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1 - Google searching. I grew up in the library card trays searching on microfilms, which is still faster than searching books and newspapers. But I can ask Google anything and it doesn't judge. It might be the dumbest question, but the beauty is a few other people had the same question. I have ADHD, and my brain fires off the most interesting questions, especially in the middle of the night. I honestly get more sleep because I can usually find an answer.

Email: It has come a long way since the dark ages of the 1980's, but man do I save on postage stamps. I find it amazing how much you can do and send via email, which used to be so cumbersome, again with faxing, fedex, etc. Now a click of the button, and mostly things go back and forth and you can communicate like we used to with mail. I still miss getting an occasional snail mail, but it is nice not having to worry about junk mail. In addition to email, the junk mail folder has helped me save time by not having to scroll through ads and asks for money.

The microchip: We use to have rooms and rooms of computer banks that we could never keep cool. The microchip was the single greatest invention for size and convenience. We used to carry a separate camcorder, maps, and camera to travel so that you could come home with memories for later. Even a calculator is within all of those devices. And mapping, is my particular favorite, because I used to get lost in my own neighborhood.

Pinterest and social media: I craft! I sew, paint, make cards, and have tried so many different mediums of crafts. These give me the ability to share information, photos, create clubs whether in person or online, or both. Pinterest in particular is one of my favorites, especially now they given users the ability to hide boards. No more stalkers!

Newer technologies which fascinate and scare me are AI & VR.

I looked at Neom, which is a Cognitive infrastructure tech, which combines visual and connectivity features. You could create a city within its world. I feel like we are heading down this path in the future, but I am not certain  how far down this rabbit hole we want to go. I for one, do not want to spend my life with my body siting and my mind inside a computer. But there are so many possibilities and healthcare could probably benefit highly. Imagine if we could see inside a person and watch things on a macro/micro level and predict cancer and other diseases based upon being able to see it first hand. Of course, I do not want any micro bots in me, but it is fascinating to think of what we could do. Banking could also be much easier to track and project, instead of trying to build elaborate spreadsheets to calculate your retirements. What makes me nervous is what are the fail safes built in and who is in control?

I did briefly look at ChatGPT. I did a few basic searches just randomly picking topics and the answers I found seemed wrong. Are people savvy enough to understand this can happen and have a double check? I can see why some would want to utilize it, especially after watching the college scandal where parents were outed for paying people to pad their kids college apps, but for me, it is too much of a risk and I would not feel like I have integrity. If it is just for learning, I guess it has some good to it, but overall, I am not impressed. Google still works for me, even with its built in bias.

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I actually like tech and learning about new technology and sometimes even I feel like Ron Swanson! But these first few weeks in this course have been really interesting in thinking about all the ways we can incorporate technology into learning.

ChatGPT

I find the whole concept of AI pretty fascinating. Thinking about how much information it has access to and how it can review and spit information back out at us in no time at all is SO wild. It is also interesting to see it all unfold in real-time—both in school and just in general. I grew up in the 90s, so just in my lifetime, I went from no computer in the house to holding computers in just one hand and now to ChatGPT writing research papers for college students. Like we all discussed in class, obviously this can of worms is open and there’s no going back from here. I’m not exactly sure how AI will be used in a hospital system but I am interested to see how we all will learn to work alongside it rather than trying to fight against another technological advancement. I follow this neonatologist on Instagram and YouTube: here’s his funny take on ChatGPT:

https://youtube.com/shorts/gRlXzzVINy4?feature=share

And, if you have 30 minutes, here’s the section from John Oliver on AI that I mentioned in class:

https://youtu.be/Sqa8Zo2XWc4

Discord

I have also explored Discord a bit more and like the idea of using it as a community meeting spot for new nurse cohorts. They spend a lot of time together in classes and see each other on the floor but I think having a commonplace outside of the workplace (even if virtually) would give them the opportunity to connect and decompress more. Each group could customize their own Discord server and decide what channels they want (i.e. work, personal, mentors, nurse/NICU memes, etc.) I think by creating and facilitating a community for new nurses, we could potentially help improve camaraderie amongst these nurses, unit morale and new nurse retention.

Padlet

I've never used Padlet before this quarter but I can see it's benefit over something like discussion boards. Even though the concept is the same, it just seems much more engaging and fun! I think it's combines the discussion board style with a more "youthful" experience by adding making it easy to add pictures, memes, GIFs, videos, etc. If I were to end up in an academic setting as an educator, I can see it being my "go-to" for discussions. I think it would also be useful for clinical groups to use as a supplement to post-conferences and debriefs for anything students wanted to share but didn't get a chance.

