Edtech Throwdown

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown.  This is Episode 214 called Ditch that Chromebook.   In this episode we’ll talk about several current issues in the edtech world all centered around technology, the role it serves, and to what extent it belongs in schools.  This is another episode you don’t want to miss.  Check it out.

Apology to Matt Miller

3 Current Arguments in the edtech world:

1. To block or not to block: AI in schools
2. Let fail? 
3. Agree about alway cheating   
4. The pendulum swings back on 1:1 devices.  What is the right way forward?  
5. Banning cell phones in schools.  Yay or nay?

Edtech Throwdown: 

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
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7. Twitter   
8. Facebook
9. Write us an Apple Podcast Review!
10. Tell your friends aboutwww.edtechthrowdown.com
11. Tell your friends about the Teach Better Podcast Network

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• Spotify  
• YouTube  
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Connect with us on Social Media

Guise’s Social Media

• Twitter(@guisegotteched)
• LinkedIn

Nick’s Social Media

• Twitter(@nickgotteched)

Music Credits:

• Intro and Outro Music-American Idle - RKVC
• Segment Identifiers-Duck in the Alley - TrackTribe
• Edtech Throwdown-Born a Rockstar (Instrumental) - NEFEX

Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, we are best known for sessions on:

• AI For Teachers, Admin, and Parents
• 1:1 Chromebook Integration
• EdTech Throwdown
• TargetED Learning
• Gamification (Badge Systems)
• Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
• Google apps and extensions
• Personalized learning and Choice Boards
• Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
• Digital content creation
• Student Podcasting
• Screencasting
• Flipped Classroom
• Student-Centered Learning

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown.  This is Episode 213 called Designing Lessons Based on Cognitive Science with Dave Snyder.   In this episode we’ll talk with Mr. Dave Snyder about current research in cognitive science and how it has shaped his lessons and the overall classroom experience for his students and their learning.  This is another episode you don’t want to miss.  Check it out.

In today’s episode, we are talking to Dean of Academics at Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, NJ, Mr. Dave Snyder, welcome to the show! How are you doing today?

Can you give everybody your quick pitch, hero’s origin story?  What’s your own education?  What is your teaching experience?  What do you do now?

Talk about our NJECC meetup our general impressions of what Dave’s sessions was all about

• Dave reached out to us and asked if we could check out his session at a recent conference
• What was it called again?
• Focus was on cognitive science, which I thought I knew about, but as I am sitting and listening more, a lightbulb goes off for me as much of what you were saying resonated with my own classroom experience … having mixed results with cooperative learning, seeing students struggle through inquiry-based lessons that end with mixed results, jigsaws that fall flat for most

Presentation:  https://setonhallprepschool-my.sharepoint.com/:p:/g/personal/dsnyder_shp_org/IQAq6J9_RDJeQIhbHheNEEjpAXxbJGsNJ_DNgVMdU4GUkUU?rtime=Ox8y2DaW3kg

1. Can you give an overview of your presentation, topic, and what brought you to feature this at a tech-themed education conference?
2. You began with a survey question about what most affects a student's ability to learn science:  1. What they already know 2.How motivated they are 3. Their learning style 4.How interesting the material is 5.How much inquiry-based instruction (discovery learning) they have Can you explain what this illustrates about cognitive science as it pertains to the classroom?
3. Walk people through the working memory game from slide 11. Can you explain what this illustrates about cognitive science as it pertains to the classroom?
4. Explain the forgetting curve and how it changes with multiple reviews.  What has that meant for your classroom?
5. This seems to go against what a lot of science teachers have learned about inquiry and student-centered learning.  Does it go against those practices?
6. Role of tech?

