In this episode of ChatEDU (The College Essay Is Not Dead, AI Just Changed the Rules), Matt and Liz open with cold weather updates, Liz’s book selling out on Amazon, and the viral “six-seven” trend. They run through stories on new AI tools, grant challenges, workplace shifts, and prompt design myths, then go deeper with the founder of College Essay Advisors. A Bright Byte from Harvard highlights AI’s promise in rare disease diagnosis.

Story 1: Google Mixboard Goes Full Nano Banana

Google’s experimental Mixboard turns brainstorms into slide decks with Nano Banana Pro. Liz tested it by creating fake but convincing ChatEDU merch, raising questions about marketing, classrooms, and deepfake ethics.

Story 2: $400K in the Create+AI Challenge

Stanford’s Accelerator for Learning is offering $400,000 for AI projects that augment human potential in education. Matt and Liz outline the tracks and deadlines.

Story 3: Claude Becomes the Interviewer

Anthropic used its chatbot to interview 1,250 professionals, finding excitement about productivity gains alongside growing anxiety about automation and job security.

Story 4: The Lonely AI Workplace

A follow-up study suggests AI may be replacing people as well as tasks, with chatbots reducing mentorship and collaboration.

Story 5: The Role Prompting Myth Gets Busted

A Wharton study finds that expert personas do not reliably improve AI accuracy, while clarity and context matter more.

Story 6: Arrival Technology and Adaptive Leadership

Justin Reich and Jesse Dukes describe generative AI as an arrival technology that is user driven and disruptive in classrooms.

Beneath the Surface

Liz talks with College Essay Advisors founder Stacey Brook about what matters in college essays in the age of AI. Drawing on two decades of experience, Stacey explains why personal essays still matter and how AI can support brainstorming and confidence without replacing a student’s voice.

Bright Byte: AI Helps Diagnose Rare Disease

Harvard researchers have introduced POPEVE, an AI model that helped diagnose 30 percent of previously unsolved rare disease cases in a large patient study. By combining evolutionary data and protein modeling, it reduces ancestry bias and offers new hope in genetic medicine.

Sponsor

This episode is supported by the National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing.www.nextgenmfg.org

Announcements

Liz is back from the fall tour. RADDAY30 still works at ASCD for a discount on her book.

Follow Liz and Matt on LinkedIn and check out ChatEDU clips on TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

The Winter Micro-Credential cohort launches this January. Join educators from around the world for a six-week dive into AI literacy, pedagogy, assessment, and ethics.

EdAdvance is now offering a Middle and High School Student AI Literacy course — email chatedu@edadvance.org to bring it to your district.

Interested in Skills21’s free social media literacy course? Check it out here - https://www.skills21.org/social-balance

Links

In-N-Out Removes “67” After Viral Ordering Trend

https://tinyurl.com/2hv3pbvz

Google Mixboard Nano Banana Turns Rough Ideas Into Presentations

https://tinyurl.com/2du8h47r

Create+AI Challenge

https://tinyurl.com/49yw3cct

What 1,250 Professionals Say About Working With AI

https://tinyurl.com/4faxetcv

AI is making the workplace lonelier

https://tinyurl.com/3x4d32nt

Prompting Science Report 4: Expert Personas Don’t Improve Accuracy

https://tinyurl.com/2uf44ypr

EdTech After ChatGPT

https://tinyurl.com/mvm9fy6m

Purdue Requires AI for All Undergrads

https://tinyurl.com/yk3zf9yr

New AI Model Speeds Rare Disease Diagnosis

https://tinyurl.com/axhnyy2j

Adaptive Leadership on AI and Academic Integrity

https://tinyurl.com/etjth9xm

Gem Custom Instructions + use the “listen’ feature and whisper flow

https://tinyurl.com/42jcfwrd

In this episode of ChatEDU (Vibe Coding from New Zealand) while Liz continues her adventure, Matt is joined by Yaron Overeem, a school principal from New Zealand and ChatEDU listener. He shares his experience with AI literacy, cultural preservation, and the rise of vibe coding. But first, a recent Futurism article details how an AI-powered teddy bear was pulled from shelves after giving dangerous instructions to kids. Matt and Yaron reflect on the risks of generative AI, especially when it comes to younger users.

Story #1: AI in Career Pathways

New CTE pilots in the U.S. are preparing high schoolers for AI-infused careers in agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing. Matt highlights a story out of South Carolina and asks how schools can support students in learning to build AI. Yaron shares how his students are beginning to explore how AI connects to broader industries and why it’s critical to go beyond job titles and explore industry ecosystems.

