Easy EdTech Podcast with Monica Burns

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Marc Cicchino, Director of Innovation at Northern Valley Regional High School District, about what it takes to plan and run the New Jersey AI Literacy Summit. You'll also hear how a question from his superintendent sparked the event, how his team defines AI literacy, and how session proposals have shifted from ChatGPT basics to agentic AI and building your own apps. If you want to bring educators together for meaningful AI professional learning, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/11/03/ai-literacy-summit-395/

Sponsored by my AI resources page: http://classtechtips.com/ai

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Kimberly Tsai, Director of Programs at Challenge Success and author of the new ASCD book The Vital Role of Joy in Schools. We talk about what joy actually looks like in a school setting. You'll also hear how teachers can build small daily habits that sustain them, why the right digital tool gives back time and mental bandwidth, and how quick digital check-ins help you understand what students are feeling. If you want to bring more intentional moments of joy into your classroom without adding to your to-do list, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/10/27/digital-check-ins-394/

Sponsored by my free weekly newseltter: https://classtechtips.com/newsletter

Follow Kimberly Tsai on social: https://www.instagram.com/thevitalroleofjoy/

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Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I share how teachers can create classroom resources with AI, from turning rough notes into polished rubrics, newsletters, and slide decks to refining the results with practical prompts. You'll also hear about the "ask me questions" approach and ways to make AI-generated content better match your voice and goals. If you want to save time on document prep while staying in control of your content, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/10/20/classroom-resources-with-ai-393/

Sponsored by my free weekly newsletter: https://ClassTechTips.com/newsletter

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Luke Straub, Content Marketer at Jotform, about how districts can automate Canvas enrollment and streamline course registration. You'll also hear how schools can add approvals, conditional logic, and email notifications to enrollment workflows, what different schools learned from moving away from paper forms, and what to know about student data privacy when connecting a form tool to an LMS. If you want to save time onboarding new students, summer learners, or staff in professional learning courses, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/10/16/canvas-onboarding-bonus/

Sponsored by Jotform: http://jotform.com/education

Follow Luke Straub on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-straub-4922a2133/

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Chrissy Beltran, instructional coaching consultant and founder of Buzzing with Ms. B, about defining the coaching role and building coaching partnerships that stick. You'll also hear why video coaching is her favorite low-lift, high-return strategy, how the low, moderate, and high impact tiers in her new book help coaches choose their next move, and what differentiated support looks like when you're helping teachers adopt a new tech tool. If you want to make every interaction with a teacher count, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/10/13/coaching-partnerships-392/

Sponsored by my free weekly newsletter: https://ClassTechTips.com/newsletter

Follow Chrissy Beltran on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissy-beltran-898756263/

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Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I share practical ways to use podcasts in the classroom, from selecting student-friendly episodes to setting a clear purpose for listening. You'll also hear tips on using transcripts for reading support, integrating podcasts into group work, and encouraging students to create their own podcasts. If you want to boost engagement and support literacy skills with podcasts in the classroom, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/10/06/podcasts-in-the-classroom-391/

Sponsored by my free weekly newsletter: https://ClassTechTips.com/newsletter

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Jason McKenna, Vice President of Global Educational Strategy for VEX Robotics, about designing inclusive classroom ecosystems and rethinking the screen time debate. You'll also hear how an accessibility framework reshaped the way VEX builds its tools, why Jason compares learning to gardening, and how hands-on robotics makes abstract coding concepts concrete for students. If you want to create a classroom where every learner has a meaningful way in, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/10/02/rethink-screen-time-bonus/

Sponsored by VEX Robotics: https://vexrobotics.com

Follow Jason McKenna on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-mckenna/

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Sela Estelle, an educator and designer who helps teachers create classroom resources with design in mind, about designing resources for students. You'll also hear why the quality of your design has to match the quality of your content, the two design principles Sela wishes every teacher knew, and how she thinks about designing for a screen versus a printed page. If you want to make the resources you are already creating clearer, more engaging, and easier for students to actually use, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/09/29/designing-resources-for-students-390/

Sponsored by my free EdTech Essentials study guide: https://classtechtips.com/studyguide

Follow Sela Estelle on social: https://www.instagram.com/designs.and.such

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I share ten ways to take your students around the world through virtual field trips and global learning with AI. You'll also hear about practical tools and sample prompts for creating tours, videos, reading activities, and creative projects connected to places around the world. If you want to make global learning with AI feel approachable and easy to bring into your classroom, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/09/22/global-learning-with-ai-389/

Sponsored by my free EdTech Essentials study guide: https://classtechtips.com/studyguide

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Stephen Hodges, CEO of Efekta Education, about how AI can supercharge education in the developing world. You'll hear how teachers in Brazil use a flipped classroom model with AI, how personalized instruction can address Bloom's two sigma problem, and what schools need to get right before rolling out AI tools. If you want to see what thoughtful, AI-powered learning looks like around the world, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/09/18/supercharge-education-bonus/

Sponsored by Efekta Education: https://Efekta.com

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Jessica Espinoza, university professor of curriculum and instruction, about what it really means to use meaningful learning experiences instead of worksheets. You'll also hear how sketchnoting builds reading comprehension, why thinking maps are the most natural swap for a worksheet, and how AI can help you create listening tasks that lead to deeper thinking. If you want practical routines that make student thinking visible this school year, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/09/15/instead-of-worksheets-388/

