Alcoa Connects

Tom Larson - Alcoa City Schools

The official podcast from the Alcoa City Schools Technology Department in Alcoa, TN.

  1. JAN 12

    Bring Your Lessons to Life with Gemini-Powered Audio

    Google has just launched a game-changing feature in Google Classroom that makes catering to these different learning modalities easier than ever: Podcast-style Audio Lessons powered by Gemini.

    12 min

  2. 12/15/2025

    EdTech for a More Productive, Organized, and Connected Classroom!

    As we step into 2026, many of us are setting new goals, both personally and professionally. This year, let's harness the incredible power of educational technology not just for engaging students, but for making our lives as educators more efficient, organized, and connected than ever before.

    13 min

  3. 12/15/2025

    Tech Triage: Diagnosing Common Chromebook Issues

    In the fast-paced K-12 environment, waiting for a tech ticket to be resolved can mean a lost learning opportunity. The good news? You don’t need a degree in computer science to fix 80% of the issues that pop up in the classroom.

    13 min

  4. 12/04/2025

    Stop Buying "Cute" PDFs: Why AI Tools Are All You Need

    In 2025, buying static resources is obsolete. With tools like Canva, Google Gemini, and NotebookLM, you don't need to be a consumer anymore. You can be a creator—without spending your weekend doing it.

    15 min

  5. 11/13/2025

    Digital Keys: Keeping Passwords Private & Secure

    In today's K-12 educational landscape, technology is at the heart of teaching and administration. We rely on countless digital tools—Learning Management Systems (LMS), grading software, student information databases, and shared drive accounts. But with this convenience comes a profound responsibility: securing the sensitive data we access every day, especially our students' private information. The foundation of this security rests on something simple, yet often overlooked: your password.

    14 min

  6. 11/11/2025

    The Digital First Classroom

    With school budgets committing significant funds to hardware and software, it's time to intentionally bridge the gap and truly embrace the digital-first classroom. This isn't about eliminating paper entirely, but about making digital the default for efficiency and engagement.

    14 min

  7. 11/06/2025

    NotebookLM in Google Classroom

    NotebookLM, now integrated with Google Classroom as an AI-powered teaching and learning companion, is primed and ready to take your instruction to the next level! Grounded entirely in your own curriculum. Whether it's lecture notes, readings, or primary sources, NotebookLM is designed to foster interactive, multimodal, and guided learning experiences.

    12 min

  8. 10/21/2025

    How GEMINI GEMS Can Transform Your Classroom!

    Are you constantly on the lookout for innovative ways to engage your students, personalize learning, and make complex concepts shine? What if I told you there's a powerful, yet surprisingly simple, tool that can help you do just that? Enter GEMINI GEMS!

    12 min
See All (56)

About

The official podcast from the Alcoa City Schools Technology Department in Alcoa, TN.

Information

  • Creator
    Tom Larson - Alcoa City Schools
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Tom Larson - Alcoa City Schools
  • Show Website
    Alcoa Connects