AI Real Talk: The Curiosity Connection

AI Real Talk: The Curiosity Connection

By Matt KarabinosTechnologyEducation
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AI Real Talk: The Curiosity Connection episodes

  • Expertise in the Age of AI

    In this episode, Matthew sits down with Merissa Sadler-Holder, founder of Teaching with Machines and the person he credits as a catalyst in his career. They dig into what it really takes to bring AI into schools—from building student-facing AI literacy curricula to navigating the resistance, fear, and identity shifts educators face. Along the way, they explore AI as a mirror of what we value, why we're shifting from paying for time to paying for expertise, and how teachers with zero coding experience are building interactive games in minutes. It's a conversation about curiosity, change management, and why your expertise matters more now—not less.

    In this conversation:

    • The critical distinction between AI literacy and AI fluency—and why students are skipping the foundation
    • How Merissa co-designed an AI curriculum with students at an alternative ed school (and what happened when lessons completely flopped)
    • A historical analogy that reframes the entire AI-and-creativity debate
    • Why a consulting client pushed back on paying full price when AI made the work faster—and what that means for the future of your expertise
    • Teachers vibe coding interactive games on day one with zero prior training
    • A 45-minute parking lot conversation that reveals what AI resistance is really about

    Video Chapters:

    • 0:00 — Introduction & Meeting Merissa
    • 2:49 — Teaching with Machines Today
    • 3:55 — AI Literacy vs. AI Fluency
    • 6:17 — Social Media Lessons & Critical Thinking
    • 9:41 — Building an AI Curriculum with Students
    • 20:38 — AI, Art, and Creativity
    • 27:06 — Paying for Expertise, Not Just Time
    • 29:09 — Vibe Coding & Empowering Teachers
    • 32:23 — Light Bulb Moments
    • 39:11 — Navigating Change & Resisting Optimization
    • 50:48 — Closing Thoughts & What's Next

    Connect with us: 

    • Merissa Sadler-Holder (LinkedIn)
    • Matthew Karabinos (LinkedIn)
    • Teaching with Machines
    • (00:00) - Introduction & Meeting Merissa
  • (02:49) - Teaching with Machines Today
  • (03:55) - AI Literacy vs. AI Fluency
  • (06:17) - Social Media Lessons & Critical Thinking
  • (09:41) - Building an AI Curriculum with Students
  • (20:38) - AI, Art, and Creativity
  • (27:06) - Paying for Expertise, Not Just Time
  • (29:09) - Vibe Coding & Empowering Teachers
  • (32:23) - Light Bulb Moments
  • (39:11) - Navigating Change & Resisting Optimization
  • (50:48) - Closing Thoughts & What's Next

  • We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

    Learn more about Renaissance:

     

    As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

    1 hr 5 min
  • Why Teachers Don't Need to be the Expert in the Classroom with Stewart Brown

    Matt sits down with Stewart Brown, from Code for Kids (c4k.io), to dig into why so many schools are unprepared to teach AI literacy and computer science—and what it actually takes to build a foundation that sticks. From debunking the myth that CS doesn't belong in every district to rethinking what "expert in the room" even means for teachers, this conversation goes way deeper than tech tools. It's about curiosity, vulnerability, and what gets lost when we let AI do too much of the thinking for us. 

    Timestamps: 
    2:43 | The real gap in K-8 schools: why computer science often doesn't exist as a real subject
    15:12 | Stewart's no-BS way of explaining AI: "It's a machine brain."
    18:07 | Matthew's viral hallucination analogy — what your breakfast 20 years ago has to do with AI
    19:38 | Unpacking "future-ready education" — and why it's more than a buzzword
    21:54 | The mindset shift every teacher needs before stepping into an AI-driven classroom
    30:56 | A college classroom story that changed how Matthew thinks about teaching
    35:09 | How Code for Kids actually started — an origin story with a wild twist
    40:23 | What happens to classroom engagement when teachers admit they don't know everything
    47:48 | Stewart gets curious: the big open questions driving his work
    51:49 | The one thing about AI that fascinates (and unsettles) everyone in the field
    57:28 | Where to find Stewart and Code for Kids


    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

    Learn more about Renaissance:

     

    As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

    59 min
  • The Education System is 100% Dead. Here's What Comes Next... ft. Amirah Cummings

    What if curiosity, not content, is the most important skill we can teach kids? In this episode of Real Talk: The Curiosity Connection, host Matt Karabinos sits down with Amirah Cummings, founder of KIO (Kids in Orbit), to explore how AI is unlimiting education, why the traditional school system is 100% obsolete, and what it truly means to become a self-driven learner.