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As usual, I lag behind the rest. My chief explorations into technology in school are the manipulation of Microsoft 365 and the development of mores sophisticated PowerPoint Designs. I am however intrigued by the thought of having a YouTube channel of my own. My chief attraction toward the use of tech revolve around presenting really powerful visuals while I provide content that relates powerfully to the given image. I believe that it’s really important to find creative, interesting images to our presentations, but they have to be content relevant! Overall, I value the use of tech for the visual realms of teaching but I would prefer to present the content myself.
The development of my own YouTube channel has become important to me because I think it may be a powerful way to actually demonstrate the power of mindfulness meditation to a much broader audience. I would like to to lead nurse specific meditations on implicit bias as well as just the stress associated with nursing in general. YouTube would lend itself well, I think, to manipulation of the visual content for increased power, while I utilize my own voice to induce a meditative state in the viewer.
On PowerPoint, I have dappled with the manipulation of the design functions built into the software. You can get a selection of great design options for your slides if you only use the right functions. You can also insert images and video, something I have explored a little bit but need to learn a lot more about. I am having trouble learning to import outside images to my presentations, I have been kind of stuck using stock images. Even though there are lots and lots of stock images available in PowerPoint, the selection is not infinite and I have a very vivid imagination, so I want a wider variety of images to insert in my PowerPoint presentations. I have barely scratched on video inserted into PowerPoint, but I have used it a little and would like to gain further knowledge on its applications.
I know I don’t offer much here , friends, but I am more and more open to learning about the use of technology in teaching. I have to, really. I know there is a lot of stuff out there that can increase the power of my own voice, I just don’t want that voice drowned out by the very technology we are trying to use to enhance it. I do, however, concede that even the odious Chat GPT could be used to potentially speed the development of nursing curriculum. Boy, what a slippery slope though!

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In my current role, I support the orientation and education of new nursing staff. As an educator, I want to use technology to better engage my learners and promote active learning so my learners are more likely to remember the information and utilize it in their practice. I am drawn to tools that are easy to use, both for me and my targeted learners. I like tools that don't do not require you to download an app. I also like tools that have interfaces that are mobile-friendly. In the current courses that I teach, bringing a laptop is not required, but everyone usually has a smartphone.

Microsoft 365:

In my workplace, every staff member has access to Microsoft 365, which is linked to their work email, so for the purpose of this assignment, I explored more of the features and apps that it offers.

Forms

I have used forms to make surveys for data collection, but I recently started to explore the "quiz" template. The quiz option is great to use to test learner knowledge and is user-friendly. It has a variety of question types, and learners can get automatic feedback on their quiz results after they submit the quiz. I can review the results, and the results are automatically organized so I can see what questions most people got wrong. There is also an option to make the submission anonymous, which can help relieve the stress of users. I also like how I can generate a QR code to share the quiz so learners can quickly take the quiz on their phone.

Whiteboard

Whiteboard is an application within Microsoft 365 that I played with for this assignment.  It is a collaborative online whiteboard and it has many templates that you can use for brainstorming. Users can add sticky notes and use emojis to like or vote on items on the whiteboard. I like how it looks on the phone as well because you can zoom in and it is easy to edit.

Mindmeister: https://www.mindmeister.com

I tried mindmesiter based on the suggestions on this discussion board, and I think it is a great tool to use to make concept maps during class for visual learners. I want to utilize this to help summarize material and organize information during a live course.

Padlet:

I think Padlet is a great tool for discussions and gives learners an opportunity to interact with each other and make connections. It is easy to use, pretty, and mobile phone friendly, so I think my learners will enjoy using it. I like that you can make your post anonymous, and you can like and respond to posts.

Podcasts and videos:
I am interested in exploring more ways to deliver content. I usually deliver content with a slide deck presentation and that is followed by some activities, but I feel like I could better optimize my class time in more creative ways to make my didactic content more interesting.

-Janelle Reidy

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Well, I am somewhat embarrassed and surprised by how long it has taken me to explore these technologies!! I thought I was kind of with it... apparently not so much.
Working in a hospital setting, there isn't much creativity encouraged. As a clinical nurse educator I am given a clunky frustrating LMS system within which to operate. We use Microsoft apps like Outlook and Teams, and other than that... there isn't much offered to me.

