That’s Not Crazy, That’s History!

To get my free resources for teachers wanting to learn how to use AI in your classroom here:
👉 https://www.aaronmakelky.com/student-facing-ai 👈

If you know a student who wants to learn how to use AI for school without cheating have them check out: 👉 https://www.aaronmakelky.com/ace-college-with-ai-course 👈

Check out my website and projects in my 
🔗 Link in Bio Page  🔗  
https://www.aaronmakelky.com/links

Chapters w/ timestamps

00:00 Introduction to AI Tools for Teachers
00:11 The Importance of Frontier Models
01:09 ChatGPT: The Default AI Tool
03:35 Exploring Google Gemini
06:08 Perplexity: The Ultimate Search Engine
08:40 AI Tools to Skip: Claude and DeepSeek
11:58 Conclusion and Next Steps

Subscribe for more videos in the AI Teacher Toolkit series!

Tools I use to run my business, write, film, and edit my videos:

💼 Kajabi for my website https://app.kajabi.com/r/9tapzkUc/t/2ozomyrg

 🎥 Descript to film and edit video https://get.descript.com/aaron

🤖 Taskade AI Agents for automations: https://taskade.com/?via=r35pt

🎤 Shure MV7 Microphone https://amzn.to/4jKfCoz

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🤳🏼 Insta360 FlowPro Gimbal https://amzn.to/3PWANpI

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We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

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.

This is a episode #3 in the AI Toolkit for Teachers series where we learn to use AI in our classrooms.

To get my free resources for teachers wanting to learn how to use AI in your classroom here:
👉 https://www.aaronmakelky.com/student-facing-ai 👈

If you know a student who wants to learn how to use AI for school without cheating have them check out: 👉 https://www.aaronmakelky.com/ace-college-with-ai-course 👈

Check out my website and projects in my 
🔗 Link in Bio Page  🔗  
https://www.aaronmakelky.com/links

Chapters w/ timestamps

00:00 Introduction to AI in Education
00:08 Mastering AI Skills for Teachers
00:44 Mindset Over Skillset
02:17 The RAFT Prompting Framework
05:57 Iterating on AI Outputs
06:42 AND WHAT ELSING Your Prompt
08:41 Split Testing and Guardrails
10:15 Citing AI Sources Correctly
11:28 AI Transparency in the Classroom
13:57 Conclusion and Next Steps

Subscribe for more podcasts in the AI Teacher Toolkit series!

Tools I use to run my business, write, film, and edit my podcasts:

💼 Kajabi for my website https://app.kajabi.com/r/9tapzkUc/t/2ozomyrg

 🎥 Descript to film and edit video https://get.descript.com/aaron

🤖 Taskade AI Agents for automations: https://taskade.com/?via=r35pt

🎤 Shure MV7 Microphone https://amzn.to/4jKfCoz

🎤 Rode Wireless Pro Microphones https://amzn.to/4jKfCoz

📸 Insta 360 Link Webcam https://amzn.to/40TgsaZ

🤳🏼 Insta360 FlowPro Gimbal https://amzn.to/3PWANpI

👓Meta RayBan Wayfarer Smart Glasses https://amzn.to/3EHqaV9

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

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.

Embracing Mistakes: The Power of Being Willing to Be Stupid

This episode gets into Talent Tip #5: Be Willing to Be Stupid. The discussion highlights the importance of allowing oneself to make mistakes and embrace the learning process. The conversation emphasizes that acknowledging and accepting the possibility of appearing 'stupid' can lead to growth, innovation, and improved problem-solving skills. The hosts share personal anecdotes and professional insights on how this mindset can foster a culture of continuous improvement and creativity.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

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.

