Kicking off 2026, let's cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters: edtech tools that can genuinely move the needle for educators. Rather than chasing trends or shiny new platforms, this episode is about intentional, practical technology use that supports feedback, collaboration, creativity, engagement, organization, and student voice.

The episode tackles the growing disconnect between students’ highly interactive digital lives outside of school and the passive digital experiences they often encounter in classrooms.

Chris challenges the idea that more screen time equals more engagement and introduces the 80/20 Producer Strategy:

1. For every 80% of the time students spend consuming information
2. Ensure at least 20% is spent creating something with value beyond the gradebook

The core message:

Engagement in 2026 isn’t about flashy tools. It’s about student agency. When students create, design, build, and solve real problems, the engagement gap begins to close.

Feedback is essential but time-consuming. Mote allows educators to leave quick voice comments directly inside Google Docs, Slides, and LMS platforms.

Why it matters:

1. Faster than typing
2. More personal and human
3. Accessible through audio + transcription

Level-Up Question:

Where in your workflow could your voice be more effective than your keyboard?

FigJam is a collaborative digital whiteboard that turns learning into an active, visible process.

Use it to:

1. Brainstorm and organize ideas
2. Capture student thinking in real time
3. Support collaboration for both synchronous and asynchronous work

Level-Up Question:

How often do students visually share their thinking before submitting a final product?

Canva has evolved into a full creation and communication platform, allowing students to demonstrate learning visually and professionally.

Classroom possibilities include:

1. Infographics and explainer visuals
2. Digital portfolios
3. Ethical media creation and storytelling

Level-Up Question:

Are students creating content — or just consuming it?

These tools transform traditional presentations into interactive learning experiences through polls, questions, and formative checks.

Why they work:

1. Immediate insight into student understanding
2. No extra grading
3. Increased accountability without pressure

Level-Up Question:

How often do you

The House of #EdTech SmackDown is back — and episode 265 delivers the 12th annual celebration of educator-shared tools, ideas, and inspiration. This fan-favorite episode brings together contributions from teachers, coaches, podcasters, and edtech leaders who share what made a real impact in classrooms and schools throughout 2025. From AI-powered writing feedback and study tools to creative multimedia platforms, productivity apps, and wellness tech, this episode is packed with practical ideas you can use right away.

I focused on a common trap in education: waiting for the "right time" to change practice.

New semesters, new marking periods, or new years often feel like the natural moment to reset. But great technology integration doesn't follow a calendar. It happens incrementally, through reflection, experimentation, and iteration, even when the school year feels messy and unfinished.

The takeaway is simple but powerful: You don't need permission from the calendar to teach differently tomorrow than you did today.

This year's SmackDown features a wide range of tools and ideas, spanning AI, creativity, productivity, assessment, and wellness.

Chris's Recommendations

• Raina AI introduces creative ways to support studying and student engagement, including the concept of "Brain Rot" videos.
• Genially for interactive and gamified learning experiences.
• 123Apps as an all-in-one media creation toolkit.
• Chronicling America from the Library of Congress for primary source research.
• ICE - https://icemenubar.app/
• Latest - https://max.codes/latest/
• Rocket - https://matthewpalmer.net/rocket/

• Beat the Computer (shared by Stephanie Howell) helps students improve writing by focusing on feedback and revision rather than replacement.

• Gemini is highlighted as a tools for educators, including writing Google Apps Scripts to automate workflows (Dan Gallagher).

• Brisk Teaching and custom GPTs (shared by Dr. Dan Kreiness) demonstrate how AI can support instruction without removing teacher agency.

• Brainfreeze AI (Matt Miller) allows educators to build their own AI agents for classroom use.

From lesson planning and assessment design to AI-assisted tutoring and district-wide policy development, Chris explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping teaching and learning, not as a replacement for educators, but as a partner in creativity and efficiency.

You will gain insights into the AI tipping point, practical classroom applications, real risks (including equity, bias, privacy, and the loss of human connection), and how teachers can lead responsibly through this transformation. The episode also includes a timely #EdTech Recommendation highlighting Google Chrome's live caption and translation features, and an invitation to participate in the 2025 EdTech SmackDown, the annual listener-powered finale of the show.

• #EdTech Thought: The AI tipping point: Why AI in education is no longer "next" but "now."

