Episode 327: How Can Educators Leverage AI for UDL?
Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators
Release Date: 02/26/2024
What to Do When Teachers Are at Very Different Places With AI
Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators
How do you move forward with AI in schools when staff confidence is all over the place? Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman address one of the most persistent leadership challenges in AI literacy implementation. Within the same faculty, some educators are experimenting confidently with tools and workflows while others feel intimidated, skeptical, or frustrated by rapid change. Jeff and Tricia frame the issue through a mindset-first lens and introduce practical leadership moves grounded in BAKE: balance, adaptability, knowledge sharing, and empathy. The conversation begins with a simple leadership...
info_outline
What Skills Matter Most for AI Literacy?
Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators
AI literacy in the classroom looks like students practicing judgment, sense-making, and self-awareness while working alongside AI, not replacing thinking with tools. It emphasizes mindset before mechanics. In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman frame AI literacy through the BAKE Mindset: Balance – Knowing when AI helps and when it doesn’t Adaptability – Updating learning practices as tools change Knowledge Sharing – Making thinking visible and collective Empathy – Designing learning with student experience in mind How Does AI Change...
info_outline
The Mindset Shift You Need for AI Literacy in 2026
Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators
In this episode of Shifting Schools, hosts Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman discuss their personal experiences over the holidays, leading into a broader conversation about the importance of mindset in education, particularly in relation to AI literacy. They introduce the as a tool for educators to navigate AI discussions, emphasizing the need for adaptability, empathy, and open communication. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in educational settings, encouraging educators to embrace change and foster a culture of experimentation and learning. ...
info_outline
How do we help students be more critical of health advice?
Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators
In this episode, host Tricia Friedman sits down with Dr. Michael Greger, bestselling author and founder of NutritionFacts.org, to explore why non-commercial, evidence-based health guidance matters more than ever. They discuss lifestyle medicine, plant-based nutrition, scientific integrity, cannabis research, and how small, testable behavior changes can dramatically improve long-term health. What This Conversation Is Really About Health advice is everywhere — but trustworthy guidance is not. This conversation slows things down and examines how to make informed choices in a noisy,...
info_outline
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
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
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
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
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
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_outlineLUDIA AI is a free tool that helps educators cultivate a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) mindset by leveraging AI. The conversation explores the fear and misconceptions around AI in education and how LUDIA AI actually emphasizes relationships and centers humanity. LUDIA AI is designed to support teachers' time and thinking, providing ideas and options to adapt instruction efficiently. Educators can use LUDIA AI to plan and model UDL best practices, considering barriers and opportunities. Tips are provided for getting the most out of LUDIA AI, including being specific in prompts and engaging in a back-and-forth conversation. Anecdotes and feedback from educators highlight the varied uses and benefits of LUDIA AI. The conversation also discusses the importance of involving parents and caretakers in using AI tools like LUDIA AI to support homeschool partnerships and expand AI use beyond the classroom. The 4Ts model (Tell, Tinker, Tweak, Transfer) is introduced as a process for using LUDIA AI effectively. AI is seen as a tool for metacognition and decision-making, enhancing critical thinking and creativity. Listeners are encouraged to experiment with LUDIA AI and explore its potential in their educational contexts.
Ready to learn more?
https://bit.ly/LUDIA_Bookshelf
Ready to connect with Beth and Jeremie?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bstarklifelonglearner
https://www.jeremierostan.com/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to LUDIA AI and UDL Mindset
01:15 Addressing Fear and Misconceptions about AI in Education
02:25 LUDIA AI as a Tool to Support Teachers' Time and Thinking
03:39 Using LUDIA AI to Plan and Model UDL Best Practices
06:01 Tips for Getting the Most Out of LUDIA AI
08:50 Anecdotes and Feedback from Educators Using LUDIA AI
11:48 Involving Parents and Caretakers in Using LUDIA AI
14:18 Expanding the Use of AI Beyond the Classroom
16:53 Using LUDIA AI for Homeschool Partnerships
18:13 The 4Ts Model for Using LUDIA AI Effectively
20:55 AI as a Tool for Metacognition and Decision-Making
23:45 Experimenting with LUDIA AI: One Thing to Try
24:24 Closing Remarks and Future of LUDIA AI
Thank you to our show sponsor!
https://www.moneypickle.com/shiftingschools