Jamboard is a free Google tool that creates whiteboards that are a lot like slides. You don't need an interactive whiteboard to use it. You can use the app for free on any device! It works with Google Drive and allows you to present your whiteboard to people viewing remotely. Which makes it a great online whiteboard option for distance learning.

Check out the "Getting started with Jamboard video" and the 10 Jamboard templates that you can use for remote learning.

Click on the the "The Google Teacher Center" link to discover has some great resources for educators looking to get started using Jamboard in their classrooms. Resources include:
- a video library or tutorials
- tips and trick from teachers
- PDF guides
- lesson plans and more

10 ways to help students become “future ready”

This makes an excellent refection activity to see if you are helping students become future ready.

"Teachers are nothing less than incredible, creative, brilliant people. They find ways to solve problems in ways that are not only ingenious but also usually pretty cheap!

We call these "teacher hacks"."

"A great question is a springboard into a fascinating discussion. Phrase it the right way and students will start thinking. Then they'll start talking. Then you won't be able to get them to stop!

Great questions can make the difference between a good learning activity and a great one."

This includes 20 questions as well as many ideas to make your own questions including - student interests, audio, images, video, would you rather, summaries, lists, fantasies, mysteries.

Over 40 free online escape rooms to use with your class. They are already made and free!

Culture is crucial. Teachers want to build it in the classroom. School administrators want to build it in their schools. How do we build relationships with students, set standards, and make school a place where students want to be?

The classroom is a good place to start. This video shares 5 ways to build school culture with your interactive display.

Samsung has a fantastic interactive display called the Samsung Interactive Pro. This is the tool being used in the video, but the same strategies can be used with any interactive display device.

Here are the 5 ways to build school culture with your interactive display:
#1 - Classroom Rules and Norms Brainstorming Session
#2 - Get to Know You Unboxing Video Activity
#3 - Create a Digital Appreciation Board
#4 - Create a Class Banner or Quilt
#5 - Do a Digital "What Do You Remember" Activity

There are ways we can approach teaching that will help prepare our students for an AI future - and at the same time, AI-proof your assignments.

Some of these ideas include:
*Why over what
*Process over product
*Stress problem-solving
*Teach ethics explicitly
*Teach how to become a better learner explicitly
*Stress collaboration

Use YouTube-Like videos to inspire and engage your students! There are some amazing ideas in here.

Small changes to test prep — and the day of the big test — can reap huge rewards. Learn about these brain-friendly strategies that work.

Cognitive science — the study of thought, learning and mental organization — tells us a lot about getting students primed to succeed on tests.

This resource outlines some practices that can help as you approach tests — and even on the day of the test:
1. Use retrieval to lock learning in long-term.
2. Mix up question types with interleaving.
3. Instead of cramming, space out practice.
4. Happiness is powerful.
5. Time of day matters.
6. Soak up the sun.
7. Breaks are essential.
8. Get up and move, move, move.

This AI Image generator is FREE and:
*Creates great, clean images
*Very easy to use
*Allows you to create in different shapes
*Side panel lets you select options (instead of remembering to type them in your prompt)
*Image watermark makes it clear that images are AI-created (but is very bold)
*Has lots of other AI image tools beyond "text to image" like generative fill, text effects, recoloring and more

(SaskDLC has access to the paid version with no watermark).

Ditch That Textbook Suggests These Activities with AI Images:
💬 Generate images for a comic strip with an AI image generator, then students add speech/thought bubbles in Google Slides or PPT
🗣 Create a "Caption This" activity where students speak for a character in an AI-generated image
📝 Students add AI-generated images about a topic of study to visual notes they're creating
📚 AI generates an image of an alternate ending for a story and students narrate it
📍 Have AI create a map and have students give directions or describe it
✍️ "Reverse caption this": Students write the dialogue and ask AI to create an image for it
❓ What if activity: Students write an alternate story (like the Marvel show, "What if...?") and AI generates an image

"Now that generative AI tools like ChatGPT are available, classwork is bound to change as a result. How do we preserve academic integrity? What's cheating, and what's OK? Here are some ideas."

This resource can help facilitate some great conversations about AI.

It provides and editable template to use with your class.

If you're not sure where to start to give your students a great experience during Computer Education Week in early December (or any time during the year!) this resource has a curated list of suggestions!

