EdTech Unpacked

Ep 23: 5 Gadgets To Teach your Blind and Low Visioned Students Along With Some Great Methods

We have Michael Villafane a Computer and Access Technology Instructor at Virginia Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired shows us 5 gadgets that he uses and teaches his students to use. He also tells us some incredible methods to help you be a more effective teacher for your blind and low visioned students. Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impairedhttps://www.dbvi.virginia.gov/0:00 Episode Preview and Welcome1:09 Introduction Michael Villafane3:13 Get to Know You Question6:26 Discussion 17:29 Let's Unpack the Tech18:31 Apple Keyboard - https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MXCK3LL/A/magic-keyboard-with-touch-id-for-mac-models-with-apple-silicon-usb-c-us-english20:22 Braille keyboard Orbit Writer - https://www.orbitresearch.com/product/orbit-writer/27:47 Victor Reader Stream - https://store.humanware.com/hus/victor-reader-stream-handheld-media-player.html33:55 NLS Braille eReader HumanWare - https://www.loc.gov/nls/services-and-resources/equipment-for-nls-materials/nls-braille-ereader-humanware/ 36:37 BT Speak Pro - https://www.blazietech.com/bt-speak-pro39:51 BARD Mobile app - https://www.loc.gov/nls/how-to-enroll/sign-up-for-bard-and-bard-mobile/40:34 Seeing AI app - https://www.seeingai.com/41:39 aira app - https://aira.io/42:09 Be My Eyes app - https://www.bemyeyes.com/44:54 Accessibility texting on iPhone48:51 Teacher Methods50:41 Closing and blessingsVergecast - Be My Eyes CEO Interview "How the low-vision community embraced AI smart glasses" - https://youtu.be/pgu0a9QK75E?si=YPxm3lKVDX6FvZSn&t=1923

Ep. 22 - New School Year EDTech Backpack - The tech that you need for back-to-school

What tech do you need to start the new school year? We talk about our favorite EdTech tools along with some that we are looking forward to trying out. Join us as we unpack the tech! 0:00 Episode Preview and Welcome 1:01 Get to Know You Question 3:01 Aaron & Desmond's Year Ahead 6:20 Let's Unpack the Tech & Desmond's Top 5 Tech Picks 6:50 LMS 7:34 Google's Notebook LM 8:25 Mobile Device Management Software 14:35 Davinci Resolve 15:48 Google Docs 16:35 Aaron's Top 5 Tech Picks- Classroom Tech Ready to Roll 20:28 Notability 22:13 Canva 23:11 BriskAI 24:55 IXL & Formative Assessment Platforms 27:56 Desmond's Top 5 EDTech Things to try 28:15 Canva 29:16 Vibe Coding 32:33 AI Video Creation- Google Veo 3 38:50 Script Writing Tools 39:14 VibeGrade 39:49 Aaron's Top 5 EDTech Things to Try 41:30 SchoolAI & MagicSchool 42:34 Lesson Planning with AI (ChatGPT or Gemini) 43:42 Socrait 44:42 Google Class Tools 45:58 Wrapping Up, Help Desk & How to Connect 46:52 Closing Blessing ======PART 1 RESOURCES==================================== 5 EdTech Favorites Desmond's 1. Teaching through my LMS (Schoology) - https://youtu.be/9adtcUlQzo4 2. NotebookLM - https://notebooklm.google/ 3. Second device to monitor students - https://www.goguardian.com/ - https://www.lightspeedsystems.com/ 4. DaVinci Resolve - https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve 5. Assignments with Google Docs - https://youtu.be/E5rtu41W_SM Aaron's 1. Classroom Tech Ready to Roll!! - https://youtu.be/rhUBp_P_W7g 2. Teaching with Notability - https://youtu.be/WXcoh2LZeWY - https://notability.com/ 3. Canva - https://youtu.be/CHjZPOc_2dg - https://www.canva.com/ 4. Brisk - https://www.briskteaching.com/ 5. IXL & Formative Assessment Platforms - https://youtu.be/KLoV7ALMmAQ ======PART 2 RESOURCES==================================== 5 EDTech Things to Try Desmond's 1. Canva for more design - https://youtu.be/CHjZPOc_2dg - https://www.canva.com/ 2. Vibe coding classroom apps - https://youtube.com/shorts/3N_r1tHcu0E - https://colorgeoguessr.my.canva.site/ - https://bsky.app/profile/edtechunpacked.com/post/3lvelggngnc27 3. AI Video creation - Veo3 through Google Vids - https://workspace.google.com/products/vids/ - NotebookLM - https://notebooklm.google/ 4. Script writing tools 5. Vibegrade - https://youtu.be/r124zoV7r0s - https://vibegrade.com/ Aaron's 1. Video Creation - https://youtu.be/ewSrBClAwAQ 2. SchoolAI https://schoolai.com/ or MagicSchool https://www.magicschool.ai/ 3. Lesson Planning support with ChatGPT Pro - https://youtu.be/og_O0wiERiY 4. Socrait - https://socrait.com/ 5. Class Tools for Translation - https://youtu.be/BEX2AlAeD0M - https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/class-tools-chromebook/ ======CONNECT WITH US===================================== Subscribe here on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@EdTechUnpacked?sub_confirmation=1 https://edtechunpacked.com/ (submit questions) https://instagram.com/edtechunpacked https://bsky.app/profile/edtechunpacked.com https://twitter.com/EdtechUnpacked https://www.facebook.com/edtechunpacked #EdTech #BackToSchoolTech #TeacherTools #EducationalTechnology #ClassroomTechnology #TeachingWithTech #EdTechUnpacked #BackToSchool2025 #TeacherTips #TeacherLife #AIForTeachers #GoogleTools #CanvaForEducation #NotabilityApp #BriskAI #IXL #FormativeAssessment #DaVinciResolve #Schoology #NotebookLM #GoogleVeo #LessonPlanningWithAI #MagicSchoolAI #SchoolAI #Socrait #ClassTools #VibeCoding #VibeGrade #TeacherPD #DigitalTeachingTools