    Amirah is a former software engineer turned educator whose work spans multilingual Montessori schooling, mission-based learning, and an entire ecosystem designed to turn kids into "Kionauts"—curious, compassionate explorers of Earth and the cosmos. 

    At a time when AI is "making learning infinite" and "unlimiting" students' potential, the real mission of education comes into question. Listen to the whole episode for some memorable hot takes about education and what we can do instead. 

    In this episode, you'll learn:

    • Why curiosity disappears around 3rd grade, and what we can do about it
    • How AI makes learning infinite (and what that really means for classrooms)
    • Why Amirah believes the traditional education system is 100% dead
    • The difference between motivated learners and self-driven learners
    • How mission-based learning replaces outdated standards and metrics
    • Why millennials are uniquely positioned to lead the future of education
    • What "the new literacy" really looks like in an AI-powered world
    • How to develop curiosity in kids — and adults — starting with one question: "Why?"


    Connect with Amirah Cummings:

    • Amirah Cummings's LinkedIn
    • KIO Learning
    • Kionaut

    Connect with Matt & the Show:

    • Show: AI Real Talk: The Curiosity Connection
    • Matt Karabinos' LinkedIn



    • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (00:57) - KIO: Kids in Orbit
  • (02:02) - The Origin of KIO
  • (07:49) - AI and Infinite Learning
  • (15:36) - Rethinking Education
  • (16:12) - Amirah's Personal Journey
  • (23:14) - Student-Centered Learning & AI
  • (35:50) - The Future of Education & AI
  • (42:50) - Developing Curiosity
  • (59:21) - Closing: What Are You Most Curious About?

  • We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

    Learn more about Renaissance:

     

    As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

    1 hr 4 min
  • ISTE 2026: Start a Conversation, Not an Accusation with Mike Lawrence

    In this episode recorded at ISTE 2026, Jethro Jones talks with Mike Lawrence. Mike shares how his school district built a culture of AI transparency using disclosure badges instead of bans, why teachers need to model the same openness they expect from students, and what's next as schools cautiously explore AI agents.


    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

    Learn more about Renaissance:

     

    As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

    21 min
  • Doan Winkel: Building Friction, Autonomy, and Design with AI

    Building Friction, Autonomy, and Design with AI | Doan Winkel

    What if the best thing AI can do for students is refuse to help them? Matt sits down with entrepreneur and educator Doan Winkel to dig into why "helpful AI" might be the worst thing to happen to learning and what to do instead.


    In this episode:

    • The philosophy behind AI Friction Labs and why deliberately frustrating students might be the most effective teaching tool yet
    • Why Doan thinks the "easy button" problem isn't really an AI problem
    • The ungrading experiment that revealed something startling: students aren't cheating at teachers. Teachers never even cross their minds.
    • How one small prompt change turned a skeptical lawyer into an AI evangelist overnight
    • Why the most resistant person in the room might be exactly who you need on your AI committee
    • The inertia problem: education hasn't fundamentally changed in decades. Will AI finally be the thing that breaks it?
    • Doan's take on student autonomy, and the uncomfortable question he ends with that has no clean answer

    Chapters:

    • 0:00 Introduction & Guest Welcome
    • 1:04 What Is AI Friction Labs?
    • 5:01 The Sparring Partner Concept & Mike Kentz
    • 5:43 Student Autonomy vs. the Easy Button
    • 7:39 The Ungrading Experiment & AI Cheating Reality
    • 14:54 Teacher Risk-Taking & Finding the Opening
    • 15:56 AI in Rural Schools & Learning from Others' Mistakes
    • 25:08 Designing Learning Experiences with AI
    • 31:55 Bandwidth, Training & Building Champions
    • 41:02 Curiosities: Breaking the Inertia of Education
    • 44:33 Outro & Where to Find Doan

