What does it look like when a former classroom teacher helps build an AI tool specifically for teachers?

In this episode of Integrate This!, we talk with Thomas Thompson (CEO & co-founder) about Eduaide.ai / EduAid AI and what it means to design AI around real classroom workflow: lesson planning, instructional materials, differentiation, assessment supports, and the realities of what AI can (and can’t) do well.

We also dig into the bigger picture: why teacher-to-teacher sharing has been so powerful for growth, why “learning science” matters when evaluating edtech tools, and what Thomas thinks the next few years of AI in education could look like.

🔗 Check out Eduaide.ai: https://www.eduaide.ai/

Engagement isn’t a Chromebook problem. It isn’t an app problem. And AI isn’t a magic wand.

In this episode, Jeremy and David sit down with Carl Hooker to talk about what actually moves the needle right now: designing learning experiences students want to be part of, making creativity + risk-taking normal again, and using AI in ways that strengthen thinking instead of replacing it. Carl also shares practical ways leaders can set direction (without over-controlling), and what kind of professional learning actually changes practice.

In this conversation, we dig into:

• Why engagement isn’t about the device—and what it is
• Creativity vs. compliance (and how school systems accidentally train it out of kids)
• “Ready, Set, FAIL!”: risk-taking as a classroom and leadership skill
• AI beyond efficiency: creative use-cases that don’t reduce teaching to shortcuts
• Differentiation + accessibility wins (including language supports)
• Leadership moves for the AI era: modeling, guardrails, and staying nimble
• PD that sticks: what changes practice and what doesn’t

Resources & links

Carl Hooker (Website): https://carlhooker.com/

Carl Hooker (LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlhooker/

Learning Evolution: The New Era of AI in the Classroom: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Evolution-New-Era-Classroom/dp/B0CS482H2B

Ready, Set, Fail!: Using Failure & Risk-Taking to Unlock Creativity: https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Set-Fail-Risk-Taking-Creativity/dp/B0CS46GGX1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=31GL44GW0F710&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dyPeOd58pYfwqZNCs8NuLoFZrGW6MkiZQzpr9r5htEJWclatQr3y7ct1pIjTn-gREpFtY11CAdPZNOz3sHrG5g.jcvUnHQtDJj6M4-F0MPgaGigDR0G6Wj3UhPofQ3WBpQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=Ready%2C+Set%2C+FAIL%21&qid=1770049981&s=books&sprefix=ready%2C+set%2C+fail+%2Cstripbooks%2C107&sr=1-1

Designing for the Needs of Every Learner.

If generative AI is everywhere, what’s the point of school… of teaching… of learning? In this episode, Jeremy and David sit down with Dave Blanchard to talk about what’s real (and what’s messy) when AI hits actual classrooms and institutions. From learning-space design (yes, “podium optional”) to faculty development, UDL, digital accessibility, and the gap between AI policy vs. AI practice, Dave brings a grounded, human-first take: AI can help, but learning still has to lead.

In this conversation, we dig into:

• Why “policy” often lags behind what people are already doing
• AI as a collaborator for feedback, clarity, and communication
• Equity + access realities (infrastructure gaps, tool availability)
• UDL as the lens for designing options and removing barriers
• Digital accessibility as more than a checkbox

Resources & Links:

Dave Blanchard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidsonblanchard/

MNGAIA / AI4MN: https://www.ai4mn.org/

In this episode of the Integrate This! EdTech Podcast, we’re joined by Ruben Puentedura, creator of the SAMR model and founder of Hippasus, for a deep conversation on learning design, professional development, and what generative AI means for education.

Ruben shares his origin story, how SAMR emerged from real classroom research, and why the model is more relevant than ever in the age of AI. We explore common mistakes schools make with professional development, how learning should evolve beyond tools, and why creativity, storytelling, and student agency are essential for meaningful transformation.

This episode goes beyond buzzwords and gets into how learning actually changes—from K–12 classrooms to higher education, business, and beyond.

