What actually makes students lean in? In this episode of the Integrate This! EdTech Podcast, we sit down with Dave Burgess—New York Times bestselling author of Teach Like a Pirate—to unpack the mindset (and practical moves) behind outrageously engaging teaching.

Dave shares his origin story, why “questions are the key to creativity,” and how engagement isn’t about gimmicks—it’s about how we present learning in ways that feel relevant and irresistible to kids. You’ll also hear about the “false dichotomy” of fun vs. learning (and why they go better together), plus ways teachers can brainstorm stronger hooks—yes, including how AI can help generate ideas while the teacher leads the learning journey.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How Dave built his approach by collecting 170+ lesson-design questions
• Why many teachers don’t struggle with content… they struggle with presentation
• What “hooks” really are—and how to use them to pull students into rigorous learning
• How to build rapport that strengthens engagement over time
• Why “fun + learning” isn’t a tradeoff—it’s a multiplier

🎧 Perfect for teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders who want students buzzing about learning—for the right reasons.

Step inside the world of Day of AI with co-founder and CEO Jeff Riley. In this episode, Jeff shares how Day of AI empowers students to think critically, understand emerging technologies, and build the skills they’ll need in an AI-driven future.

We dig into:

• Why AI literacy isn’t optional for today’s learners
• How Day of AI creates free, accessible curriculum for all schools
• The importance of equity in AI education
• What teachers need to feel confident using AI in the classroom
• How students can move from simply using AI to understanding and shaping it

Whether you’re a teacher, tech leader, or just curious about where education is headed, this conversation delivers practical insights and big-picture ideas you can bring back to your own school or district.

Listen in and get inspired to help your students thrive in the age of AI.

Links:

https://dayofai.org/

https://dayofai.org/contact-us

In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Otero, a trusted instructional leader who works at the intersection of AI in education, digital citizenship, and district-level policy. Amanda shares how she helps schools build practical, human-centered guidelines for AI, and why supporting students starts with meeting them along a spectrum of skills, needs, and confidence.

We dive into how thought partnership strengthens good teaching, the role of policy in shaping safe and ethical AI use, and the importance of grounding technology decisions in principles rather than fear. And yes… we even talk about the classic line, “I don’t talk to robots,” and how educators can move beyond that mindset.

Whether you're a classroom teacher, tech coach, or leader shaping school-wide AI practices, this conversation delivers clarity, encouragement, and plenty of real-world examples from Amanda’s work.

Links:

Amanda on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-otero-14768720b/

Amanda's Dueling AI's Presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1an0d4W8ouDrNTMwLxJPlSofOXWjmra3z7h7OrWnIwi4/present?slide=id.g10a2ff05e56_1_238

Amanda's Dueling AI's Resource Hub: https://sites.google.com/apps.district196.org/dueling-ais/start?authuser=0