Teach with Tech

May is the perfect time for a little spring cleaning and fresh inspiration. In this month’s newsletter, we’re focusing on all things Google, sharing tips and strategies to clean up your Google Drive, organize your Google Classroom, and head into summer feeling streamlined and stress-free.

We’re also diving into creativity with Canva’s Design Studio, exploring how you and your students can design, present, and bring ideas to life with ease. As we look ahead to summer, we’ve curated a few thought-provoking reads on AI and screen time, offering space to reflect on how technology shapes learning and balance in our classrooms and beyond.

A little organization, a little creativity, and a little reflection, just what this time of year calls for.

It's that time of year again- clean up your drive and decide (if you don't have one or need a new one) on an organizational strategy for next year. Kasey Bell from Shake Up Learning provides 13 great tips for organizing your Google Drive.

1. Use consistent naming conventions
2. Organize into folders and subfolders
3. Use file and folder descriptions
4. Create a master folder for each year
5. Color-code folders
6. try a numbering system
7. Add emoji & special characters
8. Try hashtags
9. Try Google Drive Workspaces
10. Add files to multiple folders
11. Use advanced search
12. Leave "shared with me" alone!
13. "Add to Drive" to organize shared files

If this list looks useful- check out the article for details.

Matt Miller from Ditch that Textbook provides 10 great tips for cleaning up Google Classroom at the end of the school year.

Canva offers a built-in Design School that’s available to both teachers and students. It features a range of self-paced sessions, from beginner to advanced levels, with varying lengths and difficulty. Through courses, cheat sheets, lessons, videos, and guides, users can develop and strengthen their design skills. Most courses are about one hour long. Here is a snapshot of a few of the courses available to you:

• Canva Essentials: for beginners this course helps you navigate and learn the Canva platform and tools.
• Teacher Essentials: this course equips educators with the essentials to facilitate engaging learning within Canva including looking at lesson planning, using Magic Studio, and creating engaging assignments.
• AI in the Classroom: take this course to discover how to use AI in Canva for lesson planning, enhancing teaching materials, and boost student engagement.
• AI Skills for Students: this student-centered course goes over the AI fundamentals. Discover what AI is and how it works, build confidence in using AI tools, apply AI use ethically and safely, and use AI as a creative partner not a replacement for learning.

Aaron Brooks, April 14, 2026, published in ScienceNews

Research suggests that students develop stronger critical thinking skills and better information retention when they attempt to solve complex problems independently before consulting an AI chatbot.

This article argues that the most effective way to combat AI-enabled cheating is not through surveillance or detection, but by designing meaningful, human-centered learning experiences that make the process of learning more attractive than the shortcut of automation. While aimed at college professors this article shares ideas that can be used by secondary educators.

Ana Elena Azpúrua, March 4, 2026, Harvard Business Review

A new Harvard study reveals that while generative AI is reducing demand for repetitive tasks, it is rapidly increasing the need for roles that require analytical, creative, and interpersonal skills. For educators, this underscores the need for students to learn critical thinking and complex problem solving skills to effectively navigate human-ai collaboration.

Allison Parshall, April 30, 2026, Scientific American

This article explores the debate over limiting classroom screen time. Many experts argue that the quality and intent of digital interaction matter more than strict time caps. Researchers suggest that well-designed edtech can actually enhance learning, and they caution that broad mandates may limit a teacher's ability to use the most effective digital tools for their students.

Join us for a yearlong series of virtual Tech Talks focused on how AI is reshaping teaching and learning. Explore practical tools, ethical considerations, and classroom-ready ideas with fellow educators.

Goals
🔹 Build AI literacy for teachers and leaders
🔹 Explore ethical, student-centered applications of AI
🔹 Connect and collaborate in a growing AI-focused educator network

Monthly Tech Talks

Tech Talks will run from 4:00pm to 5:00pm. Register for each Tech Talk on the IMESD Events Calendar. Each month is linked to it's specific registration page.

• May 12: Future-Proofing: Where AI is Headed — and How Educators Can Prepare

Miss a Tech Talk? Check out the YouTube playlist to watch any session.

This is a monthly newsletter from the School Improvement Department of the InterMountain Education Service District. If you would like more information on EdTech tools, resources, or training, please contact:

Ayla Olson

Instructional Coach

Email: ayla.olson@imesd.k12.or.us

Phone: 541-966-4657

Website: sites.google.com/imesdapps.org/instructional-coaching