The Learning Curve

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the landscape of education — and school leaders are being asked to make important decisions faster than ever. In this episode of The Learning Curve, we explore what it really takes to develop a thoughtful, practical AI policy for your district or campus.

A major part of this conversation also centers on building AI literacy across our schools. Policy alone isn’t enough — educators, students, and administrators all need a clear understanding of what AI is, how it works, and how it can be used responsibly in learning environments. We also examine how emerging legislation, including the Texas Responsible AI Governance Act, may shape expectations for transparency, accountability, and ethical AI use in public institutions. Developing strong AI literacy now helps districts stay proactive, informed, and prepared for both instructional shifts and regulatory changes ahead.

This episode features an interview with Danielle Johnson of TexSEF, the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation. Cyndi and Michael ask Danielle about Esports in Texas, how to start an Esports team, and what might be on the horizon for this exciting extracurricular opportunity for students.

In this episode, Carl and Cyndi explore what in-depth writing support looks like. From Tier 1 and Tier 2 instructional supports to individual writing conferences, quality timely feedback can help students improve their writing.

FITT 2025 is in the books! It was a great two days of learning and networking. We explored the theme of Innovation, challenging educators to build on skills and knowledge to develop truly creative learning experiences. The best part about FITT is that the learning opportunities come from YOU! Learning together and from each other makes us all better.

We're already looking forward to FITT 2026! See you there!!!

The Region 7 Fall eSports Tournament was a huge success! Over 200 students competed in a Super Smash Bros. tournament over the course of 2 days. College recruiters from East Texas A&M, Jacksonville College, Panola College, Trinity Valley, and Kilgore College were present to scout out the contenders. The eSports movement is growing in East Texas, and we can't wait to see how it spreads!

The Fall AllPath Competition at Region 7 brought together bright young minds from across East Texas to celebrate creativity, collaboration, and engineering design. This exciting event featured 220 students representing 11 districts, each working in teams to solve a hands-on engineering challenge (designing a Wi-Fi tower) that tested their problem-solving, design thinking, and teamwork skills. The competition encouraged students to apply science, technology, engineering, and math concepts in real-world ways while fostering a spirit of innovation and perseverance. Participants showcased impressive creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. The Fall AllPath Competition continues to inspire students to explore future pathways in STEM and highlights the incredible talent and potential of young engineers across the region.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, we dive into the world of gamification and its potential to transform learning experiences. By applying game design principles to classroom activities, educators can foster motivation, track progress, and build a stronger classroom culture. The episode also highlights popular learning games such as Blooket, Quizizz, Kahoot, and Gimkit, while cautioning against common pitfalls like neglecting learning objectives. Remember that gamification is a vehicle for learning—not the goal itself. Learning is always the goal, and we should have intentional, student-centered design to create engaging and effective educational experiences.

In this episode of The Learning Curve, we move beyond basic AI applications and explore its transformative potential in education. The discussion highlights practical implementations of AI while addressing the importance of thoughtful and ethical integration. Topics include adaptive learning systems for personalized pathways, sophisticated writing analysis tools for improved student feedback, and multilingual support to ensure inclusivity.

The episode also emphasizes the necessity of AI literacy as a core curriculum, covering how AI "thinks." Educators are introduced to custom AI environments, including classroom-specific chatbots and safe spaces for AI exploration. The episode concludes by underscoring that successful AI integration requires more than technical skills—it demands a vision for equitable and purposeful pedagogy.

In this episode, Cyndi and Carl discuss the difference between RTI/MTSS and Differentiation for mastery AND suggest some tools that can provide scaffolding options and quick feedback for your students.

Welcome to Season 2 of The Learning Curve!

In this episode, Carl and Cyndi discuss the exciting things happening in the Digital Learning department for the 2025-2026 school year. Hear about AI Alliance, WriteAlign ECR Grader, eSports, and more! There are lots of amazing things happening with the DL team this year!