AI in the classroom doesn’t have to be intimidating—it can be a doorway to new kinds of learning. In this episode, we chat with Monica Burns, author of EdTech Essentials, 12 Strategies for Every Classroom in the Age of AI about ways AI can help students create, explore, and think in fresh ways. From multimodal projects to AI-guided virtual field trips, we cover ideas that let students experiment and stay in control of their own learning.
We also talk about how assessment changes when AI enters the classroom. It’s no longer just about the final product—we need to pay attention to the process, the choices students make, and how their thinking develops. Join us to learn how AI can work alongside students, sparking curiosity and original thinking.
Episode resources:
Read about the Vegas Sphere https://consequence.net/2025/07/sphere-ai-wizard-of-oz-explained/
Check out Monica Burns' website: classtechtips.com
So, your school is getting a 3D printer—or maybe you’re just dreaming of one. The excitement is real, but so is the anxiety. Which model should you buy? What software will students actually master without endless tutorials? And how do you keep it from becoming yet another pricey gadget collecting dust in a closet?
Join us and Ben Sondgeroth, the LTC’s Lead Regional EdTech Coordinator, for a practical 3D-printing primer. Ben has seen it all: triumphs, frustrations, and more than a few tangled spools of filament. We tackle the questions that matter most—like which features truly count in a classroom and how to sidestep a steep learning curve.
Think of this as a 50-minute consultation that spares you hours of research and gives you the confidence to take the next step. Let’s jump in!
Episode resources:
Read about 3D printed soil homes https://www.tomshardware.com/3d-printing/eco-friendly-3d-printed-house-uses-soil-not-cement-building-still-scores-top-earthquake-resistance-rating
Check out Ben's 3D creations https://photos.app.goo.gl/zpCdaBvQQzLXuG6U8
Ever wish students could get feedback right away instead of days later? Us too. In this episode, we dive into the groundbreaking ways AI is making instant feedback a reality in today’s classrooms. Our guest, EdTech pioneer Holly Clark, shares practical strategies for integrating AI tools that foster student agency and motivation—transforming learning into an active, student-driven experience. We also tackle the critical issue of academic integrity in this evolving landscape, offering tips to ensure AI supports authentic learning. If you’re ready to explore how AI can help create a more responsive and engaging learning environment, this episode is a must-listen.
Find Holly Clark on socials @HollyClarkEdu
Check out her book, "The AI Infused Classroom"
Navigating the digital world with young kids isn’t easy—but it can start with something as simple as a song.
This month on the One-to-One Podcast, we talk with digital literacy expert and author Carrie Rogers-Whitehead about helping children in preschool through third-grade build healthy, lasting digital habits. She shares practical strategies for parents, like using routines and music to make tech expectations stick, and explains why early digital skills matter more than ever. For educators and school leaders, Carrie offers thoughtful ways to team up with families and create a consistent approach to digital behavior—at home and at school.
From modeling responsible use to starting conversations that matter, this episode is full of takeaways for anyone supporting young learners in a tech-filled world.
We are all users of technology, but this month, we’re asking a big question: What does it really mean to thrive with technology? Educators and students alike are surrounded by tech every day, but the line between using it with purpose and feeling consumed by it isn’t always clear.
In this episode, Beck Tench from the Harvard Center for Digital Thriving and Holly Kelly, Human-Centered Tech Specialist for the LTC, join us to explore what it means to take control of our digital lives. We’ll dive into critical optimism—how to embrace what technology offers while remaining mindful of its challenges—and how schools can create spaces where both students and educators feel empowered in their tech use.
Whether you are feeling burnt out by constant scrolling or trying to navigate tech use in your classroom, tune in to how you can move towards thriving.
Show links
digitalthriving.gse.harvard.edu
Email: hkelly@ltcillinois.org
What if every student had exactly what they needed to learn and thrive? That’s the goal of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)—a framework designed to give students access and agency in their learning. In this episode, we’re chatting with Niel Albero, Senior Professional Learning Specialist at CAST, to break down what UDL is really about, what’s new in the latest updates from CAST, and how technology can be a game-changer in creating more inclusive classrooms. No matter where you are on your UDL journey, you’ll pick up practical ideas you can start using in your classroom tomorrow.
Visit CAST: cast.org
Visit the UDL Guidelines Site
Browse the CAST Professional Learning Services
Email pl@cast.org
Email Niel Albero nalbero@cast.org
X: @AlberoNiel
Linked In: linkedin.com/in/niel-albero-000a41134
Ding! The text message comes through, "We've been hacked. It's bad."
In this episode, we hear from Emily Flach, a former tech director and LTC Regional Technology Coordinator, who was there the “Day the Internet Died” at her school. She takes us behind the scenes of a real cybersecurity incident, sharing what happened, how her team managed the crisis, and the critical lessons learned along the way.
We also sit down with Eric Muckensturm, the LTC’s IT Strategy Manager, to explore practical tips for safeguarding schools from evolving cyber threats. He highlights the latest risks and provides clear strategies to help IT leaders, educators, and administrators build stronger defenses.