I looked into Anchor, got intrigued, then watched a 20-minute You Tube video on how to use it. OMG I am so excited!!! I can see creating a podcast about obstetric nursing and creating a library of resources for my learners to return to again and again. I can also see linking my podcast to emails, and creating QR codes to link to specific episodes that can be given to nurses in a handout after a drill. For example, I can see doing a postpartum hemorrhage drill, and I always create a handout for nurses to take with them. I can create a QR code (actually this is one technique we do utilize on my unit already and it is AWESOME), that would link them to the episode I had previously published on PPH. Plus, making the information available to other nurses getting their start in obstetrics is so exciting! The more I learn about obstetric nursing the more I get excited about the information, and thinking about using this platform to share what I learn and impact patient care all over the country feels SO invigorating.

QR Codes: This one feels basic, but honestly has become so useful on my unit and I didn't appreciate that it was a technological tool until now. For example, we got a new product for use in patients with postpartum hemorrhage. The product does have videos available on You Tube. So we created a QR Code that links the user directly to the YouTube video. We then laminated the QR code and have it posted next to where the product is kept. So nurses can access just in time education at any point using their smartphone. I'd like to continue to explore ways to use this tool.

You Tube: Kind of the way that creating podcasts creates a library of content, I love the idea of using You Tube to do the same thing. I don't use this now, but certainly access You Tube videos for ALL sorts of things, and will begin creating short educaitonal videos for my nursing residents. Wouldn't it be great to upload them and have them available to the nurses to review anytime they needed it.

Prezi: I spent a fair amount of time looking into Prezi, and though I didn't sign up yet for my free trial, and it does have a small cost associated with it but that feels manageable. The options seem really interesting, and I love how it overlays your content right onto the video. I have been looking forward to doing some voiced over PowerPoints (which now seems really outdated but I haven't even published one of those yet). But from what the vidoes make it seem like is you give your presentation and overlay your content right onto the screen, and you can change slides and have things move around and the whole time you are the background of the video. It will make such an interesting video compared to a boring voiced-over slide deck.

My biggest issue right now is I don't know how to use these things, and I don't feel like I have the bandwidth to mess around with them. Between work and school I have to meet my deadlines and prepare my deliverables in the shortest amount of time possible, which translates to path of least resistance. And spending time getting to know a new piece of technology doesn't fit into the equation. But I definitely see the value and look forward to the time I can invest - post graduation which is right around the corner.

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As part of this exercise I decided to play around to discover what teaching technology is out there and it was fun to find and rediscover things!

PowerPoint Games:
First off my mind was blown when we watched the two videos for the coursework. My mind was blown... I forgot you could create games on Microsoft PowerPoint! Having forgotten it could do that I began to explore how to create my own games and try to find existing ones I could use in my future courses to make my class activities fun and engaging. While exploring online I found this cool website I linked above where you can download pre made class games on PowerPoint for free!
I played around with the Jeopardy one and I think it would be fun to either design my own games or use Jeopardy games to engage my learners in class. I also thought it would be fun to offer small prizes to incentivize coming to in person classes! I love and have used PowerPoint for presentation's, creating handouts and other projects it is one of my favorite technology applications to use. It is easy for me to use growing up using it and they keep adding cool stuff and I keep finding new or old... ways to use it.

Side note: I found when I was trying to create a PowerPoint game that there is a template to create your own comic/manga! I got so excited and had an idea to try to use it to create a visual presentation of a case study for a class!

Chat GPT:
As part of my exploration I forced myself to use Chat GPT and it made me extremely uncomfortable. I wanted to use it because it is new and it was one of the technologies I was most challenged by. As an experiment as I said in class I asked it to create a two page paper on nursing education. It made a very well constructed paper with a well written hook/introduction, body and conclusion, it was concisely and clearly written. I understand that it is a tool and that it can be used for a variety of tasks but I couldn't help but imagine someone turning in the paper they had asked it to write and claiming it was theirs with minimal edits and the addition of a few resources. This scenario continues to pull at my mind because I wonder if they learn as much reading/reviewing the Chat GPT written paper versus researching all the information themselves and synthesizing it into a cohesive paper.
The moral of my Chat GPT experiment was that as a future educator if I decide to use Chat GPT in an assignment to be very clear and careful how I have students use it. I also will make them cite that they used or sourced materials from the AI. I know it has the potential to be used in a positive way I am still trepidations in allowing its use in my future courses.

Anchor:
After class on Friday I took some time to explore anchor now podcasters. It is super convenient and easy to use. I like that you can record your audio and then you can download it to embed it into a presentation or you can create individual podcasts for topics. It also lets you make a trailer to give your audience a teaser for what the podcast will sound like and what the topic is. I think this is a great tool that is easy to use to connect with auditory learners. I can see myself using this tool to create mini lectures on topics for my learners who's preferred learning style is auditory! As part of my teaching philosophy I want to be able to create educational materials that are supportive of all different learning styles and this tool will help support me to do just that!