Ep.21 You're Still Not Using Hyperdocs?! Ditch Worksheets for This!

Dive in with us as we explore why you should be using HyperDocs in your classroom! We'll hear from Lisa Highfill, the author of The HyperDoc Handbook (available here https://a.co/d/8SdSYXH ) and look at both the "simple model" and the "full model" outlined below! Wow! So much to unpack here and learn about! We know that after tuning in to this episode you will soon be exploring how you can implement them in your classroom setting! Full Model: Engage - Explore - Explain - Apply - Share - Reflect - Extend Simple Model: Explore - Explain - Apply 0:00 Welcome and Introduction of Lisa Highfill 2:15 First "Ah-Ha" Moment with Google Docs 4:50 Introduction to Hyperdocs 16:32 Let's Unpack the Tech! - Breaking Down Hyperdocs 20:05 Choice Boards 24:57 Engage & Explore 28:57 Teacher Creativity-Driven & Frequency of Use 31:10 What Implementation Looks Like 33:58 Explain 36:13 Apply & Share 40:15 Reflect 41:20 How Grading Fits In 45:00 Extend 46:01 AI and Hyperdocs? 47:22 Wrapping Up! 49:02 Closing Blessing & Reminder Connect with us: Subscribe here on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@EdTechUnpacked?sub_confirmation=1 https://edtechunpacked.com/ (submit questions) https://instagram.com/edtechunpacked https://bsky.app/profile/edtechunpacked.com https://twitter.com/EdtechUnpacked https://www.facebook.com/edtechunpacked Continue learning about Hyperdocs & Engage: Follow Lisa Highfill on Bluesky ‪https://bsky.app/profile/lisahighfill.bsky.social Learn More: https://hyperdocs.co Facebook HyperDocs Group: https://www.hyperdocs.co/teachersgiveteachers Teachers Give Teachers: https://www.hyperdocs.co/teachersgiveteachers #HyperDocs #EdTech #TeachersOfYouTube #GoogleForEducation #GoogleClassroom #DigitalLearning #InnovativeTeaching #LessonPlanning #TechInTheClassroom #HyperDocLesson #HyperDocsInAction #TeacherLife #StudentEngagement #EdTechTools #K12Education #21stCenturyLearning #BlendedLearning #GoogleDocs #Educators #TeachingTips #edtechunpacked #adventisteducation #adventist #adventistchurch #aetech