AI Policy for Schools: A Practical Guide for Teachers

Creating Effective AI Policies in Schools: Part 2 of the AI Teacher Toolkit

To get my free resources and the student AI survey mentioned, click here:
👉 https://www.aaronmakelky.com/student-facing-ai 👈

If you know a student who wants to learn how to use AI for school without cheating have them check out: 👉 https://www.aaronmakelky.com/ace-college-with-ai-course 👈

Check out my website and projects in my
🔗 Link in Bio Page  🔗 
https://www.aaronmakelky.com/links

Is your school struggling to establish a clear policy for AI? Are your teachers overwhelmed by the rapid integration of AI into classrooms? In this video, Aaron Makelky, a classroom teacher, shares his insights on developing effective AI policies in schools. This episode, which is part two of a five-part series called the AI Teacher Toolkit, breaks down the process into four key parts: policy, skills, tools, and applications. Learn how to navigate state guidelines, understand federal laws like FERPA, CIPA, and COPPA, and establish a layered, transparent AI policy for your classroom. Discover the importance of explicitly labeling assignments for AI use, handling IEP accommodations, and ensuring students know how to properly cite AI tools by using chat logs. Join Aaron and equip yourself to teach effectively in the post-AI world.

00:00 Introduction to AI Policy in Schools
00:37 Understanding AI Policy Framework
02:15 State and District AI Guidelines
04:51 Federal Laws and AI Compliance
06:39 Creating Classroom AI Policies
08:57 Transparency and AI Usage
11:37 Conclusion and Next Steps

Tools I use to run my business, write, film, and edit my videos:

💼 Kajabi for my website https://app.kajabi.com/r/9tapzkUc/t/2ozomyrg

 🎥 Descript to film and edit video https://get.descript.com/aaron

🤖 Taskade AI Agents for automations: https://taskade.com/?via=r35pt

🎤 Shure MV7 Microphone https://amzn.to/4jKfCoz

🎤 Rode Wireless Pro Microphones https://amzn.to/4jKfCoz

📸 Insta 360 Link Webcam https://amzn.to/40TgsaZ

🤳🏼 Insta360 FlowPro Gimbal https://amzn.to/3PWANpI

👓 Meta RayBan Wayfarer Smart Glasses https://amzn.to/3EHqaV9

AI Policy for Schools: A Practical Guide for Teachers

Is your school scrambling to figure out an AI policy? Are your teachers feeling overwhelmed in all the AI craziness? AI is exploding into classrooms, and without a plan, it quickly becomes chaos.

I know because I'm a classroom teacher. It doesn't have to be that way. Let me help you come up with some effective AI policies in your classroom and in your school.

I'm Aaron Makelky, and this is part two of a series called the AI Teacher Toolkit, which is going to help teachers to be effective in the post AI world. How do we move from AI chaos to AI clarity in your classroom? It starts with a framework.

To make creating effective AI policy manageable, I break that process down into four key parts:

1. Policy
2. Skills
3. Tools
4. Applications

This framework will help you introduce AI to your students, use it effectively, and not be dependent on any tools.

Step One: Policy

What's my responsibility as a teacher now that AI is here?

The biggest thing I want you to take away on AI policy is that it's not just one blanket rule. Effective policy comes in layers. I think of a hierarchy:

*State *District *School *Your Classroom (Your Syllabus)

Let's do an example. Does your state in 2025 currently have AI guidelines? It's a flip of a coin because 25 states do, and 25 states don't.

A lot of teachers that I talked to didn't even know their state gave guidelines.

Of all the stuff in your state's guidelines, here's the most important thing: How should students be using AI?

Here's what Wyoming says:

"To prepare all students for the AI rich future, it is imperative that they all learn about AI and have opportunities to learn with AI."

AI is really an equity thing. All students should be learning to use this.

Why does that matter? If somebody comes at me and says, "How come you're teaching my kid AI?", I say, "Well, have you read my state's guidelines? Because I'm following that guidance."

Guidelines are not mandates. However, if the person questioning knows more than a bunch of experts, I'd love to hear their side of the story. It protects me in my classroom practice.

Now, I can't help you with your district and schools policies, but most of them have the big three: FERPA, CIPA, and COPPA. What do those mean? You have to protect students' identities online. They shouldn't be sharing their name, address, phone number, or email.

Your school district has to have a way to filter harmful content from the AI tools.

With COPPA, don't have students sign up for accounts if they're not over 13. You can ask AI tools, "Are you guys CIPA and COPPA compliant?"

