loader from loading.io

Ep. 284 | What Frankenstein Gets Right About AI in Schools w/ Brett Salakas

The EdTech Bites Podcast

Release Date: 12/28/2025

Ep. 284 | What Frankenstein Gets Right About AI in Schools w/ Brett Salakas show art Ep. 284 | What Frankenstein Gets Right About AI in Schools w/ Brett Salakas

The EdTech Bites Podcast

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at . AI is everywhere in education but what if our fear of it isn’t new at all? In this episode, I’m joined by Brett Salakas from down under. He delivers one of the most unexpected AI...

info_outline Ep. 283 | Revolutionizing Education: South Africa's Bold Move with AI and Robotics show art Ep. 283 | Revolutionizing Education: South Africa's Bold Move with AI and Robotics

The EdTech Bites Podcast

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at . In this episode, I chat with Steve Sherman to discuss the evolution of STEAM education in South Africa, particularly the integration of coding and robotics into the national curriculum for...

info_outline Ep. 282 | Why Male Teachers Second-Guess Every Move show art Ep. 282 | Why Male Teachers Second-Guess Every Move

The EdTech Bites Podcast

This episode explores the quiet, constant tension male teachers experience when trying to build authentic relationships with students. From hugs to high-fives, what feels natural for many female educators often feels risky or off-limits for their male colleagues. We also dive into Texas Senate Bill 12 (SB12), a new law that requires parental consent for schools to provide basic health or emotional support—yes, even for a band-aid or a conversation with a counselor. In This Episode: The double standard male educators face in classrooms Real-life examples of how the same gesture can be...

info_outline Ep. 281 | Why Most Teachers Get Student Voice Totally Wrong show art Ep. 281 | Why Most Teachers Get Student Voice Totally Wrong

The EdTech Bites Podcast

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at .   What if your students had the power to shape your lessons—and it actually worked? In this insightful conversation, educator and author Jennifer Casa-Todd joins us to break down...

info_outline Ep. 280 | Don’t Start a Drone Club Until You Hear This w/ Frankie Baker show art Ep. 280 | Don’t Start a Drone Club Until You Hear This w/ Frankie Baker

The EdTech Bites Podcast

Hear that? That’s the sound of STEM careers taking off. Meet CoDrone EDU from Robolink — the drone made for classrooms and competitions and the sponsor for this episode. It’s safe, durable, and fixable — with no FAA license or assembly required to fly and help every student feel more confident in a tech-driven world. Students fly CoDrone EDU three ways: manually, coded with Blockly, or coded with Python. See how over 7 thousand schools have proven you CAN have drones in classrooms, buzz and all, at Ever wondered how to get a drone club off the ground—without crashing it on day one?...

info_outline Ep. 279 | ClassDojo Deep Dive: From Dojo Points to Dojo Power Moves w/ Miranda Ketcham show art Ep. 279 | ClassDojo Deep Dive: From Dojo Points to Dojo Power Moves w/ Miranda Ketcham

The EdTech Bites Podcast

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at . What started as a simple point system is now a full-blown ecosystem! In this episode, I sit down with Miranda Ketcham — veteran educator and ClassDojo superuser — to explore how this...

info_outline Ep. 278 | UDL, Bagels, And Barbecue: Designing Lessons That Fit All Learners w/ Kyle Niemis show art Ep. 278 | UDL, Bagels, And Barbecue: Designing Lessons That Fit All Learners w/ Kyle Niemis

The EdTech Bites Podcast

What do gluten-free chips, high-protein bagels, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) have in common? They’re all about meeting everyone’s needs, and that’s exactly what former middle school teacher turned tech coach Kyle Niemis is passionate about. In this episode, we break down the real classroom implementation of UDL, point out the differences between UDL and differentiation, and talk practical grading strategies that won’t break your brain. Plus, we take a tasty detour into food metaphors, BBQ negotiations, and the ultimate tortilla debate. (Team corn, for the win!) This episode...

info_outline Ep. 277 | Human First: Teaching Smarter Using AI Optimism w/ Becky Keene show art Ep. 277 | Human First: Teaching Smarter Using AI Optimism w/ Becky Keene

The EdTech Bites Podcast

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at . In this episode, Becky Keene and I explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping education. We unpack the role of AI in lesson planning, student engagement, and teacher...

info_outline Ep. 276 | Smarter Schools With AI Data: Doowii’s Big Idea w/ Ben Dodson show art Ep. 276 | Smarter Schools With AI Data: Doowii’s Big Idea w/ Ben Dodson

The EdTech Bites Podcast

This episode is sponsored by Doowii. Doowii brings all of your district’s data together. When data is scattered across systems and buried in outdated reports, it’s hard to turn that data into action. Doowii connects your SIS, LMS, assessments, staffing, financial data, and more into one secure, conversational intelligence platform designed for all educators. No extra strain on your district’s resources, just faster, smarter decisions. Hungry for better insights? Visit to learn more and see it in action. If your school’s data could talk, would it ask for help? Or maybe just a better...

info_outline Ep. 275 | If Not You, Then Who? Creating AI Moments That Stick with Kristen Brooks show art Ep. 275 | If Not You, Then Who? Creating AI Moments That Stick with Kristen Brooks

The EdTech Bites Podcast

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at . What happens when a recently retired edtech queen trades early morning alarms for AI-powered student engagement? You get a mic-drop convo with Kristen Brooks! In this fun and feel-good...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Want to bring your whole district together with one simple tool? ClassDojo for Districts makes it easy to engage families and strengthen school communities—at every level. It’s the number one communication app trusted by millions of K-12 teachers, now with district-wide oversight and controls. From Pre-K to high school, ClassDojo connects your schools and families in one seamless place. Learn more at classdojo.com/districts.

AI is everywhere in education but what if our fear of it isn’t new at all?

In this episode, I’m joined by Brett Salakas from down under. He delivers one of the most unexpected AI metaphors you’ll ever hear: Frankenstein.

This conversation connects AI, educational change, and human fear in a way that will completely shift how you think about innovation in schools. We unpack why every major tech revolution follows the same pattern, why “Luddites” weren’t villains, and what educators can learn from a 200-year-old novel about embracing change without losing our humanity.

Oh and yes…Buc-ee’s, poetry slams, beaver onesies, and brisket sandwiches all make an appearance.

If you’re wrestling with AI implementation, staff resistance, or your own uncertainty, this episode will give you clarity, perspective, and a few laughs along the way. Buen provecho!

Connect With Gabriel Carrillo

About Brett Salakas

Brett Salakas, the HP Education Ambassador, is an international keynote speaker, the best-selling author of ‘A MAMMOTH Lesson’, the founder of #aussieED (the largest online network of teachers in Australia) and the co-founder of the ED Poets Society. Currently, he is identified by Linkedin as a TOP VOICE (top 1% worldwide) in K-12 Education. Brett was awarded with the NSWICTE and ISTE ‘Making ‘IT’ Happen award in 2024, was recently identified by the District Administration Leadership Institute as one of the top 100 most influential leaders in education globally (the only Australian named on the list) and he was named the Most Influential Educator in Australia for 2024 by The Educator magazine.

Brett is a teacher and experienced school leader who, over the past 26 years, has taught in South East Asia and Australia. He is passionately committed to turning educational theory into real classroom practice. Brett is all about CONNECTION, COLLABORATION and INSPIRATION.‍

Connect With Brett Salakas