Ditch That Textbook Podcast :: Education, teaching, edtech :: #DitchPod
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
097: Make learning ADDICTIVE with Brian Romero Smith Sr
07 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When learning is addictive, kids want to come back for more, says Brian Romero Smith Sr. (@brianrsmithsr). But how do we create that addictive learnin...
096: Tips to make your HyperDocs rock with Sean Fahey
06 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have you caught on to the HyperDocs craze? Sean Fahey (@SEANJFAHEY) has made lots of HyperDocs in his own classroom. He shares tips to help your Hyper...
095: Flipgrid + scavenger hunt = Fliphunt!
24 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
it's a Flipgrid scavenger hunt! Kathi Kersznowski (@kerszi) tells us all about her newest creation and how we can bring it in the classroom.
094: Learning in the pause with Shaelynn Farnsworth
23 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
One of our most powerful tools as teachers is silence. It can reclaim students' attention. It can give students space to think. Sometimes, we just don...
093: Big changes for student voice with Flipgrid
22 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Flipgrid, the video response tool, is now totally free for anyone. And recently, lots of new features became available. In this episode, we'll outline...
092: Google Classroom changes, 2018 version
21 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's August, which means exciting changes to many of the tools we use in the classroom. Google Classroom has a facelift and some new features. We dive...
091: #EducatorGoals with Keven Rinaman
20 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
If you're starting a new school year (or have already started one), goals may be top of mind right now. Keven Rinaman talks about goal-setting strateg...
090: Ditch Those Exams with Stephanie DeMichele
17 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are traditional exams -- especially standard multiple-choice ones -- serving our students? Can we do better? Stephanie DeMichele, an instructional coa...
089: Firefly Classrooms with Troy Cockrum
16 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Did you ever spend time catching fireflies (or "lightning bugs") as a child? Author Troy Cockrum believes that learning should be more like that, wher...
088: A sticky note tech app smash!
15 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We usually use sticky notes in the physical world to gather and save ideas. But by smashing the Post-It app and Google Drawings together, your student...
087: The Quizizz you never knew ...
14 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Quizizz is a fun, student-centered study tool. Many teachers use it to help students review material they've studied. But other teachers are innovatin...
086: What the work world is begging us for
13 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Kearns has spent her entire career in the corporate world, now working as Director of Marketing for ViewSonic. Her perspective helps us see what...
085: Ditch That Panel with Lance McClard
10 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Missouri administrator Lance McClard and I participated in a panel discussion at the ISTE Conference in Chicago. Lance shares some of his takeaways an...
084: Real world connections with Sidekick
09 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What if your students could partner with organizations outside of school? If they could brainstorm solutions to big problems together? Sidekick Educat...
083: Try the Connected Kahoot!
08 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Kahoot! games don't have to be limited to the students in your classroom. Steve Auslander (of Indiana, USA) and Steve Sherman (of Cape Town, South Afr...
082: Teaching for the long game
20 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, the most important things we do in the classroom or school doesn't give us immediate results. We need to focus on the long game, according ...
081: The Martians in Your Classroom w/@rachaeledu
19 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The first person to set foot on Mars has likely been born, and there's a chance that she/he is in your classroom. What will that person need as a stud...
080: Let's do PD (or class!) at a destination!
18 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
One of the coolest professional learning experiences I've seen was at a zoo. We did PD at a ZOO. I got to reflect with Kari Espin and Andi McNair of R...
079: Create easy augmented reality in the classroom
17 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I found an amazing way to merge student art and creations with augmented reality at a recent visit to Region 12 educational service center in Waco, Te...
077: Three FREE online conferences for teachers
16 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Now's the time to get FREE inspiration and ideas online! Check out three "digital summits" -- awesome speakers you can watch from the comfort of home ...
078: Concerns about "locked mode" in Google Forms quizzes
16 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Google recently announced that teachers could impose "locked mode" when giving students quizzes in Google Forms. This prevents students from switching...
076: Co-teaching across the world from your classroom
12 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Pennington learned early in his education career that instruction isn't limited to the teacher standing in the classroom. He shares how he co-tau...
