Interactive Learning Tools

If you teach neurodivergent students or are neurodivergent yourself, NotebookLM is worth exploring. It's a Google AI tool that works as multiple tools, like a research assistant. Students upload documents, and NotebookLM generates summaries, study guides, quiz questions, and podcast conversations of the material. This matters because many neurodivergent students get overwhelmed trying to process large amounts of information. NotebookLM gives students control over how they engage with learning. Need to hear information instead of reading? Use the podcast feature. Need material broken into smaller chunks? It creates summaries. Need to ask clarifying questions about confusing concepts? If you can prompt with curiousity, the AI responds based on what you uploaded. Brown and Saurez found that NotebookLM aligns with Universal Design for Learning, the framework for supporting diverse learning needs. Teachers are using it in large classes, small groups, and one-on-one settings. It also speeds up how quickly teachers create assessments and study guides. Current limits: computer access only, limited podcast voices. Google is working on updates. Citation: Brown, V., & Saurez, D. (2025). NotebookLM: Revolutionizing learning for students with neurodivert challenges using AI and universal design principles. FDLA Journal, 9(1), 22.

I’ve been using n8n to connect my Learning Record Store (LRS) with real-world user interactions. Right now, when an xAPI statement (learner interaction data) comes in, it can trigger a robot to dance when it scans for specific data in the LRS. Next, I’m layering in Slack messages that respond to specific learner interaction data. It’s a simple way to demonstrate a bigger idea. When we collect granular xAPI data from learning in the flow of work, we can actually do something with it. For example, a customer service simulation could be delivered directly in Slack as a link or interactive chat. The rep completes the scenario right where they work. Each response, such as how they phrase answers, how quickly they respond, and whether they resolve the issue, sends detailed xAPI data to your LRS. That data does not stop there. It could connect with performance data from real customer calls. If those calls show that a rep struggles with empathy or tone, the system can automatically generate a custom simulation to practice that specific skill. After completing it, the rep receives personalized feedback or follow-up practice in Slack based on what the system detected. This could be done in so many different ways like with GenAI to create adaptive practice or add an agent with memory that connects chat data, call insights, and internal systems to deliver coaching that feels timely and contextual. This moves learning from a single event to a continuous, adaptive experience that fits naturally into how people already work. #xAPI #learningdesign #learningintheflowofwork #LRS #GenAI #n8n #instructionaldesign #learninganddevelopment #futureoflearning

If our students passively absorb info, we failed them. They need active, meaningful, enduring learning. We do that by increasing conceptual friction (nod to Jason Gulya). Students need challenges and complexities to increase Critical thinking, problem-solving, deeper understanding. ✅ 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 #AI 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ➡️ Structured academic controversy Assign students different stances on an issue. Use AI to generate arguments for each side. ➡️ Predict-observe-explain (POE) activities Students predict outcomes, observe results, and explain observations. Use AI to simulate physical phenomena or historical events. Students test predictions and refine their understanding. ➡️ AI-generated prompts for critical thinking Generate complex, open-ended questions. Require students to apply knowledge in new ways. (Use Ruben Hassid Prompt Maker GPT to improve prompts.) ➡️ Interactive simulations and scenarios Create interactive simulations that mimic real-world scenarios. In a physics class, AI can simulate different frictional forces and their effects on motion, allowing students to experiment and observe outcomes in a controlled environment. ➡️ Analyzing AI responses Ask AI to write an essay or solve a problem. Students analyze and critique the AI responses. Identify errors, biases, and areas for improvement. ➡️ AI as a debate partner Use AI to simulate a debate partner. Help students practice argumentation skills. They respond to AI-generated counterarguments in real-time. ➡️ Scaffolded assignments Students use AI tools at different stages of their work. Brainstorm ideas, draft an outline, and refine final product. ➡️ Role-playing and simulations Simulate negotiations or market analysis. Provide a dynamic, interactive learning experience. Students and AI take on different roles in a simulated environment. ➡️ Feedback and revision cycles Provide instant feedback on student work. Encourage multiple revision cycles. ➡️ Ethical and societal implications Explore ethical and societal implications of decisions. Simulate the impact of different policies on society. ✅ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ➡️ Co-create expectations With students, define appropriate use and how AI should be cited. ➡️ Encourage reflection After using AI, students reflect on their experiences: How they'll use AI differently in the future. How AI influenced their thinking. What they learned. ➡️ Provide support and resources Tutorials, help sessions, online resources. Explain how to use AI effectively and ethically. ------------------------- Thoughtfully integrate AI into your classroom to ⬆️ conceptual friction. Challenge students. Promote critical thinking. Prepare them for an AI-infused future. ------------------------- ♻️ 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘀𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿

We Built 3 Apps Over Lunch Break! (Try Them For Yourself) Last week, I had the privilege of collaborating with leaders and educators at The Awty International School. The main thing I showcased is how AI helps one go from idea to execution in record time which unlocks innovative learning experiences for students. Importantly it empowers those closest to the problems to create more capable solutions 🚀 One of the highlights of our session was having the teachers themselves ideate about what to build for students. Over this lunch and learn we built 3 fully functional and shareable apps using AI tools Bolt and Replit (text to app). ❗Try them for yourself below❗ 1️⃣ Custom Quiz Creator 💡 Students generate custom quizzes based on any material they upload—PDFs, web links, YouTube videos, or text. • They can set the quiz length and difficulty. • Immediate feedback that points to the source material   • No 2 quizzes are exactly the same promoting understanding 👉 Try it here: https://lnkd.in/exu6XdaD 2️⃣ Personal Professional Pathfinder 🛣️ This tool lets students map their future: • Upload strengths, interests, and career goals to generate personalized career paths. • Create 5-year roadmaps to success based on their starting point. 👉 Try it here: https://lnkd.in/eC6fF94F 3️⃣ Mandarin Match-Maker 🐉 This visual quiz supports learning Mandarin (both Simplified and Traditional): • Users identify household items in Mandarin through multiple-choice questions. • Immediate feedback helps them master the language interactively. 👉 Try it here: https://lnkd.in/eFM8DPxD BONUS: Universal Translator with ChatGPT Voice Tool 🗣️ Awty is a global community where students speak many languages. During the session, I showcased how ChatGPT’s advanced AI can act as a universal translator: • Teachers at the table spoke 4–5 different languages. • AI seamlessly translated between them in real time, fostering a multilingual conversation like nothing I’ve experienced before. It’s early days, but these tools are already opening doors for AI-powered education. I’m excited to see how they evolve and continue to empower educators and students worldwide! Special thanks to Egmond Boon, Awty’s Chief Innovation Officer, for leading this innovative event. #EducationInnovation #AIinEducation #EmpoweringStudents #AIForGood

Google just rolled out interactive images in Gemini and this is a revolution. We’ve known for decades that real learning happens when you do, not when you passively read. But until now, most digital learning was just text on a screen. This changes that. • Tap a part of a diagram. • Get instant definitions, explanations, and context. • Ask follow up questions right there. • Go deeper at your own pace. It turns a simple image into a living, explorable learning space. Why does this matter? Because this is the future of cognitive augmentation. This is multimodal learning meeting real-time intelligence. This is how we shrink the gap between “I don’t get this” and “I understand it now.” As an AI educator, I’ve seen people struggle with complex topics not because they’re difficult, but because the learning experience is flat. Interactive images fix that. By speaking to your curiosity. And honestly, this is only the beginning. We’re heading into a world where: • every diagram becomes a mini-tutor • every textbook becomes dynamic • every learner gets a personalized, visual, on-demand explanation AI won’t replace human learning. It will make learning feel natural again. If you care about education, AI, or the future of knowledge work, bookmark this moment. We’ll look back and realize it was a turning point.

I've been testing Gemini 3 since launch. Here's 3 wild use cases that actually work: Use Case 1: Dense PDFs into infographics Every technical document is now a visual asset. I threw a 34-page white paper at Gemini. Here's what I did: ↳ Copy entire PDF text ↳ Paste into Gemini ↳ Use this exact prompt: "Take the following text and transform into a professor whiteboard image with diagrams, arrows, boxes, and captions explaining the core idea visually. Use colors as well." 30 seconds later? ↳ I received a complete whiteboard diagram. ↳ All mapped out like a professor drew it. Want it social-ready? Use this prompt: "Make this image 1080x1350 pixel dimensions" Boom. Perfect for mobile. Use Case 2: Functional web applications This shouldn't be possible: "Create an interactive app to test me on my body language when speaking in public." Gemini built a functioning web app. ↳ Camera feed tracking your movements ↳ Real-time posture analysis ↳ Live feedback graphs I pushed it further: 1. Enabled "Canvas" mode 2. Used the following prompt: "Create a stunning 3D visualisation of why the sky is blue." You can toggle atmosphere, manipulate in 3D. An AI professor explains the physics in real-time. Use Case 3: Interactive learning images Ask Gemini: "Why is the sky blue?" Forget text explanations. You get an interactive images. Click any wavelength: ↳ Infrared shows thermal imaging uses ↳ Visible light explains colour perception ↳ Each click reveals deeper layers Every element is interactive. Every interaction teaches something new. This is how education should work. Save this. Try it today. Repost ♻️ if this opened your eyes. P.S. Sunday's newsletter breaks down how to learn ANYTHING with AI. Including NotebookLM's hidden features: https://lnkd.in/e8FHXVcj

