The crew discusses this year's Academy Awards with their educational twist. We also covered New York Times games including Wordle and why Jeff and Jesse are such huge fans of Connections. And with the NCAA tourney starting this week, compete against the hosts for both the men's and women's tournaments.

The Partial Credit Podcast NCAA Women's Tournament Challenge: https://fantasy.espn.com/tc/sharer?challengeId=278&from=espn&context=GROUP_INVITE&edition=espn-en&groupId=080c3edf-966e-4b91-bc5a-8e4d25e04707

The Partial Credit Podcast NCAA Men's Tournament Challenge: https://fantasy.espn.com/tc/sharer?challengeId=277&from=espn&context=GROUP_INVITE&edition=espn-en&groupId=b0ed9c73-4aba-4f03-9473-d39a65a5201e

Jessica Williams, a solutions architect at Sphero, is back for her record-tying 10th appearance on the Partial Credit Podcast. This time around she talked about AI integration in education, Sphero's role in STEM learning, conference experiences and insights Ideas for new winter Olympic sports. Jess and the boys also discussed advancements in wearable technology like the Oura Ring and the defunct Google Glass along with some humorous stories.

In this post-Super Bowl edition of Partial Credit, the boys dove into the excitement surrounding the Super Bowl including an incredible New England Patriots loss, some memorable commercials and the Bad Bunny halftime show.

In this episode, the boys were joined by their old friend, Nicholas Provenzano. They dove into some pretty "interesting" conversations from the FETC conference and introduced a brand new app created by Donnie called Classroom Draft. They also reflect on their experiences at the first EdTech draft and discussed Nick's new role at School AI.

Takeaways

Thanksgiving is not widely celebrated in Australia.
The concept of Black Friday is confusing in Australia.
Jim Sill tries to introduce Thanksgiving traditions to his family.
The timing of Christmas decorations varies greatly by culture.
AI tools like Gemini and Notebook LM are changing education.
Custom gems can enhance lesson planning for teachers.
Google Docs remains a staple in educational settings.
The importance of using AI as a thought partner in problem-solving.
The podcast hosts share personal experiences related to Thanksgiving.
Ranking EdTech apps reveals differing opinions on their usefulness. The ranking of Google tools can vary based on personal experiences and classroom needs.
Google Drive is seen as a vital organizational tool but not necessarily an instructional one.
Gmail is often overlooked as a teaching tool despite its importance in communication.
Innovative features in tools like Google Express can significantly enhance classroom experiences.
The conversation emphasizes the importance of adaptability in using educational technology.
Nearpod is recognized for its value in Apple School environments.
The hosts agree on the need for more engaging and interactive educational tools.
Feedback mechanisms in tools like Google Forms are crucial for effective teaching.
The discussion reflects a shared enthusiasm for exploring new features in educational technology.
The hosts express a desire for more collaborative and fun ways to evaluate and use these tools

In this episode of Partial Credit, Jesse Lubinsky, Donnie Piercey, and Jeffrey Heil engage in a lively discussion about innovative fundraising strategies for schools, and the role of smartphones in education. They discuss the importance of community engagement in fundraising efforts, share unique ideas for school events, and debate the impact of technology in the classroom. In this conversation, the speakers discuss the role of cell phones in education, questioning their necessity and impact on student learning. They explore the mental health implications of technology addiction, the challenges of setting boundaries for device use, and the evolving nature of communication in the digital age. The discussion culminates in reflections on the responsibilities of educators and parents in guiding children through these challenges.