Joe and Kristin Merrill, the InterACTIVE Class, Apple Clips, Buncee, Seesaw, BookCreator and Flipgrid!
Educational Duct Tape: An EdTech Integration Mindset
Release Date: 03/04/2020
Educational Duct Tape: An EdTech Integration Mindset
What happens when two education nerds talk books, buffaloes, and Brisk? In this special episode, I join Mike Brilla on The Inspired Teacher Podcast to discuss the role of AI in classrooms, building a professional learning community, and the adjacent possible. We get candid about cell phones, feedback, tech integration, and remembering our “why” as educators. Tools we mention include MagicSchool, Diffit, Claude, ChatGPT, and Brisk. You’ll laugh, reflect, and leave with ideas you can try tomorrow. #EduDuctTape This interview was originally aired on The Inspired Teacher by Mike Brilla. It...
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Google announced Gemini for Education. In this episode, I break it all down, from Deep Research and Gemini Canvas to Gems, Gemini Live, and more. I also discuss the difference between the paid and free versions as well as the admin controls and privacy features in it. Plus, in the soapbox moment, I dig into the importance of growth mindset, perseverance, and what we can all learn from the Learning Pit. #EduDuctTape Episode 128 0:00:00 INTRO 0:02:31 Today's Soapbox Moment: “Rental Skates, Paintballs, and the Messy Middle” - The Anthropocene Reviewed - (Amazon affiliate link) - The Learning...
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Can AI help teachers do more of what matters most? In this episode, I join Rachel and Christina from The Conversation podcast to explore AI’s real impact in schools. We discuss tools like MagicSchool, Diffit, and Brisk, and how they support both students and teachers. We also dive into personalized learning, teacher PD, and the “baby steps” approach to AI adoption. Plus, I share practical insights on balancing tech with humanity in the classroom. #EduDuctTape This interview was originally aired on The Conversation Podcast by Rachel Daniels, John Hambrick, and Christina Grady-Watts of the...
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What do a name change, a new font, and fewer browser tabs have in common? In this episode, I unpack the Quizizz rebrand to Wayground, share Edpuzzle’s leap beyond video with new interactive tools, highlight Google Classroom’s latest add-on integrations, and spotlight Google Fonts’ Playwrite—a typeface built to support handwriting instruction. Plus, in the Soapbox moment, I reflect on my son learning to drive and the lessons we’re both picking up along the way. #EduDuctTape Episode 127 0:00:00 INTRO 0:02:04 Soapbox Moment: Mirrors, Mailboxes, and Merging 0:07:06 EdTech &...
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What if your classroom ran more like a student-led workshop than a teacher-led lecture? In this episode, Alfonso Mendoza joins me to talk about screencasting tools like Screencastify, Loom, ScreenPal, and Kapwing. I also spotlight new features in Padlet and NotebookLM, share how Google Lens can support inquiry in the moment, and reflect on The Shift to Student-Led by Catlin Tucker and Katie Novak. EduDuctTape Episode 126 0:00:00 INTRO 0:01:47 Today's Guest: Fonz Mendoza Alfonso “Fonz” Mendoza Jr. is an educator, AI researcher, and host of My EdTech Life. He champions responsible...
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How do we make tech processes easier for students—and teachers—to follow? In this episode, I chat with Courtney Watson from friEdTechnology about strategies for creating clear, bite-sized tech instructions using tools like Scribe, iorad, Canva, and Adobe Express. We explore ways to lower the cognitive load and boost confidence in tech-rich classrooms. Plus, I share new feature updates in Book Creator, Padlet, and NotebookLM that support accessibility, flexibility, and efficiency. #EduDuctTape Episode 125 0:00:00 INTRO 0:02:59 Today's Guest: Courtney Watson Courtney is a Google Certified...
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This interview was originally aired on the State of Ed Podcast by Dr. Nick Isseks and Dr. Nick Simone. It is being re-aired here with their permission. You can access the original episode here: and access all State of Ed Podcast episodes here: 0:00:00 INTRO 0:02:53 State of Ed Podcast 0:04:21 Jake's Journey 0:05:57 What is Personalized Learning? 0:10:33 Rogers' Law of Diffusion of Innovation 0:13:12 What is Educational Duct Tape? 0:16:04 More Than Words by John Warner 0:18:58 The Issue with Points-Based Grading 0:20:03 Mastery vs. Performance-Oriented Goals 0:22:29 The AI Infinite Loop...
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What’s your favorite tool for having students create visuals like infographics and diagrams? Bryon Carpenter from Fresh Air At Five joins me to answer that very question. We discuss Adobe Express, Canva, Google Drawings, and Google Slides. Also, I share about Brisk’s new Podcast Generator, a Chromebook monitoring feature coming soon to Google, SchoolAI’s response to some ethical concerns, and a documentary recommendation. #EduDuctTape Episode 124 0:00:00 INTRO 0:02:09 Today's Guest: Bryon Carpenter 0:06:49 Which of the Following is Less Torturous 0:10:22 Today's #EduDuctTape...
