Welcome To The World Of 

Padlet!

@LisaBerghoff

I love tinkering with a problem. When a teacher sits in my office and explains an issue that they are having that is getting in the way of learning, my brain starts to buzz. I have a mental rolodex of tools and capabilities.  I try to piece together what will most closely solve the issue with the least amount of effort on the teacher and students to use the tool.  Sometimes the tools are new and exciting and other times they are simple and seemingly boring. With the speed at which these tools are adding features and updating, often the teacher is surprised by the answer. One tool that consistently rises to the top is Padlet.

What Is Padlet?

This is becoming increasingly difficult to answer. Padlet began as a digital bulletin board tool that has exploded into so many other things. Of course, you can still use Padlet as a digital bulletin board. You now have many more options of what you can pin on that board. You can even schedule a post to show up on a certain day and time. The types of boards that can be created are endless, and you can use the power of AI to create your perfect Padlet using AI Recipes.  Did you know that Padlets be presented just like slides? Padlet also has the ability to be used as a collaborative, interactive whiteboard- called Padlet Sandbox. And, Padlet TA now allows you to use AI to create lessons and printable classroom materials.

With all of that, Padlet still manages to keep the interface clean and simple. 

Anyone can jump in and use Padlet, even your students. 

Why Would I Use Padlet?

Padlet is the answer to so many questions. Here are some examples:

• How do I create a space for my students to showcase work and get feedback?
• How do I create a space for my students to collaborate on notes to prepare for a test?
• I want my students to create portfolios, what is a good tool for that?
• I need an engaging way for my students to work through content on their own, how do I set that up?
• Can my students make interactive maps?
• I want my students to create videos of themselves talking, presenting, and I want all of their videos in one place.
• Is there a tool that allows me to do a quick poll with my students?
• What is the best way to house all of the links I have to resources for this current unit?
• Is there a good digital tool for concept mapping?

I could go on!

How Do I Get Started With Padlet?

Just sign in with your school Google credentials to get on our building license. This allows you to have unlimited Padlets! Click the plus button to make a Padlet and then it will walk you through all of the options. Don't worry! You can make changes at any time. You have granular control over who can post and what they can include. There is even a new feature that allows you to create a form so responses will go to the Padlet without the responders seeing it first! I highly recommend that you click around and see all of the features. Encourage your students to explore as well. This can be an incredible study tool for them.

If you want to see an example, here is the HPHS Staff Recs Padlet. This is where staff members have added their book, podcast, show, and movie recommendations. Take a look at what's there and add some yourself so you can experience what it is to add to a Padlet.

Want to use Padlet but not sure how to get started? Check out the Padlet gallery for ideas. Book a time with me and let's work on it together!

Because Video Is How We Learn These Days:

EdPuzzle

@LisaBerghoff

Using video to learn is not new at all. Sesame Street has been around since 1969.  YouTube has been popular for its "how-to" content for many years. The idea of a "flipped classroom" became widely known in the early 2000's. The flipped classroom model is a learner-centered design where students are introduced to new concepts outside of school via videos or slide decks. This frees up classroom time for exploration of topics in greater depth. Teachers are able to use class time for answering questions and touching base with students on a more personal level. 

We all know that video has its merits, when it comes to learning, and the built in accessibility features are there for everyone's benefit. While the idea of creating engaging videos can feel daunting, with the vast number of video platforms, including YouTube, there is no real need to create your own. It can sometimes be hard to find exactly what you are looking for on YouTube. That's why I am so excited to reintroduce you to EdPuzzle.

 

On March 11th, 2020 we had a lovely woman from Edpuzzle who came and did some initial training with us and helped us understand how Edpuzzle integrates with Schoology. That was such a bizarre time to be teaching us about this tool that would get so much use in the coming year! I looked her up and I'm happy to say that she is still with Edpuzzle.  

Let's take a look at what EdPuzzle looks like in 2025. As always, think about what the learning goals are, and see how this tool can help support our students in meeting those goals. 

What Is Edpuzzle And Why Should I Use It?

Edpuzzle is a versatile online platform that allows you to transform video content into an active learning experience. It's a video editor and assessment tool rolled into one. You can use it with videos from popular sources like YouTube, TED, and National Geographic, or even upload your own. Edpuzzle also has its own library of high quality original videos. 
The magic of Edpuzzle lies in its ability to embed interactive elements directly into the video. As students watch, the video automatically pauses at points you've designated, prompting them to answer a question, listen to an audio note, or read a comment.

