My EdTech Life

Caryn Sever, an instructional designer dedicated to enhancing digital learning in higher education, shares her insights on the transformative power of generative AI. She discusses her journey from student to leader and the pivotal role AI plays in student engagement. Caryn highlights how AI fosters resilience and critical thinking, while addressing the challenges of adoption by faculty. With a focus on ethical AI use and digital literacy, she presents AI not merely as an automation tool, but as a vital partner in student success.

Stacy Kratochvil, an educator with 18 years of experience, specializes in integrating AI into educational practices. She shares her journey from teaching PE to leading AI fellowship programs for teachers. The discussion highlights practical strategies for embedding AI into curricula while addressing ethical considerations like bias and equitable access. Stacy emphasizes the importance of aligning AI with equity and anti-racism goals and offers insights on fostering critical thinking and empathy among students. It's a practical guide for educators looking to innovate!

Maurie Beasley, an experienced educator and counselor, teams up with her husband Jim Beasley, a former engineer and CTO, to discuss their innovative approaches to K-12 education. They delve into their AI tool 'Agnes,' which boosts classroom learning on a budget. Maurie and Jim share practical advice for integrating AI and overcoming skepticism among educators, while emphasizing the need for equitable access to technology. Their insights into managing classroom tech and the evolving role of education policy offer a compelling look at the future of learning.

Episode 307: AI in Education: Disruption, Challenges, and OpportunitiesIn this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Dagan Berenstein, an innovative educator and digital content expert, to discuss the transformative impact of AI on education and how it’s reshaping the learning landscape.Discover how AI tools like ChatGPT are empowering students and educators, the importance of thoughtful integration, and the challenges schools face when navigating this rapidly evolving technology. From fostering hands-on, meaningful learning to addressing equity and ethical concerns, Dagan shares actionable insights and strategies to use AI responsibly in classrooms.We also dive into Dagan’s unique journey—from directing capstone projects tied to sustainability to geeking out on Web3 and blockchain in education—and explore how these experiences shape his vision for the future of learning.🌟 Highlights: ✅ How ChatGPT and generative AI are disrupting traditional education ✅ Balancing technology with deep, hands-on learning experiences ✅ Strategies for implementing AI tools ethically and effectively ✅ Insights into creating authentic student engagement with capstone projects ✅ Why “living aloha” can transform your approach to education🎧 Listen now to explore how educators can harness AI to create meaningful, inclusive, and future-focused learning experiences!👉 Connect with Dagan: 🔗 Ed3 Weekly Newsletter: ed3weekly.xyz 📲 Follow: @Ed3Weekly📌 Don’t forget to subscribe to My EdTech Life and help us reach our 2025 goal of 1,000 subscribers!➡️ Follow My EdTech Life: 🌐 Website: myedtech.life 📺 YouTube: Subscribe Now 📲 Socials: @MyEdTechLife 💰 Support: Be A Show ProducerPeel Back Education exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator.Support the show

 Episode 306: Unlocking Engagement in Education with Curipod In this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with Eirik Berre and Frikk Fossan, co-founders of Curipod, an innovative AI-powered platform transforming classrooms by fostering collaboration, engagement, and 100% participation.Discover how Curipod helps educators create dynamic lessons, spark classroom discussions, and lower participation barriers for all students. From STAAR test prep success to bilingual support and groundbreaking updates launching soon, Eirik and Frikk share how Curipod is shaping the future of education.We also dive into the personal stories behind the platform—what inspired these passionate innovators to tackle education challenges and what drives their mission to make learning inclusive and engaging. Plus, they share their favorite Texas dishes and reflect on the power of curiosity in learning.🌟 Highlights:✅ Curipod’s unique "Think, Pair, Share" approach✅ Game-changing AI feedback for student writing✅ Tailoring lessons to students’ interests (Pokémon, Taylor Swift, & more!)✅ Powerful updates coming in January✅ Insights into fostering collaboration and SEL in classrooms🎧 Listen now and explore how Curipod is revolutionizing learning, one classroom at a time!👉 Connect with Curipod:🔗 Website: curipod.com📲 Follow on Social: @Curipod📌 Don’t forget to subscribe to My EdTech Life and help us reach our 2025 goal of 1,000 subscribers!➡️ Follow My EdTech Life:🌐 Website: myedtech.life📺 YouTube: Subscribe Now📲 Socials: @MyEdTechLife💰Support: Be A Show ProducerPeel Back Education exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator.Support the show

