Advertise on podcast: K-12 Greatest Hits: Your shortcut to what works in education

The back-to-school decision by the New York City Schools to place a moratorium AI, followed by an outright ban on AI by the Los Angeles Unified School District sparked a national conversation about the future of AI in schools. The loud voices for an against masked the nuance in the noise. But conversations with over 100 teachers, school leaders, researchers, professors, technologists, and ed tech insiders signal that a massive course correction may be happening in real time. This episode shares some of the most compelling voice and nuanced thinkers we talked with across the education community, whose insights and influence may shape the road ahead for AI in education. The conversation also explores a growing adoption gap between the United States and international rivals like China, where AI integration is more systematic. Ultimately, the discussion questions whether these policies effectively rebuild trust or simply leave students unprepared for a rapidly evolving technological future. Sources: New York City Schools Press Conference |Forecast for Learning & Earning in 2025-2026 | CZI/Learning Commons | The Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning |AASA School Superintendents Association | Instructure | National Parents Union | Edtech Insiders | School Beyond Screens | New Venture Fund | Full Scale | Thomas Hummel is a teacher, coach, and Eduaide’s Chief Product Officer. Thomas hails from a lineage of educators that spans three generations. Dr. Med Kharbach is an educator and AI in education researcher with 15+ years of experience in educational technology and teaching and teacher training. Keri Rodriguez, Founding President at National Parents Union. Dr. Vanessa Monterosa, New Venture Fund Partner and Former Tech Policy Lead at LAUSD. Noelle Ellerson Ng,  Chief Advocacy & Governance Officer at AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Thomas Mennella, Associate Professor of Biology at Western New England University. Dr. Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning and Professor of Instructional Technology at Old Dominion University. Dr. Eugene Kim, Professor and Chair, Leadership and Organizational Change and China Expert at Concordia University. Dr. Ruben Puentedura, EdTech researcher and creator of the SAMR tech integration framework. Rae Pica. Author of 23 Early childhood books. Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban, founding Director of the Center of Research, Learning and Teaching at MEF University. Dr. Punya Mishra,  Professor of Teaching & Learning Innovation at Arizona State University. Anya Meksin, deputy director, School Beyond Screens. Vraj Shroff, founder of How To Student, a personal learning platform. Peter Gault, CEO of Quill an AI writing tool selected to be part of NYC schools Moratorium Pilot. Rebecca Bultsma,  AI Ethics Researcher. Dr. Tracy Weeks,  Sr. Education Policy & Strategy Director at Instructure. Ben Kornell, Co-founder, Ed Tech Insiders Community. Julianne B. Ross - Kleinmann EdD_ Supervisor of Instructional Services, Ulster BOCEES. Jon Harper, Elementary School Teacher at Polaris Village Academy and host, Teachers Aid podcast. Rita Joseph, Former educator and New York City council member. Kamar Samuels, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Dr. Beth Rabbitt is Co-CEO of FullScale, a national nonprofit advancing innovation in public education.

How do the complexity of AI and the difficulty of keeping up with the speed of change affect educators’ trust in AI tools? This panel explores the ambiguous relationship educators have with AI, focusing on trust, ethical considerations, and practical classroom applications. Can we trust AI before we understand it? Follow on X: @k4teconroy @Rdene915 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Related Resources: A Framework for Thinking about Trust in Education and AI Dr. Rachelle Dené Poth is an edtech consultant, keynote speaker, attorney, author, and teacher of Spanish and STEAM: Emerging Technology. Rachelle specializes in AI, AI and the Law, AI and Healthcare, and Cybersecurity. She is the author of ten books, a blogger, and a podcaster. Michele Haiken, Ed.D. is an educator, author, and blogger. She has been teaching for more than 25 years and is the author of New Realms for Writing (NCTE & ISTE, 2026), Personalized Reading (NCTE & ISTE, 2025), and Creative SEL (ISTE, 2024). For the past 15 years, Michele has authored the blog The Teaching Factor (http://theteachingfactor.com) where she shares ideas for technology and literacy to bolster student success. Dr. Ruben Puentedura is the Founder and President of Hippasus, a consulting practice focusing on transformative applications of information technologies to education. He has implemented these approaches for over thirty years at various K-20 institutions and health and arts organizations. He is the creator of the SAMR model for selecting, using, and evaluating technology in education and has guided multiple projects worldwide. Kate Conroy is an English and journalism teacher at William L. Sayre High School in West Philadelphia. She holds a BA in English from Boston University and an MSEd in Secondary English Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Conroy has emerged as a strong critic of generative AI in education, arguing that authentic writing and person-to-person intellectual exchange are essential to learning. Dylan Kane is a 5th grade teacher at Lake County Elementary School in Leadville, Colorado. He previously taught middle school and high school math. He writes a Substack about his teaching at Five Twelve Thirteen.

