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Project-based Learning with A.I. and Improving Friendships

10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Release Date: 09/04/2023

A Cool Secret for Helping Kids Understand Math show art A Cool Secret for Helping Kids Understand Math

10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Too many kids see math as boring or irrelevant. Tinashe Blanchet shares how creative, real-world projects like scale models can help students engage deeply with math while still hitting standards. Read more: 3 Takeaways: • Scale models and PBL connect math to real life. • Measurement is often the weakest test area—but projects can fix that. • Teachers can start small with PBL, even in tight schedules. Growth Reflection: How have you used projects to make math more engaging? Show notes link:

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Richard Culatta: What an AI-Ready Graduate Really Looks Like show art Richard Culatta: What an AI-Ready Graduate Really Looks Like

10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

AI didn’t break assessments—it revealed just how flawed they already were. Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD, shares how schools can prepare AI-ready graduates, address bias, and rethink what learning really looks like. Show notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e912 3 Takeaways: • Assessments weren’t broken by AI—they were broken already. • An AI-ready graduate needs strong human skills like storytelling and problem-solving. • Addressing bias requires both human awareness and AI tools for cross-checking. Growth Reflection: How should schools redefine assessments in the age of...

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Building Cybersecurity Skills in Schools: The Student SOC show art Building Cybersecurity Skills in Schools: The Student SOC

10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Cyber attacks on schools are growing. Auburn University’s Jay James shows how student-led cybersecurity operations prepare learners and protect campuses. 3 Takeaways: • Student SOCs give real-world, hands-on cybersecurity training. • AI tools like Microsoft Security Co-Pilot mentor students in real time. • K-12 schools can start small with focused projects and grow from there. Growth Prompt: How do you prepare students—or staff—for real cybersecurity threats? Show notes link:

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Low Morale or Toxic Culture? Solutions with Stand Tall Steve Bollar show art Low Morale or Toxic Culture? Solutions with Stand Tall Steve Bollar

10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Staff morale slipping or culture feeling off? In minutes, Stand Tall Steve Bollar shares quick, no-cost moves to lift school climate, empower staff, and unite your campus. Full links + guest bio: . Follow the 10 Minute Teacher for weekly classroom-ready tips. 3 Takeaways • Run a 7-week student-to-staff micro-challenge to build relationships fast. • Use five levels of decision-making to boost empowerment and morale. • Choose shared “anchors” to align subcultures and reduce toxicity. Growth Prompt Which micro-move will you try first—learn names, compliment shoes, thumbs-up...

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NEWS: Common Sense Warnings about Social AI Apps and More show art NEWS: Common Sense Warnings about Social AI Apps and More

10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

This week's education news brings critical warnings every educator needs to hear. We're covering a major Apple security update, OpenAI's new Study Mode (and why a Cambridge expert gives it a C+), and most importantly - alarming findings about AI social companion apps that 70% of students are already using. Plus, concerning comments from OpenAI's CEO about the future of education. If you work with students, this episode could be a game-changer for the conversations you need to start having. Visit   for all the links and resources mentioned.  This 8-12 minute news segment always is the...

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Top 10 AI Tips for Schools to Do Now show art Top 10 AI Tips for Schools to Do Now

10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

As we prepare to return to school and with all of the announcements over the summer, what are the things we should do right away to prepare. Should we really enable all of the things or how can we slow down and test what really needs to happen to ensure the safety of our students and the educational value we want to offer? Teacher and IT Director, Vicki Davis, gives an overview of the summer's hottest AI announcements and some tips that schools are using to keep kids safe and cover their bases when it comes to implementing this cascade of change in ways that protect learning and kids. As...

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3 Easy AI Prompts I teach My Students on Day 1 show art 3 Easy AI Prompts I teach My Students on Day 1

10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

I have three AI prompts I teach my students on the first day. Learn about why I do this and what the prompts are in this turbo tip episode! See the three prompts in the show notes and see a copy of the presentation I use to teach students to prompt:  

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Top 5 Copilot Breakthroughs Unveiled at ISTE 2025 with Mike Tholfsen show art Top 5 Copilot Breakthroughs Unveiled at ISTE 2025 with Mike Tholfsen

10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Microsoft's Mike Tholfsen unveils game-changing AI breakthroughs for educators at ISTE 2025, including Copilot Chat for teens 13+, the revolutionary Teach module that creates standards-aligned lessons in minutes, and AI-powered study guides that transform how students learn. Discover how Learning Zone on Copilot+ PCs brings AI directly to your classroom without internet, plus exciting updates to Learning Accelerators and seamless LMS integration that puts powerful AI tools right where teachers need them. Key takeaways: FREE Copilot Chat now available for students 13+ with enterprise data...

