loader from loading.io

How do we bring brave beginners and bold early adopters together to explore AI Literacy?

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Release Date: 10/14/2023

Why Millions of Students Are Creating Together: Inside Crayola Creativity Week show art Why Millions of Students Are Creating Together: Inside Crayola Creativity Week

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

What does it look like when creativity becomes a global learning movement—not an add-on, but a connector across every subject? In this episode of Shifting Schools, Tricia Friedman is joined by Cheri Sterman to explore Crayola Creativity Week, a free, cross-curricular program designed to help educators spark collaboration, confidence, and creative thinking in classrooms around the world. Together, they unpack how Creativity Week connects creativity to every subject and career, why celebrity partners—from the Property Brothers to NASA astronauts—volunteer their time to inspire students,...

info_outline Holiday Gifting for Teachers: Tools for Wellness, Creativity, and Reflection show art Holiday Gifting for Teachers: Tools for Wellness, Creativity, and Reflection

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

This special Shifting Schools holiday episode isn’t about trendy gadgets or generic gift lists. Instead, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman share seven thoughtfully chosen gifts for educators—each matched to a specific kind of person and a specific kind of need. Some gifts are playful. Some are reflective. Some are deeply practical. All of them offer a meaningful boost during a season when educators are often running on empty. This episode asks a practical question: “What might actually support someone through their days?” Whether you’re shopping for a colleague, a school leader, a...

info_outline What Makes a Family? Scott & Mark Hoying on Representation, Creativity, and Love show art What Makes a Family? Scott & Mark Hoying on Representation, Creativity, and Love

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

You know Pentatonix – the multi-platinum selling acapella group is the number one most listened to musical acct of the holiday season.  Co-founder and Grammy winner Scott Hoying is currently starring in Season 34 of Dancing with the Stars. Scott Hoying and his husband Mark are now also authors of an innovative picture book which features text that doubles as lyrics to .  FA LA LA FAMILY celebrates the spirit of Christmas with a look at nontraditional families. The reviews are loving their new book: "A fun and festive dive into...

info_outline Why Interdisciplinary Learning Fuels Creativity: A Conversation with Alan Gratz show art Why Interdisciplinary Learning Fuels Creativity: A Conversation with Alan Gratz

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

In this episode of Shifting Schools, bestselling author Alan Gratz joins Tricia Friedman to explore the craft of storytelling, the role of creativity in education, and why curiosity is the engine behind both great writing and great learning. Gratz shares how baseball has quietly shaped the structure of many of his novels, how he approaches character development with authenticity, and why understanding a character’s background is essential for emotional truth. The conversation also digs into the need for interdisciplinary learning in today’s classrooms and the value of teacher...

info_outline Inside the Mind of a 4.1 Million-Follower Creator: AI, Internships, and the Future of Storytelling show art Inside the Mind of a 4.1 Million-Follower Creator: AI, Internships, and the Future of Storytelling

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht reconnects with Marcus DiPaola, a successful content creator and documentary filmmaker. They discuss Marcus's journey from working in news to becoming a prominent influencer on platforms like TikTok, where he has amassed over 4 million followers. The conversation delves into the challenges of content creation, the importance of writing skills, and the role of AI in enhancing creative processes. Marcus shares insights on his documentary work, including a recent project on protests and his upcoming film about food insecurity. He emphasizes the...

info_outline The Rise of Micro schools: How Educators Are Reimagining Learning with David Richards show art The Rise of Micro schools: How Educators Are Reimagining Learning with David Richards

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Are micro schools the future of personalized learning? In this high-impact episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht sits down with David K. Richards, CEO of ChangeMaker Education, to break down one of the fastest-growing movements in the education ecosystem: microschools. With over 125,000 micro schools and 1.5 million students already learning in small, relationship-centered environments across the U.S., this episode delivers a deeply practical and future-focused look at why educators, parents, and policymakers are paying attention. What You’ll Learn in This Episode What a micro school...

info_outline Can we communicate with our pets? Leo Trottier on the Future of Interspecies Communication show art Can we communicate with our pets? Leo Trottier on the Future of Interspecies Communication

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

What if our pets are communicating complex ideas—and technology is finally catching up? In this episode of the Shifting Schools Podcast, cognitive scientist and FluentPet founder Leo Trottier joins us to explore how breakthroughs in animal cognition, inter-species communication, and speech-button interfaces are reshaping the way humans understand pets. Trottier unpacks the science behind communication-enhancing tools for animals, drawing from research in cognitive psychology, comparative cognition, and linguistics to explain how dogs and cats may be expressing needs, feelings, and even...

info_outline Crossing the Line of Falling Behind: Where Is Your School on the AI Curve? show art Crossing the Line of Falling Behind: Where Is Your School on the AI Curve?

