😲 I'm on the Dr. Phil show tonight

📺 Join the Figma Edu Team for “Jamboard to FigJam” webinar

📢 Calling all Jamboard users: Join this free PD webinar on Tuesday, Aug. 20 to learn everything you need to know to successfully move from Google Jamboard to FigJam.

On Oct. 1, 2024, Jamboard will become “view only” and Jamboard users will need to convert their files in order to save their hard work.

FigJam has got you covered!

In this webinar, we’ll cover all the features and tools you’ll need to move successfully from Jamboard to FigJam.

That includes:

• How to use the Jamboard importer tool to convert your Jams to fully editable FigJams.

• A feature-to-feature comparison to make sure you know where to find all the whiteboard tools you love (and explore some new ones, too!)

• An exploration of some of the new FigJam features that will build on what you’ve already started in Jamboard.

• Step-by-step guidance on how to introduce FigJam to your class (including templates for the activities)

• Dedicated question and answer time, to make sure you leave feeling confident and informed.

FigJam is free for education.

Sign up for the Tuesday webinar here!

💡 THE BIG IDEA 💡

📢 New Ditch That Textbook templates in Diffit

Have you heard of Diffit (diffit.me)? It creates instructional materials for you — leveled reading passages, questions, etc. — based on your topic and student grade level.

It’s so easy to use. You can watch this Diffit demo I recorded at the ISTELive Conference in Denver this summer.

Did you know Diffit has templates?!? You can merge the content it creates for you into pre-made Google Slides and PowerPoint templates.

You can edit/adjust those templates and assign them directly into your learning management system.

Did you know there are now Ditch That Textbook templates in Diffit?!?!? (Sorry, I can’t help adding more question marks and exclamation points.) 😂

One of the most popular features of Ditch That Textbook is our template library, with dozens and dozens of pre-made (fun! and free!) Google Slides and PowerPoint templates.

Recently, we got to create templates for Diffit — a combo of their custom-made teaching content AND our fun lesson templates.

In our Diffit + DTT template collection, you’ll find:

• A “Caption This!” template (based on the fun templates I co-created with Laura Steinbrink)

• A “Comic Strip Recap” template

• An “Emoji Reaction” template

• A “Social Media Post and Reply” template

• A “Viral Video” template (kudos to DTT blog editor Karly Moura for this fun idea)

These templates are all FREE this month! Just go to our template collection, log in, create some content, and export it in a template!

📺 MUST-SEE TV 📺

🤖 Matt talks AI in Edu on Dr. Phil tonight!

I got the email this spring and I thought it was a prank — I had been invited as a guest on the Dr. Phil show.

Turns out it wasn’t a prank.

In May, I traveled to their studios in Ft. Worth, Texas, to record an episode on AI in education.

Tonight — Friday, Aug. 16 — it goes live!

I still haven’t seen the finished product, but I am supposed to be in the second half of the show.

A few things to watch for:

• Notice the share of minutes and face time each guest gets.

• They only featured two licensed teachers in the whole show. (I’m one.) 😠

• The other, Jean Darnell, shared about navigating AI bias in this video/post on Ditch That Textbook.

Here’s how you can watch:

📺 ON TV: If you get the Merit Street channel on cable/dish, watch it there at 8pm EDT / 7pm CDT / 5pm PDT (Find the channel here: https://meritstreetmedia.com/channel-finder )

📱 ON THE APP: Download the free Merit+ app and watch for free (probably available same time there?): https://meritplus.com/home (You can watch it on the app after the fact too)

👋 How we can help

There are even more ways I can support you in the important work you do in education:

1. Read one of my six books about meaningful teaching with tech.

2. Take one of our online courses about practical and popular topics in education.

3. Bring me to your school, district or event to speak. I love working with educators!