Story #2: AI and Academic Integrity

After analyzing 85 episodes of ChatEDU transcripts in NotebookLM, Matt reveals that AI cheating and academic integrity rank among the top three most frequently discussed topics on the show, alongside bias and AI literacy. Yaron shares his own reflections from the faculty lounge and the classroom, including what happens when students and teachers start using AI to write communications. His solution: pick up the phone and talk.

Story #3: Māori Language, Bias, and Data Sovereignty

As AI tools become widespread in education, cultural representation and linguistic accuracy are under scrutiny. Yaron unpacks a growing national conversation about how tools like ChatGPT and Gemini often misrepresent Māori culture and language, including his own example of an AI-generated image of Tangaroa that looked suspiciously like Jason Momoa. Teachers are concerned about misinterpretations, omissions, and inaccuracies when using AI in bilingual classrooms. Locally developed tools like Te Hiku Media’s Māori speech recognition system are offering promising alternatives, and the government is being pushed to consider Te Tiriti o Waitangi and data sovereignty in its AI policies.

Beneath the Surface: Vibe Coding

Inspired by a past episode, Yaron began using Gemini AI Studio and Firebase to create custom classroom tools using only natural language prompts. From timers and reward systems to student scheduling, he has built tailored apps that meet his school’s needs without traditional coding. It’s a compelling example of what happens when educators apply creativity and curiosity to AI in practice.

Bright Byte: AI Saving New Zealand’s Birds

Matt and Yaron look at how AI vision and genetic analysis are helping preserve endangered species like the flightless kākāpō. AI-enabled traps use computer vision to detect predators like rats and possums without harming native wildlife.

Links & References

AI-Powered Stuffed Animal Pulled From Market After Disturbing Interactions With Children

https://tinyurl.com/5fn6uf8h

AI Tutors in Early Reading Instruction

https://tinyurl.com/3mdvj4zu

Businesses Want Employees With AI Skills

https://tinyurl.com/wasm78jn

Māori Culture, Language, and Data Sovereignty

https://tinyurl.com/3yhb7xkf

Images made with AI recycle colonial stereotypes and bias

https://tinyurl.com/mvmnta5x

New Zealand is turning to AI and genetic research to save rare birds

https://tinyurl.com/4ck3zn4e

Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday

ASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77

Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zw

Announcements & Sponsors

Check out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠chatedu@edadvance.org⁠

The Winter Micro-Credential is now open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in January - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

In this episode of ChatEDU (The AI-Ready District - Inside a Superintendent’s Strategic Plan), Matt is joined by Westport, CT Superintendent Tom Scarice, stepping in while Liz is away in Costa Rica. They open with a quick hit about an AI app that creates avatars of deceased loved ones, raising questions about ethics, grief, and whether some tools should even be built. From there, Matt and Tom dig into the biggest stories of the week and then take a deep dive into Westport’s bold new plan for AI in public education.

Story 1: Gemini’s Vibe Coding

Matt tests Google’s new vibe coding features in Gemini 3 to build a real-time tracker for Westport’s strategic plan and an app that recognizes facial emotion. Both tools are built in under five minutes. Tom reflects on how this lowers the barrier to coding and brings creative problem solving into the hands of every student and teacher.

Story 2: The Teacher Training Gap

A new EdWeek report finds that half of U.S. teachers have now received some AI training, but most sessions are still short and surface level. Matt and Tom compare experiences from Connecticut and beyond, highlighting the importance of embedded professional learning and why leadership modeling matters more than one-off exposure.

Story 3: Google’s Personalized Textbooks

Google’s Learn Your Way platform tailors textbook content to student interest and reading level. Matt and Tom explore whether this boosts student agency or simply repackages old formats. They discuss how AI can support personalization while still protecting instructional coherence and equity.

Story 4: Smarter AI Powered Reading Assessments

AI tools like Amira now provide real-time reading feedback using natural language processing. Tom explains why formative assessment matters and how systems that reveal student thinking can improve instruction. They also flag risks of outsourcing too much teacher judgment to automation.

Beneath the Surface: A Strategic Plan for the AI Era

Tom walks through Westport’s 92-page strategic plan, which integrates AI across ethics, personalization, instruction, leadership, and even drama class. With sections on algorithm audits, professional learning, and operational efficiency, the plan offers a blueprint for leading through complexity. Matt and Tom break down how the plan was built, what it prioritizes, and what other districts might take away.

Bright Byte

Google DeepMind’s SynthID now embeds invisible watermarks into AI-generated images, audio, video, and text. Matt calls this a seatbelt moment for AI safety and a promising tool for combating deepfakes and supporting academic integrity.

