K-12 Greatest Hits: Your shortcut to what works in education

Can AI Innovators Solve the Trust Problem AI Is Creating?

The conversation around AI in education is changing fast, and the latest GSV Learning and Earning Forecast now identifies trust as the factor that will determine the near-term future of AI in the classroom. In this episode, we explore the “AI trust gap” forming between the people racing to expand AI in schools and the educators, parents, and students who are starting to push back. Through discussions with educators, school leaders, learning science researchers, analysts, ed tech developers, AI vendors, and non-profits across the community, we zoom in on the hard questions surrounding AI’s future in education. What happens when innovation starts moving faster than trust? What is required to bridge the gap? Who is working on solutions? What’s working? Sources: Forecast for Learning & Earning in 2025-2026 | Digital Promise | Learning Commons | Surgeon General’s Office Advises Schools to Limit Screen Time | Teachers and parents weigh benefits and risks of artificial intelligence in schools | Do AI’s risks outweigh the benefits for students and schools? | Fostering Trust in the Age of AI | GSVtv | The Next AI Maturity Curve – Orchestration, Trust, and Scale | AI is Air: Ambient AI in Every Breath, Step, and Swipe | GSVtv | Lincoln High students swap screen time for study time after phone ban | How to Choose Safe and Effective Classroom Technology | More Students Boo AI at Commencement Nick Melvoin, a Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) board member who recently drafted a resolution to restrict student screen time in classrooms. Sandra Liu Huang, Head of Education & Product at CZI and president of Learning Commons. Jean Claude Brizard– President and CEO of Digital Promise. Jeremy Roschelle– Executive Director of Digital Promise’s Learning Sciences Research team. Melissa Loble, Chief Academic Officer, Instructure. Patrick Gittisriboongul, Ed.D., Superintendent of Lynwood Unified School District. Justin Reich, Director of Teaching Systems Lab at MIT. Jennifer Lee Partner GSV Ventures. Muktha Ananda– Google’s Director of Engineering. Robert Wong, Google’s Director of Product Management. Brian Carslon, CEO, Storytime AI.Tim Sanders, Chief Innovation Officer at G2 and Executive Fellow at Harvard. Chris Hamatake, parent. Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings. Dr. Eugene Kim, Professor of Education at Concordia University.

Expanding Screen Bans in Education: Simple Solution, Complex Problem, A Smarter Path Forward

How could the second-largest school district in the nation believe its decision to ban screens was right when so many educators adamantly believe it’s wrong? How are school boards and educators looking at the same research and arriving at different conclusions? The discussion around screen use in schools has intensified, particularly with the LA Unified School District’s decision to impose a screen ban. But what does this mean for our students and their educational experience? In this conversation, we’ll unravel the rationale, the existing research on technology use in education, and how we can approach technology to enhance learning rather than hinder it. Dr.Punya Mishra (punyamishra.com) is Associate Dean of Scholarship and Innovation at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, two Master’s degrees in Visual Communication and Mass Communications, and a Ph.D. in Educational psychology. He co-developed the TPACK framework, described as “the most significant advancement in technology integration in the past 25 years.” Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. She was the founding Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University and teaches in the Faculty of Education. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics. Fell Kurban is currently the head of the Global Terminology Project and the creator of the GenAI-U technology integration framework. Dr. Liz Kolb is a clinical professor at the University of Michigan and the author of several books, including Cell Phones in the Classroom and Help Your Child Learn with Cell Phones and Web 2.0. Kolb has been a featured and keynote speaker at conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. She created the Triple E Framework for effective teaching with digital technologies. Dr. Puentedura is the Founder and President of Hippasus, a consulting practice focusing on transformative applications of information technologies to education. He has implemented these approaches for over thirty years at various K-20 institutions and health and arts organizations. He is the creator of the SAMR model for selecting, using, and evaluating technology in education and has guided multiple projects worldwide. Dr. Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning at ODUGlobal and Professor of Instructional Technology at Old Dominion University. Dr. Crompton earned her Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel ill. Dr. Crompton is recognized for her outstanding contributions and is on Stanford’s esteemed list of the world’s Top 2% of Scientists. She is the creator of the SETI framework.

