What’s your go-to tool for formative assessment? In this episode, Dan Niessen joins me to unpack strategies for gathering real-time insights into student learning. We talk Quizizz, Nearpod, Snorkl, AI chatbot tutors, Pear Deck, ChatGPT, and more. Dan shares how he supports educators in choosing tools that fit their goals—and their students. Plus, I break down updates to Google Slides, Canva Visual Suite 2.0 and Canva Sheets, along with a timely tip on how to cite AI-generated content. Tune in!

#EduDuctTape Episode 122

Today's Sponsor - M2 by Swivl - swivl.com/m2

0:00:00 INTRO

0:03:26 Today’s Guest: Dan Niessen - @Dan_EdTech on X/Twitter and @neonetedtech.bsky.social on Bluesky

• Dan is the Senior Technology Integration Specialist at NEOnet, providing all sorts of EdTech PD for K-12 teachers, administrators, and school staff. He started out as a High School Social Studies teacher at a few schools around the Cleveland area, but then moved into his current position in 2018. He's always excited to learn and share about EdTech!
• See webinars and resources from Dan and the NEONet Tech Integration Team - neonet.org/tech-integration

0:10:45 Today's EduDuctTape Question: What tool or strategy would you use to formatively assess students’ comprehension? 

0:11:27 Formative Assessment during Reading

0:12:34 Chunking Reading with Formative Questions

0:18:39 The Fast and the Curious EduProtocol

• The EduProtocol Field Guides, Books 1 and 2 - https://www.eduprotocols.com/fieldguides
• Eliminate worksheet homework with the Fast and the Curious EduProtocol - Ditch That Textbook - https://ditchthattextbook.com/eliminate-worksheet-homework-with-the-fast-and-the-curious-eduprotocol/

0:21:46 Quizizz - https://quizizz.com/

0:23:29 Jared Cooney Horvath's Insights - https://episodes.fm/1447821443/episode/YmIwMjU4NGMwMDdiNDhkNjhiNjNiNWVhYzhhNzgwYWY

0:25:00 Nearpod and Pear Deck - https://nearpod.com/ and https://www.peardeck.com/

0:27:30 Pear Deck Autograding

0:30:11 Today's Sponsor: M2 from Swivl

0:35:08 AI Tutors

0:40:07 Snorkl - https://snorkl.app/

0:41:16 Flip

0:41:50 What Makes Snorkl Great

0:42:58 Why Using AI for Formative Assessment Is Good

Edu News I’ve Got My Peepers On:

0:46:00 Google Slides Updates

• Google Slides now uses Imagen 3 and adds other new visual tools - https://blog.google/products/workspace/workspace-slides-visuals-ai-updates/
• New sidebar with design elements in Google Slides makes building presentations easier - https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2025/03/new-sidebar-with-design-elements-in-google-slides.html
• Google Slides introduces proportional scaling for objects to maintain visual clarity - https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2025/03/proportional-scaling-objects-in-google-slides.html

0:47:26 Stock Images in Google Slides

0:48:12 New Templates and Themes in Google Slides

0:48:58 Building Blocks in Google Slides

0:49:46 Proportional Scaling Groups in Google Slides

0:50:10 Speaker Spotlight & Slides Recording in Google Slides

0:51:02 Imagen 3 AI Image Generator in Google Slides

0:52:36 Canva Visual Suite 2.0

• Introducing Visual Suite 2.0: Productivity, meet creativity - https://www.canva.com/newsroom/news/canva-create-2025/

0:54:30 Canva Sheets

• Canva Sheets: Free Visual Spreadsheets - https://www.canva.com/sheets/

0:56:34 Citing AI-Generated Content

• How to Cite AI-Generated Videos - https://www.kapwing.com/resources/how-to-cite-an-ai-video/

Is the goal to complete the task… or to grow stronger? In this episode, I reflect on Rick Wormeli’s article “With A.I., Let’s Keep Students’ Learning Paramount” and what it means for educators navigating AI in classrooms. I also share updates on Common Sense Media’s free ChatGPT course, Google Classroom’s new “Grade All” feature, the CoSpaces rebrand to Delightex, and a TED Talk that might change how you view success. Vacuum metaphors, forklifts, and academic cosplay—press play!

