Tech Tips Tuesday

A few things you can do over the summer to hone your Ed Tech Skills:

• The Apple Education Center is a great resource for all things Apple. There are courses on how to use their apps and devices, lesson planning tools, community forums, and their "Everyone Can Create" curriculum, which I personally have used.
• Check out our Tech Knowledge Base for articles that pertain to what you do in your daily life as an educator.
• MS 365 Learning Center: Want to learn how to use Outlook better? Or any of the other MS apps? This learning center can help!
• Learn how to use a new tool.
• Breathe new life into an old project.
• Rethink homework. Does it fit your learning goal for the student? Watch this video.
• Reevaluate your grading policies and grade book percentages. (article to help)
• Take an online course: HERE is a link to a free Moodle course I created on choosing the right Ed Tech tool and how to integrate that tool.
• Work on creating more 'authentic assessments.' Think about giving students a voice and choice board with options for them to show their mastery of a topic. With AI, authentic assessments are even more important now.
• Learn a new skill - put yourself in the student seat! For languages try Duolingo, for coding try CodeAcademy, for public speaking try one of these free courses.

Here’s a curated list of free AI courses for educators in 2025:

Not only can it improve the student experience, it can save you TIME!

Free AI Courses for Educators

1. Generative AI for Educators – Google
   Learn how to use generative AI tools to create classroom materials, personalize instruction, and save time on routine tasks. Developed in collaboration with MIT RAISE.

2. AI for Teachers: AI Integration in the Classroom – Kangaroos.ai
   A beginner-friendly course with real classroom case studies and access to a community of educators using AI.

3. Teaching with AI: Tools and Techniques – EdTech Online
   Covers AI basics, responsible integration strategies, and examples of AI enhancing personalized learning.

4. AI Ethics for Teachers – Global EdTech Institute
   Focuses on ethical decision-making, data privacy, and responsible AI use in education.

5. Innovative Assessment Methods Using AI – Digital Learning Network
   Learn how to use AI for automating assessments, unbiased grading, and real-time feedback.

6. Generative AI for Educators and Teachers – Monsha
   A quick, 20–30 minute course perfect for busy teachers. Learn how to use AI for lesson planning, grading, and student engagement. Includes a certificate.

7. 10 Free AI Trainings and Certifications – Tech & Learning
   A broader list of free AI training options, including tools from Adobe, Microsoft, and more.

Some things to think about over the summer. There are Ed Tech Tools to help with all of these!

1. Gamify your classroom: Students are more engaged and enjoy GBL.
2. Promote collaborative learning: We all have to work with people. It's a great skill to master.
3. Encourage multimedia creativity: Give some voice and choice to shower mastery.
4. Foster digital citizenship: Our students NEED our help to be good online citizens.

5. Engage in Authentic Assessments: When students see their assessments as realistic or useful, they will be more invested.

6. Provide Timely and Meaningful Feedback: Can AI Tools help with this?

7. Support Student-Centered Learning: It always comes back to the student experience. Are we doing the best we can to help our students learn?
   

   
   

Here are some Ed Tech Tools I recommend based on what you hope to achieve in the classroom:

🎨 Create

• Adobe Express (formerly Spark)
• Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• iMovie / Clips
• Piktochart
• Canva
• GarageBand (Podcast)

💬 Communicate

• Blackbaud (CREEKnet)
• Microsoft Teams Chat
• Microsoft Teams Webcast
• Loom
• Outlook
• Google Sites (free website building tool)
• Weebly (free website building tool)

🤝 Collaborate

• Padlet (digital bulletin board, timelines and more)
• Microsoft Word / OneDrive
• Coggle (mind mapping/brainstorming)
• Google Docs
• Microsoft Whiteboard
• Notability
• Google Sites (website creation)

✅ Assess / Knowledge Check

• Blackbaud Discussion Board
• Blackbaud Online Assessments
• Go Formative
• Nearpod
• Kahoot
• Quizizz
• Quizlet Live
• Microsoft Forms
• Flip
• Socrative
• VoiceThread

📢 Present Information for Learning

• EdPuzzle (add thought-provoking questions to any video)
• Nearpod (interactive presentation tool)
• Pear Deck (interactive presentation tool)
• Prezi
• Mentimeter (interactive presentation tool)
• PowerPoint
• Google Slides
• Educreations
• Google Sites
• Explain Everything
• Flipgrid (Microsoft Flip)

🎥 Collect / Capture

• Loom (free screen recording tool)
• Screencast-O-Matic
• QuickTime Player
• Screencastify
• Explain Everything
• Educreations

Elevate your CreateBoard game this summer by watching some tutorials on how to use the apps for your classroom.

The CreateBoard Success Center has maps for features, case studies and tutorials on apps. You can even begin to create materials using the new CreateBoard Prep for next year!