This is Jeremy Jorgensen, host of the Wyatt a Fire Podcast, proud member of the Education Podcast Network. Each show on the network is independently owned, and the views expressed may not represent those of other podcasts. For the best education podcasts, visit edupodcastnetwork.com. Coming up on episode 266 of the House of EdTech Podcast, I'm kicking off 2026 by moving beyond the noise and focusing on six high utility tools that will actually move the needle for you as an educator. Strike up the band. Welcome to the House of EdTech. My name is Chris Nessie. The House of EdTech launched in 2014 giving me the opportunity to speak with teachers, leaders, and creators so you can more effectively integrate technology, strengthen your pedagogy, and have more confidence in your classroom and school so you can make an impact. Get involved with the podcast by visiting my website, chrisnessie.com. Using technology isn't difficult, and this is where it begins. This is the House of EdTech. Be New Year Happy January. Welcome back to another episode of the podcast. Very excited to have you here. Hope you enjoyed your holiday season. If you're a new listener, welcome aboard. If you're a returning listener, welcome back. Alright, we are hitting 2026 hard here at the beginning of the year. Lot of things are happening in my life. Many professionally, creatively, and if you're interested in that, I'm going to put those things at the end of the episode. So make sure you stick around to the end to hear about all the different things that I am doing, podcasting, streaming, all this stuff. Alright? Becoming up in today's episode, I'm going to be highlighting six pieces of technology that I think are going to help you as an educator. Pull up your practice. The title of this episode is to transform your practice. Some of these things are going to be things you can use directly with your students. Some of these things are going to be things that really are going to be just for you, that again, because you level up what you're doing with technology and you're being reflective and thinking about what you're doing, it's going to impact your students because that's just how it's going to work. Alright? I've got an edtech thought that I'm going to share with you coming up in just a couple seconds and then we will get right into the featured content. Alright? But let's, again, back. As I just said, okay, let's go into the edtech thought. Let's kick off this first edtech thought of 2026 by talking about the elephant that exists in many classrooms. And that is the widening. And that might even not be a big enough word to describe it. The widening education gap. We've all felt it. You walk into a room where every student has a powerful device in front of them, yet the energy feels flat. And though we are currently living through a period where high fidelity, interactive and hyper personalized digital worlds, our students inhabit outside of school, our light years ahead of for some the digital worksheets that they often encounter inside our classrooms. In 2026, we aren't just competing with other students for attention. We are competing with sophisticated algorithms designed to keep them stimulated. When the gap between a student's digital life and their school life becomes a chasm, they don't just tune out. They check out. The mistake that we are making as educators over the last few years is thinking that more screen time equals more engagement. But as we have seen, and I see it every day, sitting a student in front of a device to passively consume content is just a high-tech version of a lecture. To shrink this gap in 2026, we have to move from consumption to contribution and creation. Here's a strategy that I think will help us all close the gap. And I'm calling this the 80/20 producer. Take a look at your lesson plan for the coming week. Challenge yourself to ensure that for every 80% of the time that students spend time consuming information, they are spending at least 20% of their time creating something that has life outside the gradebook. When we ask students to be creators, I mean to build, to record, to design, or to solve a real-world problem, the engagement gap will begin to shrink. Because the why becomes clear, students don't check their phones when they are in the middle of a recording session for a project or an assignment that they care about. They don't drift off when they are troubleshooting a 3D design that is going to be printed and potentially used for an actual purpose. The strategy is simple. Give them a job to do, not just a task to finish. In 2026, engagement isn't about the shiny factor of the tool. It's about the agency of the student. When we shift the focus from look at what this app can do to look at what you can do with this app, we stop competing with the digital world and start using it to empower the human one. So as you head into your classroom, next time, look for that 20%. Look for that one moment where you can step back, hand over the digital keys, and let your students build something and do something. Because when they are the architects, they'll never want to leave the building. If you're shrinking the engagement gap in other ways besides what I just suggested, I want to hear about it and I want to be able to share that in a future episode. So email me,