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3 EFFECTive Strategies: Curiosity Corner, Brain Breaks, Action Teams show art 3 EFFECTive Strategies: Curiosity Corner, Brain Breaks, Action Teams

10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Sometimes it takes a wake-up call to transform from just being "a teacher" to being "THE teacher" who makes a difference. Math teacher and tech director Josh Korb shares three game-changing strategies from his book "Be the Cause" that you can implement immediately: Curiosity Corner spaces that spark student inquiry, energizing brain breaks using his "Jumping Jack Jam" technique, and Action Teams that tackle real-world problems through design thinking. These mastery learning strategies prove you don't need high energy or expensive tools—just intentional choices that put students in control of...

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My 30 Hot June AI and Edtech Tools and EduNews Show (June 2025) show art My 30 Hot June AI and Edtech Tools and EduNews Show (June 2025)

10 Minute Teacher Podcast with Cool Cat Teacher

Ready for a deep dive into the latest AI tools and education headlines? In this special extended news episode, Vicki Davis shares 15 cutting-edge AI tools including Gemini's new video parsing capabilities, Claude Opus 4's powerful features, and Perplexity Labs' research tools, plus 15 critical news stories every educator needs to know. From AI ethics and security warnings to practical classroom applications, this episode delivers real classroom tech use insights you can implement immediately. Subscribe for weekly teacher-tested edtech tips and join the conversation at   I'm also including...

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More Episodes
Project based learning can be enhanced using AI tools in this unique way that has students do comparative tasks as they compare their work and that done by ChatGPT.
 

In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative world of project-based learning! Our special guest, Or-Tal Kiriati from Tel Aviv, Israel, shares her innovative approach to integrating artificial intelligence and human experiences into multidisciplinary projects. From exploring the duality of human nature through literature (and a super amazing way to teach Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) to teaching friendship skills in a digital age, Or-Tal's projects offer a fresh perspective on education. Learn from her techniques in her language arts classroom to see how you can engage your students, encourage critical thinking, and make learning an adventure!

Show transcript, notes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/815

Show Sponsor: Are you looking for engaging NGSS-aligned science lessons designed to improve critical thinking in your middle school students? Now is the time to sign up for Research Quest from the Natural History Museum of Utah. Designed by teachers for teachers these online investigations are lead by museum scientists and use the museum’s incredible collections to create engaging learning experiences that are fun for your students and easy to implement! Check them out now!​

Hosts, Guests & Featured People:
Resources:
Show Highlights:
  1. Introduction (00:00:00:02 - 00:00:08:05)

  2. Sponsor and Guest Introduction (00:00:08:10 - 00:00:39:16)

    Vicki introduces the episode's sponsor, Research Quest, and the guest, Or-Tal Kiriati, who is from Tel Aviv, Israel.

  3. Merging Humanity and A.I. in Projects (00:00:39:18 - 00:00:58:06)

    Vicki discusses her interest in Or-Tal's projects that combine elements of human experience with artificial intelligence.

  4. Or-Tal's Approach to A.I. in Education (00:00:58:08 - 00:01:30:08)

    Or-Tal explains how she started integrating artificial intelligence into her educational projects based on student interest.

  5. Additional Resources and New Video Feature (00:01:30:10 - 00:01:56:09)

    Vicki mentions the slideshow provided by Or-Tal and introduces a new video feature for the podcast.

  6. Listener Feedback and First Project Introduction (00:01:56:09 - 00:02:18:17)

    Vicki talks about the podcast's new format and asks about Or-Tal's first project about masks.

  7. The Duality in Me Project (00:02:18:17 - 00:02:55:12)

    Or-Tal describes her project, "The Duality in Me," which is designed to teach the literature of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

  8. Student Engagement and Questions (00:02:55:14 - 00:03:35:11)

    Or-Tal shares how she engages students by encouraging them to ask questions related to the project's main theme.

  9. Project Phases and Activities (00:03:35:13 - 00:05:58:01)

    Or-Tal outlines the various phases of her project, including group formation and activities like analyzing art.

  10. Student Reactions and Comparisons (00:06:03:12 - 00:06:35:03)

    Vicki and Or-Tal discuss student reactions to the project and how they compared their own work to the book Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

  11. Examples and Student Work (00:06:35:03 - 00:07:33:07)

    Or-Tal provides examples of student work, including their interactions with an A.I. tool named ChatGPT.

  12. Second Project: Friendship (00:07:33:07 - 00:08:46:02)

    Or-Tal introduces her second project focused on the theme of friendship, explaining its multidisciplinary approach.

  13. Closing Thoughts (00:09:08:12 - 00:10:18:18)

  14. Sponsor Message and Conclusion (00:10:18:18 - 00:10:58:08)

    • Vicki revisits the episode's sponsor, Research Quest, and provides information on accessing their resources. John closes the podcast.