Tag: technology
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Quick Video Creation: Engaging Students Without Being a Tech Guru
A 5th-grade teacher used Google Vids to quickly create a three-minute instructional video on opinion essay writing using only a text prompt. The fast-generated video successfully supplemented the lesson, offering an exciting and accessible way to reinforce key concepts. Students were highly engaged and appreciative of the video, demonstrating the high impact of simple, practical…
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Student Success with Snorkl in Middle School Math
Snorkl delivers immediate feedback in middle school math, improving students’ ability to solve problems and ask better questions. The tool boosts student motivation and collaboration, leading to peer coaching and evident pride upon mastering concepts. It supports conceptual mastery by encouraging persistent iteration and focused practice on difficult topics. Integrating new technology into your classroom…
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Snorkl and Feedback in Math for the Win….Again!
Immediate Feedback Loop: 6th-grade students used Snorkl to practice multiplying decimals, utilizing instant feedback to refine their reasoning and achieve mastery through multiple attempts. Collaborative Culture: The technology fostered a supportive environment where organic discussions flourished and early finishers served as peer coaches for classmates. I recently had the opportunity to facilitate and co-teach another…
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Beyond the Answer: Fostering Math Conversations with Snorkl
7th graders used Snorkl to solve a two-step equation, receiving immediate feedback on their reasoning. The instant feedback sparked robust conversations between the teacher, students, and their peers. Students used the feedback over multiple attempts to succeed, and early finishers became peer coaches. Finding the right technology, AI especially, to support math instruction can be…
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A Smarter Way to Build Your AI Classroom Assistants
Use AI to write your AI prompts: Ask a general tool (like Gemini or ChatGPT) to draft the detailed instructions for your custom AI assistant. Describe the role simply: Provide the core functions and rules (what to do, what not to do) for the custom tool in your own words. Create controlled learning tools: This…
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Beyond the Spelling List: Coaching Thought Partnership and AI
Problem: A reading intervention teacher needed to create customized spelling lists that were time-consuming to make manually. Solution: An instructional coach and the teacher used AI to build a custom prompt that automatically formats spelling lists. Outcome: The new process saves the teacher significant time, highlighting instructional coaching as a thought partnership. Educators are constantly…
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Streamline Your Workflow with NotebookLM’s Source Refresh
Originally, sources like Google Docs in NotebookLM were static and did not reflect live edits. A new refresh option now allows you to instantly sync a source with its most current version. This update enables you to work seamlessly with living documents without having to re-upload them. As educators, we know that our plans and…
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New Storybook Creator in Gemini
Create custom, illustrated storybooks for your classroom using simple text prompts in Google Gemini. Enhance the reading experience with features like read-aloud audio, page-turning animations, and direct printing. Personalize educational content to engage students and make learning more accessible and dynamic. As educators, we know the magic that unfolds when a good story is shared…
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Learning at the Intersection of Computer Science and College Football
Analyzing football game film provides a simple analogy for teaching fundamental computer science. Abstract concepts like variables and AI training are made concrete by linking them to actions like naming players and labeling plays. Educators can adapt this method for any content-specific video, allowing students to actively analyze content and learn complex tech concepts. At…
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Unplugged Algorithms: A Pencil and Paper Path to Computational Thinking
Teach algorithmic thinking without technology by having students create precise, sequential instructions for a task. In a back-to-back partner game, one student verbally instructs the other on how to replicate a secret drawing. The exercise demonstrates the importance of precise communication and is easily adapted for any subject area. While algorithmic thinking is a cornerstone…
