Technology Essentials in Education Episode 38:
From Consumption to Creation: Designing Purposeful Screen Time in K–12

About the Episode

In this episode, host Monica Burns welcomes Dr. Natasha Rachell, Director of Instructional Technology for Atlanta Public Schools, to discuss two intertwined and pressing topics in K–12 education: screen time and artificial intelligence. Dr. Rachell shares her grounded perspective leading a team of digital learning and EdTech specialists, navigating district policy updates, and organizing large-scale AI professional development initiatives across central office staff and school leaders. The conversation centers on shifting the screen time narrative away from arbitrary minute limits toward evaluating the quality and intentionality of digital engagement. Dr. Rachell emphasizes the crucial distinction between passive consumption and active production, highlighting how devices should enhance, rather than replace, core classroom instruction. Moving into AI integration, she outlines Atlanta Public Schools' top-down rollout model—starting with executive and administrative leadership—and advocates for the "Human-AI-Human" (HAIH) framework to ensure ethical, responsible, and accurate AI use across all grade levels.