Shows
The Connected EducatorEpisode 15: EOY Video Showdown!In this exciting episode of The Connected Educator, Janie and Miranda face off in an electrifying battle of the video tools: Adobe Express Video versus Google Vids! Who will emerge victorious in this epic showdown? Tune in to find out! 🤩Plus, we share inspiring ideas for end-of-year video projects that will ignite your students' reflections on the past year and help them create meaningful, lasting memories.Digital design challenge websiteMiranda’s Google Vids basics videoKate’s recommended Adobe template for explainer videosPolls & Quizzes in CanvaCanva Custom...2025-05-0222 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 14: Best of Spring CUE 2025Join us for a lively discussion about our favorite sessions from the Spring CUE conference! Joined by special guests Jackson Shaad, Engagement Manager at Adobe, and Stephanie Sumarna, EdTech & Innovation Coach at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. Together, we share our top tips and resources, and explore some exciting ways that teachers and parents are using AI.Resources:Adobe ExpressCanva and Magic School and Perplexity, Oh My!It’s a Femininomenon: Trailblazing Women in EdTEch & Their Career JourneysParents As AI LeadersAI Parent Li...2025-04-0139 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 13: It's March! Reduce the MadnessHey there, fabulous educators! 🌟 We all know that March can be a bit of a challenge, am I right? So, in this episode, we are shifting our focus to some of our absolute favorite, super fun, and easy-to-use tech tools to use in your personal time that can totally lighten your load, ease that stress, and sprinkle a little joy into your everyday routine! Apps NTS Radio Radio Garden BandsInTown Hello Talk ChatGPT Gemini HomeExchange Too Good To Go Sma...2025-02-2824 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 12: Podcasting in Education, Empowering Student VoiceIn this episode of The Connected Educator, we explore how podcasting can transform your classroom into a hub of creativity, collaboration, and communication. Whether you’re looking for new ways to amplify student voice or seeking an engaging, real-world project for your learners, podcasting is a tool that delivers.
We’ll share the specific tools and low-budget workflow we use to create our podcast—designed to replicate the conditions many teachers face: no sound studio, noisy classrooms, and limited time. You’ll also hear inspiring clips from real student podcasts, including Valencia View, an elementary project, and a though...2025-02-0331 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 11: Hour of CodeIn this episode, we’re excited to chat about the annual Hour of Code event and share some of our favorite coding activities that we enjoy doing with students, both with devices and unplugged. Plus, be sure to catch our interview with Jacob Martinez, the founder and CEO of The Digital NEST. This fantastic local organization is all about supporting and inspiring young people to explore careers in technology!
Hour of Code resources:
Traveling Circuits
Unplugged Dance Party
Code Monkey Jr.Â
Music Lab
Hour of Code Activities
...2024-12-0327 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 10: Digital CitizenshipHow familiar are you with digital citizenship? Join us and put your knowledge to the test with our trivia game! In this episode, we’ll explore the various aspects of digital citizenship, why it matters, and how you can share this important topic with your students.
Resources: Our Newsletter , Internet Safety Resources, Common Sense Media Curriculum, Be Internet Awesome, Misinformation AI, Oh My!
2024-10-2235 min
The Connected Educator🎙️Back in Action!Welcome back to The Connected Educator! We're excited to introduce our newest co-host, Melissa Shaw, who joins us to complete our team of four! In this episode, we’re diving into practical strategies to save you time and make your teaching more engaging, effective, and joyful.Join us as we explore our favorite new AI tools: Meta AI and Goblin Tools—game changers for the modern classroom. Plus, we share a tech tip on generating QR codes to effortlessly showcase student work, keep...
