In this episode, I chat with Dr. Jessica Espinoza, university professor of curriculum and instruction, about what it really means to use meaningful learning experiences instead of worksheets. You’ll also hear how sketchnoting builds reading comprehension, why thinking maps are the most natural swap for a worksheet, and how AI can help you create listening tasks that lead to deeper thinking. If you want practical routines that make student thinking visible this school year, this episode has you covered!
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Tips for What to Use Instead of Worksheets
- Before you assign a worksheet, name your intention for it and ask whether the worksheet is actually the thing teaching the skill.
- Turn sketchnoting into a daily or weekly routine, not a once-in-a-while activity, so students can go deeper each time they do it.
- Assess open-ended tasks by asking students to talk you through their sketch, and record that explanation with a device so you have the artifact.
- Start with thinking maps as your first step away from worksheets, and focus on just two to four of the eight maps per grade level.
SPONSORED BY my free study guide for EdTech Essentials
This episode is sponsored by my free study guide for EdTech Essentials: 12 Strategies for Every Classroom in the Age of AI. If your team is planning a book study or PLC this fall, the study guide gives you ready-to-use discussion prompts and reflection questions so you don’t have to build everything from scratch. It’s a digital download, so you can share it with your whole group in seconds. Head to ClassTechTips.com/studyguide to grab your free copy! Check it out here >>
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EPISODE RESOURCES
- Connect with Dr. Jessica Espinoza on LinkedIn, Instagram, & X (Twitter)
- Learn more about Dr. Jessica’s work with Partner Learning
- Google NotebookLM (AI-powered research & note-taking tool)
- Teachers Pay Teachers (Teaching resources & lesson plans)
- Demystifying Sketchnoting for Students and Teachers with Karen Bosch (Podcast Episode)
- Using Student Podcast Projects to Check for Understanding with Katie Brooks (Podcast Episode)
- 5 Wild NotebookLM Features for Teachers You Need to Try (Blog Post)
- Creating Uncheatable Assessments in the Age of AI with Michael Hernandez (Podcast Episode)
- 12 Tips for Using Podcasts with Students (Blog Post)
- Tips for Using Templates with Students with Eve Heaton (Podcast Episode)