We are all tired of seeing our students looking like zombies staring at screens screens, but we aren't going to stop using video. By requiring students to interact with the content, Edpuzzle prevents passive viewing. Students can't just press play and zone out; they are held accountable for their attention and understanding. The platform's analytics provide real-time data on student progress. You can see who has watched the video, how much of it they've watched, and how they answered each question. This helps you quickly identify areas where students are struggling and adjust your instruction accordingly.

For our students who struggle, they can rewatch sections of the video as many times as they need to grasp a concept. You can also assign different videos to different students or groups to tailor the content to their specific needs. This fits in beautifully with our focus on access, belonging, and achievement. 

Edpuzzle isn't just for teachers. You can also have students create their own interactive video projects, demonstrating their understanding in a creative and engaging way.

How Do I Use Edpuzzle?

Ok, since Edpuzzle integrates with Schoology through something called an LTI application (Learning Tools Interoperability), you will go through a two-step process so your students will only have one step.

Here's step 1: 

• Find a Video: Log in to your Edpuzzle account. You can search for a video from a variety of sources directly within the platform, or paste a URL for a video you've already found. You can also upload a video you've created yourself.

• Edit the Video: Once you've selected a video, you'll be taken to the editor. Here, you can:

  • Trim: Cut the video to show only the most relevant sections.

  • Add Questions: Insert multiple-choice, open-ended, or true/false questions at any point in the video. The platform can automatically grade multiple-choice questions, saving you time.

  • Add Audio Notes or Narration: Record your voice to provide further explanations or emphasize key points. This adds a personal touch and makes the lesson feel more like a one-on-one conversation.

While it may be tempting to click on the "assign" button in Edpuzzle, don't! You will assign in Schoology in the next step. 

Here's step 2: 

• Once you have selected your video and you have your interactive elements the way you want them, go to Schoology.  Here are the steps to assign in Schoology. 
• Go to your materials page and click Add Materials, choose Add Link/File/External Tool.
• Select External Tool and choose Edpuzzle from the dropdown menu. Enter a title, select Enable Grading, and add your other assignment details like date, category, etc. Click Submit

Here's what that looks like: 

• Then, click on the Edpuzzle assignment you just created. You will be prompted to sign into Schoology and "create a class". The class is already autogenerated so just fill in the blanks. This is where you can adjust the controls. How many attempts are allowed? Do you want students to be able to speed up the video? Enable close captions? The next time you go to the assignment, you will see your students' progress and class analytics here. 

If it is set to auto-grade the grade will automatically go into the grade book. 

I know this seems like a lot to remember, but once you do it one time, the workflow makes a lot of sense.

Plus, that's what I am here for! Want some help getting started with Edpuzzle? Let me know. I'm happy to work with you. 
 

Classroom Management 

In Our Current Digital World:

Hapara

@LisaBerghoff

It has been so exciting to see how our classrooms are evolving. The integration of technology, while incredibly powerful for learning, also brings its own set of challenges when it comes to managing classrooms of teenagers. With our new No Cell Bell To Bell policy, one would think that our students are now completely available to attend and engage in class. As with most things in education, the situation is much more complex. It is hard to believe that eleven years ago was the first time every student in our school had their own chromebook. Since that time, the technology has advanced and so have our students. With that, we too must adapt our own classroom management strategies.

This is where tools like Hapara come into play, and I want to emphasize that our approach to using it should not be about being the "digital police". It's not about punishment, or catching kids in the act of doing something wrong. Instead, it's about fostering a learning environment where students are empowered to make good choices, and where educators have the tools to guide them effectively. I often find myself repeating in my head: Their frontal lobes are not fully formed!

Effective classroom management, digital or otherwise, is fundamentally about building relationships and having conversations. Let's help our students understand why certain behaviors are disruptive to their learning and the learning of others, rather than just imposing consequences. 

Here's how you can use Hapara to help shift that paradigm:

What Is Hapara?

Hapara is a classroom management system software that is designed for K-12 schools. Among other things, it gives teachers a real-time view of student browsing activities, allowing them to redirect off-task students and give immediate feedback. Teachers also have the option to create "guided browsing" sessions, where student devices will only be allowed to access specific sites for a specified amount of time.

How Do I Use Hapara?

