House of #EdTech

What if becoming a better technology-using educator had less to do with learning new tools and more to do with knowing which ones to stop using?
There's always another app, another platform, and another AI tool competing for our attention. But is all that technology actually improving teaching and learning?
In Episode 271 of House of #EdTech, Chris Nesi challenges educators to rethink their relationship with educational technology. Being innovative doesn't mean adopting every new tool or constantly reinventing your classroom. It means making thoughtful decisions about the technology you use and the value it provides.
We'll explore how technology overload affects teachers and students, why starting with a tool instead of an instructional problem can lead to unnecessary complexity, and how to evaluate the technology already in your classroom.
You'll also get a practical challenge: Conduct an EdTech Audit and decide what to KEEP, RETHINK, or RETIRE.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A 1-PAGE EDTECH TOOL AUDIT
You don't need to eliminate everything. You don't need to replace everything. You just need to make sure your technology has a purpose.
Your challenge: Eliminate one tool, simplify one workflow, or improve one thing about the technology you're already using.
Because the goal isn't to use the most technology. It's to use the right technology for the right reasons.
YOU'LL LEARN
By listening to this episode, you'll discover:
Why educators feel pressure to keep up with every new technology tool.
The difference between being aware of technology and using it effectively.
How too many platforms can complicate teaching and learning.
Why students shouldn't have to navigate unnecessary technology just to demonstrate what they've learned.
How to approach technology decisions by identifying instructional problems first.
Why adding technology to an inefficient workflow doesn't automatically improve it.
How to conduct a practical EdTech Audit.
Five questions to ask when evaluating your classroom technology.
How to decide whether to KEEP, RETHINK, or RETIRE a tool.
Three ways to make an immediate improvement to your technology use.

EDTECH RECOMMENDATION
NOBOOK Virtual Chemistry Lab
An online virtual chemistry laboratory that allows students to explore chemical experiments through digital simulations.
2026 House of #EdTech Smackdown
The annual community opportunity to participate, contribute ideas, and celebrate the people and resources making a difference in education.
Submit your entry by email or audio (preferred) by December 12, 2026.

The most important EdTech skill might not be knowing which tool to use. It might be knowing when technology can actually help.
New apps, platforms, and AI tools will always compete for your attention. Trying to keep up with all of them isn't realistic—and it isn't necessary. What educators need is a way to recognize opportunities, think critically about technology, and decide whether a tool will actually make learning or work better.
That's the idea behind the Anytime EdTech Mindset.
In Episode 270, Chris Nesi introduces a practical framework built around seven ideas: Ask, Notice, Your Learners First, Try, Iterate, Make Meaning, and Evolve.
This isn't about using more technology. It's about using technology with purpose.
Whether you're facing a classroom challenge, looking to improve a workflow, considering a new AI tool, or simply wondering if there's a better way to do something, this episode gives you a framework you can return to anytime.
Because you don't need to know every tool.
You need a better way to think when a new tool, challenge, or opportunity comes your way.
You'll Learn
How to stop chasing every new EdTech tool and focus on real problems instead.
Why anytime does not mean all the time when it comes to technology.
How to identify what you're actually trying to accomplish before searching for a tool.
Why observation matters before trying to solve a classroom or workflow problem.
How to put learners—not features or trends—at the center of technology decisions.
Why starting small can make trying new technology less intimidating.
How to learn from imperfect first attempts instead of abandoning an idea too quickly.
How to determine whether technology actually improved learning or simply added technology.
When to keep, change, or abandon a tool or approach.
How the ANYTIME framework can help you approach future EdTech challenges with confidence.

EdTech Recommendation
Teacher Hive — teacherhive.app
Bring the app you've built with AI. Teacher Hive gives it a home.
Browse hundreds of apps made by teachers, or add your own. Paste the HTML from ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, or drop in a link, and Teacher Hive makes it easy to use with a class, keep for yourself, or share with other teachers.
Bee There by Tony Vincent — apphive.us/there
A QR code scanner for classrooms. Reads the screen from across the room and opens links automatically. Show the code again for anyone who missed it. No ads, nothing collected.

High school chemistry teacher Tara Altherr joins the podcast to explain how she's helping students use AI as a thinking partner instead of a shortcut. From classroom assignments that encourage students to challenge AI's responses to practical strategies for maintaining authentic learning, Tara offers a thoughtful perspective on what responsible AI integration can look like today.
Whether you're AI-curious or already experimenting with tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, this conversation will leave you with practical ideas for helping students think more deeply—not less.
#EdTech Thought
The biggest change coming to education might not be another AI chatbot—it could be schools creating their own technology.
As AI makes software development more accessible than ever, educators are beginning to rethink their relationship with traditional EdTech vendors. Could the future belong to schools building solutions designed by educators, for educators?
#EdTech Recommendation
Chris shares a free NASA resource that turns satellite imagery into a creative classroom activity.

AI is everywhere in education—but clarity isn’t.
I’m joined by Derek Tranchina, creator of TrafficLiteEdu, to unpack one of the biggest challenges schools are facing right now: not whether to use AI, but how to use it well. The real issue isn’t the tools—it’s the confusion around expectations, boundaries, and purpose.
Derek shares how the TrafficLiteEdu framework helps schools bring clarity to AI use through a simple, practical approach—giving educators and students a shared language for what’s acceptable, what’s not, and what falls somewhere in between.
If your school is struggling with mixed messages, inconsistent policies, or hesitation around AI, this conversation will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters.
Because in the end, it’s not about banning or embracing AI—it’s about being clear.

In this episode of House of #EdTech, Chris Nesi explores a powerful idea that could shape the next era of education technology: connectedness. While many conversations about innovation focus on tools, platforms, and artificial intelligence, Chris zooms out to examine the deeper force that has always driven meaningful change in education.
From the early days of a single classroom computer to today's globally connected learning environments, technology has steadily expanded our ability to connect students, educators, ideas, and opportunities. Chris challenges listeners to think critically about how connection—not just devices—will influence the next generation of learning experiences. The episode invites educators to reflect on how they can intentionally design more connected classrooms, communities, and learning networks in 2026 and beyond.
The Evolution of EdTech
Education technology has changed dramatically over the years.
What Connectedness Really Means
Connectedness in education goes beyond Wi-Fi and devices.
Technology as a Bridge
Rather than replacing traditional learning experiences, technology can serve as a bridge, connecting learners to knowledge, people, and perspectives that were previously out of reach.
Why This Matters for Educators
As technology continues to evolve, educators face an important challenge:
Are we using technology simply because it exists, or are we using it to create meaningful connections?
Final Reflection
Chris encourages listeners to reflect on their own classrooms and ask:
How connected are my students to the world around them?
How connected am I to other educators?
How can technology strengthen learning relationships?