Most teachers I work with say, "I don't have any policy on AI." A lot of them are just leaving it up to the schools and even the individual teachers to figure out.

If you're in that boat, here's my advice if you're in an AI vacuum: Ask your administrator, does the lack of policy mean I can't touch the AI topic, or does the lack of policy mean I can responsibly start doing these things?

Most educators recognize in 2025 we should have AI guidelines, at least at the school level. But a lot of us don't. You're probably just going to be responsible for your syllabus and classroom policy first. Let's focus on that, because it's what you have the most control over.

How do I handle that in my own classroom? My state has guidelines, so I follow them pretty much word for word. I use the term shall. Students shall share links. Students shall include a disclaimer statement.

The big takeaway for you as the person in charge of your classroom policy is don't be using one flat, static policy. You can't be saying "no AI" in 2025. You can't be saying "AI's okay for everything" in 2025. You should be specific. You should explicitly label assignments with which level of AI, if any, you can use.

If you say "no AI," think about what you're excluding: spellcheck, Grammarly, Google Search, voice typing. How many students have an IEP that lets them do voice to text? If you want to fight federal law and say no AI, good luck. Know what you mean when you say no AI, and know what you mean when you say AI is okay.

Transparency: Citing Your Sources

The final aspect of AI policy is, how are you going to address transparency?

What not to do: Please don't have kids cite the AI tool. That's like citing a library.

What you should do instead: Make your students turn in links to their chat logs. I started it in 2024, and it's totally changed the use of AI in my classroom.

No matter how a student uses AI, they turn in a link to that chat log. It gives you x-ray vision into their head. What were they thinking? What content did they know? What did they not know?

Here's an example of a student just using AI to copy and paste ideas. How do I know? They had to turn in a link to that chat.

Here's an example of a student who really knew what they were doing. I can go through and tell.

Please, try it with your students, and you will be blown away.

How do you get a link to a chat? You're going to have to show your students. With

Talent Tip #4: The Power of Keeping a Notebook

- Importance of keeping a daily performance journal, used by top performers like Serena Williams and Kurt Schilling.
- Notebooks: can be physical notebooks, shoeboxes with scraps, or digital note apps.
- Discusses various ways to organize and reflect on ideas, goals, and experiences.
- Highlights the benefits of using a phone’s Notes app, Google Docs, or traditional paper methods.
- Emphasizes the significance of clarity and reflection in achieving success.

00:00 Introduction to Talent Tip #4
00:13 The Importance of Keeping a Performance Journal
00:24 Examples of Notable Figures Using Journals
00:48 Different Forms of Journals
01:27 Practical Tips for Using Digital Notes
01:59 Reflective Practices and Their Benefits
02:27 Utilizing Google Docs for Note-Taking
03:02 Final Thoughts on Keeping a Notebook

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

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.

This is episode 1 in the AI Toolkit for Teachers series where we learn to use AI in our classrooms.

To get my free resources and the student AI survey mentioned, click here:
👉 https://www.aaronmakelky.com/student-facing-ai 👈

If you know a student who wants to learn how to use AI for school without cheating have them check out: 👉 https://www.aaronmakelky.com/ace-college-with-ai-course 👈

Check out my website and projects in my 
🔗 Link in Bio Page  🔗  
https://www.aaronmakelky.com/links

Subscribe for more videos in the AI Teacher Toolkit series!

Tools I use to run my business, write, film, and edit my videos:

💼 Kajabi for my website https://app.kajabi.com/r/9tapzkUc/t/2ozomyrg

 🎥 Descript to film and edit video https://get.descript.com/aaron

🤖 Taskade AI Agents for automations: https://taskade.com/?via=r35pt

🎤 Shure MV7 Microphone https://amzn.to/4jKfCoz

🎤 Rode Wireless Pro Microphones https://amzn.to/4jKfCoz

📸 Insta 360 Link Webcam https://amzn.to/40TgsaZ

🤳🏼 Insta360 FlowPro Gimbal https://amzn.to/3PWANpI

🕶️ Meta Ray-Ban AI Glasses https://amzn.to/3CzBYrT

This is the first video in my "AI Teacher Toolkit" series, designed to help teachers and professors integrate AI into the classroom effectively. In this video, I break down 5 common mistakes educators make with AI and, more importantly, how to fix them. Learn how to use AI to enhance learning, not hinder it!
Show Notes & Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction & Welcome to the AI Teacher Toolkit Series!
I'm Aaron Makelky, and I'm here to help you navigate the world of AI in education. I have experience as a teacher and working with schools on AI implementation.

