EdTech Elevated

AI Literacy First: Jeff Riley On How Schools Can Lead AI Education

AI is moving quickly into schools, and reactions range from cautious to enthusiastic. What does it mean to teach AI before it teaches us? In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Lisa March, president and founder of Partner in Publishing, sits down with Jeff Riley, Executive Director of Day of AI, to explore how schools can approach artificial intelligence with intention and responsibility. Jeff shares the mission behind Day of AI, a research-led, movement-minded organization focused on empowering students to become informed creators and thoughtful leaders in an AI-shaped world. Together, Lisa and Jeff discuss what districts are asking for as AI enters classrooms, why trusted guidance matters, and how open communication between educators, administrators, parents, students, and vendors is essential to getting it right. The conversation covers developing AI policy, addressing privacy and safety concerns, and teaching students to be healthy skeptics who understand both the power and limitations of prediction-based systems. This episode is essential listening for educators, district leaders, and EdTech partners who want to lead AI education responsibly and keep students at the center of the conversation. Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/ [https://partnerinpublishing.com/] Bookmarks: 0:40: Meet Jeff Riley and Day of AI 4:20: Digital Natives & Digital Immigrants 5:40: AI for a Better World 7:30: Learning About AI From a Trusted Source 11:00: Privacy & Safety with AI 12:40: Raising Healthy Skeptics of AI 16:30: Parents Can't Be Out of the Loop 27:30: AI Literacy 29:30: Teaching Critical Thinking First 31:20: Research-Led, Movement-Minded 33:00: Personalizing Instruction with AI 36:50: For Parents and Schools: How to Get Involved with Day of AI Resources: Jeff Riley [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-c-riley-a110608b/] Day of AI [https://dayofai.org/] Day of AI: Curriculum & Resources [https://dayofai.org/curriculum-resources] Day of AI: Family Resources [https://dayofai.org/family-resources] Day of AI: For School Leaders [https://dayofai.org/school-leaders] Lisa March [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marchlisa/] Partner in Publishing [https://partnerinpublishing.com] Blog: How to Adopt AI Without Falling Behind [https://partnerinpublishing.com/blog/how-to-adopt-ai-without-falling-behind/]

Affordable Test Prep for All Students: Kim Canning on Expanding Access

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Lisa March, President and Founder of Partner in Publishing, sits down with Kim Canning, Vice President of University Partnerships at Kaplan, for a timely conversation about access, affordability, and what it really means to be student-centered in admissions preparation. Kim shares how Kaplan's mission of leveling the playing field through access shows up in practice, from breaking down socioeconomic barriers to rethinking how test prep is delivered at scale. The conversation explores Kaplan's All Access License, a model designed to make high-quality admissions prep available to all students, not just those who can afford it. Together, Lisa and Kim unpack how strong university partnerships are built by listening first: aligning with institutional priorities, supporting employability readiness through skills courses, and extending value beyond enrollment to alumni. Kim also walks through a powerful case study with Hampton University, highlighting how integrated test prep and skills development can help graduates become confident, critical thinkers. Whether you're an institutional leader, EdTech innovator, or university partner thinking about equity in admissions, this episode offers practical insight into how access-driven design and collaboration can open doors for students at every stage of their academic journey. Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/ [https://partnerinpublishing.com/] Bookmarks: 0:40: Meet Kim Canning, VP of University Partnerships at Kaplan 2:23: The DNA of Kaplan: Leveling the Playing Field and Providing Access 6:45: Breaking Socioeconomic Barriers: Making Test Prep Affordable for ALL Students 9:00: Introducing the Kaplan All Access License 12:02: Working with University Partners on Their Priorities 16:47: Fostering Employability Readiness with Skills Courses 17:30: Case Study: Hampton University Graduates Critical Thinkers 21:30: What Does It Mean to Be Student-Centered? 25:30: Endless Ways of Partnering with Schools for Test Preparation 26:57: Supporting Alumni Through University Partnerships 28:30: How Schools Get Started with Kaplan 31:06: Creative Ways Big Institutions Partner with Kaplan Resources: Kim Canning [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimcanning/] Kaplan [https://kaplan.com/] The Kaplan All Access License [https://kaplan.com/universities/all-access-license] Blog: Unlocking Potential: A First-Generation College Student's Journey to Medical School [https://kaplan.com/about/trends-insights/first-generation-medical-student-journey] Blog: Beyond Limits: How One Student Is Redefining Her Future & Pursuing Law School [https://kaplan.com/about/trends-insights/kaplan-law-school-all-access] Blog: Equipping the Next Generation for Success: How Delaware State University Is Driving Better Outcomes [https://kaplan.com/about/trends-insights/kaplan-law-school-all-access] Lisa March [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marchlisa/] Partner in Publishing [https://partnerinpublishing.com]

How Tiny Things Make a Big Impact: Teaching Chemistry with Dr. Ashley Evanoski-Cole and Dr. Elaine Villanueva Bernal

