House of #EdTech

In this special announcement, I give a direct, time-sensitive reminder to you: it's the final week to submit contributions for the 2025 House of #EdTech SmackDown! With only two submissions so far, I encourage you to send in your favorite EdTech tips, tools, prompts, and resources from the past year. Participate by sending a voice message through the website or the House of EdTech hotline. Voicemail Website Hotline: 732-903-4869 House of #EdTech is one of the only (if not the only) education podcasts that consistently offers a platform for listener contributions and I celebrate the long-standing community that has grown around more than a decade of episodes. I don't care if you're a longtime or a new listener... join in, revisit past SmackDowns, and help strengthen the connected educator community as the show heads into 2026.

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. Key Topics Discussed #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. Relevant Links & Resources 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: Focus on relationships first — learning starts with connection. Make reflection part of the learning process. Model lifelong learning for your students and peers. Use technology with intention, not obligation. 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 Jake Miller – Educational Duct Tape podcast // Educational Duct Tape Book

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. Featured Topic: Canva Create 2025 Key Themes and Highlights: Canva Sheets: The Spreadsheet Reimagined 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. The All-in-One Visual Suite 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. Canva Code 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. Voiceover and Text-to-Speech Enhancements Record true voiceovers directly in Canva—no more video workarounds. Use AI-generated voices to read text aloud in different accents and languages (e.g., Spanish voice packs Alejandra and Sofia). Ideal for student presentations, podcasts, and accessibility support. AI-Powered Speaker Notes Auto-generate speaking points from your presentation slides. Great for prepping lessons, webinars, or class presentations on the fly. Assignments Hub Instantly generate quizzes from highlighted text in a lesson or document. New classwork dashboard allows for real-time monitoring of student progress (especially for educators without an LMS like Google Classroom). Scrollables (a.k.a. Scrollytelling) Create animated, interactive timelines or diagrams that engage students through scroll-triggered movement and transitions. 🎯 Example: A digestive system walkthrough or a historical timeline using scroll-based animations. Additional Features Mentioned Superscript & Subscript support (finally!) Rich text highlighting in Docs Caption animations Volume balancing for videos Banner placement across all pages Enhanced collaboration (up to 50 collaborators per design)