Latest Industry Updates on Edtech and MetaTours
Critically Acclaimed Propaganda Sim ‘Not for Broadcast’ Coming to Quest 2 & PC VR in March
NotGames, the indie studio behind ingenious propaganda simulator Not For Broadcast (2022), announced it’s releasing a separate VR version in March, coming to SteamVR and Meta Quest 2.
Releasing on Steam and the Quest Store on March 23rd, Not For Broadcast VR is putting the power of mass media into your hands, as you control what people see and how they see it in your very own TV studio control booth, set in an alternate ’80s timeline in Britain.
Promising all of the original game’s dystopian tale of power, greed and resistance, the VR adaptation seems like a natural fit for the seated, button-heavy game—looking […]
‘Presentiment of Death’ is Like ‘SUPERHOT VR’ with Archery, Coming to PC VR in March
SUPERHOT’s time-pausing mechanic works so well in VR, it’s a surprise we haven’t seen more games use it to bring new and interesting stuff to life. Now, Omega Pilot developer XOCUS says it’s doing just that with the release of Presentiment of Death, a story-driven VR adventure that feels like a mashup of SUPERHOT VR and archery game In Death.
Like SUPERHOT, Presentiment of Death’s time dilation system means the enemy robots move when you move. The kicker: you have to draw your bow, which means you’ll have to really be your toes as the enemy arrows come flying in when you want […]
How to Create a YouTube Channel
If you’re looking for a little weekend project, starting a YouTube channel could be a good one for you. Whether you make a YouTube channel simply to share instructional videos with your students or you make a YouTube channel with the hopes of becoming rich and famous, the process of getting started is the same. In the short video that is embedded below I demonstrate how you can start your YouTube channel in five minutes or less.
Video – How to Create a YouTube Channel
After you’ve started your YouTube channel you’ll probably want to […]
How to Add Checkboxes to Tables in Google Docs
Earlier this week when I was looking back at The Super Book of Web Tools for Educators I noticed that Google Docs was still a beta product back when that book was written. Google Docs has come a long way since then. Today, Google Docs is packed with some many handy little features that it’s hard to keep track of them all. One way that you could try to keep of them is to make a table with checkboxes inside it. That’s what I demonstrate in this new video.
Create Writing Prompts With Spinner Wheel
In reviewing my Google Analytics earlier this week I noticed that “writing prompts” was one of the most frequently searched terms on FreeTech4Teachers.com in the last month. That was the inspiration for a new video about how to create a random writing prompt generator.
In this new video I demonstrate how to use Spinner Wheel to create random writing prompts. In the first part of the video I use Spinner Wheel to simply select a writing prompt from a list that I’ve given it. In the second part of the video I use […]
What is GPTZero? The ChatGPT Detection Tool Explained By Its Creator
Programmed by Edward Tian, a Princeton senior, GPTZero is designed to help educators detect writing generated by ChatGPT
6 Best Sound Level Meters in 2023
Sound level meters are great tools to use to monitor and manage sound levels in the classroom. They can help teachers maintain an environment conducive to learning by providing real-time sound level readings and allowing them to adjust sound levels accordingly.
I have already covered some of the best web-based sound meter tools to use in class. In this post, I will discuss some of the best sound level meters available on Amazon specifically designed for classroom use. I did an extensive online search, dug into the piles of user reviews and came up with the […]
Title: Four Great AI Tools to Boost Your Teaching
Creative Fabrica, one of the leading design platforms, has recently published a powerful suite of AI tools called CF Spark. Since its introduction, CF Spark has already enjoyed growing popularity among users. CF Spark AI tools allow you to easily generate stunning artwork using text-based prompts. No graphic design is required.
For us in education, Creative Fabrica’s AI-powered design tools offer exciting opportunities to unleash students’ creativity and help them explore their artistic potential. From creating stunning visuals for presentations to designing original artwork using textual prompts, CF Spark AI tools will help bring […]
‘Hitman 3’ Becomes ‘Hitman World of Assassination’ Today, Giving Previous Owners Access to Full Trilogy
Starting today, the VR-supported stealth shooter Hitman 3 will be rebranded under the new umbrella name of Hitman World of Assassination. This not only includes Hitman 1, 2 and 3, but a free upgrade for previous owners of Hitman 3 on all platforms.
IO Interactive says the aim is to simplify the purchase experience for new players, who previously would need to either navigate the various deluxe editions, or buy additional access passes to play Hitman 1 & 2.
“Essentially, these […] changes will mean that all new players and existing HITMAN 3 owners will have the same base content ownership. There will be […]
VR Training Company Gemba Secures $18M Series A to Expand Enterprise Metaverse
Gemba, the corporate VR learning platform, announced it’s closed an $18 million Series A funding round, which the company says will be used to continue expansion into Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North America.
The latest funding round was led by Parkway Venture Capital, now valuing the UK-based company at $60 million.
In 2017, Gemba grew out of executive training company The Leadership Network, which was founded in 2013 by CEO Nathan Robinson and Chairman Victor Lewis. At the time, The Leadership Network was focused on cross-industry leadership training which, through its executive masterclasses, let senior execs from non-competing companies go […]
How to Find the Source for Images in Google Slides
A couple of weeks ago I published a video about using the explore function in Google Slides to find images to use in presentations. Since then I’ve had a few people ask for clarification about how to use the image source when using the other image search option in Google Slides. The process of finding the image source is the same whether you use the Explore function or you use the Insert Image option in Google Slides. Watch this video to see how that process works.