You can find the link to your Hapara dashboard in the staff portal listed under "Classroom". You will be prompted to log in using your school Google account. When you first open Hapara, you will see all of your classes. Click on a class to get started. 

When you click on a class you are taken to the Dashboard. Click on Highlights to get to the Class View page. 

From Class View, you can see your students' current browser tabs. From here, you can do many things. This is where it is so important to communicate and have conversations with students. Remember, this is a tool that can be used to help teach our students healthy habits. 

Here are some of the capabilities for helping individual students: 

• Send announcement: Click on the megaphone icon to send an announcement. This will appear on the student's screen. This can be a wonderful way of communicating without shaming. You can also use this feature to send words of encouragement.
  
  
  

• Close a tab. You can change the view so that you can see all open browser tabs for students. When you click the X on a student's tile, you are given several options. See the screenshot below. I like to say to students- If you're having a hard time staying on task, I'm happy to help you by closing some of your tabs for you. Do you want help or do you want to do it yourself?

Here is what that view looks like. See that little lightening bolt? That will immediately close a tab. 

Here are your options when you click the X: 

• You also have more options for helping individual students.  Click the three horizontal dots in the right corner of the student tile. Take a look:

Planning a class activity where you suspect distraction may be a factor? You can set things up for an entire class in Hapara. These controls can be found in the upper right corner of your screen. 

These are pretty self-explanatory, and hovering your mouse will provide you with more information. 

• Freeze the students' current tabs
• Pause everyone's screens
• Share out links
• Send a class announcement
• Guide browsing

Guided browsing is one that you should know about. This allows students to only access certain sites OR blocks access to certain sites, for a specified period of time. You can schedule these in advance so you're not setting it up while your students are looking at you. 

These are called Focus sessions and Filter sessions. If you are going to do this multiple times, I suggest creating a template so you can just reuse it instead of recreating it each time. 

When you click create, you can enter the information and then click Schedule or Start. Please be mindful when you enter the duration! If class is ending and you set it for longer than you need then your students will be locked out for their next class. Please don't do that.

 

A focus session allows for 10 links and a filter session allows for 50. You will also notice that you can enable this for the whole class, a group, or individual students. 

Our current digital age demands a new approach to classroom management. It is no longer effective, nor is it educational, to just play "gotcha". I would also argue that the adults will always lose this game. With tools like Hapara, we have an opportunity to be more proactive, supportive, and conversational. This is about opening a dialogue, building trust, and ultimately, helping our students understand that doing the right thing online isn't about avoiding punishment, it's about maximizing their own learning and being someone who contributes positively to our shared learning community.

Want some help getting started with Hapara? Need to practice what you will say to your students? Reach out! I'm always happy to help. 

 

Five NEW Reasons To Try Diffit For Teachers

@LisaBerghoff

* I wrote my first  post about Diffit last September, you can read it here. This is an update on what is new with Diffit as of summer 2025. 

I have a problem with summer. 

Ok, that's not really true. I LOVE summer. What I have a problem with is that all of the edtech companies roll out their new features and updates over the summer. The result is that when we come back to school, the tools that we know and love, that we count on to be there for us, are often changed. I know, the next question to be asked is- If not over the summer, then when? Obviously there is no good answer to this. Also, the shiny newness of the school year makes some of this frustration go away. It just feels like a lot all at once, especially when the changes are substantial.

Also, I will admit that sometimes those changes and updates are welcome, like when the companies are making changes based on feedback from teachers.  That is my feeling about the updates that have been rolled out for Diffit For Teachers, an AI powered tool that is designed to help make learning more personalized for your students. Diffit is a tool that I love sharing because it aligns so beautifully with the Universal Design For Learning framework. In UDL, one of the core principles is to design multiple means for students to connect to content, take in and make meaning of content, and to show us what they know. 

Diffit continues to be my go-to for generating quick learning activities for my students in ways that don't require AI prompt writing and iterating. 

Here are five Diffit updates and reasons to try Diffit if you haven't already.

1. Everything is now in one place:

You now have the ability to add, edit, and organize student activities without switching views. You can also switch from one learning activity to another easily. This streamlines how you create materials and activities for your students. 

2. Use AI to modify the reading length with more specifity:

Sometimes the outputs that we get with AI are way to short for the needs of our students. Especially as we are encouraging them to persevere and work through challenging material. 