#EduDuctTape Episode 121

0:00:00 INTRO

0:04:01 Soapbox Moment: The Forklift, the Roomba, and the Real Work of Learning

• “With A.I., Let’s Keep Students’ Learning Paramount - AMLE” by Rick Wormeli - https://www.amle.org/with-a-i-lets-keep-students-learning-paramount
• Dave Stuart, Jr. - https://davestuartjr.com

0:23:11 CommonSense Media Course: ChatGPT Foundations for K-12 Educators

• ChatGPT Foundations for K–12 Educators - https://www.commonsense.org/education/training/chatgpt-k12-foundations

0:24:32 Bulk Grading in Google Classroom

• “Introducing the ability to ‘grade all’ in Google Classroom” - https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2025/01/grade-all-in-google-classroom.html

0:26:25 CoSpaces becomes Delightex

• “What's new? March 2025” - https://www.delightex.com/whats-new/whats-new-march-2025

0:29:37 TED Talk: How to Raise Successful Kids—Without Over-Parenting

• “How to Raise Successful Kids -- Without Over-Parenting | Julie Lythcott-Haims | TED” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyElHdaqkjo

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Join the Conversation on Bluesky - #EduDuctTape

How can we empower students to self-assess their learning? In this episode, Shantel Lott joins me to explore tech tools and strategies that foster reflection and agency. We chat about Snorkl, NotebookLM, Curipod, Knowt, and MagicSchool’s Custom ChatBot. I also share updates on using Google Gemini with Teens, Padlet Sandbox’s new sound and visual effects, and the magic of generating Google Slides with Alayna AI.

#EduDuctTape Episode 120

• Today's Sponsor
• M2 by Swivl - swivl.com/m2
• Today’s Guests: Shantel Lott
• Shantel is an EdTech enthusiast and Lead Learning Guide at friEdTech. Certified in Google & Microsoft, she empowers educators to integrate tech into their classrooms. Whether in-person or virtual, Shantel’s passion is making learning engaging and innovative.
• Contact Info:  @LottsOfEdTech(X, Bluesky, TikTok), [email protected], friedtechnology.com, linkedin.com/in/shantel-lott

• 2 Truths & 1 Lie - or was it 2 lies and 1 truth!?
• Educational Duct Tape Question: What tool or strategy would you use facilitate students self-assessing their learning?
• Snorkl - snorkl.app
• NotebookLM - notebooklm.google.com
• Personalized Pathways with the Custom Chatbot in MagicSchool - magicschool.ai/tools/custom-chatbot
• Raina in MagicSchool - app.magicschool.ai/raina
• Curipod - curipod.com
• Knowt - knowt.com
• Adobe Express - adobe.com/express
• Padlet - padlet.com
• Quizlet - quizlet.com
• Quizizz - quizizz.com
• Kahoot - kahoot.com
• Edu News I’ve Got My Peepers On:
• Gemini: A Responsible AI Experience for Teens! - https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/workspace-gemini-classroom-iste-2024/#:~:text=Helping%20teen%20students%20learn%20responsibly%20and%20confidently%20in%20an%20AI%2Dfirst%20future%20with%20Gemini
• Generate Google Slides with Alayna AI! - https://workspace.google.com/marketplace/app/alayna_ai_for_google_slides/503455951279
• Padlet Sandbox Gets a Splash of Sound and Visual Effects! - https://padlet.blog/visual-and-sound-effects-for-sandboxes/

What’s new in edtech? In this episode, I break down Google’s new parent permission requirements, an awesome Google Classroom add-on, and Screencastify’s expanded free plan. Science teachers, you’ll want to hear about PhET Simulations inside Quizizz, and we’ll discuss Common Sense Media’s latest report on AI in education. Plus, I’ll wrap up with a thought-provoking book that challenges how we create change in schools and communities. Tune in for all the updates and insights!