075: Awesome animated GIFs with Jake Miller
11 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Animated GIFs are these fun, very useful moving images you see all over social media. But you can make your own -- so can your students -- and they ca...
074: TONS of places to go virtually with students
18 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for inspiration on using Skype, Google Hangouts and the like in the classroom? Ohio educator Ann Radefeld has plenty of experience and shares ...
073: Video call guests: Just ask them!
15 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Todd Shriver teaches the "History of the 80s" elective class. There are no textbooks available for that class! He brings the luminaries of the 80s to ...
072: How to make your OWN Google Expeditions
14 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Indiana educator Ryan Mitchell created an Expedition with his students of their town. He shares how they did it and tips to help it succeed.
071: 7 keys to providing stellar feedback
13 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How can we best help students to improve? The late Grant Wiggins provided a fantastic framework and suggested these 7 keys in a post on ASCD.
070: The benefits of student feedback
12 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Teachers can be hesitant to let students provide each other feedback. We can't control what they'll say and it takes effort to coach them to do it wel...
069: Optimal spacing between reviews
11 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How long is too long between review sessions of old material? How short is too short to be effective? Research has some guidance for us.
068: The power of #ISTE18 from home
08 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
One of the best professional learning experiences you can get from home in the summer is #iste18 on Twitter. Learn how to tap into it!
067: Are you an over-consumer?
07 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Podcasts, blogs, social media, books ... They're all fantastic for ideas and inspiration. But still some point, it's time to do something.
065: Research says to ditch that rudeness
01 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's easy to let ourselves slip, to express our frustration to students (and colleagues) in not so helpful ways. A study shows the negative effects of...
064: Organizing and archiving Twitter with Wakelet
31 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Wakelet will let you save the web -- tweets, social media posts, links, images -- into curated lists. It's great for organizing and storing tweets for...
063: How I make the videos in my online course
24 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for a way to kick up your video creation game? Hear how I created the videos for my online course, Tech to Learn. (More info: http://DitchThat...
062: The Create a World Project
23 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What can students do when they've learned about civilizations all over the world? How about create their OWN country in a world created by the class? ...
061: Several Seesaw tips from the teaching trenches
22 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Alexis Crutchfield, Katrina Yang and Brittany Bondy are believers in Seesaw, a platform for student digital portfolios and parent communications. Hear...
060: More power for your Genius Hour
21 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Genius Hour can put a spark in your class, giving students opportunities to pursue their passions. Fourth-grade teachers Kayla Swonke (Twitter: @kayla...
059: What's your WHY, and has it changed?
18 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Our why focuses our lives. It's our reason for being. It's easy to lose sight of our why, and many times, our why changes over time. What's your why, ...
058: Google Forms Quizzes are getting smarter
17 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Google's machine learning is improving lots of its products. Now, it can help us create multiple-choice questions without brainstorming incorrect answ...
057: Creating engaging repetitions
16 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Repetitions help students make new concepts permanent. But mindless repetitions are a lot of action without great results. But creating engaging repet...
056: The 50/30/20 model for learning
15 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How can we incorporate more passion-driven learning and more hands-on projects into our classes? I found this advice from Don Wettrick (@DonWettrick o...
055: Avoiding tech overwhelm for students AND teachers
14 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When we let too many digital tools into the classroom, it can be overwhelming for students. And tech overwhelm is DEFINITELY an issue for teachers. Ca...
054: You don't need the app to create the experience
11 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Our students have their favorite websites, apps and digital tools. We don't have to require them to use those apps/sites to get the same experience in...
053: GimKit: Like Kahoot with power-ups
10 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I've stumbled upon a new digital assessment/review tool that shows promise. It's like Kahoot with a store where students can buy power-ups to use in t...
052: Perfection is the enemy of your goals
09 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It finally happened. I missed a day in my daily podcast. Actually, I missed two. So, according to Jon Acuff's book "Finish", today is the most importa...
051: Now's the perfect time to reflect
04 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
At the end of the school year, it's the perfect time to take stock of what's working and think about different ways of teaching in the future. I talke...
050: Love TED Talks? Teach like them!
03 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
TED Talks have inspired millions. How can they influence our classes? Rachael Mann of Teach Like TED talks about how we can empower student voice and ...
048: You are already teaching coding ...
