- Ditch That Textbook
- Posts
- 😎 Our summer PD choice board is out!
☀️ Summer is (pretty much) in full swing
There are certain things that really signal to me that it’s summer …
My kids start attending summer weights and conditioning for sports
The grass starts growing so fast I can’t keep it cut
My presentation travel schedule starts heating up
Right now, I’m writing to you from San Antonio, Texas, where today I’m speaking on AI at the Region 20 ESC. Friday, I’ll be an hour from home in Brazil, Indiana. And Monday, I’ll be meeting newly licensed teachers in Albuquerque, New Mexico!
Fun part about the New Mexico trip: My daughter, Cassie, who just graduated from high school, is tagging along! Road trip! ✈️
Another signal of summertime: our summer PD bingo choice board. DTT blog and social media editor Karly Moura digs for cool things for you to learn over the summer. This year’s PD choice board has some great stuff to check out. Get details below!
And you KNOW it’s summer when Wakelet Community Week hits. It’s Wakelet’s FREE summer online conference, and it’s always incredible. I get to present on how I did (and didn’t) use AI in my own classroom. If you haven’t already, I suggest you register now so you don’t miss it!
If your summer isn’t quite in full swing yet, I feel for you. You’ll get there soon!
Inside:
📚 Looking for a summer teacher book?
👀 DTT Digest: AI, Curipod, work refusal
💡 The Big Idea: Summer PD bingo choice board
💻 Tech Tip: Register for Wakelet Community Week
😄 Smile of the day: The ET touch
👋 How we can help
📚 Looking for a summer teacher book?
If so, there’s a chance I’ve written something you might like to read!
I’ve written six books:
Ditch That Textbook
Ditch That Homework
Don’t Ditch That Tech (about differentiated instruction)
Tech Like a Pirate (about student engagement + tech)
Do More with Google Classroom
AI for Educators
Based on the Amazon sales rank, lots of folks have been picking up AI for Educators to start to understand all of this AI stuff in the classroom.
👀 DTT Digest
4 teaching resources worth checking out today
🤖 Hardly anyone is using AI — According to a study from Reuters Institute and Oxford University, only 7% in the US said they use ChatGPT daily. In the US, 47% said they hadn’t even heard of ChatGPT.
❓ So, do you want to start using AI? — If you’re one of those in that survey that aren’t using AI much (or at all), check out this page with all of our AI-related posts.
🟠 Have you met Curipod? — This edtech tool creates interactive slides about your content using AI. It has tons of ways to keep students engaged and learning.
🙅🏻 When students refuse to work — It’s a tough situation to deal with. But understanding the underlying causes can fuel progress (via Edutopia)
💡 THE BIG IDEA 💡
🌴 Awesome teacher summer: PD bingo choice board
For some of us, when the school year is over, it’s time to disconnect. Relax. Think about anything but school-related stuff.
If that’s you, then you do you … enjoy it!
But for some of us …
The summer is the time when we can finally learn what WE want to learn. On our own time. (By the pool with a cold drink in our hand, if we want …)
That’s what the PD bingo choice board is all about!
Each year, we share a choice board packed full of our favorite summer learning opportunities. Best of all: They’re all FREE.
This year’s list includes courses/PD offerings from Book Creator, Brisk, Kami, MagicSchool and Kahoot!, among others.
There are webinars and courses on esports, generative AI, explore boards, mindful media consumption, and more.
Check out the whole choice board and, well, you know … start making choices!
💻 Tech Tip
What do you get when you attend Wakelet Community Week?
More than you think! Wakelet Community week is an inspiring event where educators and administrators come together to share insights, advice, and technology tips that will shape the future of education.
But there is more to this event than you might have realized. Check out 10 things you’ll discover at Wakelet Community Week.
1. 📺Wakelet LIVE
The main event for community Week, More feature releases than ever before, Major announcements, Powerful platform updates, News on Wakelet’s vision and future, A tribute to the Wakelet Community
2. 🥪Bite-size PD
Listened to feedback and reduced session length to make it bitesize and easy to consume. In these quick 20-30 minute sessions Educators can pick up tips and tricks from Wakelet Ambassadors on a variety of uses of Wakelet.
3. ⏰A 12 hour livestream
12 hour marathon with 36 sessions from Wakelet Ambassadors all over the world! Quick 15-20 minute sessions, back to back, allowing you to jump in and out at any time during your day. No matter the time there will be Wakelet expertise being shared!
4. 🔦Spotlight sessions
As always Wakelet are shining a spotlight on Ambassadors having them share stories and successes with using Wakelet allowing them to share their learnings, tips and tricks! In addition, Wakelet have a bunch of sessions led by District Teams who have implemented Wakelet across their departments, schools and districts, sharing insights on implementation of key projects and how to achieve their goals
5. 🗣️Leadership speakers
For the first time Wakelet have introduced more administrator and leadership speakers to allow admins to share their thoughts and insight into their world and how they see the future of education and to allow the educator community to connect and share thoughts, concerns and insights into the educator landscape
6. 🌎Educator voices from all over the world
Over 20 different countries are represented in Community Week sessions with attendees expected from over 100 it is a great chance to learn from other educators cultures, perspectives and educational systems
7. 💻Emerging tech and innovative ideas
All about the future. Sharing techniques and tech that will help educators and students get future ready
8. 🧘🏽♀️Mindfulness sessions
Dive into chair yoga, breathing tricks, and more to boost your MIND, BODY, and SPIRIT. From playful mindfulness to tech tricks, find your balance and bring joy to your classroom.
9. 👨🏾🎓Student led sessions
Sessions led by students to hear their experiences with Wakelet and how it benefits them.
10. 🎉A FUN time!
Its all about having fun and community week has that in abundance. Prizes, giveaways, challenges and competitions throughout the week.
😄 Smile of the day
They just can’t help themselves …
h/t TeacherGoals via Twitter/X
👋 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!
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