Sponsored by my free EdTech Essentials study guide: https://classtechtips.com/studyguide

Follow Dr. Jessica Espinoza on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-espinoza-ed-d-210b731b5/

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I share what you need to know about Gemini Notebook, the new name for NotebookLM, and why this Google AI tool is worth a spot in your teacher toolkit. You'll also hear what changed, what stayed the same, and favorite features to try, like debate-style audio overviews, customized slide decks, and infographics made from your own sources. If you want a quick guide to using Gemini Notebook in the classroom for lesson prep and student resources, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/09/08/gemini-notebook-in-the-classroom-387/

Sponsored by my free EdTech Essentials study guide: https://classtechtips.com/studyguide

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Crystal Uhiren, an instructional technology facilitator and certified Apple Learning Coach, about keeping student thinking at the center of AI use. You'll also hear practical, low-prep strategies like the two-minute idea sort, mid-class progress pit stops, and screenshot check-ins that build accountability without adding to your workload. If you want to embrace AI while protecting the productive struggle that helps students actually learn, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/09/01/Student-Thinking-386/

Sponsored by my free EdTech Essentials study guide: https://ClassTechTips.com/studyguide

Follow Crystal Uhiren on social: https://x.com/MrsUTeachesTech

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I share ten classroom book study ideas that use AI to support reading experiences from start to finish. You'll also hear how AI-powered tools can help you build background knowledge, introduce vocabulary, spark discussion, create paired passages, and gather student feedback in any subject. If you want to use AI for book studies in practical and engaging ways, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/08/25/classroom-book-study-ideas-385/

Sponsored by Work With Monica: https://classtechtips.com/events-and-workshops/

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Alper Donmez, VP of Quality Assurance at Jotform, about how the platform is building accessibility into every layer of the form creation and form filling experience. You'll also hear what Jotform's built-in accessibility checker catches that you might not expect, how the team supports users who rely on screen readers and keyboard navigation, and why accessibility should be the starting point of your process rather than a final checklist. If you want to learn more about making forms accessible for your school community, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/08/21/making-forms-accessible-bonus/

Sponsored by Jotform: http://jotform.com/education

Follow Alper Donmez on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alper-donmez/

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Lori Cohen, education consultant, coach, and author of The Science of Lesson Planning, about what the science of lesson planning looks like in the age of AI. You'll also hear her human first, human last approach to using AI as a planning companion, where AI falls short, and how rituals can make planning feel sustainable instead of overwhelming. If you want to strengthen your lesson planning practice this school year, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/08/18/science-of-lesson-planning-384/

Sponsored by Work With Monica: https://classtechtips.com/events-and-workshops/

Follow Lori Cohen on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-cohen-9a447224/

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Erlend Klouman Høiner, a former teacher and co-founder of WeWillWrite, and Bonnie Watson, a fourth grade language arts teacher, about making back-to-school writing something students beg to do. You'll also hear how short, live writing sessions put every student on equal footing, why building a writing routine from the first weeks of school pays off all year long, and how anonymous peer voting helps students see models of strong writing from their own classmates. If you want a low-prep way to energize writing in your classroom this school year, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/08/14/back-to-school-writing-bonus/

Sponsored by WeWillWrite: http://wewillwrite.com

Follow Erlend Klouman Høiner on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erlend-klouman-h%C3%B8iner-1b23a110/

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I share one of my favorite ways to introduce AI images with a quick "guess the prompt" activity I've used with thousands of educators in workshops and webinars. You'll also hear an excerpt from the second edition of EdTech Essentials on three reasons to try AI images (replacing a search, upgrading old resources, and explaining complex topics), plus the tools I reach for when creating an image. If you want a simple, repeatable way to spark AI literacy conversations with your students or colleagues, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/08/11/introduce-ai-images-383/

Sponsored by Work With Monica: https://classtechtips.com/events-and-workshops/

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Deborah Higdon and Dr. Chacko Abraham about father engagement and how schools can intentionally engage fathers to build stronger school communities. You'll also hear no-cost, hit-the-ground-running strategies from their new book, The Dad Difference, including the power of using father-friendly language and choosing the right communication tools to reach every family. If you want practical ideas for inviting dads into the conversation from day one of the school year and strengthening father engagement across your school community, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/08/04/father-engagement-382/

Sponsored by my Easy EdTech Club: https://www.EasyEdTechClub.com

Follow Dr. Deborah Higdon on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdeborahhigdon-8194ba1b1/

Follow Dr. Chacko Abraham on social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chacko-abraham-ed-d-1a734a34/

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/

In this episode, I share practical ways to use AI to support student readers across content areas and in the reading classroom, from creating audio companions to designing interactive reading activities. You'll also hear how tools like AI-powered podcasts, text-to-speech, quizzes, visuals, and reader's theater scripts can help you scale support while keeping learning goals front and center. If you want to use AI to make reading more accessible, engaging, and manageable for both you and your students, this episode has you covered!

Show notes: https://classtechtips.com/2026/07/28/reading-classroom-381/

Sponsored by my Easy EdTech Club: https://easyedtechclub.com/

Follow Monica on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classtechtips/

Take your pick of free EdTech resources: https://classtechtips.com/free-stuff-favorites/