Short hook (first lines matter): What does responsible, teacher-first AI actually look like in the classroom? In this episode of Integrate This!, we’re joined by Arman Jaffer, CEO of Brisk Teaching AI, to talk about AI innovation in education—done right.

Full description: In this episode of Integrate This!, we sit down with Arman Jaffer, CEO and co-founder of Brisk Teaching AI, to explore how artificial intelligence can meaningfully support teachers without adding more to their workload.

Arman shares the story behind Brisk Teaching AI, the instructional challenges it was designed to solve, and how the platform focuses on high-quality feedback, teacher efficiency, and ethical AI use in education. We discuss why keeping teachers “in the loop” matters, how Brisk avoids AI hype, and what thoughtful AI integration can look like in real classrooms.

This conversation is ideal for K–12 educators, instructional coaches, tech integrationists, and school leaders who want practical AI tools that enhance—not replace—great teaching.

Brisk Teaching AI: https://www.briskteaching.com

What if assessment felt less like a “final verdict” and more like an ongoing draft—full of feedback, revision, and real learning?

In this episode, Jeremy and David sit down with Jen Ivers (Orono Public Schools) to talk about authentic assessment in the age of AI, and why the writer’s room mindset can be a powerful model for classrooms. Jen shares how shifting from “after-the-fact” feedback to process-based coaching can change what students produce—and what they learn along the way.

You’ll hear practical ways to:

• Design assessment that’s more authentic and personalized
• Use AI as a partner without losing student thinking
• Build a writer’s room culture: brainstorming, iteration, and collaboration
• Close feedback loops using tools like Gemini and Apps Script
• Help students evaluate AI feedback instead of blindly trusting it

If you’re trying to make assessment more meaningful (and more doable), this one’s for you.

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Resources and Links:

Jen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-ivers-577765372/

Authentic Assessment in the Age of AI Presentation: https://www.canva.com/design/DAG320Rh5bk/i92CaaNTt4l_plbbLFnJXQ/view?utm_content=DAG320Rh5bk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h0e6e408b4a

What should AI literacy actually look like for educators—and how do we keep students at the center while AI changes everything around teaching, learning, and assessment?

In this episode of the Integrate This! EdTech Podcast, David Berner and Jeremy Mikla sit down with Alana Winnick (EdTech Director, author of The Generative Age, and host of The Generative Age Podcast) to unpack what it means to redesign learning in an AI world. Alana also previews her FETC 2026 keynote, “The Future of Learning: Empowering Every Student to Thrive,” and shares what she’s bringing to the conference.

You’ll hear practical ideas for:

• Building a culture where teachers feel safe to try, iterate, and learn
• Using AI for accessibility and multilingual family communication
• Rethinking writing and assessment so we evaluate the learning process, not just the final product
• A simple AI literacy framing: be the detective (bias + misinformation) and the DJ (remix with your voice)
• Why “guidelines” often work better than “policies” in fast-changing AI spaces

What actually makes students lean in? In this episode of the Integrate This! EdTech Podcast, we sit down with Dave Burgess—New York Times bestselling author of Teach Like a Pirate—to unpack the mindset (and practical moves) behind outrageously engaging teaching.

Dave shares his origin story, why “questions are the key to creativity,” and how engagement isn’t about gimmicks—it’s about how we present learning in ways that feel relevant and irresistible to kids. You’ll also hear about the “false dichotomy” of fun vs. learning (and why they go better together), plus ways teachers can brainstorm stronger hooks—yes, including how AI can help generate ideas while the teacher leads the learning journey.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How Dave built his approach by collecting 170+ lesson-design questions
• Why many teachers don’t struggle with content… they struggle with presentation
• What “hooks” really are—and how to use them to pull students into rigorous learning
• How to build rapport that strengthens engagement over time
• Why “fun + learning” isn’t a tradeoff—it’s a multiplier

🎧 Perfect for teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders who want students buzzing about learning—for the right reasons.