In this episode of The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with the one and only Farmer Faubs — educator, content creator, and all-around EdTech firecracker — to talk about how creativity and community are redefining teaching. From her viral “Farmer Faubs” persona to her work with Book Creator, Kami, and the EduGuardians, Faubs brings practical strategies, a big heart, and a whole lot of “Yeehaw moments” to classrooms everywhere.

We dig into:

• How Farmer Faubs started on a whim with a cowboy hat and a vision

• The power of social media for teacher growth and connection

• Why AI and creativity must coexist in classrooms

• How to make PD sessions actually useful (hint: hands-on and follow-up!)

• Simple, ready-to-use templates and blended learning ideas teachers can apply tomorrow

• The story behind the EduGuardians movement and the power of authentic educator communities

If you’ve ever wanted PD with purpose, tech with heart, and learning that sticks — this one’s for you.

🧩 Key Takeaways

• “Meet teachers where they are.” Great tech starts with usability and simplicity.

• Blend hands-on with high-tech. LEGO, shoebox projects, and AI can live together.

• Keep the human in the loop. AI is a thought partner, not a replacement.

• Community matters. Connections through Twitter, LinkedIn, and conferences can transform your teaching career.

• Make PD that sticks. Give teachers something they can use tomorrow, not next semester.

🛠️ Tools & Resources Mentioned

Book Creator

Kami

EduGuardians (home page)

EduGuardians on X (Twitter)

👩‍🌾 Guest Info — Farmer Faubs

Farmer Faubs is an instructional coach, content creator, and creativity advocate. Known for her energetic farm-themed EdTech videos and practical classroom ideas, she’s passionate about helping teachers make learning engaging, meaningful, and fun.

📱 Follow her on social media: @farmerFaubs (Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn)

⛳ Host — Dan Thomas

Dan Thomas is a veteran STEM educator, LEGO Serious Play facilitator, and host of The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast, where common sense meets creativity in education.

🔗 Connect with Dan: @coachthomastech

🏷️ Tags

#EdTech #PBL #AIinEducation #Creativity #BookCreator #TeacherPD #EduGuardians #TechEdClubhouse #FarmerFaubs #WhereIsTheFunInThat

🔔 Call to Action

If you enjoyed this episode, follow, rate, and share The TechEd Clubhouse Podcast!

💬 Join the conversation on social media using #TechEdClubhouse and #YeehawMoments.

In this episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse, Dan Thomas sits down with Laura Williams, founder of the Authentic Learning Alliance, to explore what authentic learning really looks like in schools. From chicken tractors to drone-powered science, Laura shares how schools can connect students to meaningful, future-ready work.

We dig into why traditional approaches fail too many students, how agile practices like Scrum and retrospectives build durable skills, and how teachers can bring authentic learning into their classrooms tomorrow.

• What’s not working in education—and how to fix it

• Defining authentic learning (beyond buzzwords)

• Real-world examples: selfie stations, chicken tractors, drones, and more

• Why process > product in student learning

• How to use Scrum, Kanban boards, and retrospectives in class

• Rethinking PD: agile professional learning that sticks

• Quick wins teachers can try right away

• Authentic Learning Alliance: authenticlearningalliance.org

• Book: The Improvement Game – Amazon link

• Follow Laura: @MrsWilliams21C | LinkedIn

• Host: @coachthomastech | coachthomastech.com

Try a Plus/Delta chart with your students tomorrow:

• Plus (+): What went well?

• Delta (Δ): What could we change?

Simple, fast, and powerful feedback that gets students reflecting on their learning.

👉 If you enjoy the show, don’t forget to follow, rate, and share The Tech Ed Clubhouse!

In this episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with Kyle Niemis, Head of Community at Wayground (formerly Quizziz). We dig into the bold decision to rebrand, the story behind the new name, and how Wayground is helping teachers balance student joy with academic rigor.

Kyle shares:

• Why Quizziz rebranded as Wayground

• How Wayground hits the sweet spot between fun gamification and serious assessment

• The power of student accommodations and differentiation at scale

• Their new PhET Simulations partnership for science classrooms

• Where AI fits into real-time feedback and student growth

• What’s next for Wayground as schools return this fall

We also dive into big-picture questions around time-saving tools vs. authentic learning, student choice, and how to help every kid succeed—not just the ones at the top of the leaderboard.

