Technology Essentials in Education

Discover how technology is revolutionizing education in the Technology Essentials in Education Podcast. Join us for engaging discussions with industry experts, educators, and tech innovators as we uncover the tools and strategies shaping the classrooms of tomorrow.

Host

Monica Burns

EdTech Consultant

All Podcasts

Technology Essentials in Education

E33

Episode 33: Protecting the Human Touch: Science of Reading in the Age of AI

In this episode, Monica welcomes Dr. Molly Ness, a reading researcher, author, teacher educator, and founder of a literacy consulting firm, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping reading and writing instruction. Drawing on her extensive background supporting schools with Science of Reading implementation and writing eight books on literacy, Molly provides a balanced perspective on integrating AI into literacy classrooms without compromising human connection. Molly emphasizes that while AI serves as a powerful time-saving tool for teachers—helping backward design novel studies, extract vocabulary, and draft dialogic reading prompts—it must never replace a well-informed teacher or human-led interactions like whole-class read-alouds. She explains that pre-recorded or AI-delivered read-alouds miss critical, in-the-moment language opportunities and teacher-student responsiveness. To counter the "shallow reading" trend and basic summarization that AI can easily replicate, Molly challenges educators to rethink student outputs. Assignments must push past surface-level summaries to require deep, personal reflections and authentic human connections. She cautions schools against outright AI bans, advocating instead that educators approach the technology with curiosity, guide students in using it as a study tool rather than a shortcut, and foster a joyful, lifelong reading culture.

Publish Date:Aug 14, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 32: Why 84% of Teachers Worry AI Is Eroding Core Student Skills

In this episode, Monica welcomes Luke Straub, Content Director on the education team at Jotform, to discuss the findings of Jotform's recent national research project examining "AI Anxiety in Education". Luke unpacks data gathered from nationwide educators, administrators, and higher education faculty, shedding light on the complex, nuanced spectrum of feelings that teachers hold toward artificial intelligence in the classroom. Luke highlights the primary finding of the study: 84% of surveyed teachers worry that AI could erode core student skills. Quotes from surveyed educators reflect deep concerns about students losing the opportunity to learn through productive struggle, becoming incurious, or relying on LLMs to generate answers without developing foundational critical thinking. At the same time, the survey revealed that educators do not fear job replacement. Instead, 33% of educators believe AI will make the profession slightly stronger by automating administrative burdens like form creation, permission slips, and scheduling—allowing teachers to reclaim personal time outside contract hours.

Publish Date:Aug 07, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 31: Building AI Awareness with Our Youngest Students

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Dr. Nneka McGee, a veteran educator, former Chief Academic Officer, and author of the joint ASCD/ISTE quick reference guide, AI for Young Learners: Balancing Tech Use with Authentic Offscreen Experiences. Drawing from her doctoral research on K-12 AI implementation, Nneka shares a compelling look at why we shouldn’t wait to build AI literacy with our youngest students—and how to do it entirely offline. Nneka begins by breaking down the initial misconception that early childhood classrooms are tech-free zones, pointing out that teachers and students are already deeply embedded in AI-driven tools through computer adaptive testing and background recommender systems. For pre-K and primary grades, she firmly advocates for an awareness-first approach driven by high-impact, research-backed instructional strategies—like effective questioning and active discussions—rather than placing children directly in front of chat interfaces or screens.

Publish Date:Jul 31, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 30: Demystifying Machine Learning for Young Learners

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Debbie Tannenbaum, an ISTE-certified educator and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) coach, to unpack what intentional AI integration looks like on the ground in an elementary school environment. Debbie shares how her recent coaching work has focused heavily on leveraging AI tools alongside pedagogical frameworks to customize learning experiences for diverse student populations, including multilingual learners and enhanced autism classrooms. Debbie emphasizes that because many generative chat platforms are restricted for direct student use in elementary settings, the current focus is split between teacher-facing tools and careful student-facing modeling. She explains her process of building customized Gemini Gems (specialized pre-configured system prompts) to help teachers execute structural UDL audits of existing lesson plans, generate targeted sentence stems, and manage IEP progress data.

Publish Date:Jul 24, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 29: How an AI Agent Deliver and Adapt Instruction in Real Time

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Abby Bell, Director of Academic Operations at Lipscomb University, to discuss how AI Agents can completely revolutionize the traditional flipped classroom model and streamline higher education workflows. Drawing from her extensive career spanning K-12 teaching, school administration, and higher education, Abby shares how automated systems can save crucial time for multi-tasking educators. Abby describes how she utilizes Jotform AI Presenter Agents to transform standard lectures into interactive homework assignments for over 750 freshman seminar students. By reviewing user conversation logs, she identifies precisely where students face friction—such as recurring loops on a specific slide—providing her with invaluable formative data before class even starts. This shift completely re-prioritizes Bloom’s Taxonomy, moving basic definitions outside the classroom so that face-to-face time can be spent on high-order tasks using a primary school style "center rotation model" for reading, writing, and collaborative projects.