Now, you can choose between short, medium, and long passages. These are noted by the number of paragraphs. There is also the ability to state exactly how long you want it by clicking on Custom and specifying how long you would like it to be.

3. Use AI to modify content:

In addition to translating and changing the length, you now also have the ability to modify the reading content without rewriting everything yourself. When you click Modify Reading, you have the option to include more detail, remove information, rewrite the material with specific vocabulary words, or you can customize how you want the reading to be modified. 

4. Options in reading type and format: 

In all fairness, this update may not be so new but it's pretty new to me so I'm sharing it. 

When you are creating content, you can choose informational or fictional text. You can also select if you want the resources to come out in a Google doc format or slides. The Google docs format is also new and improved and so simple to use. This will work for any of the learning activities you choose.

5. New standards added, including WIDA:

Diffit continues to add standards with which you can align your content in seconds. How did we do this before we had this technology? You can choose up to 3 standards or skills and Diffit will create materials that are aligned. It's exciting to see that the WIDA standards have been recently added. If you are using standards that you don't see here, please reach out to me and I'm happy to contact the nice people at Diffit. They are really working hard to make sure this tool is helpful.

How will you use Diffit this school year? Want some help getting started? Feel free to reach out to me for more information. 

 

Allow Me To Reintroduce You! 

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know About

Pear Deck!

I recently got a new car. Honestly I wasn't that excited about it because I was very happy with my 2012 vehicle that had 120,000 miles on it. I knew the ins and outs of that car and didn't really see the need to get a more current version. When some concerning warning lights came on, and then my neighbor hit my car on the street and put a great big dent in the door, I couldn't deny that it was time to make a change. When I test drove new cars I was amazed by how many new features there were. There were things I had never thought of but were clearly very thoughtfully added, many for safety and ease of driving. When I decided on my new car, it took me a little bit to adjust to all the new bells and whistles. I was annoyed and missed my old car. This lasted for about a week. Now I'm thrilled that I drive a vehicle that has the latest features. 

This little story has a point. There are edtech tools that we know and love. We get used to using them a certain way and don't really bother to open up and look at new features of think of new ways of using them. For a product that we pay for everyone to have a premium license, we really should be using it to its fullest.

That is why I'm excited to reintroduce you to Pear Deck and to formally introduce you to Pear Start.

What you may not know about the current version of Pear Deck:

1. There is now a graded and a practice mode. Here's the difference- graded mode will lock in students answers for auto-grading, while practice mode allows students to go back and change and resubmit answers, allowing for multiple attempts. You can always change the mode in the dashboard. 

2. New! Instant Insights automatically analyzes student responses from your Pear Deck session and highlights key takeaways. You also then have an option to create learning pathways for students who need reteaching and students who could use an extension activity, all with the touch of a button. 

Understanding by Topic: AI-generated groupings of concepts students struggled with.

Understanding by Student: A snapshot of how each student performed across all questions.

Engagement Signals: Identification of students who skipped questions or didn’t respond.

3. Content Converter- Transform boring worksheets into Pear Deck interactive lessons.  Upload a pdf, presentation, worksheet, or other document into the content creator and watch it generate a whole new Pear Deck interactive slide deck lesson. Amazing!

4. Auto Grading And Polls:  Choice and number slides now allow you to add one or more correct answers for auto-grading. You can also add a poll question. This is a wonderful option for getting a pulse on where students are in their learning. It can also provide valuable feedback to you as you are making instructional decisions.

5. New! Pear Start AI tool. This is the newest AI tool from Pear Deck Learning. It's a library of AI tools designed for teachers. The tools will look familiar to you and the list of options is too long to list, you just need to go and take a look. 

Once you click on a tool, enter the information about your learners, goals, standards, etc. Pear Start will create an entire lesson for you. And then you can have it create a Pear Deck interactive slide deck for you!

If you want to learn more, here is an introductory video on getting acquainted with Pear Start. 

Ready to take Pear Deck for a new spin? Let me know if you want a copilot!

Back To School 

EdTech MythBuster Edition

@LisaBerghoff

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! As you begin your classes and get to know your students, you probably do a fair amount of clearing up of information. When we launch the year at such a fast and furious pace, it can feel a bit like a game of telephone. The information starts out pretty solid and then as it gets passed along it turns into something completely wrong. The purpose of this post is to help clear up some misinformation that has been floating around about edtech. I hope it's helpful. If you have further questions or myths you would like busted, please contact me. 

