🚀 April 2026 Tech Integration Newsletter

Jeremy Mikla
Apr 7
2 min read

Spring is in full swing, and so is innovation in education! The April 2026 ECMECC Tech Integration Newsletter is packed with opportunities, tools, and ideas to help educators stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of instructional technology.

🌟 Highlights You Won’t Want to Miss

🎤 Call for Presenters: Lake ECMECC 2026

We’re gearing up for another incredible Lake ECMECC Conference (August 4, 2026 at Mora High School)—and we want YOU to be part of it!

This conference is all about educators learning from educators. If you’ve got strategies, tools, or experiences worth sharing, now’s the time to step up and present. Attendee registration opens in May, so stay tuned!

🤖 What Do People Really Want from AI?

A fascinating feature dives into insights from tens of thousands of AI users, exploring:

How people are using AI
What they hope it can do
What concerns they have

It’s a great conversation starter for classrooms and staff discussions alike—and a reminder that we’re still just scratching the surface of AI’s potential.

🧠 AI in Education: Opportunities to Learn & Lead

This issue is loaded with AI-focused opportunities:

Free AI Training for Educators (via Google + ISTE + ASCD)
Bite-sized modules, classroom-ready strategies, and micro-credentials to showcase your learning.
3rd Annual AI in Education Summit (June 15–16, St. Cloud)
A must-attend event focused on leadership, ethics, and implementation in the AI era.
Host a Student AI Prompt-a-thon
A creative, collaborative way to build AI literacy while solving real-world problems.

🎧 Fresh Content from Integrate This!

The podcast lineup is stacked this month with conversations featuring:

Vera Cubero
Sabba Quidwai
Tara Nattrass
Hattie Strong (SchoolAI)

Plus, a new Tech in 10 series kicks off with Vivipod, a tool bringing back Flipgrid-style video reflection in a fresh way.

🛠️ Tech Tidbit: Flip to Vivipod

Looking for a modern alternative to Flip?Vivipod offers asynchronous video reflection and formative assessment—especially valuable in an AI-heavy world where authentic student voice matters more than ever.

🍲 EdTech Potpourri (Yes, It’s as Good as It Sounds)

A few standout tools and ideas:

🧩 Learning Genie – Build full units with AI support
📰 Newspaper Generators – Creative projects for any subject
📂 Google Drive Organization Tips – Because we all need this
📚 OpenStax + NotebookLM – AI-powered study supports for open resources

🔍 AI Literacy Focus: The “E” in SEE (Effectively)

This month zooms in on using AI effectively:

Learn a practical prompting strategy (CREATE)
Encourage iteration and deeper thinking
Use AI as a thinking partner—not a shortcut

It’s a great framework for both educators and students working to build meaningful AI habits.

💡 Final Thought

One quote from this issue really sticks:

“We found a unicorn and we are using it to pull a plow.”

AI is powerful—but how we use it in education is what truly matters. This month’s newsletter is all about helping educators move from basic use to transformative impact.