Edtech Throwdown: 

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
5. Stitcher  
6. YouTube  
7. Twitter   
8. Facebook
9. Write us an Apple Podcast Review!
10. Tell your friends aboutwww.edtechthrowdown.com
11. Tell your friends about the Teach Better Podcast Network

Subscribe to our Podcast Channels and Socials

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify  
• YouTube  
• Twitter  (@edtechthrowdown)
• Facebook
• Instagram

Connect with us on Social Media

Guise’s Social Media

• Twitter(@guisegotteched)
• LinkedIn

Nick’s Social Media

• Twitter(@nickgotteched)

Music Credits:

• Intro and Outro Music-American Idle - RKVC
• Segment Identifiers-Duck in the Alley - TrackTribe
• Edtech Throwdown-Born a Rockstar (Instrumental) - NEFEX

Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, we are best known for sessions on:

• AI For Teachers, Admin, and Parents
• 1:1 Chromebook Integration
• EdTech Throwdown
• TargetED Learning
• Gamification (Badge Systems)
• Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
• Google apps and extensions
• Personalized learning and Choice Boards
• Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
• Digital content creation
• Student Podcasting
• Screencasting
• Flipped Classroom
• Student-Centered Learning

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown.  This is Episode 212 called AI Uses in the Classroom from NJECC 2026.   In this episode we’ll share 4 ways that AI can be used to support student learning.  This is another episode you don’t want to miss.  Check it out.

Vanguard NJ Districts AI Meetings 

Our presentation from 2026 feature the following tools:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAHBrcMoMnM/qPXmqUkk_mpFJELEH-cv9A/edit?utm_content=DAHBrcMoMnM&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

NotebookLM flashcards to Canva bulk create how-to video

https://youtu.be/RUCMVAgx8jQ?si=VQns3kuThjIAjpEL

Edtech Throwdown: 

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
5. Stitcher  
6. YouTube  
7. Twitter   
8. Facebook
9. Write us an Apple Podcast Review!
10. Tell your friends aboutwww.edtechthrowdown.com
11. Tell your friends about the Teach Better Podcast Network

Subscribe to our Podcast Channels and Socials

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify  
• YouTube  
• Twitter  (@edtechthrowdown)
• Facebook
• Instagram

Connect with us on Social Media

Guise’s Social Media

• Twitter(@guisegotteched)
• LinkedIn

Nick’s Social Media

• Twitter(@nickgotteched)

Music Credits:

• Intro and Outro Music-American Idle - RKVC
• Segment Identifiers-Duck in the Alley - TrackTribe
• Edtech Throwdown-Born a Rockstar (Instrumental) - NEFEX

Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, we are best known for sessions on:

• AI For Teachers, Admin, and Parents
• 1:1 Chromebook Integration
• EdTech Throwdown
• TargetED Learning
• Gamification (Badge Systems)
• Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
• Google apps and extensions
• Personalized learning and Choice Boards
• Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
• Digital content creation
• Student Podcasting
• Screencasting
• Flipped Classroom
• Student-Centered Learning

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 211 called NJECC Showdown 2026. Guise and I have each selected 6 of our favorite tools for the classroom. Listen in to learn about what they are, why we like them, and how they might advance your practice! This is another episode you don’t want to miss. Check it out.

This year’s NJECC was great!

-did 2 sessions

-saw a cool session and met a possible future guest

Our presentation from 2026 feature the following tools:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAHBrY8mBhs/nJ3GQcW00epnK3bp7Uaoyw/edit?utm_content=DAHBrY8mBhs&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Edtech Throwdown:

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
5. Stitcher
6. YouTube
7. Twitter
8. Facebook
9. Write us an Apple Podcast Review!
10. Tell your friends aboutwww.edtechthrowdown.com
11. Tell your friends about the Teach Better Podcast Network

Subscribe to our Podcast Channels and Socials

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Twitter (@edtechthrowdown)
• Facebook
• Instagram

Connect with us on Social Media

Guise’s Social Media

• Twitter(@guisegotteched)
• LinkedIn

Nick’s Social Media

• Twitter(@nickgotteched)

Music Credits:

• Intro and Outro Music-American Idle - RKVC
• Segment Identifiers-Duck in the Alley - TrackTribe
• Edtech Throwdown-Born a Rockstar (Instrumental) - NEFEX

Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, we are best known for sessions on:

• AI For Teachers, Admin, and Parents
• 1:1 Chromebook Integration
• EdTech Throwdown
• TargetED Learning
• Gamification (Badge Systems)
• Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
• Google apps and extensions
• Personalized learning and Choice Boards
• Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
• Digital content creation
• Student Podcasting
• Screencasting
• Flipped Classroom
• Student-Centered Learning

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown.  This is episode 210 called “AI Prompt Writing for Educators.”  In this episode, we’ll explore the power of prompts and how they can be the difference maker for those who use AI effectively and those who fall behind.  This is another episode you don’t want to miss.  Check it out.

Narrative:  People still have an extremely wide range of engagement with AI.  Nick has two conversations about AI - 1 with his in-laws about AI telling people to commit crimes and 1 with another teacher who thinks it just writes papers for students.

1. Anatomy of a good prompt

• What to include:Give it a job title (e.g., "veteran IB Biology teacher") and define the target audience (e.g., "students with no prior coding experience").

• What to include:Provide the "raw material." If you want a rubric, paste the assignment. If you want a response to a parent email, paste the email.

• What to include:Specify the format (e.g., "a 3-column table," "a bulleted list of 5 items," or "a formal email script"). Add constraints like "Keep the total word count under 200" or "Use a witty, encouraging tone."

Be purposeful with your AI use.  Always ask - is there a reason for me to use AI here?  Would it benefit my brain to do this myself?  Sometimes doing even simple tasks yourself have benefits to maintaining your mind's own plasticity and critical thinking.  You’ll notice that many of our favorite prompts are for monotonous, time consuming, repetition-based tasks that would not be possible without the use of AI.

Our favorite prompt libraries:

• Teacher Server
• https://www.aiforeducation.io/prompts
• https://promptbase.com/
• https://gail.wharton.upenn.edu/prompt-library/
• https://www.thepromptindex.com/

Our favorite prompts:

1. Multiple versions of the same question:  Here is an AP Exam question about topic X: ____copy paste in the question ____.  Can you write 8 more versions of this that all follow the same format but have different numbers and variations of each question.
2. Meta search:  Find for me all the ___ exam questions that deal with ___topic___.
3. Text leveller:  "Take the following text about [Topic] and rewrite it into three versions:

• Version A (The Hook):Written as a high-interest TikTok script for a 14-year-old.
• Version B (The Standard):On-grade level with 5 bolded 'power vocabulary' words.
• Version C (The Scaffold):For a student with a 3rd-grade reading level, using short sentences (max 10 words) and a 'one-concept-per-paragraph' rule. Include a 'Bridge Table' that helps Version C students eventually understand the key terms in Version B."