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Ever feel like the important work keeps getting overshadowed by what’s urgent? In this episode, I reflect on the quote “Think big. Start small. Scale fast.” and share how the Eisenhower Matrix helps me keep my priorities aligned. I also share updates from Snorkl, Google Classroom, and SchoolAI, plus a candid take on More Than Words by John Warner. Tools featured include Snorkl Coach, Video Explorer, and Read Along with custom content. #EduDuctTape Episode 123 0:00:00 INTRO 0:02:23 Today’s Soapbox Moment: “Parking Lots, Right Turns, and What’s Important” Think Big,...
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What’s your go-to tool for formative assessment? In this episode, Dan Niessen joins me to unpack strategies for gathering real-time insights into student learning. We talk Quizizz, Nearpod, Snorkl, AI chatbot tutors, Pear Deck, ChatGPT, and more. Dan shares how he supports educators in choosing tools that fit their goals—and their students. Plus, I break down updates to Google Slides, Canva Visual Suite 2.0 and Canva Sheets, along with a timely tip on how to cite AI-generated content. Tune in! #EduDuctTape Episode 122 Today's Sponsor - M2 by Swivl - 0:00:00 INTRO 0:03:26 Today’s...
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- Thanks to The Mighty Ducts! Pam Inabinett, Sarah Kiefer, Alex Oris, Amy Huckaby, Angela Green, Brandy New, Dan Stitzel, David Allan, Jennifer Conti, Kimberly Wren, Lisa Marie Bennett, Matt Meyer, Melinda Vandevort, Melissa Van Heck, Molly Klodor, Nanci Greene!
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- ITIP Ohio Google Summit - Sandusky, OH - 5.11-5.12.20 - itipohio.org/google-summit
- Tech Meet Tuscaloosa - Tuscaloosa, Alabama - 5.29.20 - uatmt.weebly.com
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- WITCon (Whatever It Takes Conferences) - Galesburg, Ill - 6.12.20 - witconf.org
- Engage Conference, San Angelo, TX - 7.15.20
- Today’s SoapBox Moment - “We Don’t Have Time to Rush + Microwaveable Teaching”
- “We Don’t Have Time to Rush” comes from Bernard Roth’s book The Achievement Habit.
- Today’s Guest: Joe & Kristin Merrill
- Kristin and Joe share a passion for infusing EdTech into their Fourth and First Grade classrooms. Even though they teach different grades, they share one common goal: learning needs to be interactive. The Merrills put a new spin on traditional strategies and implementing technology to meet the needs of students.
- Contact Info: @TheMerrillsEDU on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Website: themerrillsedu.com
- EdTech BFF Game!
- Educational Duct Tape Question: What are some specific tech tools that educators can use to make their classroom interactive?
- “Interactive Learning is learning that is responsive and relevant, that engages students.”
- Responsive, not Reactive
- Here’s a summary from this article: “Responsiveness implies thoughtful action that considers long and short term outcome in the context of the situation at hand. Reactive behavior is immediate and without conscious thought, like a knee jerk response. Reactive behavior is often driven by the emotions.”
- Flipgrid - flipgrid.com
- Breakouts with grid passcodes
- Podcasting with stickers
- Appsmashing
- Joe’s tweet with the President Lincoln beard & hat
- Seesaw - web.seesaw.me
- Making sure parents are connected
- Analog activities can easily be shared via Seesaw
- Changes the question of “what did you do today?” to “how did you do it?”
- Buncee - edu.buncee.com/about
- Can share out directly from Buncee or through something like Seesaw
- Can add a range of content (GIFs, maps, 360 images, drawing tools, record video within, assessment questions, etc.)
- Share out as pdf or link
- Microsoft Immersive Reader built-in
- Can assign Buncees and have kids submit
- Can ask questions or build assessments within slides, kind of like Nearpod or Pear Deck
- Combines Google Slides-like creation features along with NearPod/Pear Deck like assessment features
- Ideas Lab
- OneNote integration allows teacher to keep all Buncees in one location
- BookCreator - BookCreator.com
- The ability to share out (to parents, etc.) from the tool is important
- Content from the Duct Taper Community
- Apple Podcasts Review - Moomooforyoubabydoll3333
- Favorite #EduDuctTape Tweets: (each handle is linked to the mentioned tweet)
- New #EduDuctTape Tweeps: @alextvalencic, @chelsea_hurst1, @Joshua__Stamper, @Mrs_EDarnell, @mrs_schlecht, @RLEdsall, @SangareeSchool, @TheiTeamHawk
- #EduDuctTape FlipGrid Response: Krista Hachadoorian