In this episode of My EdTech Life, we dive into a crucial topic for parents and educators: creating safer digital spaces for kids. Fonz Mendoza sits down with Bill Brady, CEO of Troomi, to discuss how their innovative phone technology is empowering parents to navigate the challenges of screen time, social media, and digital safety. Tune in for valuable insights, actionable tips, and a look at how Troomi is revolutionizing the tech landscape for families.Timestamps:0:00 - Introduction: Welcoming Bill Brady01:30 - Bill’s Background: Fatherhood and the impact of tech on families06:00 - The Birth of Troomi: Addressing the gap in kid-safe technology10:15 - Guiding Parents: Handling societal pressures on phone usage14:00 - Tackling Digital Wellness: Anxiety, depression, and screen time solutions18:30 - Troomi Features: Safe browsing and app suite21:15 - Guardrails for Safety: Preventing inappropriate content24:45 - Growing with Kids: How Troomi evolves with age27:30 - Empowering Parents: Insights into kids' digital behavior31:00 - Holiday Offers: Free Troomi Pro phone and discounts34:00 - Final Thoughts: Why digital safety matters36:00 - Fun Segment: Edu-kryptonite, billboards, and trading placesLinks:🌐 Visit Troomi: https://www.troomi.com🎧 Explore all episodes of My EdTech Life: https://www.myedtech.life💙 Support the podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2395968/supportFollow Us on Social Media:Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more: @myedtechlife🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! Let’s hit 1,000 subscribers before 2025!Stay Techie!Peel Back Education exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator.Support the show

Episode 304: Amplifying Student Voices with Bonnie NievesIn this episode of My EdTech Life, I sit down with my great friend, Bonnie Nieves, to discuss the power of amplifying student voices, fostering engagement, and embracing new challenges in the classroom. Bonnie shares her experience transitioning from high school to 6th-grade science, creating meaningful learning opportunities, and her passion for student-led podcasting. This is an inspiring episode filled with actionable strategies for teachers to enhance student ownership and connection to content. 🌟🔗 Don’t miss Bonnie’s newsletter and student podcast – links are below!🕒 Timestamps:0:00 Introduction and catching up with Bonnie Nieves2:00 Bonnie’s background and work in the education space5:00 Transition from high school science to 6th-grade general science7:32 Amplifying student voices and fostering student ownership10:00 Hands-on activities and building collaboration skills12:45 Tips for engaging students and empowering their voices16:25 Students starting their own podcast: I Love Your Guts19:00 Power of choice and creating authentic learning opportunities23:00 Upcoming FETC sessions: Personalized AI assistants, Bloom’s Taxonomy, and formative assessments28:00 Responsible AI use in education and perplexity for research35:00 Reflections on student engagement, challenges, and progress37:16 The 3-element formative assessment strategy explained42:45 Actionable steps for amplifying student voices in the classroom45:09 Final takeaways and Bonnie’s “Edu Kryptonite”💡 Connect with Bonnie:📧 Weekly Newsletter: Educate On Purpose Weekly🎙️ Student Podcast I Love Your Guts: Available on Spotify🚀 Support the Podcast: If you find value in our episodes, consider supporting us here.📢 Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe to help us reach 1,000 subscribers!Don't forget, Stay Techie! Peel Back Education exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator.Support the show