    Find Doan:

    • LinkedIn 
    • Newsletter: How to Teach AI on Substack (free, weekly, practical)
    • Website: doanwinkel.com
    • (00:00) - Introduction & Guest Welcome
  • (01:03) - What Is AI Friction Labs?
  • (05:01) - The Sparring Partner Concept & Mike Kentz
  • (05:43) - Student Autonomy vs. Easy Button AI
  • (07:39) - The Ungrading Experiment & AI Cheating Reality
  • (14:54) - Teacher Risk-Taking & Finding the Opening
  • (15:56) - AI in Rural Schools & Watching Others Learn from Mistakes
  • (25:08) - Designing Learning Experiences with AI
  • (31:55) - Bandwidth, Training & Building Champions
  • (41:02) - Curiosities: Breaking the Inertia of Education
  • (44:33) - Outro & Where to Find Doan

  • We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

    Learn more about Renaissance:

     

    As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

    46 min
  • Pathologically Uncurious About AI ft. Jake Rupp

    Jake Rupp teaches AP Lang and public speaking, and he built his TikTok following by breaking down rhetoric in bite-sized lessons. In this episode we get into what voice actually means, why AI-written text is so easy to spot, and why Jake has decided AI has no place in his classroom at all.

    Jake grades without points. He built a feedback and revision system years before AI showed up, and students are still using AI to write their own reflections on their own AI-generated work. That single fact reshapes the whole conversation. We talk about a student who told him flat out she wasn't thinking about getting caught; she just needed the assignment done. We talk about the curse of knowledge and why group work and presentations fail when we assign them without ever teaching them. And we talk about whether early AI exposure builds better judgment later or just moves the desensitization earlier.

    This one gets a little heated, a lot honest, and ends with Jake handing me one of the best lines I've recorded on this show.

    Find Jake on TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and beyond!
    Connect with Matt on LinkedIn!

    Timestamps: 
    0:00 Introduction

    2:00 Jake's background teaching rhetoric and how his TikTok lessons grew out of the classroom

    21:00 AI and student voice, the cognitive offload problem

    24:00 The student who said "I wasn't thinking about you at all"

    30:00 Jake's gradeless classroom and why it hasn't stopped AI misuse

    36:00 The curse of knowledge and why we assign skills we never teach

    41:00 Tech giants, AI in schools, and the shift from preference to reliance

    50:00 The doctor question, and proving what you actually know

    56:00 Gen Z, work ethic, and whether AI anxiety is about something else

    1:01:00 Student disgust at AI generated feedback and Jake's non-negotiables

    1:05:00 Being curious about the future, without AI

    1:07:00 Wrap-up and where to find Jake


    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

    Learn more about Renaissance:

     

    As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

    1 hr 10 min
  • Being a Cautious Advocate with Dr. Alfonso Mendoza Jr.

    What does it mean to be a "cautious advocate" in the age of AI?

    In this episode of Artificial Intelligence Real Talk, host Matthew sits down with Dr. Alfonso Mendoza Jr. ("Dr. Fonz"), educator, ed-tech veteran, and host of the My EdTech Life podcast, for a wide-ranging and deeply honest conversation about what it really means to bring technology into classrooms with intention.

    Dr. Fonz brings over a decade of experience as a digital learning coordinator, a doctoral perspective on data and ed tech policy, and a refreshing willingness to pump the brakes when everyone else is flooring it. Together, Matt and Dr. Fonz dig into the lessons learned from the early days of generative AI hype, the growing tech backlash, and what cautious advocacy actually looks like in practice.

    In this episode, you'll hear:

    • How a term coined by Dr. Nneka McGee ("cautious advocate") changed the way both hosts approach AI in education
    • Why the hype cycle of blockchain, NFTs, and Web3 shaped Dr. Mendoza's skepticism about generative AI
    • What "data rentiership" means and why it should make every educator pause before adopting a free tool
    • The difference between substitution and genuine transformation in classroom technology use
    • Why professional development for teachers is underfunded, rushed, and often set up to fail
    • How looking at teaching through a marketing lens can help educators actually reach every learner
    • Real strategies for bite-sized, flexible professional learning that actually works ("PD in Your PJs," choice boards, micro-modules)
    • Why students with IEPs, 504 plans, and multilingual learners are most at risk when schools cut their tech stacks
    • What the future of higher education might look like as generative AI challenges the value of a degree

    What are you most curious about when it comes to AI and the future of education?

