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

The updated U.S. National Ed Tech plan highlights the digital divide regarding access, design, and use. We discuss the challenge of getting reluctant adopters to use technology equitably. We also touch on the need for more diversity in ed tech leadership and the importance of using tools like live captions to promote equity. We wrap up with thoughts on bridging the digital use and design divide using the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards as a blueprint.

Follow on Twitter: @ISTEofficial @mrhooker @VictoriaTheTech @jonHarper70bd @shellthief @hyphenatic @bamradionetwork

Resources: Elevate Equity in Edtech | Blindsided by AI

Victoria Thompson is an education industry executive at Microsoft, an instructional designer for EduSpark and an ISTE Ambassador. She began her journey teaching fifth and sixth-grade math and science in Summerville, South Carolina. After completing her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, she moved to the Seattle area, where her career pivoted to focusing on STEM integration in schools; K–12 mathematics instruction with research on decolonizing mathematics curriculum for teachers and learners; creating inclusive math environments; and using technology to bridge equity gaps in education. She has presented at ISTELive, the ImpactEducation conference, the CUE conference, and the DigCitSummit on topics such as creating inclusive math classrooms, culturally responsive STEM education, and equity in educational technology. She was recently named one of the top 30 K–12 IT influencers by EdTech Magazine.

Thanks to generative artificial intelligence, John Hattie believes the conventional idea of 21st-century skills is outdated. In this discussion, he draws on research to update the list and identify the four essential skills all students will need in the age of Gen AI.

Follow on Twitter: @sparvell @MicrosoftEDU @bamradionetwork @jonHarper70bd

Related Resources: Visible Learning: The Sequel | Reimagine Education | Microsoft Education Toolkit

Professor John Hattie is an education researcher. His research interests include performance indicators, measurement models, and teaching and learning evaluation. John Hattie became known to a broader public with his two books, Visible Learning and Visible Learning for Teachers. Visible Learning is a synthesis of more than 2,100 meta-analyses drawn from more than 130,000 studies involving more than 400 million students from all around the world. According to John Hattie, Visible Learning results from 15 years of research about what works best for learning in schools. TES once called him “possibly the world’s most influential education academic.”

The trauma experienced by teachers is often overlooked, or discounted in favor of focusing on student trauma. The guests discuss the need for systemic changes to support teachers, including the provision of therapists specifically for educators, regular check-ins on mental health, and a shift in culture to prioritize teacher wellbeing.

Follow on Twitter: @DrKpsychologist, @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork

Related Articles:

Trauma-Informed Care for Teachers | Edutopia

Tarn Wilson is a high school teacher and new teacher mentor in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is the author of a memoir, an essay collection, and a book of creative writing prompts and has been published in numerous literary journals as well as educational websites.

Jelena Kecmanovic, Ph.D., is the founding director of the Arlington/DC Behavior Therapy Institute and an adjunct professor of psychology at Georgetown University. In addition to academic articles, she has written for the Washington Post, The Conversation, Psychology Today Magazine, and others.

We began by exploring whether we’re just using generative AI because it’s the shiny new thing. We quickly agreed that Gen AI is definitely a massive time saver. But how much time did we each have to invest in learning, setting up, and tweaking generative AI tools to start seeing significant time savings? We discovered that the time ranged from less than 15 minutes to many, many hours, depending on how you approach the technology.

Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd @CFKurban @JBR_Kleinmann @bamradionetwork

Resources: ChatGPT | AI LABS | School AI | Miro | Co-pilot |Magic School |

Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. Caroline previously was Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University. She also teaches in the Faculty of Education. She has taught, trained, and managed in schools and universities in her twenty-year career. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics.

Juli Ross-Kleinmann is an experienced Administrator/ Instructional Specialist who has worked in primary, secondary, and higher education and is skilled in authentically integrating educational technology, professional development, curriculum planning, instructional design, and organizational leadership. Juli has a Master of Science in Education (Administration & Supervision) focused in Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship from Fordham University. She served for three years on the board of ISTE and is an ISTE-certified educator.

Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning, technology, and Project-Based Learning.

Errol St.Clair Smith is an Emmy Award-winning correspondent who has written for the Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Reason Magazine, Edutopia and ISTE. He is currently the executive producer at BAM Education Radio Network (BRN) and the BLINDSIDED by AI docuseries premiering in June 2024.

One of our earliest concerns about generative artificial intelligence was that it would diminish students’ writing skills. This week we discovered that ChatGPT is helping students write more clearly and effectively when used well.

Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd @CFKurban @JBR_Kleinmann @bamradionetwork

Resources Mentioned: | ChatGPT | Bard | SAMR | Triple E | TPACK

Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. Caroline previously was Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University. She also teaches in the Faculty of Education. She has taught, trained, and managed in schools and universities in her twenty-year career. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics.

Juli Ross-Kleinmann is an experienced Administrator/ Instructional Specialist who has worked in primary, secondary, and higher education and is skilled in authentically integrating educational technology, professional development, curriculum planning, instructional design, and organizational leadership. Juli has a Master of Science in Education (Administration & Supervision) focused in Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship from Fordham University. She served for three years on the board of ISTE and is an ISTE-certified educator.

Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning, technology, and Project-Based Learning.

What are the most effective ways to restore a class that’s spinning out of control? We discovered that the answer depends on the grade level. An Edutopia survey identified the top 34 strategies to quiet a rowdy classroom. We review the findings with an elementary school teacher, a middle school math teacher, and an assistant principal.