This panel discussion explores the challenges and strategies for building students’ reading endurance across different educational levels. Our guests share research insights, classroom practices, and personal experiences to help teachers foster a love of reading and improve students’ stamina. Follow our PLN on Twitter: @christinalbrown @colbysharp| @smorrisey @LisaPas220 @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Resources: christinalbrown.com | www.scientistsinthemaking.com| Teachlikeachampion.org Christina Brown is a development economist studying labor and behavioral economics questions. She is an Assistant Professor in the Economics department at the University of Chicago. She received a PhD in Economics from UC Berkeley and worked as a consultant for the World Bank and Save the Children. Prior to working as a researcher, she taught high school physics. Colby Sharp is a husband and father of five. He teaches fifth grade at Parma Elementary. Colby is the co-founder of Nerdy Book Club. He co-hosts The Yarn podcast with Travis Jonker. Colby co-authored Game Changer! Book Access for All Kids with Donalyn Miller, and he is the editor of The Creativity Project: An Awesometastic Story Collection. A Commonsense Guide to Your Classroom Library, written with Donalyn Miller, is his latest book. Lisa Leaheey has taught English at North Providence High School for the entirety of her 23-year career. A lifelong voracious reader and movie buff, she spends every day sharing her passion for stories with her students, and she continuously seeks out new ways to elevate her students’ individual strengths and to support their individual needs. Sean Morrisey is a 5th-grade teacher at Pinehurst Elementary School, located just outside of Buffalo, NY. He brings over 25 years of experience as an educator. Before becoming a classroom teacher, Sean worked as a school psychologist, a role that shaped his understanding of how children learn. For the past 18 years, he has taught 1st, 4th, and 5th grade, focusing on building strong foundations in literacy and language. Sean’s work in vocabulary instruction has been highlighted on numerous literacy podcasts and featured in science of reading resources, including The Literacy 50 and Know Better, Do Better: Comprehension. His passion lies in integrating vocabulary seamlessly across the school day, helping students connect words to meaning in authentic and engaging ways. Sean is currently writing his own curriculum called the Word Mapping Project: Linking Sound, Spelling, and Meaning for Word Mastery.

Discussions about AI in education are moving beyond academic integrity, critical thinking, and the question of whether AI is a gift or a curse to humanity.  Among the most interesting emerging conversations is the idea that the single most important factor determining the future of AI in education is trust.  In this month's meet-up, the founders of SAMR, TPACK, SETI, Triple E, and the Gen AI-U tech integration frameworks explore two pivotal questions about AI in education: What can you trust, and who do you trust?  The discussion quickly revealed why trust may be the most pivotal topic we need to explore in education today. Follow on X:  @CFKurban  @hcrompton @lkolb @punyamishra @jonHarper70bd  @bamradionetwork Related Resources: A Framework for Thinking about Trust in Education and AI  | The Devil is in the Det[ai]ls: AI Agents, Ghost Students, and the Crisis of Verified Presence in an Agentic AI World | Dr. Punya Mishra (punyamishra.com) is the Associate Dean of Scholarship and Innovation at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, two Master’s degrees in Visual Communication and Mass Communications, and a Ph.D. in Educational psychology. He co-developed the TPACK framework, described as “the most significant advancement in technology integration in the past 25 years.” Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. She was the founding Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University and teaches in the Faculty of Education. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics. Fell Kurban is currently the head of the Global Terminology Project and the creator of the GenAI-U technology integration framework. Dr. Liz Kolb is a clinical professor at the University of Michigan and the author of several books, including Cell Phones in the Classroom and Help Your Child Learn with Cell Phones and Web 2.0. Kolb has been a featured and keynote speaker at conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. She created the Triple E Framework for effective teaching with digital technologies and blogs at cellphonesinlearning.com. Dr. Ruben Puentedura is the Founder and President of Hippasus, a consulting practice focusing on transformative applications of information technologies to education. He has implemented these approaches for over thirty years at various K-20 institutions and health and arts organizations. He is the creator of the SAMR model for selecting, using, and evaluating technology in education and has guided multiple projects worldwide. Dr. Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning at ODUGlobal and Professor of Instructional Technology at Old Dominion University. Dr. Crompton earned her Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel ill. Dr. Crompton is recognized for her outstanding contributions and is on Stanford’s esteemed list of the world’s Top 2% of Scientists. She is the creator of the SETI framework. She frequently serves as a consultant for various governments and bilateral and multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Bank, on driving meaningful change in educational technology.

