Hi there!  I’ve been having a blast in the past few years with my Edtech on Deck (#EdtechOnDeck) appreciation days. These aren’t your typical, sit-down-and-learn PD sessions—far from it! I’m all about setting up small, themed stations in the faculty lunchroom and bringing some light-hearted joy to teachers’ busy days. It’s my way of staying visible, meeting new teachers, and giving everyone a little something to brighten their day, along with reminding them that I’m always there to support them, and sharing some quick edtech tips they can use right away.  I serve seven elementary schools in my district, so once I get the theme set up, I just “take it on the road” and do a day at each of my schools!  (And I send promo flyers about a week in advance to let them know I’ll be at their school!)

Circus-Themed Fun in the Faculty Room

One of my favorite setups was a circus theme. Now, I didn’t take over the whole room—just a cozy corner in the faculty lunchroom with some festive decorations. I had bags of popcorn, red foam clown noses, mints, and cute circus-themed table decor to draw people in. The lunchroom is the perfect spot because it gives me the best chance to see the most teachers—after all, almost everyone stops in at least once during the day! I even had a ‘1-Minute-Spin-It’ wheel, where teachers could spin and get a quick demo of a new edtech tool or tip, all in less than a minute. But honestly, it wasn’t just about the tech. It’s about connecting. I get to meet new teachers this way, and even those who might not normally book me for a full consult will stop by to ask a quick question—especially if they see a friend chatting with me first. It’s those little moments of connection that really make it worthwhile.

Relax and Recharge: Zen Theme

The very first #EdtechOnDeck I did is pictured above.  I created a Zen/relaxation-themed Edtech on Deck day. I know how overwhelming the school day can be, so I wanted to offer teachers a space to slow down and take a breather. I set up a comfy chair, a shoulder/neck massager, essential oils, herbal teas, a coloring book with colored pencils, a Spirograph and paper, and even a water painting board. I had some chocolates and herbal teas for them, too.  It was all about giving them a chance to relax while learning about a new tool or tip in the process. Because, sometimes, the best way to absorb new information is when you’re relaxed and in a good headspace!  (By the way, the shoulder/neck massager was an absolute HIT and everyone requests that I bring it for EVERY Edtech on Deck day – no matter WHAT the theme!)

     

Winter-Themed Cocoa and Conversations

I also love mixing in seasonal themes, like my Cocoa, Cookies, Candycanes, and Conversations winter event. I set up with hot cocoa packets, marshmallows, candy canes, and cookies—everything to warm up a cold day. I also printed out some custom labels I made and put edtech tips right on the cups, so teachers could take something useful with them while they sipped. It was a great way to have informal, low-pressure conversations about what tech tools they were using in their classrooms or maybe introduce them to something new they hadn’t tried yet.

Autumn Edtech Extravaganza:  Fall Treats & Tech

This past fall, I brought in some of my favorite fall vibes for my Edtech on Deck theme. I’d set up my table with all the autumn feels for that perfect seasonal touch.  I had hot spiced apple cider in a crock pot (the whole room smelled awesome all day), apple cider donuts, ginger spice cookies, little tangerines, and butterscotch candies.  Once again, I made stickers to put on the paper cups and they had unique edtech tips on them…so everyone literally walked away with a new idea! And to keep the edtech as the focus, I made a digital wheel (using WheelOfNames.com) and packed it with edtech topics, tools, and random tidbits that made for quick & easy takeaway topics.  Teachers could either deliberately choose a topic or let fate (aka the random spinner) decide their  little learning adventure.

The whole setup was less about formal training and more about sparking curiosity. It was edtech exploration meets autumn comfort – who could resist?

 

Edtech on Deck: AI Edition – Spinning Up Innovation

My most recent Edtech on Deck took an exciting turn with an AI-focused showcase, complete with a carnival spinning wheel of great Ai tools for teachers!  Oh…and I bought a cool little cotton-candy making machine as a “hook” to get curious (but possibly reluctant) staff to at least come over to the table….and it worked!  (…and I also brought that neck/shoulder massager to the setup because it’s always requested!  Haha – teachers LOVE that thing!)

The spinning wheel featured an awesome array of AI tools designed to save teachers time, and there is definitely a WOW factor about each of them!  From Google Gemini and ChatGPT to Claude, Gamma, School AI, Magic School AI, Notebook LM, and more, the wheel offered a quick, engaging introduction to some of my favorite Ai tools for teachers!  My goal was simple yet powerful: demystify AI and show that these tools are really very easy for anyone to use!

I know that my teachers are busy. Like, crazy busy. So, I designed these quick 3-5 minute AI demos to be super respectful of their lunch or prep time. The cotton candy machine?  It wasn’t just about the sugar rush – it was my secret weapon for breaking the ice and getting teachers curious about something they might normally not stop to learn.  They had lots of fun with it, and I enjoyed watching them catch cotton candy on a stick/cone while I snuck in a meaningful little Ai demo. 😉

My whole pitch was basically that AI isn’t scary.  It’s just another awesome tool in your teaching toolkit that can totally save you time and make your life easier. Want to draft a quick parent email? Brainstorm lesson ideas? Create a study guide? The AI tools I showed have it all covered. By spinning up some cotton candy and firing up that carnival wheel, it turned what could have been a boring tech demo into something fun, approachable, and honestly, pretty magical.  This was a fun one!

 

 

Why I Do It

At the end of the day, these Edtech On Deck days are about more than just introducing new tools or tips—they’re about relationships. Being visible in the faculty lunchroom, connecting with teachers (even those who don’t typically seek out consults), and creating an environment where they feel comfortable to stop by and chat is what it’s all about….it’s what I’M all about! 😊 It’s a great way for me to meet new teachers, stay connected with everyone, and offer support in a way that doesn’t feel like another item on their to-do list.

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If you’ve ever thought about doing something like this in your own school, I’d love to chat and share ideas!   You can always reach me via my website at Kerszi.com.