Edtech Throwdown

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 197 called 10 Low-Tech Ways to Refocus Students. In this episode, we will talk about 10 low-tech or no-tech ideas for brain breaks, mindful moments, whatever you call them, you’ll learn some cool ways to refocus students in your classroom. This is another episode you don’t want to miss, check it out.

Our school opening PD days focused on the importance of getting kids off screens.

Funny because I’ve been hearing students for years say they still prefer pieces of paper for many things in class and that they get tired of looking at their tiny chromebook screen.

This also makes sense because there are strong links to learning and handwriting. Also, have you ever tried staring at a screen for your job all day? It’s not fun.

In that spirit, we collected some ideas for brain breaks / mindful moments, with a focus on low tech or no tech solutions.

Bingo Bongo Splat

You write down a secret number on a piece of paper so you don’t forget it yourself. Can be as many digits as you want. Students take turns guessing the number. As they make a guess, you record it for all of them to see, along with the word, bingo, bongo, or splat. Check out the Tik Tok video from LifeofSteph on this

Bingo=1 digit in the right place

Bongo=1 digit but in the wrong place

Splat=nothing matches

Reverse Simon Says

Same rules as Simon Says—but if you don’t hear “Simon says,” you should do the action. Flips their brains into focus mode.

Slow Reveal Graphs

Series of images of graphs, beginning with almost no labels or information, then slowly adding more. Students share out what they think the graph is about. Their responses get more detailed and specific with each new reveal. Teaches graph skills and is fun!

• Bandle Phone App

Wordle

Remember that craze! It’s still around. Play the real NYT version or make your own at flippty

Which doesn’t belong?

4 images are shown and students must argue for which one doesn’t belong. There should be a possible reason that could be argued for each image. Start with a dessert example (chocolate layer cake, choco chip cookies, berry pie, ice cream), and then make one that fits your content. Close by having students design one. Extend this by having them present it.

Story Tag

One student starts a silly story with one sentence, and it goes around the room quickly. Each adds just one sentence—short and energizing.

Another option: You will tell a story one word at a time. Ideally you’re in a circle on arranged in a way that’s clear which order you’ll go in. The first student starts with one word (One), then the next student comes up with another word (morning), then the next student continues (a)…

Another option: You will tell a story using only questions. Ideally you’re in a circle on arranged in a way that’s clear which order you’ll go in.

The first student starts: “Where did the dog go?”

The next continues with: “I’m not sure, should we go look for him?”

The next continues with: “Do you know where his leash is?”

Upside-Down Artist

Students have 30 seconds to doodle...

Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 196: Classroom Activities for the Beginning of School. In this episode, we will share 8 new and improved ideas for starting off the school year in the most fun, positive and student centered way possible. This is another episode you don’t want to miss, check it out.

Guise:

1. Team Challenges
2. Design, Build, Retrieve, Complete
3. Class Relay
4. QR Scavenger Hunt
5. Minute to Win it Puzzles
6. Successful completion in under a minute gets their team a piece of the puzzle
7. Escape Room
8. Survey the class before the start of the year
9. Animated Avatar Design with Canva and https://sketch.metademolab.com/
10. Silent line-up (extreme): Students have to line up by birth date, ABC order etc, but with built in challenges unique to your classroom like half of the people are blindfolded or an extremely short time limit
11. Survival Scenario: choose ten items from a large list

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Welcome to the EdTech Throwdown. This is Episode 195 called Rethinking Research: Teaching Inquiry and Integrity in the Age of AI. In this episode, we will explore how the role of a teacher must change now that AI is becoming integrated in all aspects of our lives. Specifically, we’ll share 8 changes you can make to your classroom and assignments that will help encourage students to think creatively and critically in an age where it’s more important than ever. This is another episode you don’t want to miss, check it out.

As my students completed their final projects, I started noticing something this year … all their work was very technically sound and met my project expectations almost perfectly. Was it too perfect?

Specific example: One of the elements of my rubric references a creative title. Usually everyone does “Chemistry of __”, but this year, they were all things like “9 Volts, 2 Electrodes, 1 Reaction: The Chemistry Behind the Charge and the Connection”. So what suddenly happened this year for me to get such great titles?

Also - When students came to me with questions about content, like the girl who needed help understanding the chemistry of Na/K pumps in cells, I found myself going to ChatGPT for the fastest resolution. Clearly they are doing the same.

Two questions arose:

1. Is this research?
2. Is this type of research good or bad?

1. Redefine Research as Inquiry, Not Just Information Gathering

AI makes facts and summaries instantly accessible, so teachers should shift the focus from finding information to asking meaningful questions. Students should be taught that good research begins with curiosity and that AI is just one of many tools in that process.

Teacher Tip: Require students to submit a “research question development log” showing how their question evolved through discussion, feedback, and exploration.

2. Teach AI Literacy as Part of Research Instruction

Students need to understand how AI tools work, their limitations, and the potential for bias or misinformation. This helps them critically evaluate what AI produces instead of blindly trusting it.

Teacher Tip: Have students compare AI-generated content with academic sources and reflect on differences in depth, credibility, and tone.

3. Require Research Process Documentation

Rather...