02 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Some of the fundamentals of computer programming / coding, like if/then statements and logic, are likely already present in your class. By identifying...
049: What do our assessments reward?
02 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How can we create.assessments -- and assess student learning -- that truly demonstrates what they know? Brian Aspinall returns to the show to discuss....
047: Making the most of online learning
30 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When we switch our teaching from traditional means to the online world without making modifications, we miss out on the greatest parts of digital inst...
046: Escalate or de-escalate? Humanize or de-humanize?
27 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This quote by Haim Ginott had a HUGE impact on me as a young educator. It still speaks to me today. At the end of the school year, it's something we h...
045: 4 teaching skills I learned in the journalism world
26 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I (Matt) didn't major in education in college. It was journalism. I worked several journalism jobs before becoming a teacher. I wouldn't change it, th...
044: How to create Bitmojis for students
25 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Bitmojis are so fun! They're like cartoon versions of ourselves, and we can communicate via Bitmoji. Some are inappropriate, though, and the terms of ...
043: Hearing from EVERY student
24 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
"If you're not hearing from every student in every classroom, you're doing it wrong." What do you think of this quote? Technology can help teachers he...
042: About that ONE kid that's not paying attention ...
23 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's happened to all of us. A lesson is going great and ONE kid is spacing out -- OR giving you the death stare. That student is all we can think abou...
041: Use KQED Learn to learn and share with an audience
20 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Inquiry is a great way to help students own their learning and learn how to pursue their curiosity. KQED Learn is a platform that's set up for student...
040: The power of lunch with students
19 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I was inspired by a story in the book "The Wild Card" by Hope and Wade King where a student had lunch with different groups of students for an entire ...
039: Battling naughty Kahoot! nicknames
18 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you struggle with students creating naughty nicknames in Kahoot! games? Kahoot! has created a new feature to eliminate the temptation of typing a n...
038: Internet access for any assessment?
17 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What would happen if we allowed "open internet access" during any assessment? I saw this question on Twitter from John Eick (@John_Eick) over the week...
037: 4 tips to live by on Twitter
16 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Social media can be our lifeblood of classroom ideas, inspiration and connections. Here are some suggestions for making the most out of Twitter / soci...
036: My daughter Cassie reviews Poptropica!
13 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Poptropica is one of my sixth grade daughter Cassie's favorite games. She makes the case for using it to help kids learn.
035: On copy/paste cheating and "making" kids stop
12 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's so easy to Google almost anything ... especially assignments. Can we "make" students stop? What's the solution?
034: Google Apps for Littles: Believe they can!
11 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Littles can use Google tools too! In this book by Christine Pinto and Alice Keeler, they show you how!
033: What to do now that Padlet isn't totally free
10 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Padlet, a digital bulletin board-style collaboration tool, recently announced that it is no longer totally free. How should we deal with digital tools...
032: Student podcasts with @WeVideo and @Flipgrid
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Student voice is a hot topic in education right now. But how can you give students that microphone in an authentic, doable way? Andrew Fenstermaker an...
031: Learning sketchnoting with #Sketch50
06 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sketchnoting (or visual notetaking) is a very brain-friendly way of learning ... and it's TONS of fun! Hone your sketchnoting skills (and introduce it...
030: Using OK GO's phenomenal music videos in class
05 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The band OK GO has the coolest music videos! There's a lot of math and science behind these videos. They have recently created a fantastic resource fo...
029: Making FUN animated Google Classroom headers
04 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Students that use Google Classroom are greeted by header images every time they log in. Create your own custom Google Classroom header image. To give ...
028: Using brackets in class with Brackify
03 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
March Madness and the men's college basketball tournament has people all over the United States buzzing with excitement. How can we use brackets to ca...
027: The future of technology in education ...
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What's it going to look like? Really, it's anyone's guess how tech will influence education in the future. But an interview with Microsoft's CEO pique...
026: Bringing a hip hop program to middle school
29 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How can hip hop influence and inspire students at a middle school in Bronx, NY? The effects can be farther-reaching than you might think. Listen as a ...
025: Where to start with AR and VR in the classroom
28 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Augmented reality and virtual reality are becoming a reality for classrooms. Mike Drezek shares some cool ways teachers can start incorporating this c...