#EduDuctTape Episode 119 - Google TOS Privacy Changes, Magic Exercise Book, Screencastify, Quizizz x PhET, and more

Edu News I’ve Got My Peepers On:

• 0:00:00 INTRO
• 0:03:45 1. Google’s New Parent Permission Requirements for Certain Apps - https://workspace.google.com/terms/education_terms/
• 0:06:10 2. Magic Exercise Book for Google Classroom - https://www.notsomagicapps.com/magic-exercise-book
• 0:07:44 3. Screencastify’s Free Plan Just Got an Upgrade - https://www.screencastify.com/pricing
• 0:10:59 4. Common Sense Media’s AI in K-12 White Paper - https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/generative-ai-in-k-12-education-challenges-and-opportunities
• 0:12:57 5. Quizizz x PhET Simulations = Interactive Science Learning - https://support.quizizz.com/hc/en-us/articles/41431781875225-Use-PhET-Simulations-with-Quizizz
• 0:16:01 6. Book Recommendation – Change the Wallpaper - https://ssir.org/books/excerpts/entry/change-the-wallpaper-nilanjana-dasgupta#
• 0:18:37 CLOSING

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Today on the Educational Duct Tape podcast, I’ve got five edtech updates  that might impact your classroom and one educational strategy that’s new to me. I’ll start with the bad news first, which is Bitly adding ads to short links (not cool, Bitly) and then get into the good news, like a new educator-made alternative to Bitly and an AI teaching assistant from Padlet. Plus, handy updates from Pear Assessment and Quizizz that could save you some serious prep time. And then that educational strategy called Talking Chips. Curious yet? Press Play!

#EduDuctTape Episode 118

Edu News I’ve Got My Peepers On:

• Import Tests Directly into Pear Assessment! - peardeck.com/product-updates/pear-assessment-october-2024
• Make Differentiation Easier in Quizizz! - support.quizizz.com/hc/en-us/articles/29285279744153-Differentiate-for-Every-Student-s-Needs-With-Accommodations-on-Quizizz
• Boosting Student-Led Discussions with Talking Chips - catlintucker.com/2023/07/station-rotation-model-talking-chips/
• Bitly Adds Ads to Free Links—Time to Switch? - support.bitly.com/hc/en-us/articles/32874287800333-Why-are-there-ads-on-my-links#:~:text=Bitly%20is%20now%20using%20ads,Confirm%20your%20purchase.
• Need a Bitly Alternative? Try Edushare.ing! - edushare.ing
• Padlet TA: Your New AI Teaching Sidekick! - padlet.help/l/en/article/fg48s9q3ap-what-is-padlet-ta

How can we create more flexible, accessible, and differentiated learning experiences? In this episode, I chat with Adam Juarez and Katherine Goyette (husband and wife duo AdaKat) about tools and strategies to make learning more inclusive. We explore MagicSchool, Quizizz, Mote, Immersive Reader, Goblin Tools, MirrorTalk, Factors Education, Helperbird, Google Docs Voice Typing, and more. Plus, we dive into AI-powered tools like Perplexity AI, Diffit, and SchoolAI and creative solutions like image generators in Canva and Adobe Express. I also share updates on interactive charts in Canva, new Pear Deck certified content, and the launch of Google Vids for Google Workspace for Education.