10 #Sites to Make Your #Online #Lessons More Interesting and Engaging 🎯 Welcome to my Wednesday post This is where I help beginner tutors become more confident, more skilled, and better prepared for online teaching. One question many online #tutors ask is: “How do I make my classes more engaging without stressing myself?” Here’s the truth: Engagement is not about doing too much. It’s about using the right tools at the right time. When you annotate on the screen to explain concepts, And intentionally combine worksheets, past questions, simulations, visuals, and games, your online class shifts from passive listening to active learning. Here are 10 powerful websites you can use to make your lessons more interactive, structured, and effective 👇 🎯 Sites for Teaching & Explaining Concepts 1️⃣ BBC Bitesize (KS3 Science) Clear explanations, short videos, and quizzes aligned to the curriculum. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dQ9sBDwS 2️⃣ STEM Learning Practical science resources and experiment ideas. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dSFGervg 3️⃣ Oak National Academy Ready-made lessons with slides and teacher guidance. 👉 https://lnkd.in/duxsEr6B 4️⃣ TES (Free Science Resources) Worksheets, lesson packs, and classroom presentations. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dxc-egMQ 5️⃣ PhET Simulations Interactive science and physics simulations — excellent for visual learners. 👉 https://phet.colorado.edu/ 6️⃣ Seneca Learning Interactive revision content and quick knowledge checks. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dhCFnfsE 7️⃣ CK-12 Science Digital textbooks and adaptive practice materials. 👉 https://lnkd.in/d3cGCbRX 🎯 Worksheets & Printable Practice 8️⃣ Twinkl Worksheets, lesson plans, PowerPoints, and assessments. 👉 https://www.twinkl.com.ng 9️⃣ Super Teacher Worksheets Printable worksheets for structured classwork and homework. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dx2d2QnV 🎯 Games & Visual Engagement 🔟 Wordwall Create interactive quizzes and online games for live lessons. 👉 https://wordwall.net 🎯 Bonus: Canva for Education Design engaging slides, worksheets, and lesson visuals. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dxUSw7rs Important to note: Games should not replace teaching. They should reinforce teaching. Teach the concept first. Check understanding. Then use games to strengthen what has already been learned. Entertainment without explanation creates excitement. Reinforcement after teaching creates retention. There’s a difference. If you found this helpful, save it for later. And repost 🔁 to help other teachers. I remain Oluwakemi Ajayi, raising confident learners, empowering intentional parents, and transforming educators. Always rooting for you 💙 #OnlineTeaching #OnlineTutor #TeachingResources #TeacherSupport #TutorLife #TeacherGrowth #EducationMatters #TeachingTips #LessonPlanning #InteractiveLearning #GiantStridesEduTech

I made an interactive enzyme simulator. Change the temperature, add or remove inhibitors, and tune the probability that enzymes bind their substrates. Watch as the reaction rate moves up or down in real-time. Maybe this will be a helpful teaching tool. View the full interactive here. You can also "fork" it and modify the code in your browser: https://lnkd.in/eu4SRriy

How Can Governments Empower 21st-Century Learning with Free, Innovative Tools? The Platform for Innovative Learning Assessments (PILA), developed by the OECD - OCDE, is a free, open-source digital platform designed to help educators teach and assess essential 21st-century skills such as computational thinking, self-regulated learning, and systems thinking. PILA offers research-based, interactive tools that enable teachers to create customized learning activities, track student progress in real time through digital dashboards, and deliver immediate, personalized feedback. Its adaptive design ensures accessibility for all learners while still challenging high performers. For governments, PILA provides a scalable and cost-effective solution to support curriculum implementation, enhance teacher training, and improve the quality of classroom assessments. By integrating learning and assessment, PILA drives innovation in education systems and generates valuable insights to inform policy development and systemic reform. https://pilaproject.org/