Cultivating Digital Creators in Elementary School:

From Consumers to Creators: Pedagogy First. Technology Second. Empowering elementary students through Clickable, Choice, Curation, Collaboration, and Connection.

Meet Debbie Tannenbaum 2025 VATLL/VASCD Impact Award Winner | ISTE 20 to Watch

I help schools stop the "Whack-a-Mole" approach to EdTech. As an active Elementary Tech Coach with over 25 years of experience, I test every strategy in real classrooms to ensure it builds sustainable systems of Student Agency and Inquiry. Unlike consultants who have left the classroom, I share what works now, not what worked five years ago.

My mission is to empower elementary educators to move students from consumers to creators using the Essential 5 Cs of Communicating Ideas: Clickable, Choice, Curation, Collaboration, and Connection. I offer schools expertise in Inclusive Innovation, leveraging Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and AI tools to ensure every student’s voice is heard.

Elementary educators require a unique approach to build digital foundations. As your guide, I will help you move beyond the "Whack-a-Mole" approach to technology and build sustainable systems for student agency and inquiry.

Ready to make a difference? Check out my Ignite talk or explore the customized session options below to start your transformation!

Ignite Talk: ISTE 2024 - Developing Future Innovators: 3 Tech Integration Strategies for Little Creators

See how my framework for 'Little Creators' evolved into the comprehensive Essential 5 Cs I use today (adding Curation & Connection) to better serve the needs of today's digital learners.

Tannenbaum Tech's Areas of Impact

Focus: Building Sustainable Student Agency

Stop chasing apps. Implement a scalable framework—Clickable, Choice, Curation, Collaboration, Connection—that aligns technology with your instructional vision.

Focus: Gemini for Education

Adopt the mindset of an Innovative Designer. Learn to use Google Gemini as a custom "thought partner" to generate leveled texts and visual scaffolds that ensure every student is heard.

Focus: Moving Beyond "Answer-Getting

Move beyond digital worksheets. Equip teachers with the skills to use tools like Amplify-Desmos and Wixie to visualize complex concepts and facilitate deep mathematical discourse.

Focus: Turn-Taking to Teaming

: Overcome the fear of group work. Master the collaboration continuum: guiding students from "Turn-taking" to "Color-coded" spaces, and Guided Inquiry Projects, bridging the gap to independent Project Based Learning.

What Educators are Saying

Signature Professional Learning Experiences

The Essential 5 Cs for Communicating Ideas

Format: Keynote or Workshop

Move beyond the basics to explore Clickable, Choice, Curation, Collaboration, and Connection. Learn to use Project Zero’s thinking routines to help students organize ideas and connect to authentic audiences.

Perfect for: District-wide tech integration, Digital Literacy initiatives

Featured in Educational Leadership:

Digital Foundations- It's Elementary

Inclusive Innovation:
UDL and AI Tools for Student-Centered Learning

Format: Workshop (3 Hours) or Breakout Session

Discover practical strategies and cutting-edge tools aligned with the latest UDL guidelines. Learn how to use AI to differentiate instruction, personalize learning, and empower diverse learners in a student-centered environment.

Perfect for: Inclusion specialists, Tech coaches, General Ed teachers

Featured in Edutopia:
Using AI to Support Universal Design for Learning
in Elementary School

Transforming Elementary Math Instruction

Format: Workshop or Breakout Session

Create a math classroom where students visualize concepts and facilitate rich discourse. Move beyond "finding the answer" by using tools like Desmos, Wixie, and Flashcard Factory to deepen reasoning and differentiation.

Perfect for: Math specialists, Elementary classroom teachers.

Read my Edutopia article:
Using Tech Tools to Energize Young Students’ Math Learning

Building Cultures of Collaboration

Format: Breakout Session

Overcome the fear of group work! Master the collaboration continuum: starting with "Turn-taking" to define roles, moving to "Color-coded" spaces and Guided Inquiry Projects, and bridging to independent Project-Based Learning.

Perfect for: Early childhood and elementary educators, New teacher induction.

Read my Edutopia article:
Fostering Collaboration Among Young Students Using Digital Tools