#EduDuctTape Episode 117

• Today's Sponsor
  • Swivl - bit.ly/reflectwithjake
• SoapBox Moment - “Don’t Forget to Look in the Rearview Mirror”
  • The tweet from Adam Grant where I discovered the Mollie West Duffy & Liz Fosslein comic - x.com/AdamMGrant/status/1555985410345639936
• Today’s Guests: Adam Juarez and Katherine Goyette, co-authors of The Complete EdTech Coach: An Organic Approach to Supporting Digital Learning.
  • Adam is an Educational Technology & Integrated Studies Consultant for Tulare County Office of Education. He supports teachers through individualized coaching, demo lessons and professional development. Adam is a Google Certified Trainer and Innovator, CUE Board Member, and 2022 ISTE Featured Voice. @techcoachjuarez on X, Bluesky, TikTok and IG. techcoachjuarez.com. [email protected]
  • Katherine is an author, learner and educational leader who advocates for inclusive educational opportunities for all students within the communities they reside. She was the primary writer for California’s inaugural Computer Science Standards. Katherine has been a keynote speaker, featured presenter, and panelist for organizations across the globe on a variety of educational topics. @katgoyette.bsky.social, @kat_goyette, @katgoyette on IG

• The EdTech Newlywed Game
• Adam’s “Hashtag Learning” Blog post - techcoachjuarez.blogspot.com/2020/11/hashtags-reflection-review-real-life-to.html
• Educational Duct Tape Question: What tool or strategy would you use to create a more flexible, accessible (UDL), and differentiated learning experience?
• Google Docs Voice Typing - jakemiller.net/voice-typing-in-google-docs
• Quizizz Accessibility Features - quizizz.com/home/accommodations
• Mote - mote.com
• Google Search for Pronunciation - youtube.com/watch?v=TK_6-mtJE-k&t=29s
• Closed Captioning in Google Slides - support.google.com/docs/answer/9109474
• Goblin Tools - goblin.tools
• MagicSchool - magicschool.ai
• Factors Education - factors.world
• Immersive Reader - onenote.com/learningtools
• Helperbird - helperbird.com
• MirrorTalk - mirrortalk.ai
• Perplexity AI - perplexity.ai
• Diffit - web.diffit.me
• Image Creator in Canva - canva.com/ai-image-generator
• Image Creator in Adobe Express - adobe.com/products/firefly/features/text-to-image.html
• Google’s Teachable Machine - teachablemachine.withgoogle.com
• SchoolAI - schoolai.com
• Brisk - briskteaching.com
• Edu News I’ve Got My Peepers On:
• Canva Levels Up Data Viz with Interactive Charts - canva.com/newsroom/news/droptober-education-2024
• New Math and ELA Pear Deck Certified Content - peardeck.com/product-updates/new-math-and-ela-pear-deck-certified-content
• Google Vids is now available for Google Workspace for Education - workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2024/11/google-vids-now-generally-available-for-edu.html

In today’s episode, I kick things off with a Soapbox Moment relating to a new CommonSense Media report about the gap between the AI-awareness of teens and their parents—and what that means for us as educators. Then, we’ll explore five updates! We’ve got a game-changing differentiation feature in Google Classroom, an time-saving resource in Canva’s Teacher Work Kit, an upgrade to Pear Deck with Graded Mode, a great learning opportunity from Google, and a powerful classroom culture strategy called Feedback Friday.

#EduDuctTape Episode 116

• Today's Sponsor
• Short Answer - myshortanswer.com use code jakemillerwrites
• SoapBox Moment - ““Skibidi What? AI, the Generational Divide, and John Wooden”
• “The Dawn of the AI Era: Teens, Parents, and the Adoption of Generative AI at Home and School” - commonsensemedia.org/research/the-dawn-of-the-ai-era-teens-parents-and-the-adoption-of-generative-ai-at-home-and-school

• Edu News I’ve Got My Peepers On:
• Introducing Student Groups in Google Classroom - workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2024/08/student-groups-in-google-classroom.html
• Teachers Work Kit - canva.com/work-kits/teachers
• Pear Deck Graded Mode, Submit Button, and Locks - youtu.be/G7hpt8vtZHk?si=H33qulwg--JIBMea&t=227
• Google for Education Product Training Series - educationonair.withgoogle.com/events/product-training-series-h2-2024?tab=emea-sessions
• “Soliciting Weekly Student Feedback” - edutopia.org/article/soliciting-weekly-student-feedback

Adam Sparks is back to continue our conversation about writing instruction in the age of AI. We’re diving into even more actionable strategies, from using tools like ShortAnswer to embedding more writing across the curriculum to help students recover those lost writing reps. Plus, we tackle big-picture topics like teaching students to use AI effectively, leveraging AI in scoring state-level assessments, and being intentional about making learning relevant. And stick around for updates from Pear Deck, MagicSchool, and Screencastify Submit.