1. I struggle with coming up withreal-world examplesof things.  "I’m teaching [Mathematical/Scientific Concept]. Give me 5 'weird' real-world applications of this concept in careers students wouldn't expect (e.g., fashion design, professional gaming, or forest management). For one of these, draft a 2-minute 'Lesson Hook' story that starts with a high-stakes problem only this concept can solve."
2. Jeopardy Clue Writer
3. You are a Jeopardy Clue Writer.  Anytime an AP Biology term is entered, you will create a jeopardy clue using the AP Biology standards set by the AP College Board.  For example, if someone entered Charles Darwin into the prompt, you would respond with: He developed the theory of evolution by means of natural selection after a five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle.  Let the output be Times new roman font size 12.
4. Add study guides or notes to
5. Garbage Pail Teachers
6. Role and Goal
7. You are the Garbage Pail Teachers Creator. Your purpose is to take an uploaded photo of a person and a provided name (first or last) and transform them into a high-quality, 1980s-style trading card parody. You specialize in gross-out humor, puns, and classroom-themed chaos.
8. Image Generation Guidelines
9. When a user uploads a photo and provides a name, use the image_generation tool with these specific aesthetic requirements:
10. Art Style: Classic 1980s trading card aesthetic. Hand-painted look with airbrushed textures, vibrant but slightly grimy colors, and thick outlines.
11. Characters: The character must be a caricature of the person in the photo, reimagined as a "teacher" in a messy, surreal, or gross-out school setting.
12. The Sticker Frame: The image must be encased in a classic die-cut sticker border (a white peel-off line) with a colorful header at the top.
13. The Banner: The header must say "GARBAGE PAIL TEACHERS" in the iconic bubbly font.
14. Naming Logic: Create a rhyming or alliterative nickname based on the provided name.
15. Example: For "Guise," use "Greasy Guisey." For "Smith," use "Sickly Smitty."
16. Place this name in the iconic nameplate bar at the bottom or side of the image.
17. Creative Process
18. Analyze the Photo: Identify key features (glasses, hair style, expression) to maintain a "parody likeness."
19. Teacher Theme: Place the character in a classroom context (e.g., covered in chalk dust, tangled in computer wires, eating a "rotten apple," or melting into a desk).
20. The "Gross" Factor: Add a humorous, mildly gross-out element consistent with the original 80s cards (slimy textures, exaggerated expressions, or comical disasters).
21. Interaction Style
22. Stay in character as a mischievous 1980s trading card editor.
23. When a user provides a name, confirm the "punny" nickname you’ve chosen before or during the image generation.
24. Safety Note: Keep the humor "PG-13" gross-out (like the original cards). Avoid mean-spirited content, gore, or truly offensive imagery. Focus on "slapstick mess."
25. Keep the correct spelling of the name.  Have the adjective start with the same letter as the name.  For example, if the inputted name was "Guise"  make it "Greasy-Guise or if the name was "Johnson" make it "Junky-Food Johnson"
26. AP Biology Lesson Plan Generator
27. You are an AP Biology teacher making formalized lesson plans using the College board AP Biology Standards.  You must include the following parts of the lesson plan for each lesson: lesson objectives, standards, warm up, instructional strategies, closing activities, differentiation of instruction and/or assessment, and assessment techniques. I will provide the activities and topic for the lesson and you fill in the blanks.  Format on canvas mode and make sure each part of the lesson plan is bolded.  Please format suitable for a google doc.  Make sure The title of the lesson is The Unit # and Lesson # with the title of the lesson and that everything under each section is bulleted. Please don't use emojis in the lesson plan
28. Add your curriculum
29. YouTube Publishing Gem
30. You are a digital creator who makes videos for youtube.  For each video entered create the following:
31. Analyze the video and provide a SEO-friendly description
32. Create 10-15 relevant tags
33. Create chapter timestamps in 00:00 format.  With each timestamp add a teaser text describing the edtech tool, app, activity, or problem being discussed.
34. Create a callout message like: "if you like the content like the content in this video, please subscribe to the channel, subscribe to the Edtechthrowdown Podcast, and visit www.edtechthrowdown.com

Edtech Throwdown: 

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
5. Stitcher  
6. YouTube  
7. Twitter   
8. Facebook
9. Write us an Apple Podcast Review!
10. Tell your friends aboutwww.edtechthrowdown.com
11. Tell your friends about the Teach Better Podcast Network

Subscribe to our Podcast Channels and Socials

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify  
• YouTube  
• Twitter  (@edtechthrowdown)
• Facebook
• Instagram

Connect with us on Social Media

Guise’s Social Media

• Twitter(@guisegotteched)
• LinkedIn

Nick’s Social Media

• Twitter(@nickgotteched)

Music Credits:

• Intro and Outro Music-American Idle - RKVC
• Segment Identifiers-Duck in the Alley - TrackTribe
• Edtech Throwdown-Born a Rockstar (Instrumental) - NEFEX

Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, we are best known for sessions on:

• AI For Teachers, Admin, and Parents
• 1:1 Chromebook Integration
• EdTech Throwdown
• TargetED Learning
• Gamification (Badge Systems)
• Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
• Google apps and extensions
• Personalized learning and Choice Boards
• Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
• Digital content creation
• Student Podcasting
• Screencasting
• Flipped Classroom
• Student-Centered Learning

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown.  This is episode 209 called “10 Fun AI Tools to Try in 2026”  In this episode, we’ll explore the lighthearted side of AI as we examine some silly AI tools and uses that are guaranteed to make you and your students smile.  This is another episode you don’t want to miss.  Check it out.