The conversation around AI in education is changing fast, and the latest GSV Learning and Earning Forecast now identifies trust as the factor that will determine the near-term future of AI in the classroom. In this episode, we explore the “AI trust gap” forming between the people racing to expand AI in schools and the educators, parents, and students who are starting to push back. Through discussions with educators, school leaders, learning science researchers, analysts, ed tech developers, AI vendors, and non-profits across the community, we zoom in on the hard questions surrounding AI’s future in education. What happens when innovation starts moving faster than trust? What is required to bridge the gap? Who is working on solutions? What’s working? Sources: Forecast for Learning & Earning in 2025-2026 | Digital Promise | Learning Commons | Surgeon General’s Office Advises Schools to Limit Screen Time | Teachers and parents weigh benefits and risks of artificial intelligence in schools | Do AI’s risks outweigh the benefits for students and schools? | Fostering Trust in the Age of AI | GSVtv | The Next AI Maturity Curve – Orchestration, Trust, and Scale | AI is Air: Ambient AI in Every Breath, Step, and Swipe | GSVtv | Lincoln High students swap screen time for study time after phone ban | How to Choose Safe and Effective Classroom Technology | More Students Boo AI at Commencement Nick Melvoin, a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board member who recently drafted a resolution to restrict student screen time in classrooms. Sandra Liu Huang, Head of Education & Product at CZI and president of Learning Commons. Jean Claude Brizard– President and CEO of Digital Promise. Jeremy Roschelle– Executive Director of Digital Promise’s Learning Sciences Research team. Melissa Loble, Chief Academic Officer, Instructure. Patrick Gittisriboongul, Ed.D., Superintendent of Lynwood Unified School District. Justin Reich, Director of Teaching Systems Lab at MIT. Jennifer Lee Partner GSV Ventures. Muktha Ananda– Google’s Director of Engineering. Robert Wong, Google’s Director of Product Management. Brian Carslon, CEO, Storytime AI.Tim Sanders, Chief Innovation Officer at G2 and Executive Fellow at Harvard. Chris Hamatake, parent. Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings. Dr. Eugene Kim, Professor of Education at Concordia University.

How could the second-largest school district in the nation believe its decision to ban screens was right when so many educators adamantly believe it’s wrong? How are school boards and educators looking at the same research and arriving at different conclusions? The discussion around screen use in schools has intensified, particularly with the LA Unified School District’s decision to impose a screen ban. But what does this mean for our students and their educational experience? In this conversation, we’ll unravel the rationale, the existing research on technology use in education, and how we can approach technology to enhance learning rather than hinder it. Dr.Punya Mishra (punyamishra.com) is Associate Dean of Scholarship and Innovation at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, two Master’s degrees in Visual Communication and Mass Communications, and a Ph.D. in Educational psychology. He co-developed the TPACK framework, described as “the most significant advancement in technology integration in the past 25 years.” Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. She was the founding Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University and teaches in the Faculty of Education. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics. Fell Kurban is currently the head of the Global Terminology Project and the creator of the GenAI-U technology integration framework. Dr. Liz Kolb is a clinical professor at the University of Michigan and the author of several books, including Cell Phones in the Classroom and Help Your Child Learn with Cell Phones and Web 2.0. Kolb has been a featured and keynote speaker at conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. She created the Triple E Framework for effective teaching with digital technologies. Dr. Puentedura is the Founder and President of Hippasus, a consulting practice focusing on transformative applications of information technologies to education. He has implemented these approaches for over thirty years at various K-20 institutions and health and arts organizations. He is the creator of the SAMR model for selecting, using, and evaluating technology in education and has guided multiple projects worldwide. Dr. Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning at ODUGlobal and Professor of Instructional Technology at Old Dominion University. Dr. Crompton earned her Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel ill. Dr. Crompton is recognized for her outstanding contributions and is on Stanford’s esteemed list of the world’s Top 2% of Scientists. She is the creator of the SETI framework.