    Connect with Dr. Fonz:
    MyEdTechLife podcast
    LinkedIn

    Timestamps

    • 0:00 — Introduction & Guest Welcome
    • 0:59 — The "Cautious Advocate" — How Dr. Mendoza Approaches AI & EdTech Hype
    • 11:14 — Tech Backlash, Screen Time & What We Owe Kids
    • 21:45 — Student-Centered Learning & What Real EdTech Use Looks Like
    • 24:43 — Teacher Training, Professional Development & the Time Problem
    • 36:20 — AI Policy, Stakeholder Voice & the AI Readiness Audit
    • 1:07:51 — What Are You Curious About? The Future of Higher Ed & AI



    • (00:00) - Introduction & Guest Welcome
  • (00:59) - The Cautious Advocate: Lessons from EdTech Hype
  • (08:01) - Tech Backlash & Screen Time
  • (17:19) - Student-Centered Learning & EdTech in Practice
  • (19:28) - Teacher Training & Professional Development
  • (49:35) - The Future: Higher Ed & AI Curiosity

  • We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

    Learn more about Renaissance:

     

    As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

    56 min
  • Aaron Makelky on AI Scouts, Snow Globes, & Building vs. Consuming

    Matt Karabinos sits down with Aaron Makelky—former history teacher turned Community & Developer Relations Manager at Descript—to explore the wild, humbling, and often hilarious journey of discovering AI. From a student showing Aaron ChatGPT after a Thanksgiving break to both men leaving the classroom within a month of each other, this episode is a real conversation between two educators who went all-in on AI before it was mainstream. They dig into the "tech lash" in schools, Aaron's powerful "snow globe" analogy for how schools operate, why every staff needs AI scouts, how they're raising AI-literate kids at home, and what vibe coding is really unlocking for everyday people. After this episode, you should be asking yourself, "are you consuming, or are you building?"

    Timestamped Show Notes

    • 0:00 — Intro: How Matt & Aaron Met — A LinkedIn DM friendship and parallel paths out of teaching
    • 2:56 — Aaron's AI Origin Story — A student shows Aaron ChatGPT after Thanksgiving break; he's never the same
    • 11:59 — From Classroom to Dev Relations — Aaron describes his new role teaching creators and developers instead of students
    • 14:08 — The Snow Globe: Schools & AI — Aaron's analogy for how schools operate in isolation and why that's a problem
    • 16:01 — AI, Cheating & Classroom Conversations — Why students are confused about AI cheating rules and what we should be teaching instead
    • 16:22 — Raising AI-Literate Kids — Aaron's 8-year-old wants an AI agent; the Ozzy Osbourne AI fact-check lesson; his son as the classroom's AI scout
    • 20:15 — Vibe Coding & Building Things — Aaron vibe codes a full summer routine tracking app from handwritten notes in one hour
    • 23:58 — Consuming vs. Building: The Final Takeaway — AI puts everyone in one of two categories; which one do you want to be in?

    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

    Learn more about Renaissance:

     

    As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

    29 min
  • Rethinking Learning...Just in Time

    What does it actually mean to use AI responsibly in education? In this episode, host Matthew sits down with educator, author, and automation advocate Jethro Jones to explore the difference between AI that builds you up versus AI that holds you back. Jethro introduces the concept of cognitive equity — using AI to expand what you're capable of — versus cognitive debt — using it to skip the learning that matters. They dive deep into practical frameworks for deciding what to automate, why students aren't really "cheating" with AI (and what we should do about it instead), and what truly meaningful learning looks like. Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or lifelong learner, this conversation will challenge how you think about school, work, and what it means to actually grow.

