In this episode of the Ditch That Textbook podcast hosts Matt Miller and Karly Moura share news about Magic School's new SEL lesson generator and a contest for sharing Ditch Summit. They discuss CS Ed Week resources including 20 ways to celebrate the Hour of Code and explore creativity with AI and NASA's Space Jam. They also provide tech tips on creating fill-in-the-blank image generator prompts and using virtual versions of robots. Matt and Karly share quick teaching strategies like writing a message in binary for students to decode and asking an AI assistant for common misconceptions about content. They also share a template of the week and ideas for using it.
News and updates:
Magic School has a new SEL lesson generator! Other new-ish tools from MagicSchool.ai include their Real World Connections Tool and the Standards Unpacker Tool.
Win prizes for sharing Ditch Summit?!?!?
Here’s how you can participate …
Learn more in this issue of the DTT email newsletter.
The Big idea:
Computer Science Education Week Resources
20 Ways to celebrate the Hour Of Code
Unplugged CS resources include Hello Ruby, Kodable Unplugged and the “Program the Teacher” activity from CSinSF.
Explore Boards Creativity with AI & NASA’s Space Jam
Flip and NASA Live Event
Tech tips:
Create fill-in-the-blank image generator prompts with Microsoft designer. Check out this Tweet from Becky Keene for a link to an example prompt.
Use a virtual version of robots or physical computing devices to enhance your instruction. Visit Bee-Bots online, Ozobot simulator, and MakeCode for Micro:bits.
Robots you might want to try in your classroom:
Beebots
Dash and Dot
Ozobots
Micro:bit
Makey Makey
Quick teaching strategies:
Write your students a message in binary and have your class decode the message as a warm up. Use Binary Translator and give your students the Binary Code Translator Key.
Ask an AI assistant for common misconceptions about your content (#5 in this post Lesson planning with AI: Save time and get ideas)
Template of the week
Learning awards template
Share with us on social media!
Use #Ditchbook or tag @jmattmiller or @Karlymoura on Twitter/X
Don't forget to join the Ditch That Textbook email newsletter at DitchThatTextbook.com/join and be sure to subscribe to the show.
155: 5 FREE virtual field trips to check out
154: Student podcasts in Google Slides
153 Your Google Classroom secret power
152: Google Slides templates and fixing them
153: Ask this question for better results
152: Upgrade that textbook with augmented reality
151: Classroom tech: Should I use it?
150: More Google Classroom organization ideas
149: A new social media for educators
148: Bringing tech into the library
147: Flipgrid, information literacy and coaching
146: You CAN do that with Microsoft! with Scott Titmas
145: Offering custom PD with Stacy Saia
144: Social media-inspired learning without the app
143: Real-time classroom translation for free
142: Brain-based ways to reach diverse students
141: Three phases of learning for the long term
140: Take the Flipgrid 5 for student accessibility
139: Free music/sound effects for class projects
138: 3 things I'm loving about Quizizz now
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Regenerative Skills
The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall
The No-Frills Teacher Podcast
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast
The Mel Robbins Podcast