Choosing the Tools & Habits to Create Content, Manage Your Learning, and Influence Others

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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Hello friends, So, you might decide you want to share online. You might think you want to speak at conferences and such. But how do you manage it all and still teach in the classroom? I mean, our jobs are already TOO BUSY, so isn't doing more just asking for trouble?

For me, sharing changed my life for the good when I started in 2005. It is also a way to share what I'm doing inside my classroom with the outside world. Now, almost 20 years later, I have a collection of tools. I use them to help me “get it all done.” From the tools I use to read and capture news, to how I produce my shows (including this one), in this episode I break it down and share all of the tools.

So first we talk to James Clear from an older episode I recorded with him the week that his best seller, Atomic Habits, was launched. We talk about the habits and workflows that students and teachers need to know. Then, we go into how his thinking has helped me select the tools and things I use everyday.

Get all three parts of this series to start with how you define your purpose, how you teach students about personal branding, how you look at what to do (and not to do) with the 7 principles of personal branding that I share, as well as this show which focuses on the tools.

This is intended to be a legacy type 3 part series in the hopes that it will bring many more teachers into the conversation. Your voice matters. You need to be heard. Let me know how I can help.

🎙️Listen to the original interview with James Clear (381)

Watch this video on YouTube.Subscribe to the Cool Cat Teacher Channel on YouTube

Podcast – Audio Only

Tools for Managing Your Learning, Platform, and Content Creation

Here are some of the tools I use. Watch the video for how.

AI Research & Reading Tools

• Readwise Reader – Central hub for all reading material
• Feedly – RSS feed aggregator for collecting content
• Readwise Chrome Extension – One-click web article saving
• Perplexity Pro – AI-powered research assistant

Note-Taking & Organization

• Evernote – Digital filing cabinet for notes and documents
• Day One – Electronic journal for thoughts and experiences
• Physical index card system (Zettelkasten) – Based on Sönke Ahrens' book “How to Take Smart Notes“

Content Creation Tools

• Ulysses – Distraction-free writing environment for blog posts
• Scrivener – Book writing software with iPad sync
• Vellum – Professional book formatting and publication
• Riverside – Recording and text-based editing for interviews
• Adobe Premiere Pro – Advanced video production
• Motion Array – Graphics and effects for Adobe Premiere Pro
• Auphonic – Audio processing for consistent quality
• ChatGPT – AI assistant for transcript processing and content creation

Distribution & Management

• WordPress – Blog publishing platform
• CoSchedule – Social media scheduling
• Libsyn – Podcast hosting platform
• Vidiq – YouTube optimization tools
• Opus Clip – Short-form content creation from longer videos
• Airtable – Data management for show information
• Calendly – Automated appointment scheduling
• Basecamp – Project management for show production
• Superhuman – Efficient email management

New AI Tools & Resources

• Windsurf Editor – AI and human code collaboration (acquired by OpenAI)
• Gemini 2.5 Pro – Google's latest AI model with enhanced coding capabilities
• Arena Web Dev Leaderboard – Rankings of AI models for web development
• Promptly Library – Categorized prompts for different AI use cases
• Prompt Perfect – Templates and optimization for AI prompts
• Lifetoon – Tool for creating personalized comics from memories

Mobile Capture

• Voice Memo app – For recording thoughts while driving
• Custom GPT – For interview-style idea development on mobile, see my article “How to Make Your Own GPT: A Step by Step Guide“

Educational Research

• Stanford AI Lab Blog – Source of research on productive struggle in AI education

Government Resources

• White House Executive Order on AI Education – Presidential AI initiative framework
• Digital Teaching Excellence Program – Federal funding for tech training

Ideas & Critiques

• “ChatGPTennis” Concept – Paul Matthews' critique of AI overreliance
• “What AI Lesson Plans Reveal About Who Matters” – James O'Hagan's analysis

File Attachment Comparison

• Gemini: 10 files (max 100 MB)
• Claude: 20 files (max 30 MB)
• OpenAI: 30 files (max 512 MB per file)

Disclosure of Material Connection: This episode includes some affiliate links. This means that if you choose to buy I will be paid a commission on the affiliate program. However, this is at no additional cost to you.  Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” This company has no impact on the editorial content of the show.

The post Choosing the Tools & Habits to Create Content, Manage Your Learning, and Influence Others appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

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