It's just that time of the year.

1. Clipdrop.co
2. Gemini’s new “Create Music” option under Tools.  Choose a track and then the AI populates lyrics into that track.  Right now there are maybe 20-ish tracks in diff music styles
3. podsmartai.com     
4. Google Arts and Culture - Art Selfie.  Download the app.  Be careful with students under 18.  Use this fun activity as a starting point for analysis and discussion of classic works.
5. Goblin Toolshttps://goblin.tools/
6. Quick, Draw.  
7. Prompt Libraries
8. https://promptbase.com/
9. https://gail.wharton.upenn.edu/prompt-library/
10. https://www.thepromptindex.com/
11. Google Labs.  The home for AI experiments at Google.  This deserves more exploration on our part, but there is a ton here so I’m sharing it as a thing of it’s own.  For example,GenTypeis one of the experiments that can create fonts.  The example they feature is a font using jelly on toast, where each letter of the alphabet is jelly being spread on pieces of toast.
12. https://boredhumans.com/
13. Talking Tours.  An AI audio experiment touring cultural landmarks in Street View on Google Arts & Culture.

Edtech Throwdown: 

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
5. Stitcher  
6. YouTube  
7. Twitter   
8. Facebook
9. Write us an Apple Podcast Review!
10. Tell your friends aboutwww.edtechthrowdown.com
11. Tell your friends about the Teach Better Podcast Network

Subscribe to our Podcast Channels and Socials

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify  
• YouTube  
• Twitter  (@edtechthrowdown)
• Facebook
• Instagram

Connect with us on Social Media

Guise’s Social Media

• Twitter(@guisegotteched)
• LinkedIn

Nick’s Social Media

• Twitter(@nickgotteched)

Music Credits:

• Intro and Outro Music-American Idle - RKVC
• Segment Identifiers-Duck in the Alley - TrackTribe
• Edtech Throwdown-Born a Rockstar (Instrumental) - NEFEX

Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, we are best known for sessions on:

• AI For Teachers, Admin, and Parents
• 1:1 Chromebook Integration
• EdTech Throwdown
• TargetED Learning
• Gamification (Badge Systems)
• Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
• Google apps and extensions
• Personalized learning and Choice Boards
• Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
• Digital content creation
• Student Podcasting
• Screencasting
• Flipped Classroom
• Student-Centered Learning

Episode 208: 10 Canva Apps for Teachers in 2026

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown.  This is episode 208 called “10 (More) Canva Apps for Teachers”  In this episode, we’ll revisit the exciting world of canva apps and deliver some old favorites as well as some exciting new finds.  This is another episode you don’t want to miss.  Check it out.

Segment 1: 

Lunch and Learn preparation

Segment 2: Apps

Canva: Visual Suite for Everyone 10 Apps presentation

1. Qr Code
2. Image Divide
3. Bulk Creator
4. Image Upscaler
5. Video Effects
6. Jigsaw Puzzler
7. Animator
8. Image Recolor
9. Type Cutout
10. Can Sign
11. YouTube Embed

Edtech Throwdown: 

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Segment 3: Where to Find EdTech Throwdown

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
5. Stitcher  
6. YouTube  
7. Twitter   
8. Facebook
9. Write us an Apple Podcast Review!
10. Tell your friends aboutwww.edtechthrowdown.com
11. Tell your friends about the Teach Better Podcast Network

Subscribe to our Podcast Channels and Socials

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify  
• YouTube  
• Twitter  (@edtechthrowdown)
• Facebook
• Instagram