Publish Date:Jul 17, 2026

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Episode 28: The Behind-the-Scenes of Hosting Self-Paced Courses

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Dr. Desiree Alexander, the Deputy Director of an educational non-profit in Louisiana and the founder/CEO of Educator Alexander Consulting, to discuss the creation, structuring, and execution of successful self-paced courses for educators. Drawing from her personal transition out of grueling eight-hour live lecture blocks, Desiree shares her passion for asynchronous environments that grant learners the freedom to pause, rewind, and study at their own speed. Desiree explains how she segments her highly sought-after test prep and Google Certification courses into bite-sized, five-minute videos to prevent audience fatigue, matching structural design directly to learner needs. The conversation shifts to measuring genuine success, where Desiree makes the bold claim that creators should abandon simple completion rates in favor of tangible career outcomes, such as passing rates and business launches.

Publish Date:Jul 10, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 27: AI Guidelines at the District Level

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Mike Lawrence, a veteran educator, fellow Apple Distinguished Educator, and current Director of IT for a school district in California. Drawing on his unique career path—which spans high school English teaching, non-profit leadership, and the tech vendor world—Mike brings a beautifully wide-ranging perspective to what it truly means to lead EdTech at the district level. Mike unpacks his philosophy of structural leadership, explaining why aligning the IT department under academic services rather than business services ensures that technology decisions remain strictly driven by learning goals. He shares highly practical strategies for new and aspiring tech directors, such as conducting campus walkthroughs to build trust, auditing for "systems debt," and choosing flexible AI guidelines over rigid policies. The conversation also highlights his district's innovative AI badge system and his core leadership slogan: "Start a conversation, not an accusation."

Publish Date:Jul 03, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 26: Smart Ways Teachers Can Use Forms Beyond Surveys

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Chad Reid, Vice President of Marketing at Jotform, to discuss how online forms can help educators streamline workflows, stay organized, and save valuable time throughout the school year. Drawing on Chad’s twelve-year history with the company, they explore the evolution of forms from simple surveys and quizzes into robust entry points for data management and automation. Chad explains how forms function as ongoing conversations with parents and students, highlighting versatile behind-the-scenes use cases like reflection logs, request workflows, and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). They dive into the newly released Jotform AI, demonstrating how AI-driven prompt builders remove "blank page syndrome" and allow busy teachers to deploy complex, accessible forms in a fraction of the time. The conversation also touches upon district-level logistics, including athletic departments, IT requests, and compliance reporting, emphasizing that educators do not need to be tech wizards to completely transform their productivity.

Publish Date:Jun 26, 2026

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Episode 25: How Educators Can Take Collective Action Against the Climate Crisis

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Dr. Jennifer Williams, the executive director and co-founder of Take Action Global, to explore the intersections of educational technology, global collaboration, and climate education. Drawing on their decade-long relationship and Jennifer's background as a school principal and author of Teach Boldly, they discuss how ed tech has evolved from being purely tool-centric to a powerful vehicle for connecting students across the globe. Jennifer details how Take Action Global addresses uneven resource access worldwide by utilizing an asset-based community development model—encouraging classrooms to solve local environmental challenges using whatever materials are right in front of them. She highlights major initiatives like Coding for Climate and the Climate Action Project, explaining how these programs build global student leagues and integrate AI as a tool for perspective-taking, equity, and collective social good.

Publish Date:Jun 18, 2026

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Episode 24: Supporting All Students as Creators in Today’s Classrooms

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica joins Kim Zajac, a speech-language pathologist and tech integration specialist, to explore classroom inclusion and student expression. As an "architect of access" in a Massachusetts public middle school, Kim shares how she collaborates with teachers to ensure every student can communicate their learning. They discuss moving past traditional essays toward flexible, multi-modal formats—like podcasts, videos, and physical sculptures—that support executive functioning. Kim also highlights the importance of using low-stakes creative projects to reduce perfectionism and observing students in unstructured moments to uncover their natural strengths.