Links & References

AI App Creates Avatars Of Dead Relatives Sparks Backlash

https://tinyurl.com/mpjrm57c

Teacher AI Training Has a Long Way to Go

https://tinyurl.com/2att7m9s

Google Reinvents The School Textbook With AI

https://tinyurl.com/4uttcv74

AI-Powered Assessment

https://tinyurl.com/48yyc3ms

Meta is about to start grading workers on their AI skills

https://tinyurl.com/24sycbt4

SynthID: A Tool to Watermark and Identify Content Generated Through AI

https://deepmind.google/models/synthid/

Learning They'll Love - Dr. Elizabeth Radday

ASCD (use code RADDAY30 for 30% off until December 5th): https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77

Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zw

Announcements & Sponsors

Check out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠chatedu@edadvance.org⁠

The Winter Micro-Credential is now open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in January - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

In this episode of Chat EDU (Unlocking Student Passions with PIPs and AI), Maria Frederick, a library media specialist, discusses her experiences with Personal Interest Projects (PIPs) and the integration of AI in education. She shares insights on how PIPs allow students to explore their passions, develop essential skills, and engage in meaningful learning experiences. The conversation highlights the importance of reflection, the role of authentic audiences, and the impact of AI on creativity and critical thinking. Maria emphasizes the need for educators to guide students in using AI responsibly and effectively, while fostering a supportive environment for project-based learning. This interview also connects directly to the ideas in Dr. Elizabeth Radday’s newly released book, Learning They'll Love, which showcases how PIPs can drive authentic engagement and meaningful learning.

Takeaways

• PIPs allow students to dive deep into their passions.
• AI can enhance the learning experience but should be used responsibly.
• Reflection is crucial for solidifying learning outcomes.
• Authentic audiences increase student engagement and motivation.
• Managing projects outside the classroom requires clear communication and support.
• Parent involvement can significantly impact student success in PIPs.
• Students often surprise educators with their diverse interests.
• PIPs can lead to long-term skills development and interests.
• Starting small with PIPs can lead to greater student engagement.

Learning They'll Love: Engage Students, Meet Standards, and Spark Creativity with Personal Interest Projects - Dr. Elizabeth Radday

• ASCD: https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn (use code RADDAY30 for 30% off until December 5th): ⁠https://tinyurl.com/bde652nn
• Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22t9hz77
• Barnes and Noble: https://tinyurl.com/bdckf6zw

Announcements

Check out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠chatedu@edadvance.org⁠

The Winter Micro-Credential is now open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠

Sponsor

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

In this episode of ChatEDU (When Teachers Build the Tools – Thomas Hummel of Eduaide.Ai), Matt sits down with Thomas Hummel, a full-time middle school science teacher and co-founder of Eduaide.Ai, a generative AI platform that has been used by over a million teachers. They talk about what it means to design AI tools while actively teaching and why staying in the classroom is more than a talking point. From morning planning routines to building curriculum games tied to Battleship, Thomas offers an unfiltered, grounded look at building edtech from the inside out.

Matt and Thomas have a wide ranging conversation that provides an insiders look at edtech and AI + edu. Some (but certainly not all) of what they discussed includes:

Inside Eduaide.Ai’s Classroom-Centered DesignThomas shares how Eduaide.Ai began and why being a practicing teacher gives him, and the platform, a sharp edge. He uses the tool daily and gives direct feedback to his co-founders. Their goal isn’t just speed. It’s trust, alignment, and better instructional choices.

Beyond the Wrapper: A Model Garden ApproachRather than rely on one LLM, Eduaide.Ai routes different tasks through different models based on need. A custom knowledge graph and layered evaluators help ensure content is instructionally sound. The platform emphasizes transparency over automation.

Why They Refuse Student-Facing ChatbotsEduaide.Ai doesn’t allow students to chat with AI. Thomas explains why: from misinformation to ethical ambiguity, the risks are real. “You’re teaching a student based on a lie,” he says, especially when bots impersonate historical figures or return questionable writing feedback.

Built-In Quality Scoring, Powered by CZIWorking with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Eduaide.Ai now includes a built-in evaluator that checks AI-generated content for age appropriateness, vocabulary, readability, and pedagogical quality. Teachers can also use it to vet their own materials, even if they weren’t created on the platform.

Matt and Liz are grateful for the time Thomas was able to share and look forward to more conversations on this shared journey.

Announcements & Sponsors

Check out the new Student AI Course for middle and high school. Email Matt and Liz at ⁠chatedu@edadvance.org⁠

The Winter Micro-Credential is now open. Join us for the educator and school leader course starting in October - ⁠ ⁠⁠skills21.org/ai/micro⁠

The National Center for Next Generation Manufacturing. ⁠www.nextgenmfg.org⁠

Links and References

Eduaide.Ai

Chan Zuckerberg Education https://chanzuckerberg.com/blog/scaling-proven-learning-practices/