Google Slides/Docs:
I really like google slides and documents for collaborative group work projects. Both have made it so easy to work together with classmates on all of the group projects without having to meet in person or even over the phone. You can give feedback directly in the slides and can use the feedback immediately to change or edit your work! I think it is a great tool for me as a educator to support students who are doing group assignments and encourage collaboration and teamwork over a digital platform. I am also hoping that by using it that students will be more likely to engage in group work without having to coordinate physical group meetings. I know students like us and teachers have busy lives and different schedules and meeting in person might be too hard to go over presentations or group assignments. Google doc/slides gives them the flexibility to use it anywhere and anytime while allowing them to give each other feedback and have some virtual discussion of the content.

Thanks for reading!
~Morgan Sidles

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Download this Jeopardy Template and use it in class today. This template is a free Jeopardy PPT game to use in class. Simply type in your own question and answers and the game is ready to use. This Jeopardy game can be played in the classroom or while teaching online in a virtual classroom. See below to preview and download this jeopardy template and for instructions on how to play Jeopardy in class.

How To Play Jeopardy

1. Make 2/3 teams.

2. Teams then take turns choosing a category and a value. For example, 'Animals for $400'.

3. Then click on the chosen box to show the answer.

4. Players must then guess what the question is to that answer.

5. Then, click on the slide to show the question.

6. If players guess correctly they receive the chosen value (e.g. $400) as points for their team.

7. Then click 'Back to the board' to return to the main slide.

8. Continue until all the boxes have been chosen. The team with the most points/money is the winner.

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Download this Jeopardy Template and use it in class today. This template is a free Jeopardy PPT game to use in class. Simply type in your own question and answers and the game is ready to use. This Jeopardy game can be played in the classroom or while teaching online in a virtual classroom.

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I've approached this discussion in thinking about connecting aspects of my teaching philosophy to technology utilization

Part of my philosophy recognizes the importance of safety and that means meeting people where they are at. I understand that technology can be challenging in different ways for different people, and I support the right to an education. I wanted to be sure to consider access, ease of use, and decreasing mental load so that there is energy to focus where it is needed. From this perspective I’ve either explored or re-explored these platforms/apps.

I know people have already posted about Padlet and Discord. I will add that Padlet could be a great way for introductions to occur via smart devices. I first used Padlet in Ko’s class fall quarter, I also got the opportunity to use it when I went to speak to some of his undergrad students. I found it helpful in getting to know them in this way before I walked into their classroom.

I’ve used Discord since first quarter last year and I’m not sure I would have survived grad school without it. I was able to both socially and academically connect with classmates. I’ve used it to hear another perspective, or used the voice channel for team meetings to discuss projects and work on papers or PPT slides together in real time on the documents via Google slides or Google docs. Here is an opportunity to combine apps and platforms.

From the outlook of the teacher here are some other tech resources I explored. Standardization has its place to decrease my mental load and possibly that of my learners. The Academic wheel power and privilege (shout out to Amy) also is important to review when I consider my “classroom technology”.

Pear deck is an interactive presentation platform that works with both Google and Microsoft apps. I like that it works with both and could be used via smart devices. From what I’ve explored it can create interactive opportunities or formative assessments during a presentation, you can show the responses anonymously. As the presenter using it, I am already building on my knowledge base of either Google or Microsoft. I am going to play with this one further!

https://www.youtube.com/c/peardeck

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYmf3usCuJI

I’ve never used Google Jamboard before, but I see some possibilities for engagement, learner check ins, and something that can be used from smart devices. I also like that this may also appeal to visual learners. If you play with it for a bit, I think that there are some fun and creative possibilities. With that said, some limitations like not being able to post video may not make available for use in certain situations. There are other similiar apps out there with their own pros and cons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sSCqPXpXIo
I'm looking forward to exploring these and other mentioned by classmates!

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First of all, trying a new app takes a lot of mental energy for me. When Stoerm suggest we use Discord and one of my group members wanted to, I felt like I was going to have a panic attack! (Much like the other Christine mentioned!) There were so many new things already, I couldn’t take another one. However, now I will list Discord as one of my favorites!

Discord: I have used this for a small group of classmates. The instant messaging is much easier than texting, you can see if members of your group are available/online, and if you want to get on a video call, you can just push one button instead of setting up and sending out a zoom link. When reading the article on Social Learning Theory in digital environments – I was very opposed to the idea this could happen. But…Discord made me feel much more connected to my classmates while doing hours of homework – seeing they were online and doing the same. It did feel like a shared experience. Discord is great for classmates, but I can’t figure out how it would be used in my work environment. Very interesting that Discord was in the news last week in regard to the leaked documents, apparently there are much larger servers than our small student groups!

