Exciting Updates: App Arcade Changes, Vibe Coding Series Launch, and Fantasy Vocabulary League
- Dustin Rimmey
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Happy Monday! After returning home from TCEA, I dealt with not just 1 but all three of my kiddos getting sick with a crud being passed around their school. But don't you fret! While they were taking some cold medicine-induced naps and getting better, my brain was stirring, and I was motivated to bottle up some of my post-conference energy!
In today's Monday-MegaPost, you'll find three quick things to add some play to your day!
Updates to the App/Game Arcade
A NEW Youtube Series: Vibe Coding for Educators
The Vocabulary Fantasy League
No more gilding the lily! Let's go!
What’s New in the App Arcade?
Like I mentioned last week, and couldn't shut up about at TCEA, I'm obsessed with vibe coding (more on that later!). During and after TCEA, I made some updates (one much needed) based on some feedback from folks, so here's your quick changelog!
Improved Navigation
One of the biggest changes is the cleaner navigation to the page. Instead of items randomly pasted on the page, all willy-nilly, they're now organized by category! As I continue to code and construct different apps and/or games, I will probably introduce some sort of filtering mechanism or use some sub-pages in the future!
Fresh App Additions
Two new apps since last week. First is a connections-inspired US and World History game with 32 puzzles per content area. The second is the "revolution lab," which gives students a playthrough of the French Revolution to see how their actions might have led to different outcomes. I will also add additional levels, etc., to the next version of the game to include the US, Iran, China, Russia, and more!
Coming Soon: Teacher Resources
Several apps will come with guides for educators. These guides will include suggested lesson plans, assessment ideas, and tips for differentiating instruction.
Introducing Vibe Coding for Educators: A New YouTube Series
During my final presentation at TCEA, I mentioned vibe coding, and I was shocked at the number of educators who haven't heard about this trend! If you’ve been curious about coding items for your classroom but don’t know where to start, I have great news. This Friday marks the launch of Vibe Coding for Educators, a YouTube series designed specifically for teachers like you!
The Short Sell:
Stop searching for the "perfect" app and start vibe coding it.
We’ve all lost hours scrolling through the App Store, looking for a tool that fits our curriculum, only to find expensive subscriptions, clunky interfaces, or games that are just slightly "off" for our grade level. But what if you could just describe the lesson activity you want and have it built for you in seconds? That’s the power of Vibe Coding: a new movement that uses tools like Canva and Google Gemini to create interactive quizzes, simulators, and study aids using nothing but natural language. No syntax, no brackets, and no computer science degree required; just your pedagogical vision turned into reality.
What Will It Look Like?
To help you master this shift, I’m launching a brand-new, 20-part video masterclass series. We’re splitting it into two tracks: Canva Code for stunning, interactive visuals, and Gemini Canvas for deep, logic-driven tools like physics simulators and AI tutors. Each tutorial is under five minutes and designed to take you from a blank page to a classroom-ready tool instantly. The future of ed-tech isn’t about learning to code; it’s about coding to learn. The series drops this Friday, so get your prompts ready, and let’s build something amazing together!
What Will the Episodes Cover?
The series will start with a "Lesson Zero" designed to introduce what vibe coding is, and why I'm obsessed!
The series then is divided into two different "Units" that can be explored independently of each other based on the tools you have access to, or programs you are comfortable with!
Episode | Unit 1: Canva Code | Unit 2: Google Gemini + Gemini Canvas |
1 | The Intro Button (Basic Interactivity) | The Intro UI (Basic Logic/To-Do List) |
2 | The Vibe Check (SEL Mood Meter) | The Research App (Study Tool Generator) |
3 | The Boss Battle (Gamified Quiz) | The Science Lab (Physics Simulator) |
4 | The Choice Map (Interactive Storytelling) | The Peer Reviewer (AI Writing Coach) |
5 | Math Blocks (Digital Manipulatives) | The Multi-Lang Tool (Real-Time Translation) |
6 | The Plant Timer (Visual Productivity) | The Socratic Bot (AI Tutor Persona) |
7 | Pro Flashcards (Study Tools) | The Data Viz (Live Charts & Graphs) |
8 | The Hover Map (Discovery Learning) | The History Hotline (Historical Chatbot) |
9 | The Digital Lock (Escape Room Gate) | The Rubric Builder (Auto-Feedback Tool) |
10 | The Class Hub (Portfolio Website) | The Code Export (Saving & Sharing) |
You can watch the episodes yourself to build confidence in your creation! The series encourages hands-on practice, so you can learn by doing. The current plan is to release the first 3 episodes from each track on Friday, with additional videos coming next week! I'm super excited, and I hope you are too!
Low-Tech Game: Fantasy Vocabulary League!
Vocabulary instruction can sometimes feel dry, but the Fantasy Vocabulary League offers a creative way to make it lively and competitive without relying on screens or apps.
How the Fantasy Vocabulary League Works
Ready to trade the groans of rote memorization for the cheers of Game Day? I’ve developed a Vocabulary Football League (VFL) that transforms the standard weekly grind into a high-stakes, 16-week semester of competition. Instead of students passively flipping through flashcards, they are drafted into permanent teams like the "Synonym Spartans" or "Dangling Modifiers" (or something less cringey that they create), where every definition learned contributes to a collective drive down the field. The system is built to sustain momentum from Week 1 all the way to the Super Bowl, turning your whiteboard into a gridiron where individual accountability meets team rivalry.
This isn’t just a one-off game; it’s a "Complete Classroom Edition" framework designed to run itself. The pack includes everything from printable standings trackers for your hallway display to a flexible playoff bracket that builds anticipation as the semester closes. Whether you teach ELA, Social Studies, or Science, the format adapts to your specific subject matter, allowing you to plug in your own word lists while the league structure handles the engagement. It’s time to post the standings, blow the whistle, and watch your students compete for vocabulary supremacy!
Benefits of This Approach
Engagement: Students get excited about “playing” with words rather than just memorizing definitions.
Collaboration: Teamwork encourages peer learning and discussion about word meanings and usage.
Low-Tech: No need for devices or complicated setups, making it accessible for any classroom.
Is it Friday Yet?
I'm super excited to start sharing some more substantial things beyond my random online musings and the occasional template. Also, if you missed my announcement at TCEA and you've read this far...I also have an eBook that is in it's next to last pass on editing and making sure everything is linked correctly...but you may see that next week!
I'm off to finish editing videos! <3
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