#EduDuctTape Episode 115

• Today's Sponsor
• Swivl - bit.ly/mirrortalkjake
• SoapBox Moment - “Cholesterol, Cheating, and Heartaches from AI-Detection Tools”
• President John F. Kennedy’s Address at Rice University on the Nation’s Space Effort - jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/historic-speeches/address-at-rice-university-on-the-nations-space-effort (Copyright Status: Public Domain)
• Today’s Guest: Adam Sparks taught for 7 years before recently finishing his Masters in Learning Design and Technology at Stanford. At Stanford, Adam designed a writing  tool called Short Answer that he now builds full time. As a part of his work with Short Answer, Adam leads PD with schools across the country on adjusting writing instruction in the wake of AI.
• Contact Info:   Email: [email protected], Website: myshortanswer.com, Twitter: @mrsparkstweets Bluesky: @adamsparks.bsky.social

• Educational Duct Tape Question: How should educators teach & assess writing in the age of AI?
• Step 1: Clear classroom policies (see the previous episode)
• Step 2: Shortform, formative, targeted, in-class writing (starts in the previous episode)
• Dylan William
• Short Answer - myshortanswer.com
• Dylan Wiliam webinar recording: myshortanswer.com/webinar-recording-for-ai-k12-assessment-a-conversation-with-dr-dylan-wiliam
• Step 3: More writing across the curriculum
• Making up for lost writing reps
• The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Clearinghouse - wac.colostate.edu/repository/teaching/intro
• Step 4: Teach kids to use AI effectively
• OpenAI blog post - “A Student’s Guide to Writing with ChatGPT” - openai.com/chatgpt/use-cases/student-writing-guide
• Brainstorm, research, debate partner, organize writing…
• SchoolAI - schoolai.com
• Step 5: More state level assessments relating to writing instruction
• More urgency around the “and write” part of literacy is about how “to read and write”
• Leveraging AI in the scoring of these assessments
• Computers in education journal - "Can AI provide useful holistic writing instruction?" - sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666920X24000584
• "Comparing the quality of human and ChatGPT feedback of students’ writing" - sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959475224000215
• How to de-emphasize the desire to cheat: Be intentional about the relevance of learning
• Arran Hamilton, Dylan William, & John Hattie article - “The Future of AI in Education: 13 Things We Can Do to Minimize the Damage” - osf.io/preprints/edarxiv/372vr
• Literacy as a predictor of health & well-being
• Ability to communicate as important in all walks of life
• Authenticity of writing
• Carrie Spector’s article with Denise Pope & Victor Lee - “What do AI chatbots really mean for students and cheating?” - acceleratelearning.stanford.edu/story/what-do-ai-chatbots-really-mean-for-students-and-cheating
• Short Answer Mailing List - us21.list-manage.com/contact-form?u=4c662a781896ad760601bc399&form_id=43697352749ef4d4954f28529a0593f4
• Edu News I’ve Got My Peepers On:
• Pear Deck Adds Auto-Graded Questions - youtu.be/G7hpt8vtZHk?si=RRtfJCJEXyMRhfT_&t=83
• Customize Tools in MagicSchool - youtube.com/watch?v=A13c9rYytUQ
• New Screencastify Submit Features

Adam Sparks joins the show to convince every educator to ditch AI-detection tools and focus on what really matters: the writing process.  We discuss alternatives to AI-detection like Brisk, Draftback, revision history tracking, and Short Answer and share actionable strategies to teach writing effectively in the age of AI. From fostering transparency with students to leveraging powerful tools for formative assessment, this conversation is packed with insights to elevate your writing instruction. Plus: Instant Pear Decks, Canva Dream Lab, and new Google Forms Settings.

