In this episode, we’re taking you inside two powerhouse events in the EdTech world — the Lake ECMECC Conference and EDTECH Connect 2025.

Jeremy shares his experience at Lake ECMECC, including keynote speaker takeaways, standout sessions, and the high-energy Demo Slam where presenters rapid-fire shared their favorite tools.

David walks through EDTECH Connect 2025, from the inspiring keynote to sessions we presented separately and other must-see talks from the week.

We wrap with our AI Literacy session — why it’s vital for educators right now and how it can transform classroom practice.

If you’re looking for fresh ideas, tools, and inspiration for teaching and learning, this recap has you covered.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why these conferences are so impactful for educators
• Highlights from both keynote speakers
• The best sessions and tools we discovered
• A breakdown of the Demo Slam format and featured tech
• Insights from our AI Literacy session together

Register for IT2 2025: https://www.swwc.org/Page/2286

In this episode of Integrate This! EdTech Podcast, we sit down with Kevin Smith—associate professor at Dakota State University, veteran instructional designer, and author-illustrator of the children’s book Yucky! 🖍️📚—to unpack the art and science of slide design and clear communication. Kevin takes us from his start as a high-school math teacher to instructional-tech expert and visual-design aficionado, sharing practical tips you can apply right away.

In this interview, you’ll learn how to…

• Balance creativity with clarity in every slide ✨
• Spot and avoid the most common presentation pitfalls 🚫✏️
• Build engaging visuals—charts, images, and multimedia—without overloading text
• Use tools like Canva, Keynote, and more for polished, professional decks 🎨
• Integrate AI into your design workflow for faster mock-ups and prototyping
• Get started in visual design, even if you’re not “techy,” with Kevin’s go-to resources

Resources & Links:

• Kevin’s Website → https://www.kevindsmith.org/
• Yucky! on Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/Yucky-Kevin-D-Smith/dp/1955026599
• Kevin’s DSU Profile → https://dsu.edu/directory/smith-kevin.html
• Watch the Video on YouTube → https://youtu.be/8yneR5bHE3E

Stay Connected:

• Subscribe on YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbzZSb_VjliYiMaSUwpQSIg
• Follow Integrate This! on X/Twitter → https://twitter.com/Integr8This
• Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/integr8this/
• BlueSky → https://bsky.app/profile/integr8this.bsky.social

Integrate This! EdTech Podcast: AI as an Enhancement, Not a Replacement – Featuring Thomas Hummel of Eduaide.ai

Join us for a dynamic summer episode of the Integrate This! EdTech podcast as hosts Jeremy and David sit down with Thomas Hummel, co-founder of Eduaide.ai! Thomas, a middle school science teacher first and foremost, shares his journey from the classroom to co-founding an AI-powered platform designed to support educators.

In this engaging conversation, we dive deep into how AI can genuinely complement effective teaching practices, rather than overshadowing the invaluable role of the teacher. Thomas emphasizes that Eduaide.ai's primary mission is to save teachers time and help them create higher-quality, more engaging lessons. Discover how this innovative tool empowers teachers to differentiate instruction, generate diverse assessment types, and adapt content to meet the unique needs of their students, all while maintaining their professional judgment.

You'll hear about the challenges educators face, the importance of teacher-led innovation, and why Eduaide.ai remains teacher-facing, prioritizing student data privacy and ethical AI use in education. Thomas shares compelling insights on the critical need for schools to embrace AI to avoid widening the digital divide, and how Eduaide.ai is committed to providing accessible, high-quality tools that truly make a difference in the classroom.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• AI should be a tool that enhances effective teaching, providing high-quality content and saving teachers time, not replacing their professional judgment or the crucial human element in the classroom.
• Teachers, as professionals, are best positioned to leverage AI tools to create engaging and differentiated learning experiences tailored to their students' unique needs.
• The EdTech landscape often prioritizes profit over quality and teacher support, highlighting the importance of mission-driven companies like Eduaide.ai.
• Student data privacy and the ethical use of AI models are paramount, especially given the probabilistic nature of AI and the potential for misinformation.
• There's a critical need for school leaders to embrace AI and provide training to avoid a deepening digital divide and to prepare students for an AI-integrated world.

Listen now to learn how AI can truly empower teachers!

• Visit their website: https://www.eduaide.ai
• Join their Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/eduaideeducators