Ep20 | Highlights from ISTE The Largest EdTech Convention in North America Google Canva and More.mp4

Wow! So much to cover and share as we return from the largest EdTech convention in North America, ISTELive 2025! Join us as we "unpack the tech" and recap the convention in this "part 2" episode (Part 1 available here: https://youtu.be/Jk1taUWos8Y ), including interviews with Canva, the latest from Google, Rocket Drones, and Jamf, more hidden gems!
Canva/Classroom Graphics Episode Link: https://youtu.be/CHjZPOc_2dg
Rocket Drones: https://rocketdrones.com
Google for Education: https://edu.google.com/intl/ALL_us/workspace-for-education/add-ons/google-workspace-with-gemini/
Canva Education: https://www.canva.com/education/
Socrait: https://socrait.com/
Jamf: https://www.jamf.com/
VibeGrade: https://vibegrade.com/
On This Episode (Episode Preview) 
Welcome & Introduction
The ISTE Experience (Expo Hall)
Let's Unpack the Tech
Canva Interview (Canva Code & Magic Activities)
Rocket Drones Interview (Industry Training for Students)
Socrait Interview (AI Using the Teacher's Voice to Track Interactions)
VibeGrade Interview (AI Grading Software for Teachers)
Jamf Interview (Tools for Teachers to Control iPads)
Google Interview (Gemini, Canvas, Notebook LM)
Key Takeaways & Wrapping Up 
Shoutout Guam Adventist Academy Teachers 
Help Desk Invite: Send us Your EdTech Problems
Connect on Social Media
Closing Blessing Coach Jeffery's Podcast:  @TheCoachJeffery 
EduTech Guys: https://linktr.ee/edutechguys 

Ep19 Experience the ISTE Live 2025 Expo Hall

Join us for a whirlwind tour of Exhibit Hall at the massive expo hall of the ISTE Live 2025 conference and listen in as we talk with some of our favorite exhibitors and companies! Couldn't make it to ISTE yourself... join us for the next best thing! Be blessed! We feature Makedo, Classkick, B&H B2B/Omnia, Lego Education, Sphero, Robolink & Codrone EDU, IPEVO, Prodigy, Wakelet, EdPuzzle, Vex Robotics, Quizziz/Wayground, Epson Multi-Projector Applications, Epson DTF & DTG Printers, Ozobot, Brisk Education, Magic School, SchoolAI, and Figma.

Ep. 18 Open AI’s Chat GPT Vs Google’s Gemini: A Lesson Planning Throw Down!

To determine which AI is superior, we compared Open AI with Chat GPT vs Google AI with Gemini for lesson planning. Our guest, Israel, judged which one he found more useful in the classroom. But you judge for yourself! Join us as we unpack the tech!
Desmond's Lesson plan from Gemini
Aaron's Lesson plan from ChatGPT
Resources Referenced:
Open AI
ChatGPT
Gemini 
#googleai #googlegemini #gemini #openai #chatgpt #gpt4o #lessonplan #throwdown #edtech #edtechunpacked #podcast #teachertech #teachertips #teachertools #teacherpreparation

Ep 17 Stop Bringing Work Home... Use Task Apps to Stay Organized

Stop bringing stuff home teachers! As educators, we all know that school life follows us everywhere! It's time to break the cycle of exhaustion, and use organizational tools to help you! On today's episode, we dive into task apps/"to-do apps" and share some insights in ways they can help you be more efficient with your time. We look at some free and paid options, so there is something for everyone! We even look at some power user processes that might just be the ticket to bringing less work home! Join us as we unpack the tech and dive into task apps!

Ep 16 Stop Differentiating Your Instruction! UDL It Instead

We talk about some of the challenges with how Differentiating Instruction has been implemented. So, Instead we talk about the power of Universal Design for Learning and how technology can enable you to empower all of your students with the tools they need to be successful.
We demonstrated the use of Gemini 2.5