Let’s turn passive videos into active learning
Turn videos into interactive activities with these ideas. (Image: Google Gemini)
Have you ever shown your students a video and thought, “I wonder if they even learned anything from this?”
Video can be a great way to engage students and show a concept in a new light.
But we have to be careful that students don’t mentally check out.
We want to turn from “passive learning” to “active learning.”
In today’s 💡 Big Idea below, you’ll turn one video link into 10 interactive activities. Pick the one that best suits you — or combine multiple activities together!
📺 I’m doing TWO FREE virtual presentations this week!
Join me as I go LIVE two times this week to share ideas and interact with you in real time!
TUESDAY: 5 Ways Snorkl is Transforming Learning — I’ll join Jon Laven from Snorkl to talk about how teachers are using this creative AI-powered whiteboard app. More details below. (Tuesday, Feb. 24 / 6pm U.S. Eastern / 3pm Pacific)
THURSDAY: The FREE Panoramic 2026 Virtual Summit — In this free, virtual teacher summit, I’ll deliver a keynote speech about using AI to do more (not less) critical thinking. They’ll have recordings available later AND PD certificates. (Thursday, Feb. 26 / 11am-5pm U.S. Eastern)
Inside:
📺 WEBINAR: 5 ways Snorkl is transforming learning
👀 DTT Digest: 4 resources worth checking out
💡 The Big Idea: How to turn 1 video link into 10 interactive activities💻 Tech Tip: Student writing feedback with AI “mini-bots”
😄 Smile of the day: They always make that face 🫨
👋 How we can help
📺 WEBINAR: 5 ways Snorkl is transforming learning
I’m co-hosting a webinar about an AI-powered classroom app that has a TON of potential — Snorkl!
I’ll join Snorkl co-founder Jon Laven in this FREE webinar to share five real classroom examples of Snorkl in action.
See how students record and write their thinking, receive instant AI feedback, and give teachers clearer insight into understanding—all while increasing student ownership and engagement.
DATE: Tuesday, Feb. 24
TIME: 7pm U.S. Eastern / 6pm Central / 5pm Mountain / 4pm Pacific
LENGTH: 30-45 minutes
RECORDING: Available afterward
👀 DTT Digest
4 teaching resources worth checking out today
📲 REEL: My tech stack — I’ve been sharing short videos on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and more. This one was popular!
🎧 The Digital Learning Podcast is BACK! — New episodes! Co-host Holly Clark and I talk about the State of Edtech in 2026. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and online.
🎧 PODCAST: “I can, but should I?” — In an episode of the Vrain Waves podcast, I shared how teachers should tread cautiously with tech and AI.
🌐 Web annotation tool: annotate.net — Reader Joel Bergmann recommended this tool for a good all-in-one digital whiteboard app.
💻 TECH TIP 💻
Student writing feedback with AI “mini-bots”
There are more and more AI writing coach tools for students on the market.
The premise: Students write. Then they get feedback on the writing afterward.
I think there’s a better way …
What if we create “min-bots” … AI chatbots that support students in small segments of the writing process all throughout the assignment?
In this video presentation from the SchoolAI booth at the TCEA Conference, I shared my vision — and how I use SchoolAI to do it.
💡 THE BIG IDEA 💡
🎥 How to turn 1 video link into 10 interactive activities
Turn videos into interactive activities with these ideas. (Image: Google Gemini)
Videos can be great ways for students to learn new ideas in engaging ways.
But we have to be careful!
When we turn on a video, it’s easy for students to get glazed-over eyes — and for their attention to turn elsewhere.
Let’s make these videos INTERACTIVE.
We have a new ebook — Teach with TEACHFLIX 2: 10 ways to turn any video into an interactive lesson! It includes 10 plug-and-play activities that use AI and digital tools to create interactive lessons in 3 minutes or less.
Whether you need an AI-generated quiz, guided notes, or a collaborative whiteboard, these recipes work with almost any video.
Below, I’ll share some of my favorites!
Want to share this resource with others? Send them to this link: https://ditchthattextbook.com/teachflix-2/
2. The Wayground Interactive Video
Turn your favorite videos into "Interactive Videos" in Wayground (formerly Quizizz). Students answer questions and see notes at specific timestamps while watching, ensuring they stay focused and process information in real-time.
Go to wayground.com. Click “Create” and “Video.” Add your video. Then, add questions and notes for students. Share a link with them.
4. The NotebookLM Study Guide
Leverage Google’s NotebookLM to turn a video transcript into a personal AI tutor for your students. This is perfect for complex topics that require deep analysis.
Go to NotebookLM and create a new notebook. Add the link to your video as a source. Then, in the Studio at the right, click “Reports” and “Study Guide.”
BONUS: Try other features in NotebookLM’s studio like an infographic and a set of slides!
6. The Gemini AI Guided Notes
Ensure students are catching the most critical points by providing "Guided Notes" that keep them focused from start to finish.
Go to Gemini (gemini.google.com). Paste the video URL into the chat and say: "I'd like you to create a set of guided notes for this video. Guided notes are a summary of the transcript with blanks that a viewer can fill in as they watch. I'd like to give these guided notes to a [grade level/class]."
8. The Brisk Boost Hook
Get students "bought in" before the video even starts. Use Brisk Boost — a student-facing AI chatbot tool — to set the stage with a compelling scenario.
Go to BriskTeaching.com to set up your Chrome extension (if you haven’t already). Open your video in YouTube and click the Brisk icon. Click “Create from this video” and choose “Hook.” Share a link with students.
Get more video ideas!
These are just a few of the interactive video activities you can do in our new ebook, Teaching with TEACHFLIX 2!
BONUS: Our first ebook, Teaching with TEACHFLIX, has lots of digital (and printable) activities that go with just about any instructional video.
CHECK OUT TEACHFLIX: It’s our collection of free teacher-recommended instructional videos, sorted by grade level, subject area, and more.
😄 Smile of the day
I see these all in one day sometimes …
👋 How we can help
There are even more ways I can support you in the important work you do in education:
Read one of my six books about meaningful teaching with tech.
Take one of our online courses about practical and popular topics in education.
Bring me to your school, district or event to speak. I love working with educators!