• How educators are using generative AI for planning, differentiation, and feedback.

• Examples of AI tools supporting English language learners and accessibility.

• Major risks of AI in schools — equity, bias, privacy, and the human factor.

• How to lead responsibly with AI in your classroom or district:

  • Build your AI literacy

  • Put pedagogy before technology

  • Model ethical transparency

  • Advocate for clear district policies

  • Share both wins and failures

  
  

• #EdTech Recommendation: Google Chrome's Live Caption & Translate feature.

• House of #EdTech Episode 246 – The Harms of Generative AI featuring Tom Mullaney

In Episode 263 of the House of #EdTech podcast, Chris Nesi steps back from the gadgets, apps, and AI tools to remind educators what truly powers learning — education itself. While technology continues to reshape classrooms, Chris explores why human connection, curiosity, and lifelong learning remain at the heart of every meaningful educational experience.

This reflective episode offers both inspiration and practical strategies for making learning more personal, purposeful, and people-centered — with technology as the support, not the driver.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Why education matters beyond technology

• "Education is the great equalizer" — unpacking what that really means

• Educated by Tara Westover: A must-read memoir about resilience and learning

• The real power of learning: curiosity, connection, and contribution

• Historical examples of education changing lives (Malala, GI Bill)

• Practical tips for meaningful teaching in a tech-driven world

5 Practical Takeaways:

1. Focus on relationships first — learning starts with connection.

2. Make reflection part of the learning process.

3. Model lifelong learning for your students and peers.

4. Use technology with intention, not obligation.

5. Connect learning to the real world.

#EdTech Recommendation: Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover — a powerful reminder of education's transformative potential.

In Episode 262 of the House of #EdTech, Chris Nesi explores the timely and necessary topic of creating a responsible AI policy for your classroom. With artificial intelligence tools becoming more integrated into educational spaces, the episode breaks down why teachers need to set clear expectations and how they can do it with transparency, collaboration, and flexibility. Chris offers a five-part framework that educators can use to guide students toward ethical and effective AI use.

Before the featured content, Chris reflects on a growing internal debate: is it time to step back from tech-heavy classrooms and return to more analog methods? He also shares three edtech recommendations, including tools for generating copyright-free images, discovering daily AI tool capabilities, and randomizing seating charts for better classroom dynamics.

Topics Discussed:

• EdTech Thought: Chris debates the "Tech or No Tech" question in modern classrooms

• EdTech Recommendations:

  • https://nomorecopyright.com/ - Upload an image to transform it into a unique, distinct version designed solely for inspiration and creative exploration.

  • https://www.shufflebuddy.com/ - Never worry about seating charts again Foster a strong classroom community by frequently shuffling your seating charts while respecting your students' individual needs.

  • https://whataicandotoday.com/ - We've analysed 16362 AI Tools and identified their capabilities with OpenAI GPT-4.1, to bring you a free list of 83054 tasks of what AI can do today.

  
  

• Why classrooms need a responsible AI policy

• A five-part framework to build your AI classroom policy

  • Define What AI Is (and Isn't)
  • Clarify When and How AI Can Be Used
  • Promote Transparency and Attribution
  • Include Privacy and Tool Approval Guidelines
  • Make It Collaborative and Flexible
  
  

• The importance of modeling digital citizenship and AI literacy

• Free editable AI policy template by Chris for grades K–12

Mentions:

• Mike Brilla – The Inspired Teacher podcast

In this exciting crossover episode, Chris Nesi teams up with Leena Marie Saleh (The EdTech Guru) for a detailed look into Canva's latest educational innovations unveiled during Canva Create 2025. Whether you're a teacher, instructional coach, or tech integrator, this episode is packed with transformative features and real classroom applications.

Key Themes and Highlights:

• A powerful new addition to the Canva suite—Canva Sheets brings AI-infused, visually pleasing spreadsheets to the classroom.

• Bulk Background Remover: Easily remove backgrounds from dozens of student photos at once.

• Bulk Create with Images: Mass-produce certificates, report cards, or newsletters by integrating images directly into your sheet.

• Magic AI Prompts: Skip the formulas—just describe your needs and let AI do the rest (e.g., calculating budgets, charting grades).