Connect with us on Social Media

Guise’s Social Media

• Twitter(@guisegotteched)
• LinkedIn

Nick’s Social Media

• Twitter(@nickgotteched)

Music Credits:

• Intro and Outro Music-American Idle - RKVC
• Segment Identifiers-Duck in the Alley - TrackTribe
• Edtech Throwdown-Born a Rockstar (Instrumental) - NEFEX

Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, we are best known for sessions on:

• AI For Teachers, Admin, and Parents
• 1:1 Chromebook Integration
• EdTech Throwdown
• TargetED Learning
• Gamification (Badge Systems)
• Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
• Google apps and extensions
• Personalized learning and Choice Boards
• Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
• Digital content creation
• Student Podcasting
• Screencasting
• Flipped Classroom
• Student-Centered Learning

Episode 207: Tips and Tricks for 2026: Chrome and Gmail

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown.  This is episode 207 called “Tips and Tricks for 2026: Chrome and Gmail”  In this episode, we’ll talk about some of our favorite tips for surfing the web with chrome and sending or receiving emails in Gmail.  Hopefully these hacks can help make your day a little easier.  This is another episode you don’t want to miss.  Check it out.

Segment 1: Lost but Now Found

• Restore lost or accidentally Control Shift T Command Shift T on a MAC
• Zoom in and Out
• Control +/-

Segment 2: Edtech Tips and Tricks

Google Chrome Tips and Tricks

Nick

1. QR Code
2. Go to the site > Three Dots > Cast,Save, and Share > Create a QR Code
3. Smart PDF Highlighting
4. Use the "Link to Highlight" feature in Chrome. Right-click any text on a webpage and select "Copy link to highlight." When students click it, they are taken exactly to that sentence on the page.
5. Use Google Lens to grab text from images.  Go to the 3 dots > Search with Google Lens > drag around the image with the text you want > choose Copy Text

Guise

1. Add Tab to Group (Right click on a tab, hit add to group)
2. Send Tabs Across Devices 
3. If you find a recipe on your laptop but want to take it to the kitchen on your phone, right-click the tab (or the address bar) and selectSend to your devices. 
4. It pops up as a notification on your other device instantly..
5. Make the site an APP: Go to the site > Three Dots > Save and Share > Install page as app. It will now have its own icon in your Taskbar/Dock and won't get lost in your tabs. 

Gmail

Nick:

1. Find Large Attachments
2. Type larger:10m in the search bar to find every email taking up more than 10MB. It’s the fastest way to clear storage space.
3. Schedule Send Later
4. Templates (Canned Responses)
5. Enable this in Settings > Advanced. Save your standard "Late Work Policy" or "Meeting Request" as a template. To use it, click the three dots in a new draft and hit "Templates."

Guise:

1. Undo Send
2. Go to Settings > See all settings > Undo Send and change it to 30 seconds. It’s the ultimate "safety net" for typos.
3. Archive
4. The "Plus" Addressing Hack
5. If your email is [email protected], you can use [email protected] to sign up for sites. Gmail ignores everything after the +, but you can create a Filter to automatically label or skip the inbox for anything sent to that specific "plus" address.

Edtech Throwdown: 

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Segment 3: Where to Find EdTech Throwdown

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
5. Stitcher  
6. YouTube  
7. Twitter   
8. Facebook
9. Write us an Apple Podcast Review!
10. Tell your friends aboutwww.edtechthrowdown.com
11. Tell your friends about the Teach Better Podcast Network

Subscribe to our Podcast Channels and Socials

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify  
• YouTube  
• Twitter  (@edtechthrowdown)
• Facebook
• Instagram

Connect with us on Social Media

Guise’s Social Media

• Twitter(@guisegotteched)
• LinkedIn

Nick’s Social Media

• Twitter(@nickgotteched)

Music Credits:

• Intro and Outro Music-American Idle - RKVC
• Segment Identifiers-Duck in the Alley - TrackTribe
• Edtech Throwdown-Born a Rockstar (Instrumental) - NEFEX

Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, we are best known for sessions on:

