Tech Tool #1, Google Vids

Check out Google Vids for yourself: vids.google.com

R. May Martinez / Tech Tool #1-2/1/2026, 9:58 AM.mp4

Google Vids is a super friendly, user-friendly video creation tool that I use in a variety of ways, especially to support students. It’s great for providing personalized video feedback, offering quick praise or shout-outs, and creating clear how-to videos that students can rewatch at their own pace. Because it works like other Google tools, it’s easy to record, edit, and organize content without a steep learning curve. One important setback to note is that Google Vids are not immediately shareable with students—you must first convert the video to your Google Drive and then adjust the sharing settings so it can be viewed by everyone. Once that step is done, it becomes a powerful and flexible tool for communication, instruction, and encouragement.

Tech Tool #2, GIFS, Screenshots, and Avatars

Create a GIF: ezgif.com/maker

GIF

Unit 2 Activity 2 Folder Set up and Photo Settings

SCREENSHOTS

Screenshots, GIFs, and avatars can be powerful communication tools for keeping students informed and engaged in a more personal way. Screenshots make it easy to clearly show grade feedback or walk students through comments in an assignment, while GIFs add a quick, friendly visual cue that can lighten the tone of announcements or reminders. Avatars—especially animated ones—take personalization a step further by helping messages feel human and encouraging rather than purely transactional. For example, an animated avatar sending congratulations for strong performance or improvement can motivate students and reinforce a sense of connection, making digital communication feel warmer, more supportive, and more memorable.

ANIMATED AVATAR

Unit2ANIMOJI.mov

Tech Tool #3: Google Slides and Videos

Check out Google Slides for yourself: slides.google.com

Google Slides has some amazing new features that let AI create a slideshow for you. If you haven’t tried it yet, you should definitely check it out! All you need to do is enter a prompt with your information, and the tool will generate a slide for you.

There is one small caveat: it currently creates one slide at a time. However, you still have control over the design after it generates the slide, and you can easily edit the text or adjust the layout to better fit your needs.

For this task, the goal was to create a presentation that allows students to access content visually. Google Vids helped make my presentation more engaging, accessible, and dynamic, complementing the slides.

Tech Tool #4: Creating Graphics with CANVA AI

Check out CANVA AI for yourself: www.canva.com/ai-assistant/

I have found Canva AI to be an effective tool for creating instructional graphics for my courses. Using this platform has allowed me to design visual supports that provide accommodations and simplify directions for larger assignments. For instance, the Pop Art Selfie task originally included a 12-slide process; through the use of a single graphic, I was able to condense this into five clear, student-friendly steps.

Additionally, I created the “Habla en Español” Chan Lasso graphic to encourage students to continue using Spanish throughout the course while also reinforcing cultural connections. This visual serves as both a language support and a cultural reference point for students.

I also developed a personalized graphic of myself at the Bad Bunny concert during the Super Bowl. This image closely matched the outfit I wore and resembled my appearance, allowing me to incorporate a personal connection into the course while increasing student engagement.

All of these graphics were created in Canva AI by generating visuals from written prompts. While integrating AI tools may initially feel intimidating, they offer meaningful opportunities to enhance instruction, support diverse learners, and create engaging classroom materials.

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