Cheating? Forget About It: Asking The Right Questions About Agentic AI In Education

The word is spreading through the education community that a new kind of artificial intelligence enables students to complete an entire course with a single prompt. As one educator explained, with just a simple setup, a student can put an entire course on autopilot and go back to playing video games. It’s called Agentic AI, and it has sparked a new round of handwringing and calls to go back to blue books and pencils. To kick off 2026, the creators of SAMR, TPACK, Triple E, SETI, and the Gen AI U frameworks met to unravel how this technology may impact teaching, learning, and the future of proving that a student’s degree or credential actually indicates competence. The big takeaway is that the solutions start with asking the right questions. Follow on X: @CFKurban @hcrompton @lkolb @punyamishra @jonHarper70bd @bamradionetwork Related Resources: The AI Tech Fatigue of 2025 Was Real: How Educators Are Planning to Regain Control in 2026 | AI Agents: A New Era in Higher Education | Cheating Lessons: Learning from Academic Dishonesty | SAMR | The SETI Framework | TPACK | Triple-E | The GenAI-U Framework BRN-X: Gen AI Podcast Lab Dr. Punya Mishra (punyamishra.com) is the Associate Dean of Scholarship and Innovation at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. He has an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, two Master’s degrees in Visual Communication and Mass Communications, and a Ph.D. in Educational psychology. He co-developed the TPACK framework, described as “the most significant advancement in technology integration in the past 25 years.” Dr. Caroline Fell Kurban is the advisor to the Rector at MEF University. She was the founding Director of the Center of Research and Best Practices for Learning and Teaching (CELT) at MEF University and teaches in the Faculty of Education. She holds a BSc in Geology, an MSc in TESOL, an MA in Technology and Learning Design, and a PhD in Applied Linguistics. Fell Kurban is currently the head of the Global Terminology Project and the creator of the GenAI-U technology integration framework. Dr. Liz Kolb is a clinical professor at the University of Michigan and the author of several books, including Cell Phones in the Classroom and Help Your Child Learn with Cell Phones and Web 2.0. Kolb has been a featured and keynote speaker at conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. She created the Triple E Framework for effective teaching with digital technologies and blogs at cellphonesinlearning.com. Dr. Puentedura is the Founder and President of Hippasus, a consulting practice focusing on transformative applications of information technologies to education. He has implemented these approaches for over thirty years at various K-20 institutions and health and arts organizations. He is the creator of the SAMR model for selecting, using, and evaluating technology in education and has guided multiple projects worldwide. Dr. Helen Crompton is the Executive Director of the Research Institute for Digital Innovation in Learning at ODUGlobal and Professor of Instructional Technology at Old Dominion University. Dr. Crompton earned her Ph.D. in educational technology and mathematics education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel ill. Dr. Crompton is recognized for her outstanding contributions and is on Stanford’s esteemed list of the world’s Top 2% of Scientists. She is the creator of the SETI framework. She frequently serves as a consultant for various governments and bilateral and multilateral organizations, such as the United Nations and the World Bank, on driving meaningful change in educational technology.

The AI Tech Fatigue of 2025 Was Real: What Educators Are Doing to Regain Control in 2026

