Every educator has a story. This book is part of mine. From tagging teacher blogs in the early days of social bookmarking to leading faculty development initiatives at Fordham, this volume reflects the lessons I’ve learned, the tools I’ve tested, and the conversations that have shaped my thinking. It’s not a collection of abstract theories, it’s a field guide built from real-world experience, created to support others on their own edtech journeys.
Writing Volume 2 of The EdTech Bible has been an act of curation in itself. It’s the result of years spent listening to the needs of teachers, experimenting with digital tools, and reflecting on what truly makes a difference in the classroom and beyond. I’ve always believed that small, intentional actions can spark lasting change. This book aims to be one of those sparks.
Writing Volume 2 of The EdTech Bible has been an act of curation in itself. It’s the result of years spent listening to the needs of teachers, experimenting with digital tools, and reflecting on what truly makes a difference in the classroom and beyond. I’ve always believed that small, intentional actions can spark lasting change. This book aims to be one of those sparks.
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This book is organized around four major themes: curation, productivity, digital citizenship, and content creation. These themes were chosen intentionally to address the most essential needs of today’s educators.
Curation helps us manage the overload of information we face daily and is vital to our role as educators, not just as guides through the digital world but as curators of knowledge in all its forms. Productivity empowers us to make better use of our time and reclaim focus in an age of distraction. Digital citizenship is critical for developing agency and responsibility in our online lives, both for ourselves and our students. And Content Creation, along with Multimedia, serves as both a method of communication and a core part of modern teaching practice. These themes work together to form a toolkit for meaningful and sustainable technology integration. They also serve as the bookends of this volume, beginning with curation and ending with creation, underscoring the full cycle of how we consume, process, and contribute knowledge in the digital age. |
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I wrote this book not as a how-to manual but as a conversation. A shared space where we can explore the practical, the possible, and the purposeful use of technology in education. Each chapter blends storytelling with strategy, offering insights from my own experience alongside actionable ideas you can apply right away.
To make it even easier to take the next step, every chapter ends with a section of suggested next steps and a link to curated resources. These companion pages are designed to help you put the chapter’s insights into practice, with tools, templates, examples, and further reading. Whether you prefer to watch, read, or explore hands-on, you’ll find options to support your learning style and goals. |
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But this is just one part of an ongoing story.
The field of educational technology is constantly evolving and so is this series. Volume 2 replaces Volume 1 entirely, offering a fresh, fully updated foundation for today’s teaching and learning needs. As we close this chapter, the work doesn’t stop here. The next volume is already in progress.
Volume 3 will be released in Fall 2025. It will be a standalone exploration of new topics such as presentation tools, feedback and interaction strategies, emerging technologies like AI, and integrated learning environments. Unlike the first two volumes, Volume 3 is not a revision but a step into what’s next. My goal is to help educators not only keep up with change but to anticipate it, shape it, and lead with intention.
Volume 3 of The EdTech Bible will focus on four key areas essential for modern educators navigating an evolving digital landscape.
The field of educational technology is constantly evolving and so is this series. Volume 2 replaces Volume 1 entirely, offering a fresh, fully updated foundation for today’s teaching and learning needs. As we close this chapter, the work doesn’t stop here. The next volume is already in progress.
Volume 3 will be released in Fall 2025. It will be a standalone exploration of new topics such as presentation tools, feedback and interaction strategies, emerging technologies like AI, and integrated learning environments. Unlike the first two volumes, Volume 3 is not a revision but a step into what’s next. My goal is to help educators not only keep up with change but to anticipate it, shape it, and lead with intention.
Volume 3 of The EdTech Bible will focus on four key areas essential for modern educators navigating an evolving digital landscape.
Presentation Tools
This section will highlight tools designed for delivering instruction, lectures, and interactive lessons.
This section will highlight tools designed for delivering instruction, lectures, and interactive lessons.
- VoiceThread enables rich multimedia discussions and asynchronous student engagement.
- Panopto supports lecture capture, video hosting, editing, and screen recording.
- Zoom facilitates synchronous virtual instruction and collaboration.
Feedback & Interaction Tools
Here, I'll explore tools that foster assessment, reflection, and communication.
This theme covers innovative tools reshaping education today.
As a Blackboard system administrator and faculty trainer, I’ve seen firsthand how Blackboard serves as the backbone of digital teaching and learning. It is not just a place to store course content; it is the central platform where instruction, communication, assessment, and engagement come together. In this section I'll focus not just on how to use it but on how to optimize it as a true instructional hub.
Blackboard supports a seamless teaching and learning experience by integrating with tools like Panopto, VoiceThread, and Zoom, allowing faculty to create a cohesive digital classroom. From intuitive course navigation and accessible content delivery to robust assessment tools, discussion forums, and an adaptable Grade Center, Blackboard empowers instructors to design thoughtful, student-centered experiences. With features like adaptive release, analytics, and AI-assisted course design, it also provides flexibility and insight to improve outcomes.
Here, I'll explore tools that foster assessment, reflection, and communication.
- Survey Tools help conduct formative and summative assessments, student check-ins, and research.
- Blogging offers a platform for student expression, reflection, and instructor communication.
- PLNs (Personal Learning Networks) promote professional growth, peer interaction, and global collaboration.
This theme covers innovative tools reshaping education today.
- Artificial Intelligence supports content generation, personalization, and administrative efficiency.
- Mobile Apps enable on-the-go learning, engagement, and accessibility across multiple devices.
As a Blackboard system administrator and faculty trainer, I’ve seen firsthand how Blackboard serves as the backbone of digital teaching and learning. It is not just a place to store course content; it is the central platform where instruction, communication, assessment, and engagement come together. In this section I'll focus not just on how to use it but on how to optimize it as a true instructional hub.
Blackboard supports a seamless teaching and learning experience by integrating with tools like Panopto, VoiceThread, and Zoom, allowing faculty to create a cohesive digital classroom. From intuitive course navigation and accessible content delivery to robust assessment tools, discussion forums, and an adaptable Grade Center, Blackboard empowers instructors to design thoughtful, student-centered experiences. With features like adaptive release, analytics, and AI-assisted course design, it also provides flexibility and insight to improve outcomes.
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This series is a living reference, and each new installment builds on what came before while always looking ahead. As you continue to navigate your own path through educational technology, I hope this book and those that follow serve as a companion, a resource, and a reminder that you are not alone in this work.
If you’d like to be the first to hear about Volume 3’s release, bonus resources, or behind-the-scenes updates, join my substack that I'll be launching later this month (July 2025). I’d love to keep the conversation going. |
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Stay curious. Stay connected. And above all, keep lighting sparks!
Kristen
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