Podcasts: This probably sounds ridiculous to list, but when I think about having to listen specifically for certain programs on NPR vs. the ease of listening to my favorite things on a podcast now – it is actually a wonderful technology. In my work environment, I have used several short clips of Hidden Brain in the classroom and it has gone over very well. In my dream class, I will likely include something about assigning a podcast for learners to listen to ahead of the class for discussion.

ChatGPT: I had a physical reaction to learning about this at first and was tachycardic when creating an account to explore. I can’t believe it, but after watching the video from Trinity Grammar School – my mind is opening. I do think I could use this in my work environment for the first draft of an unfolding case study, ideas for learning activities, or maybe even an introduction to a topic in the classroom. Again, as we discussed in class, this would be initial/first draft kind of use.

Google Jamboard: On a basic level as I understand it, this is a whiteboard with “sticky notes” that can be arranged and colored for organization. The buttons are familiar if you use google docs which is helpful. I have led a few meetings to brainstorm project ideas on Zoom which have been incredibly painful, very low participation and many crickets. I think the Jamboard could be really good for this kind of thing. Being a low-tech person, it felt very easy to use.

Mentimeter: This is a very easy way to ask questions to a group and display answers. It seems like it can work either online OR in the classroom. However, it wants me to pay for more than three questions at a time.

Online Stopwatch: As we spoke in class, the timer can be stressful for folks, but I have used this for timing breaks in the classroom. It keeps everyone on the same page and is super simple. I like to give lots of shorter breaks but that doesn’t work when we can’t restart on time, so this actually helps a lot!

Overall, these can be tricky with the work environment because there are SO many.  Although it could feel limiting for an organization to choose only a few to use, I think it is a good idea so that teachers and learners can get used to a few things at a time. I have attended Zoom classes where it is clear the teachers are trying to pull out as many apps as possible to mix it up. I found it distracting and WAY too much. So being purposeful in our choices feels very important. I also like that most of the things I tried can be used for both in-person and Zoom classes.
-Christine McCarthy

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Higher education and instruction can be challenging without innovative teaching strategies utilizing technology-advanced pedagogies. Simulation is the pilot learning platform in nursing, requiring advanced technology training and seamless conduction.

Socrative
In the class setting, there are many teaching aids based on technology tools and apps. For chapter lecturing, the contents can sometimes be dry and dull without hands-on activities and visual aids—so much content to teach and learn. Socrative is an interactive web-based student-response system (also available through iOS, Android, and Chrome apps) that can help teachers spark conversation and learning through polls and quizzes. Students Access questions via a code that places them in a teacher-created room. Using the Socrative app provides instant Q/A response. The questions reflecting learning objectives/outcomes can be prepared and stored in the app. Then during the class(lecture), the questions can be shown, then students log into the app to view the questions and answer. The result is instant, which provides students and instructors with the learning outcome by what percentage of students answered the correct/incorrect.

Google Slides
For group projects in class settings or as group assignments, a google slide is an effective tool. Google Slides is an online presentation app that lets you create and format presentations and work with other people. The benefits of Google Slides are: slides automatically save, accessibility in-person or virtual classroom setting, tacking work in a group presentation, easy sharing by link, have real-time collaboration, embedding files.

Padlet
Padlet is an online post-it wall. It allows individuals (and large/ small groups) to post their comments, questions, and resources in one place that is easily accessible. I have used it a number of times in the clinical post-conference setting. It allows easy access and instant editing, which can be shared in real-time. It is perfect in the on-the-go kind of learning setting. Also, I embedded it in the Canvas module in using the introduction, survey, and meeting schedule with the specified agenda, contents discussion, etc. The benefits of using academia are: excellent ease of use for students, promotes engagement of the entire class, and almost any file can be posted and displayed.

Google QR code
I have used QR codes for attendance tracking and affidavit submission as assignments. QR codes can be created via Google. It is great for analytics. QR codes offer excellent tracking capabilities, such as attendance. Students enter their names, and time tracking is posted via the account holder. QR code also can be utilized for scheduling meeting appointments as well.

I have not used Anchor, but I will explore using it as a podcast platform for class lectures, introductions, orientation, student assignments, etc.

I also like Prezi, even though not quite utilized yet. There should be many beneficial features. Prezi Design is a template-based slideshow-style presentation builder which creates a slideshow with rich media such as images, video, graphs, and more. I will explore more and utilize it in the class presentation for students.

