ideas, musings,
theory, &
praxis.

// subheader: thoughts on edtech, leadership, & civics

Critical reflections, policy critiques, and classroom-tested frameworks built for educators and leaders navigating the realities of a tech-infused environment.

The Load-Bearing Layer: Why AI-Era Learning Design Is an Institutional Problem

A teacher can ask students to show their thinking. But if the gradebook, pacing guide, policy language, parent communication, and schedule still reward only the polished product, that teacher is…

When Guidance Lags Behind Use: Educator Sensemaking in the Age of AI

When formal guidance is missing, AI policy does not disappear. It becomes a thousand classroom decisions.A teacher decides whether a student may use AI to understand assignment directions. Another decides…

Beyond Academic Integrity: AI Is a Learning-Design Problem

// artificial intelligence // curriculum design Most school conversations about student AI use begin with a familiar question: Did the student use AI? Sometimes that question is necessary. Schools need…

Productive vs. Exclusionary Friction: Protecting Learning Without Creating Unnecessary Barriers

One of the central problems generative AI creates for schools is that it changes the relationship between academic performance and learning process. A student can now produce a fluent summary,…

Tiered Decision Rights: Governing the Actions of Autonomous Systems

Series OverviewDesigning with Friction: AI, Learning, and K–12 LeadershipGenerative AI is changing more than the tools students and educators use. It is changing the conditions under which work is produced,…

The Compliance Ghost in the Machine: FERPA, COPPA, and Persistent AI Memory

Series OverviewDesigning with Friction: AI, Learning, and K–12 LeadershipGenerative AI is changing more than the tools students and educators use. It is changing the conditions under which work is produced,…

From Assistant to Actor: Navigating the K–12 Procurement Crisis in Agentic AI

Series Overview Designing with Friction: AI, Learning, and K–12 LeadershipGenerative AI is changing more than the tools students and educators use. It is changing the conditions under which work is produced,…

Writing Policy for the Learning Sequence: Moving Beyond Tool Permission

Series OverviewDesigning with Friction: AI, Learning, and K–12 LeadershipGenerative AI is changing more than the tools students and educators use. It is changing the conditions under which work is produced,…

The Illusion of Completion: Why Flawless Student Work Can Signal Zero Learning

Series Overview Designing with Friction: AI, Learning, and K–12 Leadership Generative AI is changing more than the tools students and educators use. It is changing the conditions under which work…

From Paper to Play: Using AI to Bring Critical Digital Citizenship Frameworks to Life

Before I begin, I want to make sure that I credit this idea to Ethan Mollick. Ethan Mollick is the Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Faculty Scholar, Rowan Fellow, and Associate Professor…

Writing Assistants and the AI Wasteland: A Critical Look at AI in Education

As the use of generative AI in education continues to grow, much of the conversation has focused on high-profile tools like ChatGPT and Claude. But in his recent blog, Writing…

The Invisible Backbone: Inside School Technology’s Hidden Infrastructure

IntroductionWhen most people think about technology in schools, they picture the tools students and teachers use every day: laptops, interactive whiteboards, and digital learning platforms. However, behind the scenes lies…

Flexing Your C.O.R.E.: Cultivating Critical Thinking and Civic-Mindedness in Digital Citizenship and Social Studies Education

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, it’s more important than ever for students to develop the skills and mindset necessary to navigate complex social and historical issues. The C.O.R.E. framework—Critical…

Cultivating Civic-Minded Critical Thinkers in the Tech-Infused World: The H.E.A.R.T. Framework

In today's tech-driven society, where AI and digital tools are becoming integral to education, fostering a generation of civic-minded critical thinkers is more important than ever. The H.E.A.R.T. framework—standing for…

Navigating the AI Revolution: The Importance of Technoskepticism in Education

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to be used regularly in our learning daily lives, particularly in education, it brings with it both potential and challenges. While the application of AI’s…

AI in Education: Guiding Students, Teachers, and Administrators Through the Centaur, Cyborg, and Minotaur Modes

*As usual in my blogs, I use AI Tools ChatGPT 4o, Google Gemini Advanced, and Claude 3.5 as part of the thinking, ideation, and writing process for my blog posts.As…

Empowering Education with AI: Strategies for the New School Year

As the school year winds down, it's the perfect time for educators to reflect on how we can enhance teaching and learning experiences for the upcoming academic session. One area…

Harnessing AI to Transform Social Studies and Enhance Classroom Engagement

As educators, our perpetual mission is to engage students in meaningful ways and prepare them for a future shaped by technological advancements. In my recent explorations and writings, including my…

Unlocking Student Potential: The Power of Distributed Assessments in AI-Assisted Learning

Introduction:In our deep dive into how pedagogy connects with generative AI to become instructive AI, let's explore distributive assessment. This approach imagines every step of a student's learning journey being…

Dewey’s Vision Meets Generative AI: Transforming the Classroom for Experiential Learning and Democratic Ideals

The concept of an AI-powered classroom aligning with John Dewey's philosophy of education is indeed fascinating. Dewey's emphasis on experiential learning, democracy, and societal importance can provide valuable insights into…

Integrating AI Thoughtfully (or Slow Walking): From Kindergarten to College

James M. Lang's compelling advocacy for "slow-walking" the adoption of generative AI tools in higher education, as outlined in "The Case for Slow-Walking Our Use of Generative AI," offers a…

Article 1 Claude 3 Models – A Powerful, Updated Constitutional AI LLM for Educators

The landscape of artificial intelligence in education is constantly evolving, and Claude 3 has emerged as a frontrunner among its peers. With its advanced natural language processing capabilities and adaptability…

Gemini Advanced: Is IT GPT 4 Comparable and Can it Be Your AI Partner for Teaching and Learning

The Race for Best GenAIGoogle Gemini Advanced and ChatGPT 4 racing for dominance... The Race for Best GenAI​ The Race for Best GenAI​ Is it ChatGPT 4 Does ChatGPT still…