What if the reason some students are struggling isn't a student problem — it's a design problem? In this episode of Integrate This EdTech, David Berner and Jeremy Mikla sit down with Dr. Katie Novak, author of 17 books and one of the leading voices on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), to unpack what it really means to design learning that works for ALL students.

📌 In this conversation you'll hear:

✅ What UDL actually is — and the misconceptions that are holding teachers back

✅ The lasagna dinner party analogy that reframes everything about lesson design

✅ How AI tools fit into a UDL framework (and where they fall dangerously short)

✅ The connection between UDL and MTSS — explained in a way that finally makes sense

✅ What learner agency really looks like in a K-12 classroom

✅ Katie's personal writing process — and how she uses AI without letting it write for her

📚 Books mentioned: UDL Shift, Elevating Educational Design with AI (with Dr. Catlin Tucker)

🌐 Learn more about Katie: novakeducation.com

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In this episode of Integrate This!, David and Jeremy welcome Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN, for a thoughtful conversation about what’s next for school technology.

Keith shares perspective from decades of work in education technology, from the early days of internet connectivity to today’s rapidly evolving conversations around artificial intelligence. Together, they explore cybersecurity, student data privacy, AI readiness, accessibility, digital equity, screen time concerns, E-rate funding, and the changing role of technology leaders in K–12 schools.

The conversation also digs into one of the biggest challenges facing educators and leaders today: how to move beyond broad debates about “screen time” and focus instead on purposeful, well-designed uses of technology that support learning.

From AI sandboxes to cybersecurity tabletop exercises, Keith offers practical insight for district leaders trying to navigate complex decisions while keeping students, teachers, and communities at the center.

Resources/Links:

CoSN website: https://www.cosn.org/

Setting Conditions for Success: https://www.cosn.org/cosn-news/national-education-organizations-release-updated-guidance-on-responsible-use-of-technology-in-schools/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

K-12 Gen AI Maturity Tool: https://www.cosn.org/tools-and-resources/resource/k-12-gen-ai-maturity-tool/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Trusted Learning Environment Seal: https://www.cosn.org/edtech-topics/trusted-learning-environment/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

In this episode of the Integrate This EdTech Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Catlin Tucker -- teacher turned author, speaker, and professor at Pepperdine University. Catlin shares her rocky start in education, how nearly quitting the profession led to her biggest breakthrough, and why blended learning has been misunderstood long before COVID made it a dirty word. The conversation covers station rotation, UDL, giving students agency through "would you rather" choices, how AI fits into a strong pedagogical framework, screen time audits, the importance of reflection pauses in the classroom, and what both teachers and leaders can do right now to make learning more intentional. One of the most practical and honest conversations we've had on the show.

Check out all of Catlin's Work Here: Dr. Catlin Tucker - Transform Your Classroom with Blended Learning

Follow Catlin on LinkedIn: Dr. Catlin Tucker | LinkedIn