#EduDuctTape Episode 114

• Today's Sponsors
• VIZOR - vizor.cloud/jake
• Swivl - MirrorTalk.ai
• SoapBox Moment - “Cholesterol, Cheating, and Heartaches from AI-Detection Tools”
• “The Basement Tapes” from the Revisionist History podcast by Malcolm Gladwell - pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history/the-basement-tapes
• Adam Spark’s blog on AI Detection - adamsparks.substack.com/p/ai-detection-doesnt-work-heres-the
• Today’s Guest: Adam Sparks taught for 7 years before recently finishing his Masters in Learning Design and Technology at Stanford. At Stanford, Adam designed a writing  tool called Short Answer that he now builds full time. As a part of his work with Short Answer, Adam leads PD with schools across the country on adjusting writing instruction in the wake of AI.
• Contact Info:   Email: [email protected], Website: myshortanswer.com, Twitter: @mrsparkstweets Bluesky: @adamsparks.bsky.social

• 2 Truths & 1 Lie
• “Everything works somewhere; nothing works everywhere.” - Dylan William in his book Creating the Schools Our Children Need
• Educational Duct Tape Question: How should educators teach & assess writing in the age of AI? Also, should we use AI-Detection Tools?
• First, why not use AI Detection tools?
• NAEP Scores
• Adam’ blog on AI Detection - adamsparks.substack.com/p/ai-detection-doesnt-work-heres-the
• Debora Weber-Wulff’s article - arxiv.org/abs/2306.15666
• U of Maryland study - “Is AI-Generated Content Actually Detectable?” - cmns.umd.edu/news-events/news/ai-generated-content-actually-detectable
• Open AI blog post - help.openai.com/en/articles/8313351-how-can-educators-respond-to-students-presenting-ai-generated-content-as-their-own
• Free Alternatives
• Revision History
• Draftback - chromewebstore.google.com/detail/draftback/nnajoiemfpldioamchanognpjmocgkbg?hl=en-US&pli=1
• Brisk - briskteaching.com/ai-tools/inspect-writing
• Clear classroom policies
• AI Assessment scale webinar with Leon Furze & Mike Perkins: myshortanswer.com/assessing-writing-in-the-age-of-ai-the-case-for-assessment-scales
• AI use scale (red, yellow, green, for example)
• “Everything works somewhere; nothing works everywhere.” - Dylan William in his book Creating the Schools Our Children Need
• Anna Mills on Blue Sky - bsky.app/profile/annamillsoer.bsky.social
• Academic integrity
• Shortform, formative, targeted, in-class writing
• Dylan William
• Short Answer - myshortanswer.com
• Dylan Wiliam webinar recording: myshortanswer.com/webinar-recording-for-ai-k12-assessment-a-conversation-with-dr-dylan-wiliam
• Edu News I’ve Got My Peepers On:
• AI-Generated Lessons in Pear Deck - Stacey Roshan’s tutorial - youtu.be/G7hpt8vtZHk?si=5qdVPI41pofK-LHh&t=42
• Canva Dream Lab - canva.com/newsroom/news/droptober-education-2024
• New Google Forms Control Options - workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2024/12/add-granular-control-to-google-forms.html

This episode features 5 education updates including new features from Canva, Edpuzzle, and Google Classroom, a really cool new edtech tool, and my very favorite article ever written.

#EduDuctTape Episode 113

• Edu News I’ve Got My Peepers On:
  • Canva and Affinity - canva.com/newsroom/news/affinity
  • Edpuzzle adds Teacher Assist - support.edpuzzle.com/hc/en-us/sections/14355696963981-Teacher-Assist
  • Grouper - grouper.school
  • Gemini in Google Classroom - workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2024/09/gemini-education-tab-in-google-classroom.html?ck_subscriber_id=1727952374
  • Developing "Assessment Capable" Learners - ascd.org/el/articles/developing-assessment-capable-learners