Follow on Twitter: @dalorleon @mrs_frommert @EmilyAPaschall @Mr100Teacher @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork

Related Edutopia Article: 34 Ways to Quiet a Rambunctious Class | Edutopia

Daniel Leonard is a journalist and assistant editor at Edutopia, a division of the George Lucas Educational Foundation. He writes about classroom tips, tech tools, and the latest research in education. Prior to Edutopia, Daniel wrote for outlets including Scientific American and Scienceline, and has a master’s degree in science journalism from New York University.

Crystal Frommert, M.Ed, brings over two decades of diverse educational experience, spanning from elementary to post-secondary levels. She currently holds the positions of middle school math teacher and deputy head of secondary at Awty International School in Houston. Crystal is also a published author of the 2023 book When Calling Parents Isn’t Your Calling: A Teacher’s Guide to Communicating With Parents.

Jeremiah Short is entering his 10th year in education and eighth as a teacher, and he’s presented at the State and National level. He’s the author of Phenomenal Intervention: The Playbook and the host of The Phenomenal Student Podcast.

Emily Paschall, author and education leader, has served as a teacher, district coach, school administrator, professional learning trainer, and motivational speaker. Her passions lie in teaching, learning, and serving others. Her work is recognized around the world by educators who desire to learn how to create a climate and culture that promotes excellence.

We start the new year by reflecting on our experiences with generative artificial intelligence in 2023 and the lessons we learned. We close by sharing our most useful discoveries and how we plan to use them in the year ahead.

Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd @CFKurban @JBR_Kleinmann @bamradionetwork

Resources: ChatGPT | AI LABS |

Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. Caroline previously held the position of Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University. She also teaches on the Faculty of Education. She has taught, trained and managed in schools and universities in her twenty-year career. She holds a BSc in Geology, MSc in TESOL, MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics.

Juli Ross-Kleinmann is an experienced Administrator/ Instructional Specialist who has worked in primary, secondary, and higher education. Skilled in authentically integrating educational technology, professional development, curriculum planning, instructional design, and organizational leadership. Juli has a Master of Science in Education (Administration & Supervision) focused in Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship from Fordham University. She served for three years on the board of ISTE and is an ISTE Certified Educator.

Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and then moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Western New England University in Springfield Massachusetts.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning.

This week, we dove into AI image generators and how they can be used to engage students in higher-order thinking. We explored and shared the results of testing and comparing several AI image tools with real students in real classrooms. We also exchanged in-class projects and activities that were assigned to students, noting what worked and what we learned from what didn’t. We close with a list of 10 creative ways AI image generators can be used in teaching and learning.

Follow on Twitter: @ideasforteacher @DrBioTom @jonHarper70bd @CFKurban @JBR_Kleinmann @bamradionetwork

Resources: ChatGPT | AI LABS |DALL.E3 |Freepik| Canva |Craiyon | Picsart| Midjourney | Padlet | NightMare AI | Porsche Transformer |

Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. Caroline previously held the position of Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University. She also teaches on the Faculty of Education. She has taught, trained and managed in schools and universities in her twenty-year career. She holds a BSc in Geology, MSc in TESOL, MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics.

Juli Ross-Kleinmann is an experienced Administrator/ Instructional Specialist who has worked in primary, secondary, and higher education. Skilled in authentically integrating educational technology, professional development, curriculum planning, instructional design, and organizational leadership. Juli has a Master of Science in Education (Administration & Supervision) focused in Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship from Fordham University. She served for three years on the board of ISTE and is an ISTE Certified Educator.

Dr. Thomas Mennella has been an instructor in higher education for over ten years. Starting as a lecturer at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst, and then moving on to an Assistant Professorship at Delaware State University (DSU), Tom is now an Associate Professor at Western New England University in Springfield Massachusetts.

Dan Jones earned a BS in Middle Grades Education from Ashland University and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from American College of Education. Dan is an FLGI Master Teacher whose professional interests include e-learning and technology, as well as Project-Based Learning.

A 2022 study from the University of Essex and the University of Reading found that tone shifts significantly impact classroom health and student behavior. In this session, we discuss how to cultivate a warm, confident, firm tone that can minimize student misbehavior and create a conducive climate for learning.

Follow Twitter: @YoukiTerada @parrishlearning @AnnettePonnock @Jonharper70bd @bamradionetwork

Youki Terada is the Research Editor at Edutopia, a division of the George Lucas Educational Foundation. He leads the research beat, covering a broad range of topics from the science of learning to effective classroom management and assessment strategies. Prior to Edutopia, Youki was an educational technology, STEM, and informal science learning researcher at UC Berkeley and the Lawrence Hall of Science.

Annette Ponnock, PhD is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Yale Center Emotional Intelligence. Dr. Ponnock’s research focuses on teacher motivation and well-being, with an emphasis on urban schools. She received her PhD in Educational Psychology from Temple University and her MA in Psychology from the University of Santa Monica.

Nina Parrish has 20 years of experience in the field of education, where she has worked as a special education teacher, education center director, speaker, and educational consultant. Nina is the co-founder and chief academic officer of Parrish Learning Zone in Virginia and the author of The Independent Learner: Metacognitive Exercises to Help K-12 Students Focus, Self-Regulate, and Persevere. Nina holds a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from the University of Mary Washington, a teaching certification in special education from North Carolina A &T, and a Master’s Degree in education for school counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Dr. James L. Floman is an Associate Research Scientist at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. He received his Ph.D. at the University of British Columbia, where he studied the effects of mindfulness and compassion meditation on teacher emotion regulation and prosocial behavior with Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl. Dr. Floman has three core research streams: 1) The assessment of dynamic social-affective processes (i.e., developing and validating EI and well-being measurement tools); 2) EI, mindfulness, and well-being training (i.e., developing, optimizing, and scaling EI and well-being-enhancement interventions for real-world applications); and 3) Affective neuroscience (studying mental training-induced changes in ‘emotional brain’ function and structure).