[00:00:15] Mistake #1: Ignoring AI
AI is here to stay. Your students are already using it, even if they don't realize it.
My student survey revealed that Snap AI is the most used AI tool among my students (over 70%!).
Most students (63%) use AI for fun, not for school. This highlights the need for education on productive AI use.

[00:01:35] Get My Free AI Resources!
I'm giving away my student AI Use Survey, syllabus, and lesson ideas. Get them here: [https://www.aaronmakelky.com/student-facing-ai]

[00:02:25] Why Ignoring AI Doesn't Work
Students will learn about AI from somewhere. Do you want it to be from you or unreliable sources on TikTok?

[00:03:25] Mistake #2: Trying to Ban or Block AI
You can't control what students access outside of school.
Banning AI creates an equity issue, favoring tech-savvy students who can bypass restrictions.

[00:05:20] Mistake #3: Thinking You're Smarter Than AI
AI can be a powerful tool, even in areas where you're an expert.
Analogy: You wouldn't handwrite copies when you have a copy machine.
Practical Tip: Experiment with AI by asking it questions about your area of expertise. Use voice mode for a conversational experience.

[00:07:41] Challenging Yourself with AI
Ask AI to create analogies and adapt explanations for different student needs and interests.

[00:08:48] Mistake #4: Spamming More of the Same
Don't just use AI to create more worksheets or automate the essay grading process (AI ping pong).
Use AI to do things you couldn't do before.

[00:10:44] Mistake #5: Relying on a Specific Tool or GPT Wrapper App
My story: I relied on one platform, and it got blocked. Don't make the same mistake!
Focus on teaching the skill of using AI, not a specific tool.

[00:12:50] What To Do Instead of Relying on One Tool:
Teach transferable AI skills that apply across platforms.

[00:13:22] Coming Up in the AI Teacher Toolkit Series
We'll cover AI Policy, Skills, Tools, and Applications.

[00:14:00] Final Thoughts
Get your free resources (AI Use Survey, syllabus, lesson plans) here: [https://www.aaronmakelky.com/student-facing-ai]

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

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.

Understanding Napoleon: Key Battles Explained

In this episode of 'That's Not Crazy, That's History,' students from second block advanced world history class present detailed accounts of significant Napoleonic battles. The class covers the Battle of the Pyramids, where Napoleon's tactful use of divisional squares overcame the Mamluke cavalry. They discuss the impactful Battle of the Nile, highlighting Horatio Nelson's decisive naval engagement. The Battle of Austerlitz is examined, showcasing Napoleon's strategic mastery by luring his enemies into a disadvantageous position. The invasion of Russia and subsequent Battle of Borodino is presented, focusing on the costly and brutal engagement that exposed Napoleon's vulnerabilities. The Battle of Leipzig is discussed, underscoring the massive coalition forces that led to Napoleon's retreat and abdication. Finally, the class examines the Battle of Waterloo, which marked the end of Napoleon's military career and altered European history. Throughout the podcast, students use AI-generated study guides and transcripts to assess Napoleon's legacy.

00:00 Introduction to the Napoleonic Era
01:03 The Battle of the Pyramids
04:43 Napoleon's Tactical Genius
06:42 Demonstrating Infantry Formations
11:25 The Rosetta Stone Discovery
13:55 The Battle of the Nile
16:58 Napoleon's Puppet Mastery
17:30 Portugal's Strategic Importance
17:55 Battle of Austerlitz Recap
18:03 Battle of Borodino Overview
18:31 French and Russian Forces Compared
19:01 Napoleon's Tactical Decisions
19:51 Intense Battle of Borodino
21:30 Aftermath of Borodino
24:41 Battle of Leipzig: The Turning Point
29:38 Waterloo: Napoleon's Final Stand
34:16 Legacy and Lessons from Napoleon's Battles
37:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

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.

