Learn Lead Grow is a blog created by Matt Bergman to inspire educators how to infuse technology into learning in meaningful and accessible ways.
Hello readers! Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe that 15 years have passed since I launched my Learn Lead Grow blog. As we step into a new year, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news—my blog is moving to a new home at www.drmattbergman.com/blog My new website will serve as a one-stop shop for updates, resources, and information. If you’re a current subscriber, you’ll soon receive a…
Snorkl is quickly becoming one of my favorite AI tools for students for several reasons. First, it allows students to demonstrate their understanding by creating a short annotated video in response to an assigned problem. Snorkl is a free tool that analyzes the student's explanation and provides AI-generated text and audio feedback based on their performance on the assignment. Secondly, teachers…
As our world continues to advance in its application of AI, it is important to educate our students and teachers on the potential of generative AI. One of the best ways to do this is to provide hands-on opportunities in a safe and structured environment. I recently discovered Mundo , an AI tool that allows students and teachers to explore the capabilities of generative AI without needing to…
Unpacking academic standards is a helpful practice to ensure students have the clarity they need to succeed. It also helps us better prepare to meet these standards and align assessments with instruction. Artificial intelligence can be a valuable tool, providing practical examples and resources to support diverse learners. Check out my video and infographic for seven ways AI can help meet the…
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a key component of Tier 1 instruction; however, it’s essential to understand that UDL is a framework or lens, not a checklist. It may be helpful to conceptualize UDL through a desk and chair example. Imagine our goal is to help all students use this piece of furniture for learning. Read the following post or watch my video below for more details! Accessible…
Did you know that you can use AI for more than just looking up information? I experimented with using Claude AI to generate an interactive math activity out of HTML, where students could input variables to determine the area of triangles, rectangles, and circles. Claude generated code and suggestions in just a few seconds! The model offered students a visual aid, clear instructions to help them…
Throughout the years, I have habitually displayed small mementos and pictures on a bookshelf in my office or classroom. I inherited this practice from my late father, who used his decorative flair to proudly display objects and pictures that told a story, shared a memory, and painted a portrait of his life. The artifacts in my display continue to inspire the retelling of old stories and memories…
When I was in high school, I played varsity football for Coach Mike Vertucci. Coach V was a master at finding creative ways to motivate his players through quotes and speeches. We often found photocopies of General George Patton’s speeches or Rocky quotes hanging on the walls of our locker room. Coach took pride in motivating the young men on his team to go to battle each Friday night. One of…
The more I use artificial intelligence the more I am finding ways to save time and improve accessibility. I recently came across a cool way of using Chat GPT to to extract written text from Post-it notes, whiteboards, and chart paper. This is a game-changer for digitizing text or summarizing notes. Check out two ideas for making this happen! Idea #1: Digitize Written Text You can extract text from…
Music is a universal language we can combine with formative assessment to engage students and determine their knowledge. Artificial intelligence is making it possible for students to demonstrate their understanding through creative ways like generating songs. Suno is a tool that allows you to provide a prompt and generate a song for yourself. You can also write your own original lyrics, add the…
When I was a young high school teacher, I had a student named Scott in one of my classes. He and I usually got along, but there was always an underlying tension because he was the only 10th grader in a predominantly 9th grade class. My students were accustomed to making presentations in class from time to time. On the day of one of our class presentations, a group of 9th grade students commanded…
Phillip Schlechty (2011) theorized that the highest levels of learner engagement require learners' full attention and commitment. While some learners may exhibit "ritual compliance," simply meeting minimum expectations without true investment, educators strive to cultivate a deeper level of engagement. Building on Schlechty's (2011) framework, which emphasizes both attention and commitment, the…
Canadian philosopher and author Marshall McLuhan introduced the popular phrase “the medium is the message” in his groundbreaking 1964 book Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. McLuhan suggested that mediums carry more than just a message; they also can shape our learning experiences, memories, and comprehension. Michael and Just (2001) of Carnegie Mellon University used brain imaging to…
If you are a UDL practitioner, Blended Learning is an excellent student-centered approach that can be incorporated into the classroom. It emphasizes the importance of using technology to personalize learning and give students autonomy over their path, pace, time, and place. There are seven different Blended Learning models, which require educators to make the shift from a teacher-centered to a…
Goals are not just the foundation; they are the roadmap for effectively planning a UDL lesson. They often serve as a roadmap, providing students with a clear direction for their learning journey. They answer the essential question: "What will I be able to know or do by the end of this lesson/unit/course?" Goals are often derived from broader academic standards designed to help students develop…
I recently came across an AI tool called Brisk , which operates as a Chrome Extension that you can use to inspect student work, detect AI, and generate content! Brisk has four important features: 1. Create Teachers can used Brisk to create lesson plans, exemplars, quizzes, and more! Note: There is a free and a paid version of this tool, so some of the paid features are identified by a lock icon.…
Did you know that AI can be a useful tool for increasing accessibility in the classroom? You may have had a student who has struggled with reading comprehension and needs additional scaffolding and support, such as an audio version of a text. Although this accommodation is helpful, it can be time-consuming and sometimes challenging to manage as a teacher. Speechify: An AI Text-to-Speech Game…
Although many of us see the value of building relationships with our students, researching, planning, and implementing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) activities can be time-consuming. The First Five is a daily resource designed to make educators' lives easier! Just sign up, and it will be delivered to your email inbox, filled with practical ideas that can be implemented in the first five minutes…
Quillbot is an artificial intelligence tool aimed at helping users improve their writing. Unlike generative AI tools like Chat GPT, users provide the original text to Quillbot, and it supplies suggestions, much like spelling and grammar checkers in word processing tools. However, QuillBot can be used to help users with a variety of tasks, such as paraphrasing, grammar and plagiarism checking,…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more than Chat GPT writing prompts, driverless cars, and chatbots. In fact, one of the biggest benefits of AI is that it can help us organize our thoughts more effectively. Take for instance a new AI application I recently came across called Audio Note . What is Audio Note? Audio Note allows you a place to record voice notes (up to one minute on the free version) or…
Hello Learn Lead Grow Readers! A few weeks ago, I had mentioned that I was planning on retiring from blogging. The outpour from you has been amazing! After much thought and consideration, I have decided to continue blogging on a limited basis. I appreciate your support! Matt
Imagine you have decided to give students the same reading assignment in your room. The learning goal states that all students will read the same article; however, you realize there is tremendous variability in your classroom. How do you plan with variability in mind? The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework is a proactive framework for designing accessible and engaging lessons for all…
Artificial Intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere you look today! I recently saw a social media post claiming that you would be "left behind" if you were not "using AI in the classroom." I am not going to lie, AI can be highly intimidating; however, it can also be used to help our students learn in new and exciting ways. If we think our students need to start using AI, then we are kidding…
I recently came across a fantastic Google Expert Eric Curts idea called a Photo Word. This is a way to use Google Slides to create a word with a photo inside to create word walls, flashcards, or graphics. Believe it or not, this is much easier than it sounds! In addition, you could make your Photo Word more interactive by linking it to a Flip video definition of the word. Either a QR Code or…
Lately, I have been revisiting old tools with a new perspective. My last installment looked at Google Earth's Voyager feature, an excellent resource for providing students with virtual field trips. Today, I want to look at Google Earth's Project feature, a fantastic tool for creating virtual field trips. The Project Feature The Project feature is a free resource you or students can use to develop…