I am excited to explore the Chat GPT. It is an unknown area to me, and I am sure there are some features that I can utilize to enhance teaching strategies in the future.

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There are so many options! I actually find it overwhelming, but it is nice to have the opportunity to explore. I broke down my experiences and exploring by category of application.

Social-Based Engagement:

First, let me say, social platforms in general are not my favorite. There are too many and I personally like a singular way of communication such as via Canvas messenger or texting.

Discord- I liked that it was colorful. The visual appeal seemed engaging and the layout offered ease of use. I also appreciated the hashtags where conversations can be tailored under specific categories which are organized by a single hashtag. Users would then cycle through to a specific group of messages based on the content they are seeking. I in general still find it overwhelming but this is today's world of social media, and I could definitely see a use in a group of students that will be together for a period of time (like nursing school) where they can correspond with each other on various topics in one place. The study room voice channels were also very interesting and I would think useful. I see more utility of this tool when a group will be together for longer periods of time versus shorter classes; I just don't see it getting used fully.

SLACK Messaging- Slack is incredibly similar to Discord in that it is organized with a hashtag category. I like Discord more than SLACK because of the visual appeal. SLACK had a basic white background and limited functionality, where Discord offered better visualization (which can help engagement). There are no voice channel options on SLACK either. Overall just seemed like a more basic version of Discord

Learning-Based Engagement:

Kahoot- Loved this! I played around with a few of the free quizzes and found myself actually having a good time. It was engaging and interactive. The point allocations are fun, and you can see who in the group is in the top leader board. I enjoyed the ease of use as well. When it comes to being an educator, we have a lot of these new resources available, but ease of use is important to me. I can definitely see the utility in this in any class.

Poll Everywhere- Very similar to Kahoot- but less user friendly in my opinion, harder to use, and not as engaging. Similar in that you set up quizzes and it offers real time engagement. I did notice that Poll Everywhere actually shows how many students in the group are answering each option, in real time. So you could see that 3 people are selecting answer “A” for example, and you can see them changing answers as well. The only thing I don’t like about that is that students may be swayed to change answers as they see a majority selecting a certain one.

PreziVideo-

I was most astonished by this and absolutely plan to utilize this tool in the future. When I compare this to Zoom for example, when you screen share on Zoom, the students are viewing your whole screen and then you (on video) are popped into a tiny portion of the screen. It makes it difficult for students to look at your visual cues due to the sizing. Prezi Video is pretty incredible when you are on the same screen as your presentation. This allows for better visual cueing and also would increase engagement with students. I really enjoyed this and again, think this would be helpful in any class utilizing the online platform.

GoogleDocs- I love this tool and utilize it constantly. It offers real time changes and engagement on documents which can create opportunities for quicker feedback. An example of this in my own personal experience is my drafts for our Capstone papers. Originally I was sending my chair a Word document attachment to an email. She would write comments on it and then email it back. The last draft I gave her I sent via GoogleDocs, and she would go through and offer suggestions which I could then “accept” and it would change automatically instead of me having to retype. This tool is fantastic for offering real time feedback and collaboration.

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Wow, so I had no idea all the tech there was out there for teaching. Makes me feel like I was living in the dark ages!

So, I set out upon my technology quest to discover what was out there and...bam...there.is.so.much! I'm not the most technical gal (but am determined to grow) and wow, was I overwhelmed.

I revisited Discord. I didn't like it, but I think that was because we used it in our first class in grad school and I was already overwhelmed. Now, revisiting it, it makes so much more sense, and I can see the opportunities for students to have study groups and communicate over text or voice.

Like Amy, I really liked the mind mapping tech of Mindmeister. It is so engaging for visual learners like me. I found its visual appeal to be motivating to continue inputting information (it that weird of me...or intentional by the company?)

Create Your Mind Maps Online - On Any Device | MindMeister

I have used Kahoot before and really liked it because it was easy to use. Then I checked out Quizziz. Mind Blown! I really enjoyed using it. I loved how it gave explanations if you got something incorrect. It was again, visually appealing, fun, challenging and I liked the friendly competition to keep engagement.

Enter Game PIN - Kahoot!

Another similar quiz game I found is Fatile. Here you can create online quiz game boards like jeopardy. This one was really cool because it has a buzzer function and cute little characters that it looks like you don't have to put your name to remain anonymous, so others don't know your score. This is great, so you don't feel bad if you are not doing so well.

