In this episode of Integrate This!, Jeremy and David sit down with Liz Voci, Instructional Technology Specialist at Dartmouth Public Schools in Massachusetts. Liz shares the story of her Perfect Book Project, where students co-created books that reflected their interests, passions, and imaginations — with the help of AI.

The conversation highlights how projects like this empower student voice, agency, and creativity, while also building critical AI literacy skills. Liz shares the design process, the challenges and surprises along the way, and the powerful outcomes she witnessed as students not only became readers, but also creators of their own “perfect books.”

Whether you’re an educator curious about AI integration or looking for authentic ways to engage students, this episode offers insights and inspiration.

🔗 Link to Perfect Book Project site: https://sites.google.com/dartmouthschools.org/perfectbooks/home 🔗 Referenced resources / GEM templates: https://sites.google.com/edtechnologyspecialists.com/gems

In this episode, we’re taking you inside two powerhouse events in the EdTech world — the Lake ECMECC Conference and EDTECH Connect 2025.

Jeremy shares his experience at Lake ECMECC, including keynote speaker takeaways, standout sessions, and the high-energy Demo Slam where presenters rapid-fire shared their favorite tools.

David walks through EDTECH Connect 2025, from the inspiring keynote to sessions we presented separately and other must-see talks from the week.

We wrap with our AI Literacy session — why it’s vital for educators right now and how it can transform classroom practice.

If you’re looking for fresh ideas, tools, and inspiration for teaching and learning, this recap has you covered.

What You’ll Hear:

• Why these conferences are so impactful for educators
• Highlights from both keynote speakers
• The best sessions and tools we discovered
• A breakdown of the Demo Slam format and featured tech
• Insights from our AI Literacy session together

Register for IT2 2025: https://www.swwc.org/Page/2286

In this episode of Integrate This! EdTech Podcast, we sit down with Kevin Smith—associate professor at Dakota State University, veteran instructional designer, and author-illustrator of the children’s book Yucky! 🖍️📚—to unpack the art and science of slide design and clear communication. Kevin takes us from his start as a high-school math teacher to instructional-tech expert and visual-design aficionado, sharing practical tips you can apply right away.

In this interview, you’ll learn how to…

• Balance creativity with clarity in every slide ✨
• Spot and avoid the most common presentation pitfalls 🚫✏️
• Build engaging visuals—charts, images, and multimedia—without overloading text
• Use tools like Canva, Keynote, and more for polished, professional decks 🎨
• Integrate AI into your design workflow for faster mock-ups and prototyping
• Get started in visual design, even if you’re not “techy,” with Kevin’s go-to resources

Resources & Links:

• Kevin’s Website → https://www.kevindsmith.org/
• Yucky! on Amazon → https://www.amazon.com/Yucky-Kevin-D-Smith/dp/1955026599
• Kevin’s DSU Profile → https://dsu.edu/directory/smith-kevin.html
• Watch the Video on YouTube → https://youtu.be/8yneR5bHE3E

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