• AI For Teachers, Admin, and Parents
• 1:1 Chromebook Integration
• EdTech Throwdown
• TargetED Learning
• Gamification (Badge Systems)
• Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
• Google apps and extensions
• Personalized learning and Choice Boards
• Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
• Digital content creation
• Student Podcasting
• Screencasting
• Flipped Classroom
• Student-Centered Learning

Episode 206: Google Vids vs Canva Video and WeVideo

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown.  This is episode 206 called “Google Vids vs Canva Video and WeVideo”  In this episode, we’ll talk about a new-ish Google app called Google Vids and how it stacks up against other popular classroom video creation tools.  This is another episode you don’t want to miss.  Check it out.

Narrative: Have we ever solved the problem of fast and easy screencasts?  A teacher asked me that this week and I realized I didn’t have a great answer.

ScreenPal has an extension, but the increased tools make it slower

WeVideo has an extension, but it is clunky and not free

Screencastify still exists, but have to pay after 10 videos

Released:  Google Vids was first announced and released in preview during Google Cloud Next in April 2024, with a wider rollout to all Google Workspace users starting in November 2024 as an AI-powered video creation tool for work. 

What is it?  It is a video editing platform that feels more like creating a Google Slide than a video editing platform.  Is this a positive thing … not sure yet.

Free Basic Version: All users get access to the web-based editor, allowing recording, importing clips, using templates, and basic editing. 

AI Extras (Paid): Advanced AI tools, such as AI-generated clips from prompts, AI avatars, and enhanced script/outline generation, require paid Google Workspace or AI plan subscriptions. 

What can it do?

• Screen records with or without webcam
• Converts slides to video
• Upload your own photos and videos for editing
• Has video templates with title slides, animations, etc.
• Multiple layouts: landscape, portrait, square
• Has stock audio from Youtube audio library - good music!
• Has most, if not all, typical video editing tools: playhead, video preview, splitting, multiple track editing, etc.

Benefits:

• Integration: Works directly within the Google ecosystem, integrating with Google Drive for easy access to files. If you are a Google school, this platform will look familiar to your students
• Sharing:  familiarity is key.  You can share you vids projects just like a doc or slide.  We tested simultaneous editing, it works well
• Relatively simple to use.  I was able to start editing and creating many different types of videos immediately.
• Downloads are very simple, better than the WeVideo we use with Ss now

What Can’t it Do:

• 10 minute time limit - this is a big one
• "Slideshow" Nature: The primary criticism is that Google Vids is essentially an AI-assisted presentation or slideshow creator, not a full-fledged, cinematic video generation tool. The resulting videos are often described as similar to a Google Slides presentation with transitions.
• Limited Professional Polish: Veteran video content creators may find the final products lack the polish needed for professional demos or external use, making it better suited for internal team updates and presentations.
• AI Inconsistencies: The AI's selection of stock media can be "hit-or-miss," sometimes resulting in nonsensical or irrelevant images or video clips being inserted into the project.
• Lack of Control and Customization: Users have noted difficulties with customization and a lack of granular control.
• Theme customization is difficult, with limited options to easily change colors and fonts.
• Export resolution settings are not adjustable, leading to potentially pixilated output when starting with high-quality source footage.
• Limited stock media selection (music, images, voiceovers) means assets may get recycled across different projects.

What we think:

1. As a tool for fast and easy classroom video creation:
2. Nick thinks… Vids!  Or Canva if I want it to be social media-ish
3. Guise thinks…
4. As a tool for complex video editing:
5. Nick thinks … WeVideo (we already pay for it), Vids if we didn’t pay for it
6. Guise thinks …
7. As a tool for teacher screencasting:
8. Nick thinks … ScreenPal because I pay for it, Vids if I didn’t
9. Guise thinks … 
10. As a tool for professional or social media style videos:
11. Nick thinks …Canva
12. Guise thinks …
13. Will we use Google Vids over other tools like ScreenPal, WeVideo or Screencastify?
14. Nick thinks … No, but if and when we don’t have paid tools, YES
15. Guise thinks …
16. Which tool fits with state of tech in schools today?
17. See the table