[email protected] or you can reach out to me on Blue Sky, Threads, or Instagram. And that's my EdTech Thought. Alright, let's get into this episode's featured content. This is on the heels of the 2025 EdTech Smackdown, which by the way, fantastic episode. If you haven't listened to that episode, make sure you go back and listen to episode 265. If you want to show notes for that episode, go over to my website, christinesse.com/265. And I have all the links to everything. And that'll be true for this episode. So if you want the links to the things that I'm talking about today, go to the website, christinesse.com/266. Okay, let's get into these six tools. And I'm going to tell you what they are right off the bat. Today we are talking about moat, fig jam, canva, curie pod, paradec and nearpod because they all kind of blend together, Google keep and padlet. Let's get into it. Let's start with feedback because for most of us, feedback is the one thing that is so important as a part of what we do as educators. And it's also the thing that is, well, I don't know if it's nothing, but it is certainly something that is very time consuming. We know that feedback matters. We know it helps students grow. But when you're staring at a stack of assignments physically or digitally, it's easy for feedback to turn into something short, rushed or purely transactional. That's where a tool like moat can help you level up, not by doing more, but by doing feedback differently. If you're not familiar, moat allows you to leave quick voice comments directly inside of a tool like Google Docs, Slides and many learning management systems. Instead of typing a paragraph, you can just speak naturally, explain your thinking, clarifying your expectations and adding tone that text just can't capture. What I love about this the most is that voice feedback and it's not just because I'm a podcaster. It takes less time than typing, but feels far more personal to the person, the students, who are getting it. They can hear encouragement. They hear clarity. They hear a real human on the other side of their work. And this isn't just about convenience. It's also about accessibility. Many students process spoken feedback more easily than written comments. Plus, moat includes transcription, which means students can listen, read along, and revisit feedback in a way that works best for them. This is a great example of what leveling up in 2026 can actually look like. You're not reinventing your grading system. You're not changing the assignment. You're simply choosing a tool that reduces friction and increases the impact. So here's a level up question for this tool. Where in your workflow could your voice be more effective than your keyboard? Because sometimes the smallest shift, like how feedback is delivered, that can make the biggest difference for our students. Let's talk about leveling up tip and tool number two. Let's talk about collaboration. Because learning doesn't happen in isolation. I didn't even plan to rhyme that. In 2026, one of the biggest ways that we can level up as educators is by making thinking visible. Enter fig jam. If you're not familiar, fig jam is a digital whiteboard designed for teams, for groups, for classrooms, and it allows you to brainstorm, organize, and co-create in real time. You might also look at a tool like Miro, which does something very similar. But we're going to focus on fig jam. And the magic here is that fig jam makes collaboration active, not passive. Some of students just listening or watching, they're contributing. They're moving ideas around, literally. They are connecting concepts and seeing everyone else's thinking unfold. That process alone is a game changer for engagement. Now for educators, this opens up all kinds of possibilities. For example, you can run brainstorming sessions without the chaos of sticky notes falling off the walls. You can co-plan projects with students or colleagues. You can capture student reflections visually. And you can facilitate asynchronous group work or discussions in a single shared space. And here's why I call this a level up tool. It isn't about adding bells and whistles. It's about amplifying what students are already thinking and making it visible for everyone to engage with. It allows people to respond to it and improve upon it. We can add to the idea pot. It's also a safe space for students who may not feel confident speaking up. We've all got those kids in our classrooms. Their ideas still matter. They're just contributing in a different way. And for you and I as the educators, we get the opportunity to get some real time insight into their thinking, their comprehension, and the creativity of our kids. Here's my level up question for FIGJAM. How often do your students get to visually share their thinking before they turn in a final product? Sometimes all it takes to raise engagement and collaboration is a space where students can see, move, and connect ideas freely. That's what FIGJAM can do for you. Now let's talk about how to level up tool number three. This is an oldie but a goodie and it's never going away, at least as far as I know. Let's move into the realm of creativity. In 2026, students don't just need to consume information. They need to create, communicate, and I'll stop there with some of my sees. They need to share what they've learned. And that's where Canva comes in. Now most educators know Canva for presentations, posters, but it is so much more. It's really become a full communication and creation platform. It's a place where students can tell stories, share ideas, and express learning in ways that go way beyond the text that they're consuming or the videos that they might be watching. And here's what makes it powerful. Canva