🎥 Watch the full video version on YouTube here: [Insert YouTube link]

• Twitter/X: @KyleNiemis

• Wayground: https://wayground.com

• Wayground YouTube: Wayground Channel

• Twitter/X: @coachthomastech

• YouTube: Coach Thomas Tech

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, follow, rate, and share The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen. Let’s keep building fun, purpose, and creativity into learning.

In this episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast, I sit down with Leena Salah from Canva to explore how this powerful platform is transforming classrooms. From Magic Activities that generate higher-order thinking tasks to Canva Code that lets teachers and students build custom widgets without writing a line of code, Canva is redefining creativity, engagement, and authentic learning.

Here’s what we dig into:

• 🚀 The newest Canva tools for educators, including Magic Write, Magic Media, and Magic Activities

• 💡 How Canva Code empowers teachers and students to design interactive tools with simple prompts

• 🎨 Practical classroom applications that save teachers time and boost student engagement

• 🌎 Why Canva is more than an edtech tool—it’s an industry-ready skill for students’ futures

• 📚 The hidden gems inside Canva Design School that every teacher should know about

Leena also shares insights on Canva’s AI integrations, their growing teacher community, and how Canva is helping educators bridge the gap between creativity, equity, and access.

Whether you’re new to Canva or already using it daily, this conversation is packed with strategies, use cases, and inspiration to take your teaching to the next level.

• Try Canva for Education: canva.com/education

• Explore Canva Design School: canva.com/designschool

• Connect with the Canva EDU community: canva.com/communities

If this episode sparked some ideas for your classroom, don’t keep it to yourself!
👉 Follow The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast on Spotify (or wherever you listen).
👉 Hit that ⭐ rating to support the show.
👉 Share this episode with a fellow educator who needs a fresh dose of creativity in their teaching toolbox.

Follow me on X/Twitter: @coachthomastech
Join the conversation with the hashtag #TechEdClubhouse

🔗 Links & Resources📣 Call to Action🔥 Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Episode Overview

In this episode of the TechEd Clubhouse, Dan Thomas sits down with Todd Bloomer, veteran school leader, author of The Blueprint: Survive and Thrive as a School Administrator, and now Director of School Leadership for the Archdiocese of San Antonio.

Todd shares his no-nonsense approach to school leadership: why being visible matters more than being stuck in the office, how culture is built in small daily interactions, and why equity—not just equality—matters in schools. From his 29 years in education to his transition into principal coaching, Todd brings passion, practical wisdom, and stories that resonate with anyone in education.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• People Before Paper – Why principals and leaders must be present with students and staff, not buried in emails.

• Culture Is Not a Program – How consistent small interactions shape school culture more than any purchased initiative.

• Equity Over Equality – The importance of treating students fairly by giving them what they need, not necessarily the same thing.

• Leadership in the Gray – Why effective principals live in nuance, not black and white rules.

• Coaching the Next Generation – Todd’s work helping current and future principals find their blueprint for success.

• • Why Kids Really Come to School – The role of social connections, belonging, and recognition in student motivation.

  Key Quotes

• • “Positivity + Visibility + Reliability = Trust.” – Todd Bloomer

  • “You can’t lead from your office. Culture is built in the hallways, classrooms, and cafeterias.”

  • “Fair isn’t always equal—every student needs something different to thrive.”

• Resources and Links

  • 📘 Todd’s Book: The Blueprint: Survive and Thrive as a School Administrator – Amazon Link

• • 🌐 Todd’s Website: toddmbloomer.com

  • 📱 Follow Todd on Instagram & TikTok: @todd_bloomer_author

  • 🔗 Connect with Todd on LinkedIn

  • 🌍 Blog & Resources: coachthomastech.com/blog

  • 🐦 Twitter: @coachthomastech

  • 🎧 Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

  • 💬 Join the conversation with hashtag #TechEdClubhouse

  
  

  
  

  If you’re a school leader, teacher, or aspiring administrator—this conversation will leave you fired up and ready to lead with heart. After listening, share your biggest takeaway with us on social media using #TechEdClubhouse, and don’t forget to leave a review to help more educators find the show.

  
  

In this episode, I sit down with Jon Laven, co-founder of Snorkl.app, an AI-powered tool designed to capture and analyze student thinking. A former high school math teacher, Jon shares how Snorkl helps students explain their thought processes, gives teachers richer insights, and shifts classrooms toward authentic learning and student agency.

