Control Alt Achieve: EdTech Links

Each week I keep an eye out for the latest edtech resources through blogs, social media, podcasts, videos, user groups, and more. I then try to reshare these resources in many ways.

One way I share these is here on the blog in these "EdTech Links of the Week" posts. See below to explore the latest batch of resources, and be sure to share with others who may benefit.

If you want to make sure you don't miss new resources, you can:

🔗 View all EdTech Links of the Week: bit.ly/caa-links

📰 Sign up for my weekly email newsletter: bit.ly/curts-news
📧 Join the "Control Alt Achieve" email discussion group: bit.ly/caa-emailgroup
🔔 Get new blog posts automatically through email - FollowIt link

And as always, please let me know of any resources that you recommend. I would love to learn from you!

This week I have 4 resources from around the Internet and 7 resources from my blog.

▶️ Recorded Webinar - Creating and Sharing Gemini Gems

Resource Link

I recently presented a webinar about creating and sharing Gemini Gems. In this deep-dive hands-on session we covered the following:

🔎 Explore Google's pre-made Gems and the 100+ Gems on my EduGems site
🛠️ Create new Gems from scratch
💬 Learn tips for effective prompting, reference files, and tool selection
🔗 Share the Gems we create
🗃️ Discover how to build a high-quality Gem repository for your staff and students

The recording of the webinar is now available at the link above. Feel free to share with others and I would love to see what Gems you create!

📓 Upcoming Webinar - NotebookLM for Schools

Resource Link

I am excited to be presenting a free webinar about NotebookLM for schools. In this deep-dive hands-on session we will:

🗃️ Add sources to Notebooks including your own Google Docs, Slides, PDFs, websites, videos and more
💬 Explore how to "chat" with your sources to find specific answers and summarize key concepts
🔊 Use the powerful Studio tools to instantly generate Audio and Video Overviews, slide decks, infographics, mind maps, data tables, flashcards, quizzes, and reports
💡 Discover practical and creative ways to use NotebookLM for teaching and learning

See below for details to participate in this training:

📓 NotebookLM: Your Grounded AI Super Tool
🗓️ Tuesday, March 17th, 2026
⏰ 3pm ET / 2pm CT / 1pm MT / Noon PT
▶️ The webinar will be live-streamed and also recorded for those who can't attend live
✅ Register at bit.ly/mar17nblm or in this Google Form

I hope you will join me for this exciting webinar!

💎 New EduGems

Each week I try to add new Gems to my EduGems website. Since last newsletter the site has now reached 109 Gems! Below are the newest ones added to the site:

⚽ PE Game Inventor
Create fresh, engaging, and developmentally appropriate physical education games on the fly based on your specific daily constraints

🗣️ CTE Client Simulator
Help CTE students practice their diagnostic questioning, intake procedures, and customer service skills in a safe, low-stakes simulation.

🎯 Simple Slides
Convert complex topics, texts, standards, or articles into highly accessible, low-cognitive-load slideshows tailored for diverse learners

🎓 Transition Portfolio
Assist with Post-Secondary Transition by completing a SPIN analysis and generating an IDEA-aligned portfolio blueprint

📰 What's new in Google for February 2026

Resource Link

For an easy way to catch up on everything new in Google for Education from the last month, check out the recorded video, detailed agenda, and all the links from the GEG-Ohio February 2026 Meeting. As usual we shared lots of news, updates, helpful ideas and resources for schools. What is your favorite update?

⏳ Time Travel App

Resource Link

Time Travel App is an interactive world history map providing visual access to historical events, persons and realms. The interface updates as you move across years, decades or centuries and lets you explore the past in a way that is fast and engaging.

Move the time slider to a period that captures your interest and scroll across the map to begin exploring. The map will display the historical borders of the period, but with today’s cities and towns for reference. You can also use the search bar to navigate directly to a particular historical item or place on the map. Wherever you land, you will see suggestions of events around that time and place to learn more about.

You can learn more on their YouTube channel with an introductory video and exemplary use cases.

✖️ Stand-up Maths

Resource Link

As a previous math teacher I am always looking for creative ways to engage students in mathematical thinking. For years I have thoroughly enjoyed Matt Parker's YouTube channel "Stand-up Maths". Matt is an Australian mathematician (hence the "Maths" instead of "Math") and a stand-up comedian, which makes his video humorous as well as educational.

If you are looking for engaging math-related content to incorporate into your class (most likely MS and HS level), be sure to check out his YouTube channel with hundreds of videos spanning the last 14 years.

🎵 Lyria Song Generation in Gemini

Resource Link

In the past I have had a blast using tools such as Suno to generate lots of educational songs including Trapezoid Area Song, Punnett Square Song, Holes Book Trailer, Tree Type Tango, and more. Well now Google has added song generation to the Gemini app!

From Gemini you simply click the "Tools" menu and choose "Create music".
Then describe the song you would like with text (or even an uploaded image or video for reference).
You can pick from sample styles or describe the music you want.
You can add your own lyrics or let Gemini write them for you (or even use my "Song Lyrics" Gem to help you create them).
And the Gemini will create the song complete with vocals and music.
You can then download the audio or the video version of the song and use it however you want.

For free users of Gemini you can create 10 songs per day (50 per day for paid users). Also at the moment the songs are limited to 30 seconds in length, but my guess is Google is just testing this out now and hopefully will add the option for full-length songs in the future. Still though this can be great for a greeting, introduction, or short educational hook (here is one I made about the stages of a butterfly life cycle).

🚨 Factile

Resource Link

We all know the drill... test prep rolls around, and students groan at another review packet. What if they were excited to review instead?

With Factile, you can build a complete Jeopardy-style review game in minutes using AI. Just input your topic and let the AI do the heavy lifting. You can also enter your own or upload from Excel. Here's what makes it a game-changer:

🤖 AI Game Creation: Go from zero to game-ready in minutes
📳 Virtual Buzzers: Students' phones become buzzers for that real game-show wow factor
🎮 6 Game Modes, 1 Question Set: Flashcards, match, quiz & more without extra prep
📚 Question Banks: Mix and vary games so every review feels fresh
🖥️ Easy Hosting: You're in control, start to finish

Test prep doesn't have to be boring. See why Factile is trusted by over 5,400 school districts and create your first game today! Learn more