The 2026 "Level Up" – 6 Tools to Transform Your Practice - HoET266

Kicking off 2026, let's cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters: edtech tools that can genuinely move the needle for educators. Rather than chasing trends or shiny new platforms, this episode is about intentional, practical technology use that supports feedback, collaboration, creativity, engagement, organization, and student voice. Thought: Shrinking the Engagement Gap The episode tackles the growing disconnect between students’ highly interactive digital lives outside of school and the passive digital experiences they often encounter in classrooms. Chris challenges the idea that more screen time equals more engagement and introduces the 80/20 Producer Strategy: For every 80% of the time students spend consuming information Ensure at least 20% is spent creating something with value beyond the gradebook The core message: Engagement in 2026 isn’t about flashy tools. It’s about student agency. When students create, design, build, and solve real problems, the engagement gap begins to close. Six Tools to Level Up in 2026 Mote — Rethinking Feedback Feedback is essential but time-consuming. Mote allows educators to leave quick voice comments directly inside Google Docs, Slides, and LMS platforms. Why it matters: Faster than typing More personal and human Accessible through audio + transcription Level-Up Question: Where in your workflow could your voice be more effective than your keyboard? FigJam — Making Thinking Visible FigJam is a collaborative digital whiteboard that turns learning into an active, visible process. Use it to: Brainstorm and organize ideas Capture student thinking in real time Support collaboration for both synchronous and asynchronous work Level-Up Question: How often do students visually share their thinking before submitting a final product? Canva — Creativity That Communicates Canva has evolved into a full creation and communication platform, allowing students to demonstrate learning visually and professionally. Classroom possibilities include: Infographics and explainer visuals Digital portfolios Ethical media creation and storytelling Level-Up Question: Are students creating content — or just consuming it? Curipod, Pear Deck & Nearpod — Real-Time Engagement These tools transform traditional presentations into interactive learning experiences through polls, questions, and formative checks. Why they work: Immediate insight into student understanding No extra grading Increased accountability without pressure Level-Up Question: How often do you pause mid-lesson to see what students understand right now ? Google Keep — Simple Organization That Works Google Keep acts as a lightweight, flexible system for managing ideas, tasks, and reminders across devices. Great for: Capturing lesson ideas on the go Creating to-do lists Sharing notes with colleagues Level-Up Question: Where could a simple system reduce mental clutter and free up focus for teaching? Padlet — Amplifying Every Student Voice Padlet creates flexible digital spaces where all students can contribute ideas, questions, and reflections. Use Padlet for: Brainstorming and exit tickets Backchannel discussions Collaborative research and planning Level-Up Question: How often do all students get to contribute at the same time in a visible way? What’s Next Chris also shares updates on: A 30-Days to Launch a Podcast short-form video series The launch of SatCast , a new community-focused podcast project

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The 2026 "Level Up" – 6 Tools to Transform Your Practice - HoET266 is an episode from House of #EdTech by Christopher J. Nesi.

This episode is 30:36 long.

This episode was published on Jan 18, 2026.

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