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

Welcome to another exciting episode of Integrate This! This week, we're joined by Jon Laven, co-founder of Snorkl (snorkl.app), an innovative EdTech tool designed to capture and provide AI-powered feedback on student thinking. Jon, a former high school math teacher and instructional coach, shares his journey from the classroom to building a platform that’s changing how educators approach formative assessment.

In this conversation, Jon elaborates on:

• The Genesis of Snorkl: Discover how the need to understand student thinking during distance learning sparked the idea for Snorkl, evolving from a "social Khan Academy" to its current AI-driven model.
• The Power of Multimodal Expression: Learn why allowing students to express their knowledge both visually and verbally is crucial, especially in subjects like math, and how it creates greater accessibility for diverse learners, including English Language Learners.
• AI for Productive Struggle: Jon highlights how Snorkl's AI system provides immediate, personalized feedback that guides students through their learning process without simply giving away the answer, fostering valuable "productive struggle."
• Teacher Empowerment: Explore how Snorkl provides teachers with powerful insights into class-wide trends and individual student needs, supporting differentiated instruction and allowing educators to align AI feedback with their specific teaching criteria.
• The ISTE Experience and Beyond: Hear about Snorkl's exciting presence at ISTE and what's on the horizon for the platform, including upcoming events and enhanced data insights for teachers and school leaders.

Join us as Jon shares how Snorkl is helping to center student thinking and elevate learning experiences in classrooms across subjects.

Links and Resources:

Snorkl Website: https://snorkl.app/

World Snorkl Day, July 30, 2025: https://streamyard.com/watch/abrdpKv9yRZr

Check out the video of our Conversation on our YouTube Channel to see the content Jon shared: www.youtube.com/@Integr8This

Join hosts David Berner & Jeremy Mikla for a deep dive with Dr. Monica Burns—EdTech consultant, former NYC public school teacher, author of EdTech Essentials: 12 Strategies for Every Classroom in the Age of AI (2nd ed.), and founder of ClassTechTips.com. Monica shares her journey from traditional chalkboards to global keynote stages, her “Tasks Before Apps” philosophy, and practical ways to harness AI in the classroom.

Inside this episode, you’ll discover:

• Task-First Integration: How to align any tech tool to real learning goals, from quick wins to heavier-lift projects that address your biggest pain points.
• Top AI Features for Educators: Voice-based dictation in ChatGPT, the new Library & Media Organizer, plus the Projects workspace for custom workflows.
• Healthy Hesitation & Ethics: Why acknowledging hallucinations, bias scaling, and environmental impacts is critical—and how to model transparency for students.
• Classroom Activities Without Student Log-ins: Compare keyword-search results vs. AI outputs, fact-check together, and spark discussions without ever opening a chatbot.
• Empowering Student Agency: Use open-ended creation tools (Book Creator, Adobe Express, etc.) to give all learners choice within one consistent platform.
• Engaging Virtual PD: Workshop series best practices, breakout rooms + Padlet living docs, built-in Q&A “office hours,” and follow-up support to keep the learning going.

Resources & Links

• ClassTechTips Blog → https://classtechtips.com
• Easy Ed Tech Podcast → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/easy-edtech-podcast-with-monica-burns/id1454190031
• EdTech Essentials (2nd Ed.) → https://www.amazon.com/s?k=EdTech+Essentials+Monica+Burns
• Sign up for Monica’s upcoming ASCD release (summer 2025) → https://classtechtips.com/newsletter

ISTE Reflections: Highlights, Trends, and Takeaways from ISTE 2025

In this episode of Integrate This!, David Berner flips the script and interviews Jeremy Mikla about his time at the ISTE 2025 Conference. From the buzz of new edtech tools to inspiring sessions and impromptu hallway conversations, Jeremy shares his firsthand takeaways, favorite moments, and a few “you-had-to-be-there” stories. Whether you attended ISTE or followed along from afar, this conversation offers insights into what's trending in the world of educational technology—and why you might want to join us in Orlando next year.

In this episode of Integrate This! EdTech Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Steven Baule, Associate Professor of Leadership Education and Director of K–12 Administrative Licensure and Doctorate Programs at Winona State University. With over two decades in district and building leadership, Dr. Ball shares powerful insights on:

• What truly makes a strong school leader
• The changing landscape of K–12 licensure and how it aligns with modern educational demands
• Lessons from his journey from social studies teacher to system-level administrator
• How school systems can support teacher leaders and build leadership capacity from within
• The intersection of edtech and leadership training in today’s programs
• Advice for educators considering a leap into administration

🎙️ Whether you're a teacher thinking about leadership, an administrator navigating policy changes, or a district leader mentoring future principals, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom.

Connect with Dr. Baule & Winona State’s Leadership Programs → Winona State Ed.D. Program → K–12 Licensure Pathways

College of Education | Winona State University

Subscribe for more episodes featuring changemakers in education and technology.

In this episode of Integrate This!, we sit down with Stevie Frank, a dynamic digital learning coach from Zionsville, Indiana, recently named one of EdTech Magazine’s 30 K–12 IT Influencers to Follow in 2025. Stevie brings 15 years of classroom and coaching experience and shares how literacy, pedagogy, and relationships anchor her approach to educational technology.

We dive into:

• Her transition from classroom teacher to district EdTech leader
• How she builds trust and relationships with teachers
• The importance of pedagogy-first PD and practical tools like the SAMR model
• How her district navigated the rollout of AI, including MagicSchool AI
• Empowering students through podcasting and creative projects
• Her take on the AI Literacy Framework and what’s next for EdTech

Whether you're an instructional coach, classroom teacher, or tech administrator, this episode is packed with actionable insights and inspiration.

🔗 Resources from Stevie Frank:

• Website: https://www.steviefrank.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/steviefrank
• Twitter/X: @steviefrank23
• BlueSky: steviefrank.bsky.social