024: Student connections all over the world
27 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Mike Drezek connected students to India. Those students' worldview was widened. How can you make similar connections? It may be easier than you think....
023: Introduce your students to penguins and Antarctica
26 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Genny Kahlweiss's students sent a flag to a research station in Antarctica, where it was flown for three days. They video chatted with scientists and ...
022: Fabulous @Flipgrid ideas!
23 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Flipgrid's short video response platform has taken the education world by storm. What are some of the coolest ways teachers are using it? Flipgrid's J...
021: A full-color yearbook with Google Slides?!?
22 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Can you really produce a whole yearbook with Google Slides? Jennifer Scott's school did, complete with full color and a fancy cover. The total cost: $...
020: Sharing your brand with Ben and Josh
21 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Branding isn't about making money and being famous. It's about sharing your story and letting people know what you stand for. Ben Cogswell and Josh Ha...
019: Alice Keeler and conversation in the math classroom
20 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Alice Keeler says there's something missing from math instruction. It's dialogue. Math is more than putting your head down and completing problems. Sh...
018: Dave Burgess and March Madness in the classroom
19 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
March Madness is upon us, and America will be watching lots of college basketball. How can we use this in the classroom? Dave Burgess, author of Teach...
017: The afternoon dip, and how it affects students
16 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There's a trough in our thinking abilities in the afternoon. It can have a profound effect: as much as having a couple alcoholic drinks. How can we po...
016: Our digital work doesn't have to be 8.5"x11"
15 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With online documents and slides, we often stick to the status quo for size. If certain work isn't going to be printed -- or displayed on a projector ...
015: The juice that makes @Flipgrid even better
14 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We spend so much time helping students with their writing skills. Giving them some guidance on speaking can have huge benefits. Here's a model for it,...
014: The fear of the blinking cursor
13 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever started a project and got stuck before you ever got started? There are some things we can do to help students overcome that obstacle and...
013: A small nudge toward growth mindset
12 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us know of "growth mindset" as the idea of "yet" -- I can't do it *yet*. But there are other small adjustments we can make in the classroom to...
012: A fascinating read: How to Fix the Future
09 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How to Fix the Future is a book by Andrew Keen, a self-proclaimed Internet pessimist. He's written five books about how destructive technology has bee...
011: How voice typing can free up your teaching life
08 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I believe in voice typing! Also called dictation, it's when you speak and your device converts it to text. It's SO much faster than typing with your f...
010: Educators -- Do this, DON'T do that in social media
07 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Twitter is the BEST thing that happened to my teaching career. It really saved it. However, there's a balance to be maintained, and if we're careful, ...
009: Personally created GIFs can make your students' day!
06 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
GIFs are super fun. They're those moving image files you see all over social media. There's this fun tool you can use to record your own animated GIFs...
008: Studying the way the brain craves
05 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
So often, we encourage students to study by putting info into their brains by re-reading notes and chapters. But brain science tells us it's more effe...
007: Push this button for more learning
02 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There's a button we use in many digital learning tools to keep kids from cheating. But it can do more than that! Learn how it can be used to help kids...
006: Why you need a class podcast -- and how to make one for FREE
01 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Podcasting is a growing medium. It let's you learn by listening -- consume content -- while doing something else. Students can share learning with an ...
005: The power of student voice
28 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How can we encourage students to use their voice -- in learning, in positive ways, to make a change -- in class and throughout our lives?
004: Google Drawings: Tricks you didn't know!
28 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Google Drawings is a great tool to help teachers and students create eye catching images digitally. There are some cool tricks to it that you might no...
003: Using Story Speaker w/Google Home in class
26 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Story Speaker lets you create interactive "stories" or interactions with your Google Home. Learn how you can create them with NO CODING ... just a Goo...
002: Padlet: New features, new possibilities
23 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Padlet, the web tool that lets you add digital sticky notes to a virtual bulletin board, has been around for a long time. But with new features -- tak...
001: Welcome to the Ditch That Textbook podcast!
23 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I'm so excited to start this podcast! My goal is to equip, inform and inspire educators five days a week. In this episode, I will tell you what to exp...