10 Cool Finds at ISTELive + ASCD’s 2025 Annual Conference

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10 Cool Finds at ISTELive + ASCD’s 2025 Annual Conference

Every year, it’s one of our favorite parts of the trip STELive + ASCD Annual Conference scours the exhibit hall to see which class innovation will lead us next. This year’s conference in Orlando was full of big companies.

As expected, AI was everywhere, with new tools promising to help teachers save time and personalize learning. But AI wasn’t the only thing on show. We also found maker tools, hands-on STEM resources, and new programs designed to help students learn, create, and connect in new ways.

After a few days of walking the floor, testing products, talking to marketers, and exchanging notes with teachers, we’ve narrowed down a few tools, programs, and resources that left a big impression.

Here are some of our favorites from the ISTELive + ASCD Annual Conference.

We are teachers

1. CreXo’s Swift Saw

Teachers know that cardboard is a simple and affordable material for classrooms, and we loved it CreXo Swift Saw. This tool is specially designed to cut cardboard safely and accurately. Whether students build prototypes, engineering challenges, or master builder projects, it helps turn big ideas into reality.

2. Basic Printing Business

Fun fact: all the swag we’ve given away on the We Are Teachers site is printed by Basic Business! While visiting their booth, we also took a look at some of the new offerings, including resources and solutions designed to support the growing world of school games.

Read more: Staples Business for Printing

3. BBC Learning for Bluey Resources

The teachers loved you BBC Reading booth with Bluey. They have such a great collection of free classroom resources, including videos, activities, and lessons that help teachers bring the BBC’s popular content into a learning experience that students already love. Here are some of our favorite resources featured in this article.

4. Aqua for Art and Painting App

Designed for young learners, Aqua by Adobe is a free, ad-free app full of drawing, coloring, games, tracing activities, and other creative experiences. We loved how it encouraged creativity and exploration while providing a safe environment for students to create and play.

5. WobbleWorks 3Doodler Pen

I 3Doodler pen turns a 3D design into a practical object. Instead of designing on a screen, students can literally draw three-dimensional creations in real time. It’s a fun way to introduce concepts like design thinking, prototyping, engineering, and problem solving.

6. Kira Customization AI Class

One of the new AI tools we discovered at the conference was Kira. What really stood out to us was its ability to customize the type of AI support students receive, allowing teachers to adjust levels of assistance based on student needs. It’s an exciting way to personalize AI-powered learning.

7. Gardyn for Bringing Green to the Classroom

Bring the garden indoors with Gardyna vertical gardening system that makes it possible to grow new plants year-round in the classroom. It gives students a practical way to explore science, sustainability, food systems, and plant cycles—without needing access to a regular garden space.

8. Pokémon Club for Creative Learning

The Pokémon Club it’s proof that learning and fun can go hand in hand. By tapping into students’ enthusiasm for Pokémon, the program helps build skills such as strategic thinking, reading comprehension, problem solving, and math while creating opportunities for social interaction.

9. Your MagicSchool is Both Practical + Fun AI Tools

We passed School of Magic to explore some of the tools teachers are buzzing with. From AI-powered rubric generators to creative features like song creation, the platform is full of resources designed to save teachers time. Our editorial director, Hannah Hudson, enjoyed testing the tools for herself.

10. WeVideo Editing and Podcast Tools

Our social media expert, Malia Bartek, checked it out Video and was impressed by how accessible video editing is to both teachers and students. Beyond video creation, the platform also includes tools for projects like podcasting, helping students build digital storytelling and media production skills.