversation in a tool called Perplexity. When examining the link however, it only shows the student asking questions about the topic. In other words, there is no evidence of having the AI do the writing, at least not in this particular chat. The student denies any AI use other than what was cited. What should she do?
• Perplexity
• Google Docs
• Ai Works Cited
• Scenario 2:
• The Silent Discussion Board. Mr. Chen is running a blended learning environment for his 8th grade social studies class. He’s trying to build engagement with online discussion boards through Google Classroom and Flip. He posts thoughtful prompts, but most students either don’t respond, copy each other, or leave low-effort replies like ‘I agree.’ He knows these kids have opinions—they just don’t seem to bring them into the digital space. Mr. Chen is wondering: is it the prompt? The platform? The digital culture? Or is this just a lost cause?
• Padlet Sandbox
• MEAL Plan
• CER
• CANVA
• 
  
• Scenario 3:
• Mrs. Daughtry is a veteran science teacher who’s always been open to new ideas. But lately, her school has adopted a slew of new edtech platforms: a new LMS, AI feedback tools, quiz generators, and now a parent communication app—all with different logins, layouts, and learning curves. She claims to receive “multiple emails per week” from various admins and coaches touting EVEN MORE options for...

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 189 called AI in Education: Friend of Foe. In this episode, we’ll give you our annual State of Education address as we explore the hot topics in edtech right now. We’ll also debate the pros and cons of AI in education today, this is another episode you dont’ want to miss, Check it out.

Top 9 Trends in Educational Technology to Watch in 2025 by Dirox

• AI and Personalized learning
• Let’s think outside the box… How can we push the envelope?
• Students automating content, running a business, etc
• Extended Reality (XR) and Immersive Learning
• Virtual field trips to iconic locations
• Google Expeditions
• Interactive VR labs
• Labster
• Training tools
• Interplay Learning, which teach practical skills such as HVAC repair and solar panel installation.
• MicroLearning and nanolearning
• Short attentions spans need bite-sized modules
• Mobile-first learning
• Duolingo
• Edutainment
• Gamification
• Minecraft
• Roblox Education
• Blockchain and digital credentials
• Academic records are stored

Example tools: Khanmigo, Scribe, ChatGPT as a study helper

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 188 called 10 Tips for Using AI in Your Classroom. Nick and I have each selected 5 of our top tips for using AI to increase student learning and to help you manage your classroom, and sometimes your life. Nick presented his 5 tips last episode and today I will do the same! Listen in to learn about what they are, why we like them, and how they might advance your classroom! This is another episode you don’t want to miss. Check it out.

NJECC conference presentation 2

Get a copy of the presentation HERE: http://bit.ly/ettsignup

Nick’s Tips Part 1

• Acceptable Use Poster
• Google WorkFlow
• Animated Drawings
• Battle AI Over Reliance
• Prompt Collection

Guise’s Tips Part 2

• AI Works Cited
• Khan Academy Writing Coach
• Teacher Server
• Prompts for Google Sheets
• AI Lesson Creation WorkFlow

Edtech Throwdown:

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
5. Stitcher

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 187 called 10 Tips for Using AI in Your Classroom. Guise and I have each selected 5 of our top tips for using AI to increase student learning and to help you manage your classroom, and sometimes your life. Listen in to learn about what they are, why we like them, and how they might advance your classroom! This is another episode you don’t want to miss. Check it out.

NJECC conference presentation 2

Get a copy of the presentation HERE: http://bit.ly/ettsignup

Nick’s Tips Part 1

• Acceptable Use Poster
• Google WorkFlow
• Animated Drawings
• Battle AI Over Reliance
• Prompt Collection

Guise’s Tips Part 2

• AI Works Cited
• Khan Academy Writing Coach
• Teacher Server
• Prompts for Google Sheets
• AI Lesson Creation WorkFlow

Edtech Throwdown:

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
5. Stitcher

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 186 called 12 AI Tools to use in the 2025-26 School Year. Guise and I have each selected 6 of our favorite AI tools for the classroom. Listen in to learn about what they are, why we like them, and how they might advance your classroom! This is another episode you don’t want to miss. Check it out.

http://bit.ly/ettsignup

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Guise’s AI Tools

1. Snorkl.app
2. Suno
3. notebooklm.google.com
4. Diffit Books
5. Google Lens
6. Sky Followers Bridge

Nick’s AI Tools

• Twin Pics
• Khanmigo
• Teachable Machine
• Debunkbot
• Sidekick from SchoolAI
• Deledao

Edtech Throwdown:

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 185 called How to Teach Students about AI. Have you ever tried to teach your students about AI, what it is, and what role it can serve in education and their future lives? This is a tall task and in this episode, we’ll discuss how we go about this complex process. This is another episode you don’t want to miss. Check it out.

For years now we’ve been involved in trying to get our district to adopt a formal AI policy. Now that this is happening, we’re being asked to put together an education program for students.

• What is AI?
• What can it do? What can’t it do?
• How can it be used to benefit you while in school? In your future lives?
• How can it hurt you in school? In your future lives?

What is AI?

• Ask students what they think AI is? Share their thoughts in a digital space like Padlet. Facilitate some discussion.
• Show a video that explains what it REALLY is. There are tons of good ones, here are a couple we like
• For older students: https://www.ted.com/talks/mustafa_suleyman_what_is_an_ai_anyway
• For younger students: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttIOdAdQaUE

What can AI do?

• Choose an AI tool to demo (we use ChatGPT). Show three prompts:
• A bad prompt, something very vague that gives a general and bland response.
• A better prompt, something that includes lots of detail and specific requests. Show that this yields a much better response from the AI tool.
• A prompt that gets untrue results. Students need to know that AI tools can give incorrect information, sometimes that it just “makes up” due to lack of other information.
• ACTIVITY: Have students play with prompts: Ask them to try a bad, vague prompt on purpose. Then ask them to try it again but with more specificity, comparing the results. They share out what they...