• Magic Insights: Auto-generate graphs, summaries, or positive student comments—great for data storytelling or end-of-year celebrations.

• Student Access: Available to students in districts where Canva's Magic tools are enabled.

• Create multi-modal projects within a single file: combine slides, spreadsheets, videos, documents, and websites.

• Use Case: Teachers can build unit plans with rubrics, grading sheets, lesson videos, and linked resources—all in one shareable design.

• Student Application: Portfolios that blend writing, multimedia, assessments, and visual elements in a single file.

• No coding experience needed! Generate interactive HTML-based tools like:

  • Flashcard games

  • Vocabulary matching activities

  • Countdown timers

  
  

• Use Cases:

  • Do-Nows & Exit Tickets

  • Interactive experiences (e.g., virtual art exhibits)

  
  

• Includes real-time code editing via voice or chat and seamless integration into other Canva designs.

• ...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming education, but when we think about AI in the classroom, we often picture high school or college students using it for research, coding, or content creation. But what about elementary school? Can AI be a valuable tool for our youngest learners?

In Episode 260 of House of #EdTech, I sit down with Dan Gallagher, an experienced ed tech coach, to explore how AI can be integrated into elementary education. We dive into the best tools, practical applications, and strategies to ensure AI enhances learning while keeping students safe and engaged.

Many educators hesitate to introduce AI to young students, concerned about privacy, ethics, and age-appropriate usage. But as Dan explains, AI isn't about replacing teachers—it's about enhancing personalized learning and supporting creativity.

AI can act as a creative brainstorming partner, a writing assistant, and even a storytelling coach, helping students generate ideas and refine their work in ways that keep them engaged and excited about learning.

And the best part? When used correctly, AI doesn't replace human interaction—it amplifies a teacher's ability to provide personalized feedback.

So, how does this work in a real classroom setting? Dan shares some inspiring examples:

Using AI chatbots like "Waffles" (a controlled, kid-friendly chatbot), students can interact with a virtual writing partner that helps them develop their storytelling skills. The AI can ask them engaging questions, suggest details, and even provide feedback on their writing.

Example Activity: A student writing a story about a time traveler can ask the AI for historical facts, unique setting ideas, or character inspiration. The AI generates possibilities, but the student makes all the creative decisions!

AI-powered platforms like Canva's text-to-image generator allow young students to turn their ideas into visual representations.

Example Activity: A class studying idioms might create posters using AI-generated images. If a student picks "It's raining cats and dogs," AI can generate an imaginative illustration, sparking discussion about figurative language.

AI can function as a virtual tutor, adapting to each student's needs. Platforms like Magic School AI provide instant feedback on writing assignments, while School AI can assist with generating lesson plans tailored to students' learning levels.

Example Activity: A teacher might use AI to provide instant feedback on students' sentence structures, guiding them to refine their writing step by step instead of waiting for the teacher to get to each student individually.

Of course, introducing AI in elementary education requires a responsible approach. Privacy, misinformation, and ethical use are all valid concerns. Dan and I discuss some best practices to keep AI use safe and effective:

Use AI platforms with built-in content moderation (e.g., School AI, which ensures safe interactions). Set up AI usage in a controlled, "walled garden" environment where students can explore safely. Teach students...

In this episode of House of #EdTech, I discuss the what, why, and how of gamification in education! By incorporating game design elements into your teaching, you can boost student motivation, engagement, and learning outcomes—all while making lessons more interactive and fun!

• Definition of gamification and how it differs from game-based learning
• The psychology behind gamification: motivation, engagement, and dopamine
• Why gamification works in both K-12 and higher education settings

• Teachers and schools successfully implementing gamification
• How gamified learning platforms like Classcraft, Kahoot!, and Quizizz enhance the classroom experience
• The impact of leaderboards, challenges, and achievements on student motivation

• Points, Badges, and Leaderboards (PBL): Reward students for progress and effort
• Quests and Challenges: Break down lessons into missions and problem-solving activities
• Choice and Autonomy: Let students pick their learning paths through differentiated tasks
• Storytelling & Themes: Create immersive experiences (e.g., a classroom space mission or historical adventure)

• Classcraft – Gamify classroom management
• Kahoot! – Interactive quizzes
• Quizizz – Fun game-based assessments
• Minecraft: Education Edition – Learning through creativity