*grade level specific suggestions (K-2, 2+, 6+, unplugged)
*choice boards
*intro suggestions
*digital escape rooms
*a full unit
*robots
*more resources

Our classrooms must be meaningful, relevant, and fun.

The Playful Classroom shows readers how to reconnect with students, parents, and your profession. In this mini course, join The Playful Classroom co-author Jed Dearybury as he takes you through some of the best take-aways from the book.

You'll see the research behind the power of play.
You'll see some real-life examples you can use right away.
You'll learn how to continue growing in your ability to create a playful classroom.
This FREE mini course includes an hour of video instruction from Jed himself as well as additional resources and a certificate of completion for ONE HOUR of professional development credit.

The accompanying book can be purchased at: https://theplayfulclassroom.com/

When students create digitally, that doesn't mean they can't interact face to face. The digital gallery walk blends digital and face-to-face learning.

Here's how it works:
1. Students create a digital artifact of their learning.
2. When everyone is finished, students display their work on their screens.
3. Students stand up and leave their devices on their desks.
4. They circulate the room, stopping at their peers’ desks (and devices) to check out their work.

(This could be applied to professional learning as well)

It's that simple. Check out this post for more details!

Don't do the work if you don't have to.

Ditch That Textbook has lots of Google Slides, Drawings, PowerPoint and Jamboard templates that you and your students will just love.

Included are: Social Media Templates, Game Templates, Interactive Activities, Graphic Organizers, Lesson Plan Templates, Communication Templates, Feedback Templates, Exit Ticket Templates, Back to School Templates,
End of Year Templates.

Just to mention of few of the templates, check out: Jeopardy, Family Feud, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, Comic Strip, Caption This, Treasure Map and many, many more!!!

It's easy to use! Download or make a copy. Adjust as necessary. Enjoy the fun and learning!

With ideas from EfficienTEACH you can teach better and save time for what matters most.

This project provides you with research-based teaching practices you can use in class tomorrow to save time AND teach better.

Explore ideas to help you with:
- student engagement
- communication
- memorization
- practice/activities
- assessment
- material/content
- feedback
- routines and habits
- discussion
- teacher tasks
- reflection
- community and relationships
- lesson planning
- teacher wellness

Ditch That Textbook has done it again! They have created even MORE amazing social media templates for students to use for assignments, projects or just a new way to demonstrate learning. The great part is - you are NOT attached to any of the platforms, so you can use these assignments safely.

Templates include:
Airbnb
Apple Review
Yelp Review
Tweet
Spotify List
Tik Tok
Instagram
Social Media Replay
YouTube
SnapChat - My face when; Would you rather; This or that
Amazon home page
Amazon product
Amazon product search

You've heard of choice boards, but explore boards are different, and I really think you'll want to give them a try!

Explore Boards are great to introduce a new unit of study to develop background knowledge and vocabulary. They can also be used for studying, becoming an expert in an area to share back (like a jigsaw), support inquiry or research projects, provide context, etc.!

These boards promote personalized learning - student voice and choice as well as autonomy. You can let the students free for 20-30 minutes to explore the options as they see fit, or assign a few options to a group to share back, and students can refer back to these Explore Boards during the entire unit to build a deeper understanding. The only limit on how to use these boards is your imagination!

(But don't worry, this article provides many examples!)

Example Explore Boards are included for: The Outsiders, Risk & Exploration, Global Issues, Ben Franklin, Tomorrow (a sequel to Annie)

This site will give you a quick run down of how to use Figjam and then it provides 20 great ideas for using Figjam in the classroom - including the templates to get started!

There is even a video to keep it very easy!

Tutorials are linked at the bottom of the site as well.

Here's a way to use ChatGPT to help students grow confidence in their writing!

🛠️ How it works: Take a writing prompt and generate three responses from ChatGPT (or another AI assistant). Students pick the best parts from those responses and assemble their final version, commenting on the writer's decisions they made. Students reflect on their writing decisions with draggable arrows.

☝️ Why this works: It's a scaffolding technique. It gives students practice making decisions as a writer without having to write all of the words.

Use a downloadable PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation.

For more information on ChatGPT, head over to https://ditchthattextbook.com/ai.