The word is spreading through the education community that a new kind of artificial intelligence enables students to complete an entire course with a single prompt. As one educator explained, with just a simple setup, a student can put an entire course on autopilot and go back to playing video games. It’s called Agentic AI, and it has sparked a new round of handwringing and calls to go back to blue books and pencils. To kick off 2026, the creators of SAMR, TPACK, Triple E, SETI, and the Gen AI U frameworks met to unravel how this technology may impact teaching, learning, and the future of proving that a student’s degree or credential actually indicates competence. The big takeaway is that the solutions start with asking the right questions. Follow on X: @CFKurban @hcrompton @lkolb @punyamishra @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Related Resources: The AI Tech Fatigue of 2025 Was Real: How Educators Are Planning to Regain Control in 2026 | AI Agents: A New Era in Higher Education | Cheating Lessons: Learning from Academic Dishonesty | SAMR | The SETI Framework | TPACK | Triple-E | The GenAI-U Framework BRN-X: Gen AI Podcast Lab Dr. Punya Mishra (punyamishra.com) is the Associate Dean of Scholarship and Innovation at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, two Master’s degrees in Visual Communication and Mass Communications, and a Ph.D. in Educational psychology. He co-developed the TPACK framework, described as “the most significant advancement in technology integration in the past 25 years.” Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. She was the founding Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University and teaches in the Faculty of Education. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics. Fell Kurban is currently the head of the Global Terminology Project and the creator of the GenAI-U technology integration framework. Dr. Liz Kolb is a clinical professor at the University of Michigan and the author of several books, including Cell Phones in the Classroom and Help Your Child Learn with Cell Phones and Web 2.0. Kolb has been a featured and keynote speaker at conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. She created the Triple E Framework for effective teaching with digital technologies and blogs at cellphonesinlearning.com. Dr. Puentedura is the Founder and President of Hippasus, a consulting practice focusing on transformative applications of information technologies to education. He has implemented these approaches for over thirty years at various K-20 institutions and health and arts organizations. He is the creator of the SAMR model for selecting, using, and evaluating technology in education and has guided multiple projects worldwide. Dr. Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning at ODUGlobal and Professor of Instructional Technology at Old Dominion University. Dr. Crompton earned her Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel ill. Dr. Crompton is recognized for her outstanding contributions and is on Stanford’s esteemed list of the world’s Top 2% of Scientists. She is the creator of the SETI framework. She frequently serves as a consultant for various governments and bilateral and multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Bank, on driving meaningful change in educational technology.