Publish Date:Jun 12, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 23: How to Build Global Classroom Connections Through Literacy

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Amber Peterson, Chief Program Officer at LitWorld, to discuss the powerful intersection of literacy, storytelling, and global collaboration. Drawing on Monica's decade-long history with the organization, they explore how educators can utilize technology—ranging from a simple pencil and paper to AI-driven translation platforms—to foster a profound sense of global belonging among youth across different continents. Amber explains how LitWorld navigates uneven digital access across varying regions by leveraging flexible communication channels like WhatsApp, radio broadcasts, and physical mail delivery to meet communities exactly where they are. They highlight the intimate, universal appeal of read-alouds—boosted by partnerships like StoryVoice to reach millions of listeners simultaneously—and touch upon landmark events like World Read-Aloud Day.

Publish Date:Jun 05, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 22: Helping Students Navigate Reading and Writing in a Digital World

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Dr. Michele Haiken, a veteran middle school English teacher with 25 years of experience and the author of several ISTE and NCTE publications, including New Realms for Writing. Together, they explore the nuances of supporting readers and writers in a multimodal, digital world where literacy extends far beyond the traditional printed page. Michele shares practical strategies for creating "bi-literate" students—those who can fluidly shift between print books, digital textbooks, podcasts, and audiobooks. They discuss the importance of teaching explicit digital reading strategies, such as using hovering definitions and digital annotations, rather than assuming "digital natives" are naturally tech-savvy. From using AI as a "thought partner" in the writing workshop to leveraging tools like Adobe Express and screencasting for student voice, this conversation is packed with actionable ideas for any educator looking to help students become critical, independent thinkers in a tech-heavy world.

Publish Date:May 29, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 21: What's New in STEAM Education for 2026

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica catches up with Dr. Jacie Maslyk, an educational consultant, former assistant superintendent, and author of the recently updated STEAM Makers. Fresh off their meeting at an event in San Francisco, they dive into how STEAM has evolved from "buying cool stuff" to a deep focus on design thinking, collaboration, and social good. Jacie shares inspiring stories of students "creating for social good"—like a project where fourth and fifth graders designed storm drain murals to combat local pollution. They also explore the intersection of literacy and STEAM, discussing how robotics like Ozobots and tools like Adobe Express can help students find their voice and build career-ready skills in entrepreneurship. Whether you're a classroom teacher or a school leader, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for making STEAM an integrated, joyful part of every student's day.

Publish Date:May 22, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 20: Art, Technology, and Student Voice in the Classroom

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica catches up with Tim Needles, an artist, educator, and author of STEAM Power, to discuss the evolving intersection of art, technology, and student voice. Tim, who currently serves as a technology integration specialist, shares how his perspective has shifted over 25 years in the classroom—moving from a time when animation took weeks to today, where AI can help bring an idea to life in minutes. Together, they explore how digital tools are democratizing creativity, allowing students who may not label themselves as "artists" to find their voice through storytelling and advocacy. Tim emphasizes the importance of letting the concept drive the tool, using technology to speed up the iteration and critique process, and preparing students for a world where media literacy and AI fluency are essential. From 3D printing and VR to using AI for social good, this conversation highlights how a sense of play and a student-centered approach can transform the learning experience across all subjects.

Publish Date:May 15, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 19: Nurturing the Whole Child in a Tech-Heavy World

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica is joined by Dr. Chaunté Garrett, CEO and founder of Empowering Learners and Leaders to Excel, to discuss the critical balance of supporting the "whole child" in digital classrooms. Dr. Garrett redefines the whole child framework through three essential pillars: academic, social, and physical safety. Together, they explore how technology can be a powerful ally—not as a replacement for human connection, but as a way to scale mental health support and elevate student voice. Dr. Garrett shares her insights on intentional system rollouts and data-driven decision-making, urging educators to shift from "keeping up" with technology to "growing with it."

Publish Date:May 08, 2026

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Episode 18: The Secret to Thriving Educator Networks

Publish Date:May 01, 2026

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 17: Rethinking Professional Development in the Age of AI

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica joins Allison Rodman, founder of The Learning Loop and ASCD author, to discuss reimagining professional development through the lens of AI. They explore shifting away from "one-size-fits-all" training toward personalized, high-impact learning that leverages AI as a strategic partner for design and facilitation. Allison shares practical ways educators can use AI to analyze pre-session data and refine instructional coaching, while stressing the importance of maintaining the "human in the loop." The conversation highlights how to balance technical efficiency with the authentic social collaboration and relationship-building essential to teacher growth.