I found something that could be helpful to us that want to teach called Mote. (justmote.me) It is a google chrome extension that allows you to leave voice comments to give students feedback. That way it could be faster and you could give more feedback. I included a youtube video link.

https://youtu.be/MWoA-gqsG5Q

Lastly, I checked out PreziVideo. I was super impressed. I loved that it was you doing your presentation on the screen but then your content was next to you. Similar to what Chris Wade does for his videos. The graphics were beautiful and engaging and it holds interest better if you see the person not just the information.

https://youtu.be/LRdbULX-abg

I tried to use ChatGPT but it was unavailable for me to sign up so I will try that again later!

Another thought...since there is so much technology out there, for me I tend to look for guidance from someone who has already complied a "best" list. That way I can take the recommendations of someone  who will really explore and review the tech and then say what they think is best. This is just a time saver for me.

I also like Padlet. I think it is a great site because it is more informal. I feel like I can reflect and write without being consumed worrying about strict writing criteria.

I can see myself using all of this tech in the future.

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Listen to this post as a podcast:
Sponsored by Kialo Edu and National Geographic Education

It's hard to imagine a time in recent history when we had more distractions, more challenges, more stuff to think about that is way more important than technology. But as someone reminded me earlier today, the show must go on. You still have work to do. You still have students who need an education. And the tools in this year's Teacher's Guide to Tech can help.

If this is the first time you're hearing about the guide, here's a quick video I made two years ago to give you an idea of what it is and how it works:

Because technology changes so quickly, I update the guide every year, and when I do, I also put together a list of tools I think are worth checking out in the upcoming year. Here are my six picks for 2021.

The Tools

1. Mote
justmote.me
Giving good quality feedback is one of the most important things teachers do for students, but it can be so time-consuming, so most teachers don't give nearly enough. A tool like Mote makes it easier to give feedback faster. It's a Google Chrome extension that lets you add voice comments in the comment field of any Google Doc, Slide presentation, spreadsheet, or inside the Google Classroom environment.

Using voice instead of writing is not only faster; it's also more personal. Students will hear your actual voice rather than having to read dry, written comments. And with all the subtleties that voice offers, you have a much better chance of communicating your message clearly, rather than being misinterpreted, which can easily happen with written communication.

The free version of Mote is great, but with the paid plan you get a longer time limit for comments, auto-generated comment transcriptions, and the ability to save voice comments for re-use in an online library.

2. AllSides
allsides.com
This year's guide contains a new section on media literacy, and boy do we need it more than ever before. We're living in a time when anyone can create and publish anything and make it look credible, a time when our students spend the bulk of their days consuming user-generated content, a time when algorithms are showing us more of the stuff we agree with and less of what we don't.

One of five tools in the new section is Allsides. This free site offers news from all sides of the political spectrum. Choose a topic-like Coronavirus, elections, health care, and so on-and Allsides provides you with a curated list of news and opinion pieces from publications that are clearly labeled as leaning left, leaning right, and centrist. Click on any of them and you go right to the full original article. This site would be an excellent resource for anyone who teaches history, social studies, or any kind of writing or research where students need to support their ideas with textual evidence.

The site also includes free classroom activities like a Red Blue Dictionary, topic pages with background information on popular current events topics, and lesson plans for teachers.

3. Google Lens
lens.google.com
You ever wish you could Google something you're looking at, something you don't know the name of? That's what Google Lens can do. Just point your smartphone camera at an object, an image, even a plant, and the app can give you information about it. Point it at text in one language and translate it into another. Point it at a math problem and it will help you find a solution. Point it at any text-special ed teachers, this one's for you-and the app will read it out loud to you. (I just tried it with this paragraph, then took it to a box of pasta and it worked on both.)

Augmented reality and machine learning get cooler every year, and this app is not only one of the most fun ways to play around with it, it might also become one of the most useful tools on our phones.

4. bulb
bulbapp.com
Portfolio assessment is a fantastic alternative to grading, and a tool like bulb makes putting together a digital portfolio a pleasure.

On this beautifully designed platform, users can create separate portfolio pages for different purposes and organize them into collections. The individual pages can include text, images, videos, embedded content from other apps, and attached files. Privacy can be set for individual pages, making it easy to decide who sees what, and pages can be revised and updated at any time.

The possibilities for this kind of tool are vast: It could be used by students to put together portfolios for capstone or genius hour projects; showcase creative work like visual art, writing, speaking, or video editing; collect artifacts of performance in sports or extracurricular activities; or build a portfolio for college applications. Teachers could use the site to create a professional portfolio or gather items around some other interest or passion.