gives students and us as educators tools that are so stupid easy to use to visualize concepts, make infographics, create digital portfolios, or even design newsletters. The possibilities, they're endless. Let's be honest. And when we create, we're not just showing knowledge, whether it's us or the students. The students specifically are learning how to communicate clearly and professionally. Now, for us, it opens up opportunities. For example, you could have students turn research into infographics or other explainer graphics and visual products. You could have students create digital portfolios to track their growth. You could assign social style projects and teach students about ethical sharing and media literacy. You could also design classroom or school wide communications that students contribute to. This is a classic level up scenario. You're not just doing more assignments. You're giving students a better way to express understanding and helping them build skills that last far, far, far, far, far, far beyond the classroom. Here's my level up question for Canva. Are your students creating content or just consuming it? Because when students start to create, they move from being passive recipients of knowledge, which sounds very official, to active participants in learning. And that shift alone can transform your practice because you're making it happen. Now let's talk about tool number four. And it's like four A, four B and four C. But let's get there. Let's talk about engagement because we all know that learning only happens when students are actually participating. And one of the simplest ways to level up in 2026 is by checking in with students as they learn, not just at the end. This is where tools like Curie Pod, Paradec or Nearpod really shine. Each of these platforms takes traditional presentations and makes them interactive. Instead of a lecture where students passively watch or take notes, these tools allied in certain polls, quizzes, checks for understanding, reflection questions, and it can all happen in real time. The benefits of tools like these are huge. You can again check for understanding. You can adjust the pace of your lesson based on live responses you're getting. You can keep students accountable without the pressure of being called on. And I did have air quotes up there. You can also gather data that informs future lessons. And it doesn't take any extra time or extra grading. And here's the thing. This isn't about it being flashy or even gamifying. It's about participation that actually matters. Engagement isn't entertainment. It's insight. It's you knowing exactly where your students are in the learning and then responding accordingly. When you're in your teacher prep program, you might have referred to that as modifying and adjusting the lesson. Here's my level up question for Curie Pod, Paradec, Nearpod, and platforms like those. How often do you pause during lessons to see what students actually understand in that moment? Because sometimes the smallest shift like embedding one formative check-in can completely change how students experience the lesson. That's what leveling up looks like in practice. Now let's move over to tool and level up idea number five. Let's talk about organization. January is a great time to get organized. We don't have to wait to do spring cleaning. One of the biggest challenges for educators in 2026 and really for all time is managing all the moving parts, lesson plans, assignments, meetings, personal tasks. And that's where a simple tool like Google Keep can make a huge difference. Google Keep is lightweight, flexible, and easy to access from any device. It's basically a digital sticky note system, but with a lot of power behind it. You can jot down quick reminders, create checklists, or even capture ideas as they come. And you don't have to open a heavy system, you don't have to switch tabs, it's in the browser, it's on the phone, on the iPad, Google Keep is accessible everywhere. Here's how you can really use it to level up. Keep track of lesson ideas as they pop up randomly. I get lesson plan ideas all the time. I'm out at the store, I'm here, I'm there. The brain never stops. You can create to-do lists for the day, for the week, for the month. Feels good to check things off the list. You can share notes with colleagues or teaching teams. You can even set reminders for grading, planning, and meetings. What makes this a true level up? Honestly, is it simplicity? You don't need a complicated system to stay organized. Just a tool that fits seamlessly into your workflow. Less friction means more focus on the instruction and student learning. Here's my level up question for Google Keep. Where in your day could a simple, portable system reduce mental clutter and help you focus on teaching? Because sometimes the smallest organizational shift, like capturing an idea instantly, can save you time, reduce your stress, and give you more bandwidth for work, that really matters. Now let's talk about tool and level up idea number six. Finally, let's talk about giving every student a voice, and not just the loudest voices in the room. In 2026, leveling up means creating spaces where all students can contribute and collaborate. That's where Padlet comes in. If you're not familiar with Padlet, it is a digital bulletin board on steroids. You can create boards, walls, or timelines where students can post ideas, questions, images, links, reflections. There's a lot you can do. And it's because it's so flexible, you can adapt