SWAPNA KRISHNA writes about space, science, and technology. You can find her at the YouTube channel Ad Astra, and her work has been published at outlets such as Wired, Engadget, The Verge, NPR, and Slate. Her new book provides a novel approach to mindfulness while learning more about science and history. Pocket Nature: Stargazing: Contemplate the Cosmos to Find Inner Peace Part of the Pocket Nature series, this petite volume features helpful tips for stargazing, plus thoughtful meditations related to stars, space, and the universe. In a cool palette with celestial illustrations, Stargazing is a must-have companion for amateur astronomers, space enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and anyone looking to slow down and find time for contemplation. In these pages, learn about features of the night sky, from the Milky Way to moon craters to the planets in our solar system; read a brief history of stargazing in cultures around the world; and discover seventeen notable constellations to observe in the northern hemisphere throughout the year. With ruminative meditations on the universe, moonlight, stardust, and more, this pocket-size guide to the cosmos has everything you need to better understand and appreciate the night sky.   Learn more with Shifting Schools this year: https://www.shiftingschools.com/   Thank you to our amazing show sponsor: Mackin https://home.mackin.com/

305: Stargazing for SEL with Swapna Krishna

Shifting Schools is a thought-provoking podcast that explores the latest trends, strategies, and tools in K-12 education. Hosted by educators Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman, the podcast provides a platform for teachers, administrators, and education thought leaders to share their experiences and insights on how to improve teaching and learning. From innovative approaches in classroom management to leveraging technology for personalized learning, Shifting Schools tackles the most pressing issues facing K12 educators today. Whether you are a seasoned teacher or a new educator, this podcast will inspire you to think outside the box and shift your educational approach. Tune in to Shifting Schools to gain new perspectives, share ideas, and join a community of passionate educators who are committed to making a positive impact in the lives of their students.

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Jeff and Tricia introduce their new micro menu for the month of May, which focuses on experimenting with generative AI in different contexts. They emphasize the importance of actually interacting with AI tools and the power of collaborative conversations about the output. They also mention their sponsor, Lebra, and answer questions about handling change and choosing the right generative AI tool. In this conversation, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman discuss the importance of getting familiar with and using generative AI tools, specifically ChatGPT. This episode also will introduce the Drive Framework, which stands for dialogue, re-imagine, interdependence, verify, and executive functioning. The framework provides a roadmap for educators to navigate AI literacy and leverage technology for deeper learning. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the Building Community prompt in the Mega Menu, highlighting the power of word choice and the importance of customization and critical thinking when using generative AI tools. Ready to get your Micro Menu for May free guide? 

337: Micro Menu Month Launches: AI Literacy for Teams

 This week Tricia interviews two of her alltime fav librarians about the role of librarians in cultivating AI literacy. Karina  and Allie  discuss the responsibility of librarians in fostering AI literacy, curating resources, and teaching AI ethics. They also explore the impact of social media algorithms on readers' preferences and the importance of providing guidance in book recommendations. The librarians share their favorite AI tools, such as Magic School, Diffit, and Curipod, and emphasize the need for librarians to experiment and find tools that work best for them. They also discuss the influence of TikTok and Bookstagram in promoting reading and recommend books they are excited to read. Ready to learn more about our amazing guests this week? https://www.tiktok.com/@alliethelibrarian https://www.instagram.com/alliethelibrarian/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/cuethelibrarian/ https://cuethelibrarian.weebly.com/about.html Chapters 06:22 Curating Resources and Teaching AI Ethics 11:13 The Impact of Social Media Algorithms on Readers' Preferences 15:43 Favorite AI Tools for Librarians 28:46 Guiding Readers in Book Recommendations Huge thank you to our sponsors for supporting our podcast Learn more about  Lebra Gamestorm EDU

336: The Role of the Librarian in the Era of AI

In this episode, Jeff Utecht interviews Chris Linsell, a real estate technologist, about the intersection between technology and real estate. They discuss the disruptions happening in the real estate industry and the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in transforming the profession. Chris emphasizes the importance of soft skills, such as emotional intelligence, in addition to technical skills. He highlights the need for professionals to understand and interpret human motivations and emotions in order to effectively communicate and negotiate in real estate transactions. Chris also emphasizes the importance of continual learning and adaptability in a rapidly changing industry.   Chris Linsell is a real estate technologist, a sought-after real estate coach, and hands-on real estate professional with more than 13 years of experience buying and selling anything from modest starter homes to massive waterside compounds. Chris currently serves as the Director of Content for Luxury Presence. In this role, Chris leads an impressive team of content professionals in telling the story of Luxury Presence’s products, services, and people. Chris has worked as a trainer and development consultant for national real estate brands such as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices of Michigan and Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors, helping teams of all shapes and sizes realize their lead generation and overall business goals by finding new ways to demonstrate their expertise and authority in their local markets. Chris formerly served as the Senior Writer and Technology Analyst for The Close, the internet’s leading source of actionable, strategic insight for and by industry professionals. Learn more: chrislinsell.com luxurypresence.com  https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-linsell Thank you to our incredible sponsors for supporting our show! Learn more about  Lebra https://www.lebrahq.com/ Gamestorm EDU https://gamestormedu.com/

335: Is K12 education future ready right now?

In this podcast episode, the creators of Professor AI, an AI startup supporting students with AP exams, discuss their journey and the development of their app. The founders, who are 11th graders in high school, explain how they came up with the idea and the importance of founder-market fit. They also discuss the challenges of AI hallucinations and how they overcame them by using open-source textbooks and integrating with Wolfram Alpha. The founders highlight the support they received from Microsoft and their participation in an accelerator program. They emphasize their goal of providing access to educational resources for all students. Pradyu Kandala and Abhay Chebium discuss their AI-powered education platform, Professor AI, which aims to provide personalized tutoring and grading support for AP students. They address concerns about cheating and emphasize that the AI is designed to help students learn rather than replace teachers. The platform explains concepts in different ways and provides reliable sources for further study. They also highlight the importance of feedback from educators to fine-tune the platform and invite teachers to sign up for the waitlist and support their endeavor. Takeaways Professor AI is an AI startup created by two 11th graders to support students with AP exams. The founders identified a need for an AI system to help students with their AP coursework and exams. The founders received support from Microsoft and are participating in an accelerator program to further develop their startup. Professor AI is an AI-powered education platform that offers personalized tutoring and grading support for AP students. Learn more about Professor AI today: https://www.professorai.co/ Thanks to our amazing sponsors for making the show possible Learn more about Lebra HQ https://www.lebrahq.com/ Learn more about Game Storm EDU https://gamestormedu.com/    

334: How Two 11th Graders are Revolutionizing AP Exam Prep with AI

Imagine students grappling with AI-crafted ethical dilemmas. They're not just learning about sustainability – they’re learning how to question, research, and discern credible information. It’s about nurturing critical thinking and responsible info consumption – the core of information literacy 

305: Stargazing for SEL with Swapna Krishna

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