2024-09-1321 min
The Connected EducatorEnd of Year Activity Ideas and Memorable MomentsSend us a textAre you looking for some fun tech-infused activities to wrap-up this school year with your students? Look no further! In this episode, Kate, Janie and Miranda each share their favorite end-of-year activity. Whether it's a digital memory book made in Book Creator, a social media-inspired message board, or a music video project, we know you will want to try out one of these activities to help students reflect on their learning, have fun and celebrate the end of the school year! We...2024-05-0722 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 7: Best of Spring CUE 2024Send us a textJoin us as six tech coaches reconvene after attending the Spring CUE conference. In this episode, we each highlight our favorite sessions, offering insights into cutting-edge teaching techniques and the latest educational technology for your classrooms. Whether you missed the event or are considering attending next year, tune in for a concise roundup of the most inspiring takeaways from Spring CUE.Resources:Recharge and InspireOne Best ThingHow to Be an Educator and Not Go InsaneWhodunnit Mystery: Unleashing AI & Thematic Storylines...2024-04-1233 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 7: Best of Spring CUE 2024Join us as six tech coaches reconvene after attending the Spring CUE conference. In this episode, we each highlight our favorite sessions, offering insights into cutting-edge teaching techniques and the latest educational technology for your classrooms. Whether you missed the event or are considering attending next year, tune in for a concise roundup of the most inspiring takeaways from Spring CUE.Resources:
Recharge and Inspire
One Best Thing
How to Be an Educator and Not Go Insane
Whodunnit Mystery: Unleashing AI & Thematic Storylines for Engaging PD
History’s New Dimension: AI, Gamification, and the Immersive Exploration of th...2024-04-1233 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 6: Screencastify your TeachingSend us a textLooking for one simple tool to boost student engagement? Join us as we delve into the world of Screencastify, our favorite screen recording tool! In our interview with Shaun Conway from Screencastify, we discuss how this tool can foster flipped classrooms, personalized learning experiences, and creative student projects. For those listeners who have never heard of it, we hope this episode inspires you to add the Screencastify Chrome extension and experience the workflow won...2024-03-0826 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 5: Stop Motion AnimationSend us a textSpark creativity & ignite learning with Stop Motion Animation! This episode explodes with practical tips and heart-warming anecdotes from one of PVUSD's leading innovators, Katryn Bermudez. Discover:How this magic tool works in ANY subject (Math? History? You name it!)Easy-to-follow steps to get YOU started right away.Real-life examples that will blow your mind (and inspire your students!)Ready to transform your classroom? Tune in for laughter, inspiration, and a...2024-02-1428 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 4: AI in the ClassroomSend us a textWe sit down with the ever-knowledgeable Stephanie Sumarna and Elizabeth Shaw of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education to get their take on the educational implications of Artificial Intelligence and the recent boom of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. We talk about the history of AI, discuss the current climate surrounding the use of generative AI in the classroom as well as share some ways to use the tools for improving teacher productivity and student engagement. Bonu...2023-12-1429 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 3: The Power of PiperSend us a textJoin us as we explore the impact and excitement surrounding Piper Computer Kits. In this installment, we sit down with industry experts, educators, and young tech enthusiasts to talk about the positive impact these kits have on students' critical thinking skills, teamwork, and overall confidence in approaching complex challenges. Listen to the end to hear about our favorite Chrome extensions and a friendly debate on how to pronounce GIF.2023-11-2727 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 2: Adobe Express with Martin CisnerosSend us a textThe PVUSD Tech ToSAs interview Martin Cisneros, Adobe Educational Leader, to talk about the awesome powers of Adobe Express as a free tool for showcasing student creativity. This episode's tech tip is all about our favorite keyboard shortcuts!2023-10-3132 min
The Connected EducatorEpisode 1: Meet the ToSAsSend us a textIn Episode One of the Connected Educator we introduce our hosts (Janie, Kate and Miranda) and tell you how technology has inspired us as teachers. Highlights include: a clip of 5th graders singing about littering to the tune of "Michael Jackson's Beat It", how Janie used Google Classroom before it became ubiquitous, and a tech tip on Emoji Kitchen.2023-10-0512 min