April 2, 2025Featured Speaker15 New AI Tools to Try TodayState of Maryland Literacy Association Conference 2025

Dr. Monica Burns — EdTech consultant, Apple Distinguished Educator, and founder of ClassTechTips.com — presents on 15 new AI tools for educators at the State of Maryland Literacy Association Conference. Burns has established herself as one of the most trusted voices in educational technology, known for her ability to cut through the hype and identify tools that genuinely enhance teaching and learning. In this session, she shares her latest curated collection of AI-powered resources that educators can start using immediately, with practical strategies for integrating each tool into existing classroom workflows. What distinguishes Burns from many edtech presenters is her consistent emphasis on pedagogy first, technology second: every tool she recommends is evaluated against its capacity to support assessment, differentiation, and student engagement rather than simply its novelty. As the author of EdTech Essentials and Tasks Before Apps, and host of the Easy EdTech Podcast, she brings a deep understanding of what educators actually need from technology — tools that save time, improve instruction, and are accessible to teachers at all levels of technical confidence. This session is particularly timely as educators navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of generative AI, seeking guidance on which tools are genuinely useful, how to use them responsibly, and how to prepare students for a world where AI literacy is becoming essential.