A group of educators gathers in a school gymnasium, standing in a semi-circle and smiling at the camera. Many are wearing red, gray, or black shirts with school spirit logos. A person in the center holds a golden basketball, symbolizing a team achievement or event. The gym features a basketball hoop and a red and white color scheme on the walls.

March isn’t just for basketball—it’s the perfect time to bring some competitive fun to professional learning!

Get ready for Tech Madness, an engaging way for teachers to dive into new EdTech tools, sharpen their skills, and have some fun through friendly competition! When I say high energy, I expect tech coaches to have their whistles out, rally educators, and bring their A-game. Whether it’s between grade levels, schools, or district-wide rivalries, it’s about to be game on!

What is Tech Madness? 🏀

How it works:

Inspired by the excitement of March Madness, Tech Madness turns professional learning into a gamified, high-energy experience.

Educators take their best shots on a virtual basketball court, completing challenges that introduce them to powerful classroom tools—or take a deep dive into Book Creator!

Each shot corresponds to a different challenge:

🏀 1-pointer – A quick intro task

🏀 2-pointer – A skill-building activity

🏀 3-pointer – A deeper application

🏀 Half-court shot (5 points!) – An advanced challenge

Teachers complete challenges, submit evidence (such as screenshots), and earn points for their team. I use a Google Form for teachers to submit their evidence, making it easy to track progress and update the leaderboard.

A live leaderboard keeps the competition exciting, sparking engagement and collaboration among educators. I typically update the scoreboard every day or two, depending on whether you're running the competition for a one-week sprint or stretching it to two weeks for even more action!

Tech madness: edTech edition

In this edition, teachers discover a variety of digital tools that enhance instruction. Whether it's exploring AI-powered feedback, interactive whiteboards, or creative tools, every challenge is practical and classroom-ready.

Tech Madness: Book Creator edition

For educators looking to master Book Creator, this special edition focuses on unlocking the power of digital storytelling.

Participants will:

📖 Learn key features like audio, video, and collaboration tools

💡 Explore creative ways to engage students with multimedia-rich books

🏆 Take on advanced challenges that encourage innovation in digital publishing

Start your journey now! Dive into the Book Madness Book and transform learning with Book Creator!

Ways to make it more fun! 🏆

Create friendly rivalries – Set up competitions between grade levels, schools, or even districts to boost engagement.
Add incentives – Offer fun rewards like a lunch treat, a jeans pass for the week, or a traveling trophy to keep the excitement high.
Celebrate success – Recognize participants with shoutouts in staff meetings, newsletters, or on social media to highlight their achievements.

Last year, we took Tech Madness to the next level, competing against two rival districts, and let’s just say—we didn’t need a buzzer beater! To bring the hype, I did what I do best and created an epic video to fire everyone up. The stakes? The winning district would claim the coveted "gold ball" trophy. But my admin sweetened the deal—if we won, teachers got to wear jeans for TWO weeks!

Ms. Patrick, a first-grade teacher, stands in a gymnasium alongside a Farmer Faubs, both smiling and holding a golden basketball labeled "Digital Dunk - Tech Madness Champion." She is wearing a black "Tigers" t-shirt, jeans, and white sneakers, while her colleague is dressed in a gray "Bethel-Tate Tigers" sweatshirt and khaki pants. The background features a basketball court with red and gray walls.

Ms. Patrick and Farmer Faubs celebrate their Tech Madness victory, proudly holding the "Digital Dunk - Tech Madness Champion" golden basketball trophy.

Needless to say, we came out on top, and the impact went far beyond the competition. Not only did teachers discover new tech tools, but it also strengthened teamwork and collaboration. Mrs. Patrick, a first-grade teacher known for her competitive streak, took charge by leading the K-2 teachers in her building during PLCs, making sure every task was completed. Her leadership turned what could have been just a game into a true team-building experience—proving that Tech Madness isn’t just about points, it’s about bringing educators together in a fun, engaging way!

Why teachers love tech madness

Gamified Learning – Transforms professional development into an engaging and interactive experience.
Choice and Flexibility – Allows teachers to choose challenges that align with their interests and skill levels.
Collaboration and Competition – Encourages teamwork and engagement through friendly rivalries.
Immediate Classroom Impact – Provides practical challenges that can be implemented right away.