Unboxing Education

If you want to know why innovation moves at a glacial pace in K–12 education, look no further than this: the penalty for failure is too high. Innovation thrives in environments where calculated risks are encouraged, failure is seen as data, and learning is iterative. That’s not how our education systems are built. In fact, most departments of education operate in the opposite direction—with rigid accountability structures, limited tolerance for experimentation, and political consequences for getting it wrong. 🎯 High Stakes, Low Risk Tolerance When a school or district tries something new—a new platform, a new schedule, a new grading system—they’re betting with their reputation, their funding, and sometimes even their jobs. Test scores drop during the transition? That might be enough to derail careers. Parents complain? The school board intervenes. One bad press article? The whole initiative dies. It’s no wonder so many schools stick with outdated systems. The known, even if broke...

If you’re a teacher with or without ADHD, you know the importance of finding tasks that not only help you stay productive but also give your brain that rewarding dopamine hit. 🧠✨ The key is to match those tasks with how you naturally feel motivated and appreciated . Hack your brain by applying a framework to your tasks for maximum dopamine hits: 💖 The 5 Love Languages : Describe how people experience and give appreciation. 💡 Clifton Strengths : Focus on individual talents and motivators. ⚠️ Decision fatigue and analysis paralysis are real! Here are some ideas to get you started: 🔋 Dopamine-Boosting Tasks by the 5 Love Languages 💬 Love Language 🔧 Examples of Dopamine-Boosting Tasks Words of Affirmation 💬 Make positive calls or emails home; write thank-you notes; keep a wins journal; post encouraging sticky notes. Quality Time ⏳ Schedule focused 1:1 check-ins; collaborate with colleagues...

After reading “Reimagining School Starts with Reclaiming Time” from Getting Smart , I found myself nodding in agreement—but I’d like to take the conversation a step further. We’ve been promised for years that technology will save us time, increase efficiency, and create more equitable learning experiences. But here’s the reality no one wants to admit: those promises will always fall short in a system that’s fundamentally bound by time . ⏱️ The Problem Isn’t the Tools—It’s the Schedule It doesn’t matter how adaptive, AI-powered, or data-rich our edtech becomes—if we’re still measuring student progress in seat time, daily minutes, or pacing guides, we’re trying to fit a round peg into a square hole. Learning isn’t linear , but our systems are. Time-based structures demand that students move at the same pace, finish on the same day, and absorb the same content in the same way. Even with technology offering flexibility, we’re still building within a rigid frame. 🤖 Tech Promise...

  Wait—before you clutch your annotated copy of To Kill a Mockingbird , let me explain. I’m not burned out. I’m not bitter. I still believe in the power of story and the necessity of critical thinking. I still light up when a student finally cracks open a book they claimed to hate—or when their writing hits that sweet spot of clarity and voice. But after years in the ELA classroom, I’ve come to a difficult but exciting realization: English class, as we’ve traditionally framed it, is too narrow for the kind of reading and writing students actually need. 📚 Reading and Writing Don’t Belong in a Silo We live in a world where language is everywhere—slippery, powerful, and inextricably connected to every subject. So why do we keep reading and writing corralled into “English class,” dissecting fictional texts and over-analyzing symbolism as if that alone builds literacy? I’ve seen what happens when we teach reading as a skill for English class , not a survival skill for life. S...

In virtual and asynchronous education, one of the most persistent challenges is keeping students on track without daily in-person check-ins. When learners fall behind, they can quickly become overwhelmed, especially when teacher oversight is limited. Enter AI-powered support tools. 🧠 Why AI in Pacing Matters As educators and instructional leaders, we can now customize AI tools to meet our students’ real needs. One simple yet powerful example? ✅ The AI-Powered Pacing Guide Generator This tool creates individualized learning schedules based on each student’s: ✅ Start date ✅ Course length ✅ Available work days 🛠️ What Is a Pacing Guide Generator? A pacing guide generator takes a few simple inputs (course content, end date, skipped days) and automatically produces a custom, student-friendly plan . With just a few lines of code, you can generate pacing guides directly into Google Docs or Google Sheets with minimal effort. 🎯 Use it once, reuse it forever. 💡 Why This Chan...

Every now and then, someone refers to me as "just an online teacher." It might be said with curiosity, confusion, or even subtle dismissal. It’s a phrase that seems small, like my work is somehow less than what happens in a traditional classroom. But here’s the truth: I’m not just an online teacher. I am an ONLINE Teacher. I remember a quote about Ginger Rogers that says she "did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels." Online teachers do everything but on a computer and in a different location from their students.  Online Teaching Is Real Teaching Let’s get this out of the way: online teaching isn’t easier, simpler, or less demanding than face-to-face teaching. It’s not an escape hatch from “real” education. In fact, it often requires more intentional planning, more data-driven decision-making, and more individualization to meet student needs. I don’t just post assignments and hope for the best. I analyze engagement data, craft personali...

 Am I the only one overwhelmed by the possibilities of adding AI to my classrooms? Why do the articles that state  3 Simple Ideas for Introducing AI Into Your Teaching  seem neither simple nor helpful?  I find myself searching for the bridge, the path from the way I've been using curriculum to the future where AI is a natural aid in my students' learning experiences.  I find myself researching how to build a bridge.  What have I been doing to retrofit the curriculum to survive this transition?  I'll share my successes and failures below. AI Detectors From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository I'll start with the rocky relationship I've had with investigating the use of AI. I teach British Literature and have grappled with AI-generated essays since early in 2023. While the rise of AI brings up important, philosophical discussions about the ongoing value of essay writing (which I discussed in a previous blog post ), the fact is I'm still using cur...

 Need to explain AI to teachers with a variety of background knowledge? Consider these points, policies, and activities.  Coaching AI  Presentation by Betsy Springer

Occasionally, when all the winter weather aligns, my kiddos and I find ourselves home during a winter storm without the ability to venture out until the snow plows rescue us from the blizzard. Today was such a day. During my lunch break, my 8-year-old brought me his broken self-stirring mug , asking if it was fixable. My response was, "What's the worst we can do at this point?" We began disassembly, then more disassembly, then cleaning.  The diagnosis was a seized motor. The only logical next step? Consult YouTube. We found a great tutorial by a knowledgeable young man and applied what we learned. After a few applications of the miraculous liquid known as WD-40 , we had movement. Drunk on our success, we assembled the cup a little too quickly and disconnected the ground wire. Daddy came to the rescue with a quick solder job and we were back in business. Now #8 was the proud owner of a refurbished self-stirring mug and a renewed interest in engineering.  The problem? We h...

In today's world, Artificial Intelligence has become an integral part of our daily lives.  From education to productivity, audio to video, art to fun tools and toys, AI is making a significant impact in each and every aspect. With AI tools, we can simplify and automate many tasks, make our lives easier, and have some fun while we're at it. In this post, we'll dive into the world of AI and explore some of the most interesting and innovative tools available. So buckle up, grab a cup of coffee, and let's explore the fascinating world of AI tools together! (Intro draft generated with ChatGPT ). The list of possible AI tools quickly becomes overwhelming. Furthermore, tools range from free, to freemium, to paid accounts. I have included a list of some great tools for beginners, with not to various applications for AI for teachers. I have tried out each tool and, where possible, including a sample of what I created in a relatively short amount of time. Each tool included is av...