We dig into the balance between AI and the human element, why documenting thought processes matters, and the durable skills that go beyond tests—communication, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

What you’ll hear about in this episode:

• Jon’s journey from teacher to edtech founder

• How Snorkl went from a “social Khan Academy” to an AI feedback tool

• Why documenting thinking is as valuable as the answer itself

• Timely AI feedback and its impact on learning

• Student voice, choice, and agency in action

• Failure as growth and iteration

• Unexpected uses: reading fluency, world language practice

• Equity, differentiation, and support for multilingual learners

• The future of formative assessment

• Advice for teachers with big edtech ideas

Memorable quotes:
💬 “If Snorkl did nothing else but just got students to explain their thinking, there would be value there.” – Jon Laven
💬 “Math is just another form of storytelling. The numbers tell a story.” – Dan Thomas

Resources:
🌐 Snorkl.app (create a free teacher account)
📧 jon@snorkl.app
🔗 coachthomastech.com | Twitter/X: @coachthomastech

Takeaways:

• Immediate feedback changes the game—students learn in real time.

• Every student voice matters, not just the loudest.

• Formative assessment is evolving with tools like Snorkl.

• The best innovations start in the classroom.

👉 Try Snorkl with your class, share this episode with a colleague, and subscribe to the TechEd Clubhouse for more conversations that bring play, STEM, and common sense back into learning.

Back-to-school season is overwhelming—lesson plans, grading, differentiation, and those endless Sunday night prep sessions. Teachers are stretched to the breaking point. But what if an AI tool actually cut through the chaos and gave you back your time?

In this episode, I sit down with Thomas Thompson and Thomas Hummel, co-founders of EduaideAI—a platform designed to help teachers plan faster, differentiate smarter, and free up time for what really matters: connecting with students.

Here’s what we cover:
✨ The story of how two middle school teachers bootstrapped EduaideAI into reality
✨ Why EduaideAI is different from “just another AI tool”—it’s grounded in real pedagogy, not myths
✨ How it helps teachers with lesson plans, projects, graphic organizers, and even gamified warm-ups
✨ Their take on AI in the classroom—what works, what doesn’t, and where it’s going next
✨ What’s new and upcoming for EduaideAI, and why staying teacher-focused (not venture-funded) is their core mission

If you’ve ever wished you could spend less time buried in lesson planning and more time actually teaching, this episode is for you.

🔗 Learn more: eduaide.ai
💬 Connect with EduaideAI:

• @eduaideai on X
• LinkedIn
• Eduaide.Ai (@eduaide.ai) • Instagram photos and videos

It’s back-to-school season, and AI is everywhere. But how can teachers actually use it to save time and reduce stress right now?

In this episode of The Tech Ed Clubhouse, I chat with Amber Trout, Senior Community Manager at Magic School AI, about practical ways educators can bring AI into their classrooms without the overwhelm.

Whether you’re an AI skeptic or already experimenting, this episode will give you ideas you can use tomorrow.

• Why Magic School is different from ChatGPT & Gemini

• Quick-start tools teachers love: lesson plans, slides, rubrics, emails

• How to differentiate with “Make It Relevant” + spicy/medium/mild scaffolds

• Student Rooms: safe AI spaces for kids with teacher-built guardrails

• How AI can fight teacher burnout by giving you back your time

• 👉 Magic School AI – free teacher & student tools

• Magic School Summer Academy & Back-to-School Guide

• • Connect with Amber: LinkedIn | @Amber_EdTech| community@magicschool.ai
  • Join Pioneers here: https://www.magicschool.ai/magicschool-ai-pioneers
  • Back-to-school guide: https://www.magicschool.ai/back-to-school
  • Summer Webinar series: https://www.magicschool.ai/magicschool-academy3:36
  • All MagicSchool PD resources: https://www.magicschool.ai/professional-development

• Teachers don’t need hype—they need solutions. This conversation is packed with real, classroom-ready ideas to help you start the year smarter, with less stress, and more time to actually connect with students.

  Follow & Subscribe:
  🎧 The Tech Ed Clubhouse Podcast
  📱 Twitter: @coachthomastech
  📌 Hashtag: #TechEdClubhouse