AI is here to stay. So, what’s next?
Matt Miller—educator, author of Ditch That Textbook and AI for Educators—joins us to explore how AI is reshaping teaching and learning. Fresh from his return to the classroom, Matt shares first-hand insights into how AI is transforming education. He highlights the practical ways these tools can lighten the load for teachers and spark fresh ideas for lesson planning.
But more than that, he reminds us that no matter how powerful AI becomes, the heart of education is still about human connection and creativity. While AI tools are powerful, they are constantly evolving. We must equip our students with the ability to adapt, analyze, and innovate – skills rooted in the very core of human intelligence.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we’re celebrating the EdTech tools that truly make a difference in education. For this special episode, the One-to-One Podcast hit the road, interviewing teachers, coaches, technology leaders, and LTC staff from across Illinois about the tools they’re most thankful for.
You’ll hear from listeners like you as they share the EdTech tools they rely on to engage students, streamline their work, and enhance learning. From apps that ignite creativity to platforms that save time, our educators reveal how technology empowers them to make a difference every day.
Ready to make White Castle stuffing?
Check out some resources from our interviewees: Workflow management with Kumar Kayastha
When we ask students to write an essay or take an exam, it can feel like we've asked them to create a masterpiece like Picasso—overwhelming and intimidating. But what if we could use technology to give students more choice in how they demonstrate their understanding?
In this episode, we sit down with Eric Curts, educator and author of Control Alt Achieve, who has spent over 30 years transforming classrooms through creative Google projects. Eric shares how teachers can move beyond basic uses of tech to unlock students' creativity and personalize learning. Join us as we explore innovative ways to use EdTech to empower student voice and offer more flexible, meaningful learning experiences!
The One-to-One Podcast is back for an exciting Season 2, featuring fresh guests and a brand-new co-host! Tune in for a sneak peek at what’s in store this month.
Digital Equity Advisor Ji Soo Song, from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology, walks us through the National Educational Technology Plan, or NETP. Ji Soo discusses the three Digital Divides—Use, Design, and Access—and how more than a thousand people came together to help develop this plan, which supports the work that educators do in classrooms every day.
Interviewed in this episode
Ji Soo Song, Digital Equity Advisor, USED OET
Other Resources
We discuss the importance of digital literacy with Darren Hudgins, co-author of Developing Digital Detectives: Essential Lessons for Discerning Fact from Fiction in the ‘Fake News’ Era, published in 2021 by ISTE. Darren discusses some of the elements in the book, as well as the need for every educator to directly teach digital literacy in every classroom during the dawn of this era of artificial intelligence.
Darren Hudgins
Twitter/X/IG: @dhudgins
Other Resources
Developing Digital Detectives: Essential Lessons for Discerning Fact from Fiction in the ‘Fake News’ Era
ISTE Book Store: https://bit.ly/3UT6ROQ
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3uOjYWZ
Listen & Subscribe to the LTC One-To-One Podcast
Mindy Fiscus joins us to discuss her role as the Director of Government Affairs for the Learning Technology Center. Mindy also shares some updates on upcoming changes to rules and regulations involving educational technology.
Interviewed in this episode
Mindy Fiscus, LTC Director of Government Affairs
Matt & Brian look back at the 2023 Illinois Education and Technology Conference (IETC), held November 1-3, 2023, and the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield, Illinois. Don’t miss the big reveal at the end of the episode: Next year’s keynote speaker is…
Interviewed in this episode:
Listen & Subscribe to the LTC One-To-One Podcast
Brian and Matt discuss some of the tech they’re thankful for, then chat with Dr. Monica Burns about ways that any educator might use artificial intelligence. The episode wraps up with the LTC’s Eric Santos, who describes how educators can use A.I. in several readily available tools.
Mentioned in this episode
Dr. Mike Ribble, author of a number of works on digital citizenship, joins us to discuss the role of digital citizenship and digital literacy as we all come to grips with the age of artificial intelligence. We’ll look at how educators, administrators, parents, and families can work together to help students understand and adapt to an AI-infused world. We’ll also take a look back at NIU STEM Fest with Dr. Kristen Brynteson from episode 1.
Mike Ribble, Ed.D. (Contact Dr. Ribble)
Dr. Kristin Brynteson: kbrynteson@niu.edu
Learn about the latest in edtech with the Learning Technology Center of Illinois, hosted by Brian Bates and Matt Jacobson.
In this episode:
Do you have a question for the LTC to answer on-air? Check out the Poll and Q&A in Spotify, or drop your question into the LTC Mailbag (Google Form).
Links & Resources (document)
STEM/STEAM Program Resources
Sarah Phelps, LTC Computer Science & STEM Program Manager
Standards
Engineering Design Process (Teach engineering CU)
Curriculum/Lessons
Integrated Projects
CS4MS- Computer Science Integration Guides for grades K-6
Code.org CS Connections
Picture Perfect STEM- NSTA Bookstore
Teach Computing (combines all the digital literacies into a curriculum)
Planning
STEM Integration Planning Sheet (make a copy)