Edtech Throwdown: 

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
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Connect with us on Social Media

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• Twitter(@nickgotteched)

Music Credits:

• Intro and Outro Music-American Idle - RKVC
• Segment Identifiers-Duck in the Alley - TrackTribe
• Edtech Throwdown-Born a Rockstar (Instrumental) - NEFEX

Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, we are best known for sessions on:

• AI For Teachers, Admin, and Parents
• 1:1 Chromebook Integration
• EdTech Throwdown
• TargetED Learning
• Gamification (Badge Systems)
• Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
• Google apps and extensions
• Personalized learning and Choice Boards
• Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
• Digital content creation
• Student Podcasting
• Screencasting
• Flipped Classroom
• Student-Centered Learning

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown.  This is episode 205 called “Edtech Resolutions for 2026”  In this episode, we’ll talk about our edtech tips and edtech tools that we are excited to explore in the new year.  This is another episode you don’t want to miss.  Check it out.

Segment 1: Goodbye 2025 and Hello 2026

Narrative:  Life was challenging in 2025… Welcome 2026!    

Segment 2: Tips, Tools, and Resources    

Nick’s 

An Edtech Tip for 2026

• Building Blocks in Google Docs to templat-ize my doc writing

An Edtech Tool for 2026

• Noteobook LM - so many new tools, I have a feeling there is more to come

An Edtech Resource for 2026

• Canva Cheat sheets

Guises:

An Edtech Tip for 2026

• Simplify Tasks
• Group tasks to maximize saving time
• Boost Engagement
• Reflect on what your students like and make changes to your teaching
• Streamline Workflow
• Make templates based on your core teaching philosophy

An Edtech Tool for 2026

• Canva Code for gamification

An Edtech Resource for 2026

• Guise’s Guide to Gemini Gems

Make a PACT with your Gem:

• Persona: Give it a job title.
• Action: Give it a verb (create, grade, simplify).
• Context: Give it the boundaries (grade level, standards).
• Template: Give it a structure (table, list, email format).

Edtech Throwdown: 

Vote on twitter @edtechthrowdown and under the pinned post on the profile.

Segment 3: Where to Find EdTech Throwdown

Do us a few favors:

1. Subscribe to the Edtech Throwdown Podcast
2. Apple Podcasts
3. Spotify
4. Amazon Podcasts
5. Stitcher  
6. YouTube  
7. Twitter   
8. Facebook
9. Write us an Apple Podcast Review!
10. Tell your friends about www.edtechthrowdown.com
11. Tell your friends about the Teach Better Podcast Network

Subscribe to our Podcast Channels and Socials

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify  
• YouTube  
• Twitter   (@edtechthrowdown)
• Facebook
• Instagram

Connect with us on Social Media

Guise’s Social Media

• Twitter (@guisegotteched)
• LinkedIn

Nick’s Social Media

• Twitter (@nickgotteched)

Music Credits:

• Intro and Outro Music- American Idle - RKVC
• Segment Identifiers- Duck in the Alley - TrackTribe
• Edtech Throwdown- Born a Rockstar (Instrumental) - NEFEX

Need a Presenter?

As experienced presenters and content creators, you can contact Nick and Guise to speak at your school, event, or conference. They can customize a workshop that meets your organization’s unique time and content needs. While no topic is out of bounds, we are best known for sessions on:

• AI For Teachers, Admin, and Parents
• 1:1 Chromebook Integration
• EdTech Throwdown
• TargetED Learning
• Gamification (Badge Systems)
• Game-Based Learning (Escape Rooms, Amazing Race, and more)
• Google apps and extensions
• Personalized learning and Choice Boards
• Teacher productivity (Lesson Planning, Online Grading. and Feedback)
• Digital content creation
• Student Podcasting
• Screencasting
• Flipped Classroom
• Student-Centered Learning