5. EmbraceRace
embracerace.org
This year's guide contains a brand-new Social Justice and Anti-Racism category, featuring a huge collection of 24 websites, apps, YouTube channels, and other digital resources that can help teachers educate themselves and their students more deeply on issues around discrimination and how to work actively toward a more just world.

One of the listings is EmbraceRace, a site created by an multiracial couple who wanted to do a better job of educating their children about race. The site offers resources, discussion spaces, webinars, and networks to meet the challenges of raising children in "a world where race matters." The site is not directed at educators, but teachers will still find their resources useful. It would also be a good site to share with parents.

Although all the resources in this section of the guide are excellent, I chose this one to feature here because it emphasizes conversation and goes deep. It's tempting at times to look for fast fixes to race-related problems, and really, there's no such thing. Long-term change requires sustained thought, honest talk, and reflection, and the work they're doing at EmbraceRace embodies all of these.

6. Prezi Video
prezi.com/video
This tool allows you to combine the animation features of a Prezi presentation with a talking-head video. You stay on the screen, talking the whole time, while your animated presentation is layered right on top of that video. Within that side presentation, you can share a screen, show a video, provide text or images or anything else you would do with a shared screen presentation. This video covers some teacher-specific features.

After nearly a year of creating videos for hybrid and remote learning, I love that this offers something fresh. You get the really interesting animations that are possible with Prezi, plus the intimacy that comes from having you on the full screen, rather than just in a tiny box in the corner.

Even after we "get back to normal," I'm hoping that all teachers take at least some of the direct instruction they used to deliver via lecture and put it into well-planned, high-quality videos that can be accessed at any time. A tool like Prezi Video can help.

The Teacher's Guide to Tech

The seventh iteration of the Teacher's Guide to Tech is loaded with tools that can enrich your teaching. With over 450 tools in 57 different categories, this is the resource you need to quickly make smart decisions about the technology you choose for your classroom.

This year's guide has over 90 new tools and six brand-new categories: Financial Literacy, Images & Icons, Keyboarding, Media Literacy, Social Justice & Anti-Racism, and Vocabulary Builders. Plus there's a new section on remote and hybrid learning that summarizes the key things I've learned over the last year about teaching under these circumstances and links to the tool categories in the guide that are the most relevant.

Where to Get Your Copy

Single-User Licenses: If you just want a copy for yourself, you can get a copy at Teachers Pay Teachers or on Teachable.

Multi-User Licenses: To get the guide for your team, school, or even district, you can save a lot by getting multi-user licenses. I offer the deepest discounts for these on Teachable.

Purchase on Teachable
Purchase on TpT

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Listen to this post as a podcast: Sponsored by Kialo Edu and National Geographic Education It's hard to imagine a time in recent history when we had more distractions, more challenges, more stuff to think about that is way more important than technology. But as someone reminded me earlier today, the show must go on.

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First, I've thoroughly enjoyed delving into this world of technology and teaching. I've played around with Prezi video, chatGPT, and MindMeister that have all been new to me this week.

Last quarter I learned GoogleSites and created the linked website to complement my fieldwork and capstone project... while it technically isn't new to me this week, it applies because I've been thinking about adding the in-class presented material to the website and had not looked into how. So, this week I combined previous work on Prezi.com with their new PreziVideo and learned how to create a video incorporating the Google Slides or PPT presentation while recording myself doing the presentation. I haven't tried it before because I am uncomfortable with how I look on video and how my voice sounds in recordings but I'm growing more comfortable with being uncomfortable.

ChatGPT was a new concept for me when it was discussed in class - I had never heard of it before. I played around with it and was impressed with the process and also very aware of how it could be used to be dishonest with academics. I actually used ChatGPT to look into different options for using technology in the adult classroom to keep students engaged. My goal is to be a nursing instructor within the academic environment and I've had some practice in the last few quarters with it. I enjoyed the videos that described apps and ways to supplement remote learning but was looking for something similar to do in the classroom. I believe some of them could be implemented in the classroom also and will be looking more into those later.

I found MindMeister - which is an online mind mapping tool. I can see how it can be used in the classroom by setting up the basic main topic and sub categories, breaking students up into small groups (equal to the number of sub categories) and have them work together to complete the mindmap and share it with the class.

I'm drawn more toward things that increase engagement in the classroom - I want to practice and get used to in-class activities that provide students with more opportunities to engage with the material to broaden exposure and deepen understanding. I want to help students build a strong foundation in nursing that will serve them well throughout their careers -wherever it takes them.

I liked the following sites/apps:
prezi.com
mindmeister.com
quizzizz.com
Google Sites
Google Docs - for in-class collaborative work together and anonymous feedback and ability to ask questions without having to speak up in class