What if the most powerful chemistry lessons were the ones students couldn't see, but could feel in their everyday lives? In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Elaine Villanueva Bernal, Ph.D. Chemist of the University of California, Long Beach, is joined by Dr. Ashley Evanoski-Cole, Ph.D. Chemist of Westfield State University, who believes that tiny, invisible interactions can spark big learning breakthroughs. Together, Elaine and Ashley explore how chemistry comes alive when it's connected to the world students already care about, from the air we breathe and the food we cook to exercise, weather, and even baking. They dive into how tools like REAL CHEM and interactive simulations help students visualize abstract concepts, collaborate more confidently, and move past common barriers like math anxiety. The conversation also touches on the role of mentorship in chemistry education, the power of group learning, and how thoughtfully designed explorations and checkpoints can help students build both conceptual understanding and confidence. Along the way, Elaine and Ashley share practical examples of how stoichiometry becomes a kitchen lesson, atmospheric chemistry becomes personal, and learning shifts from memorization to meaning. Whether you're teaching general chemistry, designing courseware, or looking for ways to help students see themselves in STEM, this episode is a reminder that when chemistry feels real, students lean in. Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/ [https://partnerinpublishing.com/] Bookmarks: 0:34: Meet Dr. Ashley Evanoski-Cole and Dr. Elaine Villanueva Bernal 2:43: Atmospheric Chemistry: The Invisible Science of the Air 5:15: Teaching General Chemistry with REAL CHEM 7:10: PHET Simulations: Connecting Things We Can't See to Things We Care About 9:10: Teaching Group Activities with REAL CHEM 11:15: Real-Life Chemical Connections to Food, Weather, and Exercise 14:25: Mentorship in Chemistry Education 16:12: Getting Past the Fear of Math in Learning Chemistry 18:41: How Stoichiometry Becomes a Baking Lesson 22:03: Diving Deeper into REAL CHEM's Explorations & Checkpoints 23:45: Q&A Lightning Round: Chemistry Favorites Resources: Elaine Villanueva Bernal Biography, Research, and Publications [https://www.csulb.edu/chemistry-biochemistry/page/dr-elaine-bernal] Elaine Villanueva Bernal LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainevbernal/] Elaine Villanueva Bernal on Instagram @theconnectedchemist [https://www.instagram.com/theconnectedchemist?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] Ashley Evanoski-Cole Biography, Research, and Publications [https://www.westfield.ma.edu/people/ashley-evanoski-cole] Ashley Evanoski-Cole LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-evanoski-cole-6a1730273/] REAL CHEM [https://realchem.org/] Lisa March [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marchlisa/] Partner in Publishing [https://partnerinpublishing.com]

Dr. Amy Burkert on Designing Chemistry Courseware for All Students to Succeed

Chemistry can feel like an intimidating subject for college students. So, how do chemistry professors make their courses feel designed for every learner? In this episode of EdTech Elevated, PIP's president and founder, Lisa March, sits down with Dr. Amy Burkert, Senior Vice Provost for Academic Initiatives and chemistry professor of Carnegie Mellon University. Together with the REAL CHEM team, she's helping transform a course historically known for "weeding students out" into one that welcomes students in and lifts them up. By shaping the next generation of college learners, Dr. Bukert's work unites chemistry with real-world impact. We also explore REAL CHEM, the next-generation digital learning experience she helped design to make chemistry more engaging and effective, bringing learning science to life for students everywhere. Join us for a conversation about what it really takes to help students see the chemistry in everything, and how innovation in teaching can transform how we understand learning itself. Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/ [https://partnerinpublishing.com/] Bookmarks: 0:35: Meet Dr. Amy Burkert 08:10: Collaboration in Chemistry Education 11:30: An Adaptive Approach to Teaching Chemistry 16:50: Empowering Faculty to be Independent in Their Coursework 18:15: The Challenges (and Strengths) of Self-Directed Learning 19:23: Shifting Chem Ed from a Solo Sport to a Community of Practice 21:30: Mapping Principles of Learning Science & Engineering 22:27: The Shared Vision of REAL CHEM and its Partners 25:00: Contagious Excitement: Moments of Pride in Advancing This Work 26:04: Reaching Learners Who Are Left Out (Or Opt Out) Resources: Amy Burkert [https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-burkert-b834402a] REAL CHEM [https://realchem.org/] Amy Burkert Research & Publications [https://www.cmu.edu/bio/people/faculty/burkert.html] Lisa March [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marchlisa/] Partner in Publishing [https://partnerinpublishing.com]

Bonding with Chemistry: Dr. Gizelle Sherwood on Real-World Science in Higher Ed

Chemistry sticks when students can feel it. So, how do we make the subject truly tangible? In this episode of EdTech Elevated, PIP's president and founder, Lisa March, sits down with Dr. Gizelle Sherwood, a passionate chemistry educator and innovator at Carnegie Mellon University. With 17 years of teaching experience and her current role as Director of Undergraduate Studies in Chemistry, Dr. Sherwood has dedicated her career to making science meaningful, accessible, and connected to the world beyond the classroom. In shaping the next generation of college learners, Dr. Sherwood's work unites chemistry with real-world impact. We also explore REAL CHEM, the next-generation digital learning experience she helped design to make chemistry more engaging and effective, bringing learning science to life for students everywhere. Join us for a conversation about what it really takes to help students see the chemistry in everything, and how innovation in teaching can transform how we understand learning itself. Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/ [https://partnerinpublishing.com/] Bookmarks: 00:40 Meet Dr. Gizelle Sherwood 02:15 Combining Math and Chemistry 05:01 The Tangibility of Homeopathic Chemistry 05:51 The Power of a Network of Chemists 07:02 Inspiring the Next Generation of Chemists Through Research Work 08:30 Cosmetic & Cooking Chemistry 10:50 REAL CHEM Gets Students Excited About the Sciences 14:57 Representation: Students Need to See Themselves in Chemistry 20:00 Student Success with REAL CHEM 20:50 Behind the Scenes of REAL CHEM Video Production 22:18 Students Today Want Tangibility 23:48 Sharing Stories: Favorite Experiments 25:20 How to Use REAL CHEM in Your Classroom 29:00 The Taurus Platform: Data-Driven Teaching 32:50 Learning Science in a Continual Feedback Loop Resources: Gizelle Sherwood [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gizelle-sherwood-23403919/] REAL CHEM [https://realchem.org/] Gizelle Sherwood Research & Publications [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Gizelle-Sherwood] Lisa March [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marchlisa/] Partner in Publishing [https://partnerinpublishing.com]