it to any lesson or activity. Here's how you can use Padlet to level up. You can brainstorm and collect ideas in real time. You could do exit tickets, checks for understanding, quick reflections, anything in and around the lesson. You can have students be submitting to a Padlet. You could do back channel discussions. Remember those? Remember when back channeling was huge? I still haven't forgotten back channeling. But this is going to allow you to have students have conversations who are shy and don't want to raise their hand and speak out loud. They can contribute to the Padlet. You can do collaborative research boards or project planning spaces. You can also share resources and insights during professional learning communities. It can also organize. It's a fantastic tool. Now what I really love about Padlet is it reduces barriers. Students who might hesitate to raise their hand suddenly have a safe space to contribute. For you as the educator, you get a window into every student's thinking. Not just the ones who speak up first. Here's my level up question for Padlet. How often do all your students get to contribute ideas at the same time in a way that's visible to everyone? Because sometimes leveling up isn't about the tools you use. It's about creating structures that allow everyone to participate. It allows everyone to reflect and it allows everyone to grow. Padlet gives you that opportunity and it's incredibly simple to implement. So there you have it. This is a great opportunity for you to be able to do a lot of things. From giving more personal feedback with Moat to making thinking visible with FIG Jam, empowering student creativity in Canva, boosting engagement with Kiri Pod, a Paradek or a Nearpod, and staying organized with Google Keep. Of course, amplifying student voice through Padlet. Each one is a small shift that can make a big difference. But here's the most important part. It's not about using all six of these tools. It's about choosing one thing, trying it intentionally, and then reflecting on the impact. Leveling up isn't about more work. It's about smarter, more intentional practice that improves the learning experience for your students and sometimes for yourself as well. Now I want to hear from you. Which tool or tools are you going to try first? How are you planning to level up your teaching in 2026? You can share feedback, ideas, and success by heading to chrismessy.com/feedback or I would love this. I'll be reading and sharing responses in future episodes because your voice is a vital part of this community. Remember, the goal here is not perfection. It's curiosity. It's reflection. And it's the small steps that lead to meaningful change. Pick one tool. Have it a try and see what happens. That's how real transformation takes place. As always, if you have found the episode valuable and you're interested in talking more about this, I do also have a Discord community. You can go to chrismessy.com/discord. And I would love it if you did that. Be a part of this community in 2026 and let's keep these conversations going. I want to thank you for joining me for another episode of the House of EdTech Podcast. If you haven't yet, hit subscribe or follow. Let's make this your go-to for professional growth. You'll find links and resources for this episode on my website at chrismessy.com. I'm always excited to hear your feedback, your questions, so send an email to
[email protected] or leave a voicemail at chrismessy.com/voicemail. And let's keep the conversation going. If you know an educator who would love this content, be sure to share this episode with them. Your support helps me reach more people and build a stronger community. Now I want to give a big shout out to my awesome supporters. Thank you to Leo Calbush, Brian Carpenter, Aaron Cummings, Jeff Herb, and Matt Miller. If you'd like to join this amazing group, visit chrismessy.com/awesome. Your support truly makes a difference. The next episode of the House of EdTech Podcast is going to be episode number 267 because that's how numbers work. And that's going to come your way. I'm going to say on January 25th. So get ready for another awesome episode. Now as I said, I had a couple of things I wanted to share here, so I've got a few bars of music to get that done with. Number one, I'm in the midst of doing a 30-day series via TikTok, YouTube shorts, Instagram Reels. It's the same video. I'm just putting it on a bunch of places LinkedIn. And I am doing 30 days to launch a podcast. So if you're interested in podcasting, either for yourself or you're looking for resources for your students if you want to do podcasting in the classroom, I will have links in the show notes where you can get the YouTube playlist that I am building here in the month of January 2026. If this is way past January 2026, go check it out. I'll have a link in the show notes and you can check out those shorts. And again, I love podcasting, so that's why I'm trying to share that around. Speaking of podcasting, I'm also launching a new podcast, Shocker, right? Me and my buddy Joe Juba are doing a podcast called SatCast. So if you remember the old days of Twitter and Sat chat on Saturday mornings, we are bringing back the idea of community. And we're going to be soliciting you to contribute and participate in SatCast. You can find more information and listen to the trailer and subscribe at thesatcast.com. And now remember, using technology isn't difficult. Just give it a try. [Music]
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