🚀 April Tech Integration: AI Adventures, Canva Creativity & MCA Prep
- Jeremy Mikla
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
As we roll into spring, the April Technology Integration Newsletter is blooming with inspiration, ideas, and opportunities! Whether you're deep into MCA prep, experimenting with AI in the classroom, or itching to present at this summer’s Lake ECMECC Conference, there’s something here for you.
🏆 EdTech March Madness Winners!
Let’s kick things off with a big congrats to our EdTech March Madness Amazon Gift Card winners: Anne Meyer (SCRED) and Jason Sjoberg (Mora)! Huge thanks to everyone who played along—it’s always fun to stir up a little friendly competition around educational technology!
📣 Be a Presenter at the Lake ECMECC Conference!
We’re gearing up for the 12th Annual Lake ECMECC Conference on August 5, 2025, and it wouldn’t be possible without the amazing educators in our community.
👉 Presenters wanted!Have an idea, strategy, or story to share? We want to hear it! Whether you're a seasoned presenter or brand new to the stage, this is your chance to inspire and connect with other educators.
📝 MCA Test Prep Tools That Work
Testing season is here, and we’ve gathered some high-quality digital resources to support students during MCA prep. From sample items to full simulations, these tools help students build confidence and familiarity before test day.
🎙 Don’t Miss This: Integrate This! Podcast
We’ve got two major drops this month on the podcast:
Exploring and Creating GPT ChatbotsJeremy and David dive into how educators can personalize chatbots for instruction using ChatGPT, Canva, and SchoolAI. Super practical. Totally fun.
▶️ Watch Part 1 | Watch Part 2
COMING MAY 1 A must-listen interview with Matt Miller (Ditch That Textbook) where we chat about AI’s role in education, digital literacy, and where it’s all heading.
🎨 Canva Just Got a Major Upgrade
Big things are happening in Canva, and it’s all designed with educators in mind! With Canva for Education, K–12 teachers get access to a suite of new AI-powered tools—for free!
Here’s what’s new:
✨ Magic Studio Tools – Create lesson plans, writing prompts, or differentiated text instantly📊 Canva Sheets – Visualize class data with zero spreadsheet stress🗳 Interactive Tools – Build dynamic, digital lessons with embedded questions and media
Need a refresher? Thanks to Ashlee Georges & Brittany Misuraca, we’ve got three quick and helpful training slides ready for you:
🤖 A Popourri of AI Tools & Resources
Whether you're just dipping your toe into AI or fully diving in, we’ve got a mix of cool tools and ideas to explore:
AI for the Curious and CautiousWatch Aunt Chippy’s hilarious Waymo ride to understand how many of us feel about AI in schools.▶️ Watch on YouTube
Offline, Open-Source AITry Jan.ai, Nomic, or Ollama—ChatGPT alternatives that run locally for extra privacy and control.
Create Infographics in Seconds InfographAI lets you turn plain text into polished visuals instantly.
Elementary AI Activities aiEDU’s Explorations are fun, short, and perfect for grades 3–5.
Better Class Discussions with AI Parlay Genie crafts engaging, grade-level discussion prompts on demand.
Let us know what you’re trying out and loving—we’re always looking to spotlight great ideas and tools from across our ECMECC schools. Until next month, happy experimenting!
🧠💡
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