Blending Creativity, Education, and Technology with Manuel HerreraWelcome to another inspiring episode of My EdTech Life! Today, we sit down with the multi-talented Manuel Herrera, an illustrator, educator, and consultant, to discuss his journey through education, creativity, and EdTech. Manuel shares how his passion for drawing and creativity has shaped his career and inspired countless students and educators. Get ready for an engaging conversation full of actionable insights and inspiration for educators, creators, and lifelong learners!🔗 Key Topics Discussed:Manuel's journey from classroom teacher to EdTech leader and consultantHow creativity enhances teaching and learningThe role of tools in the creative processOvercoming imposter syndrome and fostering confidencePractical steps to unlock your creative potential✨ Timestamps: 00:30 Introduction and gratitude to the audience02:00 Meet Manuel Herrera: Educator, illustrator, and speaker03:14 Blending passions: Creativity in education and EdTech06:00 The early days of creativity in teaching10:00 Storyboarding and drawing: Unlocking student creativity18:27 Manuel's current role and the birth of Manuel Draws25:00 Encouraging educators to express their creativity32:58 Tackling imposter syndrome and building a supportive network39:00 Steps to ignite your creative journey41:17 Manuel's “edu kryptonite”: Chasing too many tools45:42 Manuel's billboard message: "Don’t Be a Jerk!"📢 Stay Connected:Follow Manuel Herrera for more creative inspirationCheck out his work at Manuel Draws: https://www.manueldraws.com/🌟 Support My EdTech Life:If you enjoy our episodes, consider supporting us: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2395968/support🎧 Listen to All Episodes:Visit www.myedtech.life to explore 300+ episodes packed with knowledge nuggets for educators and creators alike.💡 Subscribe, Like, and Share:Remember to like this video, subscribe to our channel, and share it with fellow educators and creatives. Let’s continue growing this amazing community together.Stay inspired, stay creative, and, as always, Stay Techie!Peel Back Education exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator.Support the show

Nick Potkalitsky, an educator with two decades of experience and founder of Pragmatic AI Solutions, teams up with Mike Kentz, a former financial journalist turned educator. They delve into their new book, exploring AI's transformative role in K-12 education. Key topics include the need for teacher-led experimentation and balancing the emotional challenges of adapting to AI. They advocate for personalized learning over standardization and emphasize that AI should enhance, not replace, traditional teaching methods.

Connect, Create, and Grow with The Art of EducationIn this episode of My EdTech Life, I reconnect with Jen Leban to discuss the vibrant and supportive Art of Education community. Jen shares her journey from being an art teacher to becoming the Online Community Manager for The Art of Education University. Learn how the community supports art educators worldwide, fosters creativity, and integrates technology like AI into art education. Whether you're an aspiring art teacher, a seasoned educator, or someone passionate about the intersection of art and tech, this episode is for you!Timestamps:00:00 Welcome and Introduction01:36 Jen's Journey in Education02:28 From Art Teacher to Online Community Manager06:29 Supporting Art Teachers Through Community08:26 The Art of Education Offerings Explained14:05 Embracing AI in Art Education18:29 Overcoming Resistance to Technology in Art22:44 Simple Ways to Incorporate AI in Art Classrooms25:28 Inside the Art of Education Community29:56 Activities and Monthly Art Club Meetings34:09 How to Join the Community and Connect with Jen37:31 Reflecting on Growth Over the YearsImportant Links:🌟 Join the Community: http://community.theartofeducation.edu/🌟 Explore The Art of Education: https://theartofeducation.edu🌟 Learn About the NOW Conference: https://theartofeducation.edu/now/🌟 Check Out the YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@theartofed🌟 Listen to the Podcast: https://theartofeducation.edu/podcasts/Follow My EdTech Life:👉 Website: www.myedtech.life👉 Subscribe and Like for more amazing conversations with inspiring guests!Peel Back Education exists to uncover, share, and amplify powerful, authentic stories from inside classrooms and beyond, helping educators, learners, and the wider community connect meaningfully with the people and ideas shaping education today. Authentic engagement, inclusion, and learning across the curriculum for ALL your students. Teachers love Book Creator.Support the show