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Summary In this episode, Jeff Utecht discusses the critical importance of understanding where schools stand on the AI adoption curve. He emphasizes the need for leadership to actively engage with AI and for educators to integrate AI into their teaching practices. The conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI in education, urging schools to move from mere conversation to meaningful integration. Learn more about our amazing show sponsor:  Takeaways AI adoption is crucial for schools today. Leadership must model AI usage and curiosity. Schools are on a curve of AI...

info_outline How Generative AI Can Deepen Critical Thinking in K12, Not Replace It show art How Generative AI Can Deepen Critical Thinking in K12, Not Replace It

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

Discover how educators are using generative AI not to automate, but to elevate critical thinking and collaboration in K-12 schools. In this episode of Shifting Schools, host Tricia Friedman shows how “disagreement by design” and intentional prompt-engineering transform student and leadership learning. What you’ll learn: What disagreement by design looks like in real classrooms and leadership teams How prompt engineering unlocks student curiosity and systems-thinking mindset in K-12 Why writing bespoke GPT bots might just be the 'new essay' of our times Who this episode is for:...

info_outline Parenting, Picture Books, and the Practice of Wonder: Leadership Lessons in Creativity show art Parenting, Picture Books, and the Practice of Wonder: Leadership Lessons in Creativity

Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators

A conversation that reminds us how curiosity, art, and iteration can reshape are necessary and may even be assets for our school leadership and the ways we nurture creative courage in young learners.... In this episode, Tricia Friedman sits down with author-illustrator Christy Mandin to explore what school leaders can learn from the creative process behind children’s literature. Together they unpack how curiosity fuels empathy, how messy iteration sparks innovation, and how embracing the dark and uncertain moments of creativity can make us more compassionate educators. What You’ll Learn ...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

In this episode of the Shifting Schools podcast, you'll join Tricia and Jeff as they dive into their recent experiences and reflections on AI and education. They're excited to share the consulting work they've been doing and the innovative ways they're incorporating AI into the classroom. Tricia discusses her passion for teaching creative writing and how she's been using AI-generated art to fuel students' creativity. Jeff, on the other hand, shares his experiences working with school leaders and presenting at conferences, highlighting the importance of teaching AI as an equity issue. They also discuss AI literacy and the need for everyone to advocate for fair and just AI systems. Throughout the conversation, Tricia and Jeff emphasize the transformative potential of AI in education and the importance of educators being actively engaged in the conversation. 

 

Tricia and Jeff unveil their new offering, the Shifting Schools cohort, a three-week transformative program for educators. With access to live webinars, generative AI resources, and a supportive online community, this cohort promises to revolutionize the way educators integrate technology. 

 

Interested in learning more about our team discount for the 3 Week Cohort?

Email info (at) shiftingschools.com

 

Timestamped summary of this episode:
00:00:18 - Introduction
Tricia and the host catch up and discuss their recent work in education consulting, including using AI-generated art in creative writing and exploring the potential of AI art in the business world.

00:02:01 - AI and Equity
The host shares his experience of presenting on AI to school leaders and how they are embracing it as an equity conversation. They discuss the importance of AI literacy and its potential to be used for good in transformative ways.

00:04:57 - AI in Healthcare and Education
The host mentions Google's partnership with hospitals to use AI in the healthcare industry, as well as the potential for AI to assist with administrative tasks in education. They highlight the early days of AI and the exciting possibilities it offers.

00:06:34 - AI for Good
The conversation focuses on the ways AI can be used for good, such as the app "Be My Eyes" that helps blind or vision-impaired individuals by describing images and offering cooking suggestions. They emphasize the importance of understanding both the positive and negative aspects of AI.

00:09:47 - The Shifting Schools Cohort
The hosts discuss the success of their cohort model in building a community of educators interested in AI. They highlight the benefits of diverse participation and the opportunity for rich dialogue and personalized support.

00:14:23 - The Power of Collaboration in Education
The speaker discusses the importance of having a community to bounce ideas off and how technology can support educators in their work.

00:15:27 - New Offering for Winter Break
The speaker announces a three-week cohort starting in November for educators who want to experiment with technology in their classrooms.

00:16:16 - Tailoring Content to Educators' Needs
The speaker highlights the benefit of gathering feedback from participants to create relevant and engaging webinars that meet the needs of educators.

00:18:24 - Three-Week Cohort Overview
The speaker outlines the structure of the three-week cohort, including live webinars, generative AI resources, weekly challenges, and a supportive online community.

00:19:25 - Team Discount and Limited Spots
The speaker offers a team discount for schools that sign up with ten or more participants and emphasizes the limited availability of spots in the cohort.