Publish Date:Apr 24, 2026

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Episode 16: Practical Examples of AI in Education

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Caroline Haebig, a K-12 coordinator of teaching and learning and ISTE author, to discuss the practical application of AI in today’s classrooms. Together, they explore how educators can move past the "wow factor" to find sustainable, research-backed ways to integrate AI into daily instruction and student work. They discuss the transition from viewing AI as a "magic wand" to treating it as a sophisticated partner for retrieval practice, lateral reading, and creative brainstorming. Caroline also shares her insights on constructing effective AI prompts through a cognitive science lens, emphasizing why transparency and clear citation norms are the foundation of AI literacy for students.

Publish Date:Apr 17, 2026

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Episode 15: Emerging AI Trends in Education for 2026

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Julie Willcott, a STEM and AI specialist and fellow Apple Distinguished Educator, to discuss the rapidly shifting landscape of educational technology. Together, they explore how AI has moved from a novelty to a pervasive daily tool in classrooms and why 2026 marks a turning point for "human-in-the-loop" systems. They discuss the transition from text-based bots to fluid, real-time AI tutoring that can scaffold learning and challenge students in ways previously only possible with human one-on-one support. Julie also shares her unique experiences with AI "interviews" and the critical importance of AI literacy—specifically identifying hallucinations and biases.

Publish Date:Apr 10, 2026

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Episode 14: Play-Based Learning in Today’s Classrooms

Publish Date:Apr 03, 2026

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Episode 13: Organizing Schoolwide Projects

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica welcomes Kim Marie Kefalas, a New Jersey technology teacher who manages over 500 students across two schools. Together, they dive into the power of school-wide projects—from student-led elementary podcasts to interactive door-decorating contests—and how these initiatives break down classroom silos to build a true sense of community and equity. They discuss strategies for introducing collaborative tools like Canva and Book Creator to young learners, the importance of fostering "student experts" to encourage independence, and how teachers can find inspiration by duplicating and tweaking successful projects from social media. Kim also shares her "tell three before me" approach to ensure students become confident, independent problem-solvers in the digital age.

Publish Date:Mar 27, 2026

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Episode 12: AI Ethics in Action

Publish Date:Mar 13, 2026

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Episode 11: 5 Low or No Cost Tech Tools That Can Save Teachers Time

Technology Essentials in Education is your go-to podcast for practical insights on using technology to simplify your school week. Hosted by author and educator Monica Burns, Ed.D., in partnership with Jotform, this series is designed for K-12 educators, administrators, and leaders looking to make a meaningful impact. In this episode, Monica chats with Richard Colosi, an Instructional Technology Specialist and founder of EdTech Hustle, who shares five powerful low- or no-cost tools designed to save educators time. Together, they explore how to move beyond "tech for tech’s sake" to find digital solutions that reduce friction and help teachers focus on what matters most: their students. They discuss why tools like ChatGPT for Teachers and Notion are essential for streamlining administrative "emotional labor," how to use Google AI Studio and Microsoft Clipchamp to create more accessible, inclusive content, and how Canva Code is empowering teachers to build their own interactive classroom resources.

Publish Date:Mar 06, 2026

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Episode 10: EdTech Trends 2026: Jotform’s Latest Research

Publish Date:Feb 27, 2026

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Episode 9: Simplifying Professional Development with On-Demand Tools

Publish Date:Feb 20, 2026

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Episode 8: Personalizing Learning Resources for All Students

Publish Date:Feb 06, 2026

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Episode 7: Future-Proofing Classroom Technology: Sustainable Choices

Publish Date:Jan 23, 2026

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Episode 6: Creating Uncheatable Assessments in the Age of AI

Publish Date:Jan 09, 2026

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Episode 5: What You Should Know about Creating Accessible Resources

Publish Date:Feb 28, 2025

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Episode 4: How to Tackle Student Data

Publish Date:Feb 21, 2025

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Episode 3: AI Trends You Should Watch This Year

In this episode, Monica chats with Carl Hooker, the author of Learning Evolution: The New Era of AI in the Classroom, all about the latest AI trends in education. You’ll hear about AI-powered tools to look out for spanning AI-powered tutoring, content creation, personalized learning, and more. If you want actionable tips for effectively using AI in your classroom to elevate teaching and learning, this episode is for you!

Publish Date:Feb 14, 2025

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Episode 2: Classroom Management Challenges in a Digital Age

Publish Date:Feb 07, 2025

Technology Essentials in Education

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Episode 1: Crafting the Perfect Student Interest Survey

In this episode, Monica shares essential tips for designing an optimized student interest survey and how educators can use surveys to boost student engagement and personalize learning. You'll hear specific strategies for crafting surveys across different grade levels and content areas. Tune into this episode and learn how to create more targeted, student-centered learning experiences that connect with kids' interests, motivations, and learning preferences.

Publish Date:Jan 31, 2025