The numbers tell the story. For the 2023-24 school year, school districts accessed an average of 2,739 distinct edtech tools annually, an increase of 8% from the previous school year. This episode looks back at how educators navigated the flood of AI tools in classrooms in 2025—and looks ahead to what 2026 demands. We explore the rise of Agentic AI, from early chatbots to autonomous systems reshaping recruitment, communication, and curriculum at places like Arizona State University and companies such as Bloomz. We also confront hard questions about academic integrity raised by tools like Perplexity Comet and examine how efforts from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and ISTE aim to restore rigor, trust, and AI literacy. Related Sources: Easing the Burden on Schools: Five Quality Indicators for Edtech & AI Products | Average District Tech Tools | Scaling Proven Learning Practices| Navigating EdTech Quality: The 5 Indicators | Unpacking LA Unified School District’s AI Chatbot Debacle w/ Fonz Mendoza | Agentic AI: A Wake-Up Call to Educators | Agentic AI and the Student Experience with Lev Gonick | Canvas, Credentials, and the Agentic AI Classroom | Agentic AI is here. What does it mean for Online Education? | Alfonso Mendoza Jr., Ed.D: With over five years of experience in educational technology and leadership, Alfonso currently serves as District Assessment Coordinator at Sharyland ISD, where he focuses on integrating digital learning strategies and supporting curriculum alignment to enhance student outcomes. His work emphasizes the practical application of technology to meet real classroom needs. Anna Mills is a leader in integrating artificial intelligence into education, combining teaching experience with technical expertise and a commitment to open educational resources. Her work on AI literacy, academic integrity, and AI applications in higher education combines critical and tech-forward approaches. She currently teaches at College of Marin and has taught writing in community college settings for 18 years. Thomas Hummel is a teacher, coach, and Eduaide’s Chief Product Officer. This means he is responsible for keeping one foot in the classroom to ensure we remain grounded in everyday practice. Thomas hails from a lineage of educators that spans three generations, deeply instilling in him an appreciation for the profound impact teachers have on society. Dr. Med Kharbach is an educator and AI in education researcher with 15+ years of experience in educational technology and teaching. He designs and delivers evidence-based learning experiences that strengthen AI literacy, enhance teacher training, and support professional development in both K–12 and higher education. His work blends pedagogy, digital literacy, critical thinking, and responsible AI integration. Tim Mousel has taught in higher education since 1993 and today serves as a full-time faculty member in the Kinesiology department at LSC-Online, as well as the Department Chair for Chemistry, Kinesiology, and Physics. He also leads the System-Wide AI Task Force, where he helps guide institutional strategy around emerging technologies. Sandra Liu Huang is a computer scientist. She leads the product team at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Previously, she was the director of product management at Quora and an early and senior member of the product team at Facebook. Chakrapani “Chaks” Appalabattula is the founder and CEO of Bloomz, a popular communication app that connects teachers, parents, and schools through features like messaging, event scheduling, volunteer coordination, and student portfolio sharing, designed to improve parent engagement and streamline school-home communication. Tal Havivi is the Managing Director @ ISTE+ASCD. He works at the intersection of research, product development, and go-to-market strategy to make the edtech market more effective and better aligned with the realities of modern-day teaching and learning. Havivi leads a business unit that partners with leading edtech companies to reduce barriers to educator engagement and validate instructional quality. Lev Gonick: As the Enterprise Chief Information Officer at Arizona State University, he leads the design and agile management of all enterprise infrastructure, applications, products, services, and analytics at the nation’s largest and most innovative university. Ryan Lufkin: In his role as VP of Global Academic Strategy at Instructure, the makers of Canvas, his research plays a pivotal part in shaping the company’s worldwide vision and growth. Fostering partnerships, overseeing market research, identifying emerging trends, and driving innovation help propel Instructure’s commitment to advancing education on a global scale. Richard Culatta, is the CEO of ISTE+ ASCD. Culatta is an innovative educational leader with experience in government, k-12, higher education, and adult learning settings. Areas of expertise include education policy, teacher preparation, educational technology, and innovation.

The conversation explores cognitive load theory and why it matters for classroom learning, while also widening the focus to include practical teaching moves that help students learn more effectively. We talk about how working memory limits can affect what students remember, why some lessons don’t stick, and how teachers can design instruction that feels less complex and less overwhelming. Alongside cognitive load theory, the discussion touches on everyday strategies that support clearer, more manageable teaching and help more students experience real learning. Follow on Twitter @AndrewWatsonTTB |@mrzachg |@laurapatranella | @DylanWiliam @StamStam193 | @bamradionetwork | @jonHarper70bd Related Resources: Cognitive-load-theory-pt-1 Laura Stam Dylan William‘s bedding formative assessment pack for schools and colleges to run their own two-year professional development programme on formative assessment is now available worldwide. In Europe, this can be ordered through SSAT, in Australasia through Hawker-Brownlow, and in North America from Learning Sciences International. Zach Groshell, PhD is a highly distinguished teacher, instructional coach, and education consultant. Zach is based in Seattle, WA and works with schools nationwide and internationally to develop high quality instruction based on the science of how kids learn. Zach is the author of the book Just Tell Them, hosts the podcast, Progressively Incorrect, and is active on Twitter (@mrzachg). Laura Stam is a 3rd-grade teacher in Thermopolis, Wyoming. She is a 2024-2025 Goyen Fellow and a founding board member of The Reading League Wyoming. Laura Patranella is a 12th-year teacher with experience primarily in upper elementary and middle school literacy as both a dyslexia interventionist and classroom teacher. She currently teaches 5th grade and is passionate about maximizing outcomes for all students through research-based teaching methods. Andrew Watson has been teaching since 1988, studying brains since 2008, and combining those fields since 2012. As a consultant and conference speaker, he works with students and teachers to make learning easier and teaching more effective. Author of three books, he writes frequently on memory, attention, motivation, and skepticism.