The numbers tell the story. For the 2023-24 school year, school districts accessed an average of 2,739 distinct edtech tools annually, an increase of 8% from the previous school year. This episode looks back at how educators navigated the flood of AI tools in classrooms in 2025—and looks ahead to what 2026 demands. We explore the rise of Agentic AI, from early chatbots to autonomous systems reshaping recruitment, communication, and curriculum at places like Arizona State University and companies such as Bloomz. We also confront hard questions about academic integrity raised by tools like Perplexity Comet and examine how efforts from Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and ISTE aim to restore rigor, trust, and AI literacy. Related Sources: Easing the Burden on Schools: Five Quality Indicators for Edtech & AI Products | Average District Tech Tools | Scaling Proven Learning Practices| Navigating EdTech Quality: The 5 Indicators | Unpacking LA Unified School District’s AI Chatbot Debacle w/ Fonz Mendoza | Agentic AI: A Wake-Up Call to Educators | Agentic AI and the Student Experience with Lev Gonick | Canvas, Credentials, and the Agentic AI Classroom | Agentic AI is here. What does it mean for Online Education? | Alfonso Mendoza Jr., Ed.D: With over five years of experience in educational technology and leadership, Alfonso currently serves as District Assessment Coordinator at Sharyland ISD, where he focuses on integrating digital learning strategies and supporting curriculum alignment to enhance student outcomes. His work emphasizes the practical application of technology to meet real classroom needs. Anna Mills is a leader in integrating artificial intelligence into education, combining teaching experience with technical expertise and a commitment to open educational resources. Her work on AI literacy, academic integrity, and AI applications in higher education combines critical and tech-forward approaches. She currently teaches at College of Marin and has taught writing in community college settings for 18 years. Thomas Hummel is a teacher, coach, and Eduaide’s Chief Product Officer. This means he is responsible for keeping one foot in the classroom to ensure we remain grounded in everyday practice. Thomas hails from a lineage of educators that spans three generations, deeply instilling in him an appreciation for the profound impact teachers have on society. Dr. Med Kharbach is an educator and AI in education researcher with 15+ years of experience in educational technology and teaching. He designs and delivers evidence-based learning experiences that strengthen AI literacy, enhance teacher training, and support professional development in both K–12 and higher education. His work blends pedagogy, digital literacy, critical thinking, and responsible AI integration. Tim Mousel has taught in higher education since 1993 and today serves as a full-time faculty member in the Kinesiology department at LSC-Online, as well as the Department Chair for Chemistry, Kinesiology, and Physics. He also leads the System-Wide AI Task Force, where he helps guide institutional strategy around emerging technologies. Sandra Liu Huang is a computer scientist. She leads the product team at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Previously, she was the director of product management at Quora and an early and senior member of the product team at Facebook. Chakrapani “Chaks” Appalabattula is the founder and CEO of Bloomz, a popular communication app that connects teachers, parents, and schools through features like messaging, event scheduling, volunteer coordination, and student portfolio sharing, designed to improve parent engagement and streamline school-home communication. Tal Havivi is the Managing Director @ ISTE+ASCD. He works at the intersection of research, product development, and go-to-market strategy to make the edtech market more effective and better aligned with the realities of modern-day teaching and learning. Havivi leads a business unit that partners with leading edtech companies to reduce barriers to educator engagement and validate instructional quality. Lev Gonick: As the Enterprise Chief Information Officer at Arizona State University, he leads the design and agile management of all enterprise infrastructure, applications, products, services, and analytics at the nation’s largest and most innovative university. Ryan Lufkin: In his role as VP of Global Academic Strategy at Instructure, the makers of Canvas, his research plays a pivotal part in shaping the company’s worldwide vision and growth. Fostering partnerships, overseeing market research, identifying emerging trends, and driving innovation help propel Instructure’s commitment to advancing education on a global scale. Richard Culatta, is the CEO of ISTE+ ASCD. Culatta is an innovative educational leader with experience in government, k-12, higher education, and adult learning settings. Areas of expertise include education policy, teacher preparation, educational technology, and innovation.

Teaching Practices That Make Learning Stick

The conversation explores cognitive load theory and why it matters for classroom learning, while also widening the focus to include practical teaching moves that help students learn more effectively. We talk about how working memory limits can affect what students remember, why some lessons don’t stick, and how teachers can design instruction that feels less complex and less overwhelming. Alongside cognitive load theory, the discussion touches on everyday strategies that support clearer, more manageable teaching and help more students experience real learning. Follow on Twitter @AndrewWatsonTTB |@mrzachg |@laurapatranella | @DylanWiliam @StamStam193 | @bamradionetwork | @jonHarper70bd Related Resources: Cognitive-load-theory-pt-1 Laura Stam Dylan William‘s bedding formative assessment pack for schools and colleges to run their own two-year professional development programme on formative assessment is now available worldwide. In Europe, this can be ordered through SSAT, in Australasia through Hawker-Brownlow, and in North America from Learning Sciences International. Zach Groshell, PhD is a highly distinguished teacher, instructional coach, and education consultant. Zach is based in Seattle, WA and works with schools nationwide and internationally to develop high quality instruction based on the science of how kids learn. Zach is the author of the book Just Tell Them, hosts the podcast, Progressively Incorrect, and is active on Twitter (@mrzachg). Laura Stam is a 3rd-grade teacher in Thermopolis, Wyoming. She is a 2024-2025 Goyen Fellow and a founding board member of The Reading League Wyoming. Laura Patranella is a 12th-year teacher with experience primarily in upper elementary and middle school literacy as both a dyslexia interventionist and classroom teacher. She currently teaches 5th grade and is passionate about maximizing outcomes for all students through research-based teaching methods. Andrew Watson has been teaching since 1988, studying brains since 2008, and combining those fields since 2012. As a consultant and conference speaker, he works with students and teachers to make learning easier and teaching more effective. Author of three books, he writes frequently on memory, attention, motivation, and skepticism.