Most teachers feel overwhelmed by integrating AI and project-based learning — but Tara and John reveal simple, bite-sized strategies that make it achievable and impactful.
In this episode of Under the Hat, these seasoned PD experts share practical tips from their recent book updates and real-world classroom successes, showing how AI can amplify student creativity without adding to teacher workload.You'll discover:

• How to start small with core PBL elements and leverage AI as a co-designer to reduce prep time and increase capacity.
• The importance of centering your end goal in the lesson design, using backward planning with AI to ensure authenticity and community relevance.
• How to incorporate AI tools like Gemini, School AI, and BRIC safely to support student research, visual creation, and critical evaluation.
• Practical prompts to teach students sophisticated language and reflection skills, transforming AI outputs into meaningful learning experiences.
• The critical role of fostering ethical, reflective thinkers who are "meaningfully in the loop," prepared for today's and tomorrow's world.

Why does this matter? Because the future of education isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing better, smarter, and more equitably with the tools we now have. Ignoring these strategies risks leaving teachers overwhelmed and students unprepared for the real world.
Whether you're wary of AI or excited to try, this episode offers tangible, manageable steps to integrate innovation without the overwhelm. Perfect for educators seeking to deepen engagement and deepen skills through PBL and AI—without burning out.Guests Tara Koehler and John Sammon bring over 40 years of combined experience in transforming classrooms and empowering teachers. From co-authoring The Tapas Approach to pioneering AI in PBL, their insights cut through the noise and give you actionable frameworks to carry into your practice.Get ready to reimagine what’s possible in your classroom—bite by bite.
Are you ready to turn AI into your most powerful teaching partner? Tune in now to start transforming overwhelm into opportunity.

Want to learn more from Tara and John? Here are the links:

• Website
• Beyond the Algorithm
• The Tapas Approach to Project-Based Learning

In this episode, we sit down with educator and immersive-learning leader Austin Levinson to explore what it really takes to spark student agency in an era of instant gratification and shrinking attention spans. Austin shares how his own path—from early loves of puzzles and games to a career shift into gifted education—shaped a philosophy rooted in “fidelity to student needs,” not just fidelity to the curriculum.

Together, we unpack why engagement has been a challenge long before smartphones, what authentic engagement actually looks like in classrooms, and how design thinking—especially the often-skipped empathy phase—can help learners create work that matters to real audiences. Austin also offers a practical reframe for educators: everything needs feedback, but not everything needs a grade, and reflection works best when students capture “aha moments” in real time.

We then dive into immersive, simulation-based learning through Megaminds, where students step into realistic career scenarios—like a healthcare triage simulation—interacting with AI-powered characters to practice critical thinking, communication, and decision-making in low-stakes environments. Along the way, Austin discusses formative assessment insights teachers can use immediately, the promise of “simternships” for career exploration, and how to keep humanity at the center of learning by reconnecting students with tangible, passion-building experiences beyond the screen.

Want to learn from Austin? Here are the links:

• Megaminds
• LinkedIn

In this episode of Under the Hat, educator and author Dave Burgess shares his journey from classroom teacher to renowned speaker and author. Discover his innovative 'teach like a pirate' approach, the power of branding in education, and insights on fostering creativity and engagement among teachers and students alike.

Want to learn from Dave? Here are the links:

• Website
• Podcast
• X/Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• BlueSky
• TikTok
• Amazon