Myth #1: The AI Pilot Cohort Is Over

FALSE! 

• The AI Pilot Cohort began 2nd semester of last year and will continue through this semester. We would like to be able to make a recommendation to our district leaders by mid-January. We ALL have premium access to these 4 tools through the end of the school year: Brisk, MagicSchool, School AI, PowerBuddy. 
• If you would like to be included in the cohort and give your feedback, you can still join. Just send me an email.
• Even if you are not in the cohort, I highly encourage you to check out these tools while we have premium access.

Myth #2: If I enter my grades directly into IC, I don't need to use Schoology at all.

FALSE!

• Infinite Campus is our student records system (SIS) and Schoology is our learning management system (LMS). They do very different things and we need to use both of them. However, they both happen to have a grade book and that's where it gets confusing. It is true that you don't have to use Schoology's grade book but we all need to use Schoology to provide our students access to classroom materials. Even if you are handing out a packet, you should provide a digital copy on the Schoology materials page. 

Myth #3: As a school, we all have access to Google's AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM, even for students.

TRUE!

• Gemini is Google's generative AI tool (like chatgpt) and since it falls under our Google for Education terms of service, it is SOPPA, FERPA, and HIPAA compliant.  This means that our data is protected and that our data will not be used to train Google's AI models. 
• Google also has a new model called LearnLM, which is designed based on teaching and learning frameworks. 
• Gemini and Notebook LM are also now approved for minors so you can use them with students, unlike ChatGPT.

Myth #4: Township HS District 113 has guidance on artificial intelligence use. 

TRUE!

• On the staff portal, under "AI Tools", click on the "AI Hub" and you will find a nicely worded document that outlines guidance for AI use in the classroom for both educators and students. Click here to take a look. 

Myth #5: Students only use AI to cheat.

FALSE!

• Harvard Graduate School of Education Report: A report on how students are using AI found that while some teens admit to cheating, many also use it for positive academic experiences. The most common uses reported by young people ages 14-22 were for getting information (53%) and brainstorming (51%). The study also noted that students, particularly Black and Latinx young people, reported using AI to get answers to questions they might be "too afraid to ask adults."

• Digital Education Council Report: A 2024 Global AI Student Survey by the Digital Education Council, which included 3,839 students from 16 countries, found that the most common uses of AI tools were for:

  • Searching for information (69%).

  • Checking grammar (42%).

  • Summarizing documents (33%).

  • Paraphrasing a document (28%).

  • Creating a first draft (24%).

Are there other myths out there that need busting? Please reach out and let me know. Want some help figuring out how to make sense of all of our edtech tools and how to use them effectively with students? Send me a message!

What Would You Say To Your 

Start-Of-The-School-Year Self? 

It's the last week of school! While we are all undoubtedly ready to make a mad dash out the door after finishing up grades and all the other end of the year tasks that need to be completed, I hope you will at least take a moment to reflect on the year. Go for a walk or a run, sit in silence, write in a journal, or do whatever feels right to think about the year as a whole, but also in parts. Just as we look for growth over time with our students, it is important to remember where we started and how far we have come. 

There is a podcast that I often listen to that is hosted by Julia Louis- Dryfus called Wiser Than Me. In this podcast, Julia interviews legendary women like Carol Burnett, Diane Von Furstenberg, Jane Fonda, and Gloria Steinem. At the end of every interview she asks the same short series of questions. One of the questions that she asks is: What would you tell your younger self? The answers to this question really brings home how much has been learned over time and speaks to how we spend our time and our energy.

So to you I ask:

What would you tell your start of the year self? 

If you could go back in time to August 2024 and give yourself some advice, what would it be? 

In my case, here is my list of what I would say to the August 2024 version of me:

• Always assume everyone is trying to do the right thing for students.
• Spend more time hanging out in department workrooms than in your own office.
• When students do or say something funny, it's ok to laugh with them.
• Keep a wider variety of candy in your candy jar.
• You are not going to convince everyone that AI is not the enemy of education.
• Never sacrifice sleep, exercise, or time with family.
• Try to relax, it's going to be a wonderful, challenging year that feels impossible at times but that will end in celebration.

Here is another idea, why not schedule-send this list to yourself for August 2025? It could be a fantastic practice to you start the new school year with reflections on this past year. Also, what a nice way to open your inbox, with a message from the most important person in your life.

Have a wonderful summer!