There is a lot of online talk about the growing scourge of AI-generated content and how it’s affecting our digital lives, both in and out of the classroom. Though many of us are absolutely confident we can quickly spot AI slop when we see it, this discussion revealed that a genuine understanding of creativity in the age of AI is required and rare. Listen to this robust discussion on how AI Slop is affecting educators, students, and creativity in teaching. Follow on Twitter: @CFKurban @hcrompton @lkolb @punyamishra @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork See Related Resources: Here: https://www.bamradionetwork.com/track/how-ai-slop-is-affecting-students-educators-and-the-craft-of-teaching-creativity/ A Tool That’s Crushing Creativity | SAMR | The SETI Framework | TPACK | Triple-E | The GenAI-U Framework | Bringing Out Individual Talents in Children | CNN | Google | CBS | Brainwaves Anthology Dr. Punya Mishra (punyamishra.com) is the Associate Dean of Scholarship and Innovation at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, two Master’s degrees in Visual Communication and Mass Communications, and a Ph.D. in Educational psychology. He co-developed the TPACK framework, described as “the most significant advancement in technology integration in the past 25 years.” Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. She was the founding Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University and teaches in the Faculty of Education. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics. Fell Kurban is currently the head of the Global Terminology Project and the creator of the GenAI-U technology integration framework. Dr. Liz Kolb is a clinical professor at the University of Michigan and the author of several books, including Cell Phones in the Classroom and Help Your Child Learn with Cell Phones and Web 2.0. Kolb has been a featured and keynote speaker at conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. She created the Triple E Framework for effective teaching with digital technologies and blogs at cellphonesinlearning.com. Dr. Puentedura is the Founder and President of Hippasus, a consulting practice focusing on transformative applications of information technologies to education. He has implemented these approaches for over thirty years at various K-20 institutions and health and arts organizations. He is the creator of the SAMR model for selecting, using, and evaluating technology in education and has guided multiple projects worldwide. Dr. Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning at ODUGlobal and Professor of Instructional Technology at Old Dominion University. Dr. Crompton earned her Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel ill. Dr. Crompton is recognized for her outstanding contributions and is on Stanford’s esteemed list of the world’s Top 2% of Scientists. She is the creator of the SETI framework. She frequently serves as a consultant for various governments and bilateral and multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Bank, on driving meaningful change in educational technology.

We’ve all been there—juggling new tech, new expectations, and wondering if our students are really learning what matters. In this chat, we talk about “pedagogical debt” (the gap between what we know works in teaching and what we actually do), how AI is shaking things up, and why the right kind of curiosity can help. At its heart, it’s a conversation about making sure technology serves learning—not the other way around. Dr. Punya Mishra (punyamishra.com) is the Associate Dean of Scholarship and Innovation at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, two Master’s degrees in Visual Communication and Mass Communications, and a Ph.D. in Educational psychology. He co-developed the TPACK framework, described as “the most significant advancement in technology integration in the past 25 years.” Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. She was the founding Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University and teaches in the Faculty of Education. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics. Fell Kurban is currently the head of the Global Terminology Project and the creator of the GenAI-U technology integration framework. Dr. Liz Kolb is a clinical professor at the University of Michigan and the author of several books, including Cell Phones in the Classroom and Help Your Child Learn with Cell Phones and Web 2.0. Kolb has been a featured and keynote speaker at conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. She created the Triple E Framework for effective teaching with digital technologies and blogs at cellphonesinlearning.com. Dr. Puentedura is the Founder and President of Hippasus, a consulting practice focusing on transformative applications of information technologies to education. He has implemented these approaches for over thirty years at various K-20 institutions and health and arts organizations. He is the creator of the SAMR model for selecting, using, and evaluating technology in education and has guided multiple projects worldwide. Dr. Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning at ODUGlobal and Professor of Instructional Technology at Old Dominion University. Dr. Crompton earned her Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel ill. Dr. Crompton is recognized for her outstanding contributions and is on Stanford’s esteemed list of the world’s Top 2% of Scientists. She is the creator of the SETI framework. She frequently serves as a consultant for various governments and bilateral and multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Bank, on driving meaningful change in educational technology.