Child Labor During the English Industrial Revolution

This episode is dedicated to Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity courtesy of my 2nd Block Advanced World History Class. Please add features like NotebookLM's audio generation to Perplexity! Our school blocks Google's NotebookLM but allows Perplexity, and we failed at creating Spaces for students to interview primary sources.  

In this episode of "That's Not Crazy. That's History.," the hosts discuss child labor during the Industrial Revolution, featuring firsthand accounts from parliamentary inquiries and reports. They explore the harsh working conditions faced by children in textile factories and coal mines, the exploitation by factory owners, and the grueling hours. Additionally, they highlight the efforts of reformers, the impact of the Sadler Report, and the Factory Act of 1833, which introduced significant changes in the regulation of child labor. The episode concludes by connecting this historical issue to ongoing struggles against child labor in the modern world and the importance of continued activism.

00:00 Introduction to Child Labor in the Industrial Revolution
00:57 Life of Child Laborers: Jobs and Conditions
01:35 Exploitation and Dangers Faced by Child Workers
04:27 The Fight for Reform: Voices and Actions
06:10 Legislative Changes and Their Impact
10:34 Ongoing Struggles and Modern Parallels
11:55 How We Can Make a Difference Today
13:51 Conclusion: Reflecting on Progress and Future Actions

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

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.

- Discussion on Supreme Court reform with internet personality E on 'That's Not Crazy, That's History.' - Topics include implementing Supreme Court term limits, equalizing justice numbers per presidency, and restructuring the US circuit court system. - Suggestions for using an odd number of justices, bipartisan commissions, and enforceable ethics codes to eliminate political bias. - Pros and cons of reform ideas like a national lottery for judge appointments and setting judicial term limits to 16 years. - Inclusion of a light-hearted debate on the impact of lifetime appointments and potential for additional judges.

Guest Introduction and Topic Overview

00:40 Supreme Court Term Limits Proposal

01:15 Challenges and Considerations

02:57 Circuit Court Overhaul

04:31 Bipartisan Reform and Democratization

06:25 Humorous Take on Supreme Court

06:58 Influence of Younger Justices

07:46 Randomized Justice Panels

08:55 Eliminating Judicial Bias

09:09 Athenian Democracy vs. Current System

09:33 National Lottery for Justices

10:26 Randomized System and Political Bias

12:02 Bicameral System and Electoral College

13:20 Code of Ethics for Supreme Court Justices

14:33 Bipartisan Committee for Judicial Ethics

16:30 Impeachment and Random Allotment of Judges

17:10 Concluding Thoughts and Term Limits

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

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.

Reimagining the Supreme Court: Ethics, Reforms, and Radical Proposals- This episode of That's Not Crazy, That's History features 'E' discussing Supreme Court reform in the U.S. Government. - Topics include implementing term limits of 16 to 20 years for justices and ensuring each president appoints an equal number of justices. - Considers the idea of appointing justices through a national lottery to reduce political bias and explores the impact of such a system on balancing urban and rural influences. - Discusses the creation of an enforceable code of ethics monitored by a bipartisan Senate committee to ensure justices' ethical behavior. - Evaluates the feasibility, constitutional amendments needed, and safeguards required to implement these reforms.0

00:16 Guest Introduction: Meet E

00:40 Supreme Court Term Limits Proposal

01:15 Challenges and Considerations

02:57 Circuit Court Overhaul

04:31 Bipartisan Reform Possibilities

07:11 Supreme Court Justice Selection

08:55 Eliminating Judicial Bias

09:09 Athenian Style Democracy

09:33 National Lottery for Justices

10:26 Randomized System and Political Bias

12:02 Bicameral System and Electoral College

13:20 Code of Ethics for Justices

14:13 Bipartisan Review Commission

15:56 Constitutional Amendments and Impeachment

17:10 Final Thoughts and Wrap Up

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

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.