What is ClassFlow and How Can it Be Used to Teach? Tips & Tricks
ClassFlow is the lesson delivery tool that could make your digital classroom more engaging.
Teacher Burnout- Symptoms, Causes, and Strategies to Prevent It
If you’re a teacher, chances are you’ve felt the effects of burnout at some point in your career. It’s an all-too-common phenomenon and one that can have serious consequences for both your professional and personal life. But what exactly is teacher burnout? And how can you avoid it?
What is teacher burnout?
Teacher burnout is a phenomenon that occurs when teachers become overwhelmed and exhausted from the demands of their job. It can be caused by an excessive workload, unrealistic expectations from administrators, inadequate wages or resources, and a lack of appreciation or recognition for […]
How to Clean-up Image Backgrounds in Canva Designs
Last week someone reached out to me after watching my original video about using Canva’s image background removal tool. She was having a little trouble because the automatic background remover was leaving a few patches of the original image intact. To help, I recorded a new video that demonstrates how to clean-up the parts of the image that Canva doesn’t automatically remove.
Video – How to Clean-up Image Backgrounds in Canva
Applications for Education
One of my favorite ways to use Canva’s background remover is to remove the background from an […]
AI Writing Check
AI Writing Check is a free tool created by the collaborative efforts of the non-profits Quill.org and CommonLit. AI Writing Check is a tool that was created to help teachers try to recognize writing created through the use of artificial intelligence.
To use AI Writing Check you simply have to copy a passage of text of 100 or more words and paste it into AI Writing Check. The tool will then tell you the likelihood that the writing has or has not been created by artificial intelligence. That’s all there is […]
‘Among Us VR’ Sells 1 Million Units Across Quest 2 & PC VR Headsets
The team behind the VR adaptation of popular party game Among Us announced it’s officially gone platinum, selling over 1 million copies across all platforms.
Recreating viral flatscreen titles in VR seems to be a potent recipe for success, as Among Us VR follows in the footsteps of other meme-able games like Friday Night at Freddy’s and SUPERHOT, both of which boast high-performing VR adaptations.
Developed by Innersloth, Schell Games, and Robot Teddy, Among Us VR replicates the original’s team-based game of betrayal. Complete tasks aboard a starship, but keep an eye out for the ship’s singular impostor, who is always looking to get away with […]
A Minecraft Server for Grieving Kids
Two nonprofits and UC Irvine have joined forces to create a Minecraft server that connects and supports students who have experienced loss.
School Porn- Helpful Tips to Deal with It
School porn is a growing problem. It refers to any type of pornography that is easily accessible to students on school grounds. This can include everything from magazines and videos to websites and social media.
10 Best Science Games for Kids
Are you looking for a fun and exciting way to get your kids interested in science? Or do you have kids at home who need an educational yet entertaining activity? Look no further! In this blog post, I cover some of the best resources where you can access a wide variety of entertaining and educational science games.
Kids can play the games and learn complex science topics in an accessible and enjoyable manner. From interactive online platforms to tabletop experiments, there are plenty of activities that can teach kids about biology, physics, chemistry, and more! Let’s dive into […]
‘The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners 2’ Coming to PSVR 2 & PC VR in March, Original Gets Free PSVR 2 Upgrade
Skydance Interactive announced the sequel to The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners, Chapter 2: Retribution, is leaving timed Quest exclusivity soon. You can also now add the original game to the list of PSVR titles getting a free PSVR 2 upgrade.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners 2 is simultaneously launching on SteamVR and PSVR 2 on March 21st, priced at $40. You can now wishlist it on Steam and pre-order for PSVR 2.
Although not a launch day title (see the full list here), the studio says players across Quest, PC […]
NBA Deepens Multiyear Partnership with Meta, Bringing More Ways to Watch Live Games on Quest
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Meta announced they’re extending a multiyear partnership which is set to bring a few new ways for basketball fans to enjoy NBA League Pass games on Quest.
First signed in 2020, the deal essentially made Meta (ex-Facebook) an official marketing and VR headset partner of the NBA, Women’s NBA (WNBA) and NBA G League.
Now, with the extension, the companies are set to bring a new space to Meta’s Horizon Worlds platform called the ‘NBA Arena’, which will play host to live NBA League Pass games in VR throughout the season.
The […]
The Practical Ed Tech Newsletter
Between social media and email it can be hard to keep up with everything going on in the world of ed tech throughout the week. That’s why nine years ago I started the Practical Ed Tech Newsletter. Every Sunday evening/ Monday morning I send out my favorite tip of the week and summary of my most popular posts of the previous week.
Weekly Newsletter
In my Practical Ed Tech Newsletter I also usually include a personal note like the fun I had in my 171 year old attic or I make fun […]
45 Digital Mapping Tutorials
This month I’ve been spending some time organizing the tutorial videos on my YouTube channel. To that end I’m creating playlists that are organized thematically. The latest playlist that I’ve created is titled Digital Mapping. The playlist currently contains 45 tutorial videos covering more than just Google Maps. In the playlist you’ll find tutorials on things like NatGeo Mapmaker, Felt Maps, USGS map tools, making animated maps, and much more. Some highlights from the playlist are embedded below.
What is Formative and How Can it Be Used to Teach? Tips & Tricks
Formative is a real-time assessment tool designed specifically for teachers using digital learning platforms.
Addressing Learning Gaps by Centralizing Assessments and Student Data
Better assessments can lead to deeper learning and quicker adjustments to meet the needs of students.
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