Eric Heinze (Maîtrise, Paris; JD, Harvard; Ph.D. Leiden), a former Fulbright, DAAD and Chateaubriand fellow, is Professor of Law and Humanities at Queen Mary, University of London. He writes on justice theory and on human rights, and has worked with the International Commission of Jurists and the UN Sub-Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. He has advised NGOs on human rights, including Liberty, Amnesty International and the Media Diversity Institute. Heinze is author of The Most Human Right: Why Free Speech Is Everything. Suzanne Nossel is the CEO of PEN America, the foremost organization working to protect and advance human rights, free expression and literature. She has also served as the Chief Operating Officer of Human Rights Watch and as Executive Director of Amnesty International USA; and held senior State Department positions in the Clinton and Obama administrations. A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, Nossel frequently writes op-eds for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and other publications, as well as a regular column for Foreign Policy magazine. She lives in New York City. Nosssel is author of Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All. Jonathan Zimmerman is the Judy and Howard Berkowitz Professor in Education at the University of Pennsylvania. A former Peace Corps volunteer, he is the author of Campus Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know and seven other books. He is also a frequent op-ed contributor to The New York Times, the Washington Post, and other national newspapers and magazines. Zimmerman received the 2019 Open Inquiry Leadership Award from Heterodox Academy, which promotes viewpoint diversity in higher education. Zimmerman is author of Free Speech: And Why You Should Give a Damn.

If you’ve ever sighed, “Not another update,” you’re not alone. We explore the stress of tackling steep tech learning curves and then having to relearn edtech tools again and again — and ask whether conversational AI might finally make teaching tech easier.  We discuss how updates to educational technology can create feelings of uncertainty and overwhelm among teachers. The dialogue shifts to the importance of human-centered design in the development of technology.  Sources: An empirical study of techno-stressors, literacy facilitation, burnout, and turnover intention as experienced by K-12 teachers  |  Dealing with information overload: a comprehensive review | Bloomz  | HMH |  School AI | Google Gemini | BrainFreeze  | Magic School

In this special episode, the creators of SAMR, TPACK, Triple E, SETI, and GenAI-U reflect on how their views of AI in education have evolved since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. They share hard lessons learned and insights gleaned, offering a candid look at the ups and downs in their journey through periods of awe, skepticism, and embracing AI’s potential. As they prepare to head back to school, they discuss their personal AI use, how their own kids are using AI, and their updated thinking on cheating prevention strategies. The group expands the lens to examine tech companies’ AI promises, why Grammarly’s new feature is shaking up grading, and how AI is impacting our relationships on many levels. They conclude by sharing how they plan to approach AI differently as they head back to school this term. Follow on X: @CFKurban @hcrompton @lkolb @punyamishra @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Dr. Punya Mishra (punyamishra.com) is the Associate Dean of Scholarship and Innovation at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, two Master’s degrees in Visual Communication and Mass Communications, and a Ph.D. in Educational psychology. He co-developed the TPACK framework, described as “the most significant advancement in technology integration in the past 25 years.” Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. She was the founding Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University and teaches in the Faculty of Education. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics. Fell Kurban is currently the head of the Global Terminology Project and the creator of the GenAI-U technology integration framework. Dr. Liz Kolb is a clinical professor at the University of Michigan and the author of several books, including Cell Phones in the Classroom and Help Your Child Learn with Cell Phones and Web 2.0. Kolb has been a featured and keynote speaker at conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. She created the Triple E Framework for effective teaching with digital technologies and blogs at cellphonesinlearning.com. Dr. Puentedura is the Founder and President of Hippasus, a consulting practice focusing on transformative applications of information technologies to education. He has implemented these approaches for over thirty years at various K-20 institutions and health and arts organizations. He is the creator of the SAMR model for selecting, using, and evaluating technology in education and has guided multiple projects worldwide. Dr. Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning at ODUGlobal and Professor of Instructional Technology at Old Dominion University. Dr. Crompton earned her Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel ill. Dr. Crompton is recognized for her outstanding contributions and is on Stanford’s esteemed list of the world’s Top 2% of Scientists. She is the creator of the SETI framework. She frequently serves as a consultant for various governments and bilateral and multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Bank, on driving meaningful change in educational technology.

In this conversation, a wide range of voices respond to Google's recent announcement offering over 30 AI tools for free to schools. The creators of TPACK, SAMR, and SETI offer their take on the features of  Gemini for education, and look under the hood at the Learn LM engine behind it. The discussion covers the implications of free services, the mixed reactions from the education community, and the potential impact on the future of learning.  Finally, the hosts put the new release in historical context, clarifying what educators can and cannot expect from them. This special report concludes by emphasizing the need for thoughtful consideration of how these new tools are integrated into teaching and learning.