<p>In this episode of the Ditch That Textbook podcast, Matt and Karly discuss the latest news and updates in education technology. They highlight Google&#39;s release of the Gemini AI model and Quizizz&#39;s new feature allowing students to refer to videos or documents while answering questions. The big idea for this episode is end-of-semester projects, with Matt suggesting the creation of infographics using tools like Google Drawings or Canva, and Karly recommending student-created quizzes as a way for students to show what they know. They also share tech tips, quick teaching strategies, and a template of the week to support you as we wrap up the semester.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>News and updates:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://blog.google/technology/ai/google-gemini-ai/#sundar-note">Google releases Gemini AI model</a></li> <li>Let your students refer to videos or documents while answering questions. Go to <a href="https://link.team.quizizz.com/ls/click?upn=l2rvzz6Ge9DeOyh1KLX-2Bjto2xYBZEgcM7SOnXP1IOyDcWFRl5ta6dovNkPNkm635KY4CTisKwHo0l7U9T6jnKUBmMdmoakUeGUQnE15pz8F9-2FTutjMBAP9rrgoDp-2BC9NMBvE_iretNz0Zqeh7qqoMerdF-2F8riWUcCQ2FlYrccjaLORJPm7mORiQhiO6IctkDVb3XwaF6E06t5jwBmWueytHd6oNBcqJFVgix2J6zKIq52-2Byj9NdhWCzhzz-2BhCoDLjuIBPnhdlT981N8ZAjZzHTkzmn9Syo3lc7G3UnQGtrlumIsQqTpiA6-2BDaCQeLjWut9XzZPYX6wUWW93VCo4Ng5cNENj7o4meNq8KD7UgvfEEv49fd-2B53telOQoufc8PeqNHD-2Bq61czLmjUuvzZhjo-2FDWs8iX5ata3moq0OBbDWufY2HrkwuyyhTVX7pQ4SWfo1f-2BDKWkCFP9HnY5-2FR2Dk-2Famqr38CtX340PxlDT8RK11lU8yb6wHMTl7kFcU8Bs-2FqMqZLXDloR49ohE-2FQ8WYGGgHsyu0P9hBAmADoVN2HnLjK4GsuTt2f4jr3gsoUujWL2NLOE4ThozMhRwx0I02rQjFEKGhUDv-2FbD29MtigCFC6tduS5aGAJd2IqU2II88neSpXtee-2FWOO-2BRN6y4N8FoVnbDoguaU-2FUmNrsmIBCA6kDmuFUmxHUZMi11LFjw4h-2F5xDhRKGhAEDUmhFObOk0KcmvKrwUT7n34CQ1Mj015XrMLaSGvm3oot9rZdsI1nRKIFu2n6dfI2W1Ii5WFQX0uB-2FOARQ-3D-3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quizizz AI Create</a>, paste your YouTube link and toggle the &quot;Allow students to watch this video while answering&quot; button to generate a Multi-Part Comprehension Quiz!</li> </ul> <p><strong>The Big Idea:</strong> <a href="https://ditchthattextbook.com/10-ideas-for-digital-end-of-semester-final-projects/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">End of Semester Final Project Ideas</a></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://ditchthattextbook.com/creating-eye-popping-infographics-with-google-drawings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Create an infographic:</a> Infographics are very brain-friendly. They create a powerful verbal/visual mix that helps encode information in students’ long-term memory. Plus, they can be fun to create! They can end up being these visually stimulating products of student learning … the kind that students want to share with others!</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Utilize one of these <a href="https://ditchthattextbook.com/applied-digital-skills/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">20 Google Applied Digital Skills lessons</a> to get students creating at the end of the semester to showcase their skills.<a href="https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/c/middle-and-high-school/en/create-quizzes-in-google-forms/overview.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><br></a></li> </ul> <p><strong>Tech tips:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Use<a href="https://www.magicschool.ai/magic-tools" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"> Magic school tools</a> + Raina the chat bot to create a lesson plan or outline from the resources generated. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOMSTJ37NVM" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Check out this video to get to know Raina.</a></li> <li><a href="https://gzmshows.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Try a podcast from GZM media in your class!</a> GZM Shows is an awesome resource for teachers looking for podcasts for the classroom. Browse the podcast library and access resources such as lesson plans, discussion guides, and explore boards.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Quick Teaching Strategies:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://app.magicschool.ai/tools/quote-of-the-day">Use Magic School’s Quote of the Day generator. </a>Write the quote on the board and have your students respond as a bell ringer or exit ticket.</li> <li><a href="https://www.michaelsoskil.com/5-clue-challenge.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Try a 5 clue challenge! </a></li> </ul> <p><strong>Template of the Week:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Free time interactive choice board is a compilation or the sites shared in this post <a href="https://ditchthattextbook.com/10-sites-for-students-with-free-time-on-their-hands/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">40 sites for students with free time on their hands.</a></li> <li>Use the resource as is by sharing<a href="https://view.genial.ly/6455183bd1df40001119a1f0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"> the choice board link</a> with your students.</li> <li>Reuse the Genially template by clicking on <a href="https://view.genial.ly/6455183bd1df40001119a1f0/presentation-interactive-free-time-choice-board" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">this link</a> and then &quot;Reuse this Genially&quot;. You will need to be logged into your Genailly account. <a href="https://help.genial.ly/en_us/sign-up-to-genially-Sy5l9Drhs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Learn how to create your free account here.</a></li> </ul>