Dalton Tech-Savy Tots
5317 Media Project
I’m excited to share a new media project that brings my research and innovation plan to life in a fresh format: a podcast! Check out the first episode of Little Learners, Big Tech, where we dive into a topic I’m passionate about, helping early childhood teachers confidently integrate technology to amplify student learning and voice. In this episode, my co-host and I unpack the ideas behind my publication and innovation plan, Overcoming Barriers to Technology in Early Childhood Classrooms. As an instructional coach working with Pre-K–2nd-grade teachers, I’ve seen how digital tools like iPads and Seesaw can spark creativity and independence, but also how intimidating it can be to start. Many teachers worry about “one more thing,” screen time, or losing authentic play. This conversation offers a different perspective: technology isn’t meant to replace hands-on learning but to enhance and document it. When used purposefully, tools like Seesaw enable even our youngest learners to capture their thinking, share their voices, and connect learning to families and the world beyond the classroom.
My innovation plan focuses on building sustainable professional learning that supports teachers with real-time modeling and coaching, moving away from one-and-done PD. The goal is simple: empower teachers so they can empower students — helping every child become an engaged, confident, and future-ready learner.
My goal with this podcast was to bring my innovation plan, 'Overcoming Barriers to Technology in Early Childhood Classrooms,' to life in a dynamic and accessible way. I wanted to demonstrate how digital tools can be used meaningfully, not just for students, but also for teachers learning new skills. Podcasting felt like the right medium because it’s conversational, story-driven, and allows deeper exploration than a single blog post or slide deck.
For this project, I experimented with app smashing, combining several digital tools to create a polished product. I used two AI tools that were new to me: Google’s Notebook, LM, and Adobe Podcast. Notebook LM helped me transform my written innovation plan into a natural-sounding, conversational podcast script. Adobe then let me edit both the transcript and audio easily, cleaning up filler words and refining the flow.
Because this was my first time using Notebook LM, there was a learning curve. At first, the AI tried to summarize my entire article instead of focusing on the key themes I wanted highlighted like building teacher confidence and showing purposeful iPad use with tools like Seesaw. I learned to create a separate script document that guided the AI. The first version ran over 18 minutes, but after several iterations and trimming in Descript, I landed on a clear and engaging episode just under 10 minutes.
This experience reinforced something I teach: digital tools work best when used with intention. App smashing isn’t about using tech for tech’s sake it’s about making smart choices, solving creative problems, and keeping your message and your audience in mind. That’s the same mindset I want to help teachers adopt as they bring iPads, Seesaw, and other tools into their early childhood classrooms.
Descript. (2025). AI video and podcast editor. https://web.descript.com/
Google. (2025). Notebook LM: Understand anything. https://notebooklm.google/
Harapnuik, D. & Thibodeaux, T. (2023). COVA: Inspire learning through choice, ownership, voice, and
authentic experiences. Learner's Mindset Publishing.