The Staffroom Blog
Ideas worth sharing. Conversations worth having.
Honest writing on educational technology, classroom practice, and the professional life of a modern educator. No jargon. No pretending it's easier than it is. Just real ideas for educators ready to grow.
The Overwhelmed Teacher
Discover how The Tech-Ready Teacher Academy helps busy teachers master edtech with ease, save time, and build confidence. Join as a Founding Member today. ...more
General ,The Tech-Ready Teacher Academy
September 07, 2026•2 min read
EdTech Successes and Failures: Sixteen Years of Both
Sixteen years in, I've had plenty of EdTech wins and just as many fails. Here's why both matter, and why neither should stop you trying. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•5 min read
No, Using AI Doesn't Make You a Lazy Teacher
Saw someone online say AI-using teachers are lazy and incompetent? Here's why that's wrong, and how I actually use AI responsibly in my own classroom. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•5 min read
Your Knowledge Is Worth More Than You Think
Every teacher has knowledge worth sharing. Here's why I think you're underestimating your expertise, and simple, free ways to start sharing it. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•6 min read
Bamboozle: The Gamified Tool That Doesn't Need Student Devices
Bamboozle is one of my favourite gamified learning tools, and it doesn't need a single student device. Here's why it's earned a permanent spot in my toolkit. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•5 min read
You Don't Have to Subscribe to Every EdTech Tool
You don't need to subscribe to every EdTech tool you find. Here's my honest, experience-based approach to deciding what's actually worth the money. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•5 min read
Pixton: The Comic Tool That Changed How My Students Engaged With an Assessment
How Pixton, a simple online comic creation tool, turned a struggling assessment task into one of my most successful classroom activities. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•5 min read
Why Podcasting Deserves a Place in Your Classroom
It's 2026, and podcasting is still underrated in the classroom. Here's how I've used it, from assessment tasks to student-led school content. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•5 min read
From The Ed Tech Teacher to Two International Awards: Our Journey So Far
I've been keeping a secret. Here's the story behind our brand's journey since 2020, and two international education awards along the way. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•6 min read
Google Vids: A Simple Way to Get Students Creating Video
Google Vids is a simple, Google Workspace video editor worth adding to your teacher tech toolkit. Here are practical classroom activities to try. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•5 min read
Google Sites: The Underrated Google Workspace Tool Worth Trying
Google Sites is one of the most underrated tools in Google Workspace. Here's how I've used it for resource hubs, portfolios, and more. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•5 min read
Why I Will Never Run a 100% Tech Classroom
I love EdTech, but I'll never run a fully tech-based classroom. Here's why I think purposeful, hybrid technology use matters more than going all-in. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•5 min read
Five Ways to Use Canva With Your Students
Love Canva but not sure how to use it with students? Here are five practical classroom ideas, from digital collages to student-made videos. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•5 min read
Why I Switched to an Electronic Teacher Diary (And Built My Own in Google Sheets)
Paper or electronic teacher diary? Here's why I moved to a Google Sheets system I built myself, and what's actually in it. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•6 min read
What's Actually Included in the Empowered Educator Hub
A full breakdown of what's included in the Empowered Educator Hub each month, masterclasses, templates, AI prompt packs, and what it actually costs. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•5 min read
What COVID Actually Taught Us About EdTech (and Why We Let It Slip)
COVID forced overnight EdTech adoption in classrooms everywhere. Here's why I think we squandered the chance to make it stick, and what's still worth saving. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•6 min read
My Favourite Google Classroom Tips (Learned the Hard Way)
My favourite Google Classroom tips, from topics to scheduling, all learned from real classroom mistakes so you don't have to make them too. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•6 min read
Why Educational Technology Actually Matters (A Bit of a Rant)
Still hearing that EdTech isn't important? Here's why I think that's doing our students a disservice, and what a realistic classroom approach looks like. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•6 min read
AI in the Classroom: Why I Don't Think You Should Be Scared of It
AI in the classroom doesn't have to be scary. Here's why I see it as a teaching assistant, not a threat, and where to learn more. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 30, 2026•6 min read
Free Classroom Templates for Teachers (And When It's Worth Paying for Them)
I've built 80+ free classroom templates for teachers, plus premium Canva templates from $5. Here's what's available and how to choose. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 29, 2026•6 min read
You Don't Need to Start Big with EdTech (Here's Where I Started)
Feeling behind on EdTech? Here's how my own love of educational technology started small, with a single tool, in a rural classroom. ...more
Tristan Heron
August 29, 2026•6 min read
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