    • 0:00 — Welcome & Podcast Origin Story: Matthew introduces the show and welcomes returning guest Jethro Jones, who's been helping get this podcast off the ground.
    • 1:22 — Cognitive Equity vs. Cognitive Debt: Jethro introduces his core framework: AI that expands your abilities creates cognitive equity; AI that circumvents real learning creates cognitive debt.
    • 3:12 — Automating the Menial: Real-World Examples: Jethro shares how he built an automatic attendance tool for a driving school — and why the meaning behind a task determines whether it should be automated.
    • 6:22 — How to Decide What to Automate: Three frameworks: automate what you procrastinate on, automate what you've already systematized, and reconsider even automating gratitude.
    • 17:41 — Teaching Kids to Value Their Work: Matthew asks the big question: if adults can decide what's valuable, how do we help kids do the same?
    • 17:44 — Why School Compliance Kills Learning: Jethro argues that school systems have optimized for compliance, not learning — and AI just makes that problem impossible to ignore.
    • 19:38 — What Meaningful Learning Looks Like: Jethro clarifies: learning has never been the focus of school — but it should be. He shares three ways to make assignments actually matter.
    • 33:53 — Just-in-Time Learning: Why grade-level scope and sequences may be doing more harm than good — and how kids learn best when they need the knowledge most.
    • 35:07 — Monday Morning Takeaway: Jethro leaves teachers and administrators with one concrete, actionable thing to do this week.

    Guest: Jethro Jones — educator, author, and automation advocate. Find him at @JethroJones on all social platforms and at his new web site Optimization Doc.

    Host: Matthew — AI & Emerging Technology Consultant, Central Pennsylvania.


    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

    Learn more about Renaissance:

     

    As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

    38 min
  • Curiosity Is the Entry Point: Matt Karabinos on AI in Education

    In this introductory episode, Jethro welcomes Matt Karabinos as the new host of Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk — formerly A Vision for Learning. Matt shares his background as a recently-practicing classroom teacher and his current work helping schools, educators, students, and administrators make sense of AI in education.

    Together, Jethro and Matt explore what makes AI different from past edtech initiatives: it is not just another tool, search engine, or “vending machine.” Used well, AI can become a thought partner that helps teachers reimagine lessons, create new learning experiences, and solve real classroom problems without starting from scratch.

    Matt also introduces the mindset behind his CURVE framework, beginning with curiosity. For educators wondering where to start, this conversation offers a simple invitation: be curious, try something small, and let AI help you see new possibilities for teaching and learning.

    In this episode

    • Matt Karabinos’ move from the classroom into regional AI and emerging technology support
    • Why AI in education needs to stay grounded in real teacher experience
    • The future direction of Artificial Intelligence: Real Talk
    • Moving beyond AI as a search engine or “vending machine”
    • How teachers can use AI to reimagine lessons instead of replacing their own expertise
    • A practical classroom example: turning a tired morning lesson into an active number-line activity
    • Why educators do not need to relearn everything or become technical experts
    • Curiosity as the real entry point for using AI well
    • Matt’s CURVE framework and the mindset teachers need in this moment
    • How sharing your learning publicly can become a professional portfolio

    Key takeaways

    • AI is most powerful when used as a thought partner, not just a content generator.
    • Teachers do not have to throw out what already works; AI can help them adjust, remix, and improve from where they already are.
    • The best starting point is not technical skill — it is curiosity.
    • Asking AI for multiple options often produces better results than asking for one perfect answer.
    • Educators can enter the AI conversation from any level of experience.
    • Sharing what you are learning can open doors and demonstrate expertise in ways a résumé alone cannot.

    Guest

    Matt Karabinos is a former classroom teacher and current emerging technology and project specialist. He supports schools and educators as they navigate AI policy, classroom practice, student use, professional learning, and the broader shifts AI is bringing to education. He also runs student programs and regional competitions, including FIRST LEGO League, Scholastic Quiz League, Reading Competition, and Math24.

    Find Matt on TikTok: @MrKAllDay



    We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

    Learn more about Renaissance:

     

    As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.


    IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

    • Simplify and streamline technology
    • Save teachers’ time
    • Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
    • Improve student performance on state assessments

    🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

    18 min

About AI Real Talk: The Curiosity Connection

From the publisher's feed

Matt Karabinos hosts discussions that focus on one of the most important traits we have in the AI age: curiosity. He leans into his own curiosity for how AI is changing, reshaping, and challenging…