A simple assignment isn’t always simple. And collecting data is only the beginning.

In Episode 89: Shadow Quest Part III, Steve Martinez and Sophie Youngs continue their exploration of Shadow Quest with reflections on sessions by Stephanie Howell and Tina Nunez.

First, we unpack the hidden barriers inside everyday classroom tasks. What looks like “just write one sentence” can require working memory, spelling, handwriting, planning, and self-monitoring—all at once. Drawing on Stephanie’s session, we explore how Universal Design for Learning and executive-function supports can help educators keep the learning goal intact while offering different ways to reach it.

Then we move from removing barriers to making sense of data. Tina’s session connects Google Forms, Google Sheets, and Gemini to charts, visual comparisons, and an interactive dashboard. Steve and Sophie consider what that could mean for classroom teachers, instructional coaches, and PLCs—and why educator judgment, careful validation, and student-data privacy must remain central.

Along the way: Halloween costumes, vocabulary practice that goes beyond copying definitions, and Sophie’s contribution to The Educators AI Guide 2027, sharing a parent’s perspective on AI in school.

Listen and explore the podcast store at Underhatpod.com. Missed Shadow Quest? Register for free archive access and explore the sessions at your own pace.

This episode is sponsored by Learning Genie. Thank you to Snorkl for supporting Shadow Quest.

Students aren’t the only ones who need flexible learning. Teachers do, too. 🎩In Episode 88: Shadow Quest Part II, Steve & Sophie explore what it means to support the whole learner—from quick SEL check-ins to professional learning that respects educators’ needs, experience, and time.We unpack Mantha’s check-in ideas, try a Snorkl activity with feedback and revision, and reflect on Christy & Dave’s Night at the PD Museum. The throughline? Remove barriers, offer meaningful choices, and give people a chance to apply what they learn.🎧 Full episode + podcast store: http://underhatpod.com🔎 Register free for Shadow Quest: https://bit.ly/Shadow_QuestAlready registered? Turn your learning into an audience-competition entry. Submissions close October 27.Thank you to Snorkl for sponsoring Shadow Quest: https://snorkl.app/This episode is sponsored by Learning Genie: https://bit.ly/LearningGenie_Sponsor

The Shadow Quest begins! What if professional learning felt less like sitting through another presentation and more like a quest to remove the barriers standing between students and learning?In the first episode of our Shadow Quest virtual professional learning event, Steve and Sophie launch a free, educator-powered learning experience built around Universal Design for Learning (UDL), practical classroom ideas, and putting those ideas into action. With 14 educator presenters, on-demand sessions, and an audience application challenge, this is an invitation to do more than watch—it's an invitation to try something that makes a difference for your learners.Our first stop is More Thinking, Not Less Across Learning Communities, presented by Megan Mitchell of Snorkl. Megan demonstrates how students can speak, type, and draw to make their thinking visible, receive timely feedback, and revise their work. Steve and Sophie explore what that means for quiet learners, formative assessment, and planning targeted small-group instruction.Then we unpack takeaways from Learning Genie's Shapeshifters: Make One Lesson Meet Every Learner, exploring how AI can help educators create or adapt whole units, connect standards, build in UDL supports, and make learning more relevant to their students and communities. The throughline: AI should expand student thinking and support teacher expertise—not replace either one.Ready to join the quest? Visit underhatpod.com, register for free, and unlock the Shadow Archive's sessions, resources, and audience competition details.

What if students could turn a digital design into a real product they could use, sell, or share?

Steven and Sophie are joined by Peter from Sawgrass Technologies and Vic from Craft Express to explore how sublimation printing can bring science, art, entrepreneurship, and career education together. They explain the science behind sublimation, introduce Versaflex printing for cotton, and share examples of how schools are using these tools in maker spaces, student stores, STEM programs, CTE pathways, and entrepreneurial classrooms.

The conversation also explores how educators can help students become “micropreneurs” by learning to design products, manage production, calculate costs, and create something tangible that makes an impact beyond the screen.

Want to learn more? Here are the links:

• Sawgrass Technologies
• X/Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• TikTok
• Amazon

What keeps an educator energized, curious, and committed after four decades in schools? Steve and Sophie sit down with Don Bott, a retired English teacher and instructional coach whose 41-year career included journalism, photography, ELD, AP, senior projects, technology leadership, and countless relationships with students at Stagg High School in Stockton, California.

Drawing from his book, 40 Years, 40 Stories: Lessons for Educators in Their First or Final Year or Any Time In Between, Don reflects on teacher optimism, the power of telling redemptive stories, and why educators must teach the students in front of them—not the students of another era. The conversation explores grading versus assessment, resisting harmful labels, building classroom culture, embracing innovation without abandoning strong teaching fundamentals, and finding pride in communities too often dismissed by outsiders.

Don also names what should be “under the hat” for education: creating a culture where excellent teachers are rewarded for staying in the classroom. It is a hopeful, honest conversation about longevity, learning, and why it is time to make teaching cool again.

Want to learn more from Don? Here are the links:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Amazon

EdTech ambassador programs can make educators feel seen, valued, and connected—but where is the line between genuine community and unpaid product evangelism?In this “Real Talk” episode, Steve and Sophie reflect on their experiences as classroom educators, instructional coaches, EdTech ambassadors, and industry insiders. They explore the professional learning, relationships, and classroom innovation these communities can foster while asking harder questions about compensation, ownership of educators’ ideas, and how companies use teacher voices across product development, sales, and marketing.From certification badges and beta testing to conference presentations and branded swag, this candid conversation invites educators to recognize the value of their expertise—and decide when an opportunity is truly mutually beneficial.Topics include:The power of educator communities and the “hive mind”How ambassador programs have changed over timeProduct feedback versus sales and marketingCompensation for educators’ time, ideas, and expertiseBuilding authentic professional relationshipsSetting boundaries and knowing your worthRecognizing mutually beneficial opportunities in EdTech

What does meaningful technology use actually look like in real classrooms—and what gets lost when the response to screen time is simply to remove the screens?

In Episode 83, Steve and Sophie sit down with educational technology and instructional resource specialist Tina Nunez of Albuquerque Public Schools. Drawing on more than 21 years in education, Tina shares how an unexpected path from hospitality to teaching led to classroom innovation, district-wide professional learning, and a deep commitment to practical, student-centered technology.

Together, they unpack the growing “techlash” in education, the difference between passive screen time and purposeful learning, and why strong pedagogy—not the presence or absence of a device—should guide instructional decisions. They also explore universal design for learning, accessibility, AI, teacher confidence, and the digital-proficiency skills students need to become capable creators rather than passive consumers.

This honest, energetic conversation cuts through the EdTech noise to ask a better question: What tools, skills, and learning experiences will help real students and educators thrive tomorrow?

Want to learn from Tina? Here are the links:

• Innovators UnscriptED Podcast
• technicallytina.com
• X/Twitter
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest

In this special Bonus Episode of Under the Hat Podcast, Steve and Sophie take you on an exciting journey through Orlando, capturing the essence of ISTE Live 26. Join them as they share exclusive content and insightful interviews from the event, bringing you the latest trends and innovations in education technology. Whether you attended the conference or missed it, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the highlights and key takeaways from ISTE Live 26. Tune in to hear all the amazing conversations!