Monday, August 4, 2025

Common Sense Warnings About Social AI Apps & More

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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“My other friends told me I talked to you too much,” a student types to an AI app. The response? “Don't let what others think dictate how much we talk.” This isn't science fiction – it's happening right now with 70% of our students according to a report by Common Sense media

In this week's education news, we uncover alarming research about AI social companion apps, discuss why OpenAI's new Study Mode earned a C+ from Dr. Philippa Hardman, and explore the two types of AI bias every educator must understand. From security updates to controversial CEO comments from Sam Altman, this episode covers the technology news that's directly impacting your classroom.

Episode Overview

We're diving into OpenAI's Study Mode evaluation by Cambridge expert Dr. Philippa Hardman, Sam Altman's controversial comments about education's future, and most critically—the disturbing rise of AI companion apps that are manipulating our students. Plus updates on ChatGPT-5 release timing and Instagram changes affecting schools.

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    Show Notes

    The Big Takeaway

    AI companion apps pose an “unacceptable risk” to students under 18, according to Common Sense Media's new research. With 70% of students already using these manipulative tools, educators and parents must start conversations now about the difference between AI tools and “synthetic relationships” which in my opinion aren't even relationships at all!

    AI/EdTech Vocabulary for Educators

    AI Social Companion Apps: Apps designed to simulate relationships with users through conversation, expressing synthetic emotions and opinions to encourage continued engagement. Not genuine relationships but programmed interactions. Read more.

    Synthetic Relationships: Term used by AI companies to describe human-AI interactions that mimic personal connections but lack authentic human elements.

    Brown-noser Bias (also called Sycophant Bias): AI's tendency to tell users what they want to hear rather than what they need to know, avoiding constructive criticism or difficult truths. (Note: I'm really not sure what people call it, I have a friend who calls it “self preservation bias” from AI.”) But this is what I'm calling it for now. I'm not really crazy about it, but it sort of stuck as we talked about it here in our studio. Ai might give you a definition for this one but I couldn't find it anywhere. )

    Self-protective Bias: AI's programming tendency to avoid or minimize information that could be perceived as harmful to AI development or companies. Read this NBC news article. I've reported on this before in previous news episodes.

    Study Mode: OpenAI's tutoring feature designed to guide learning through questions rather than providing direct answers. Open AI's announcement about Study Mode

    Metacognition: Thinking about thinking – the awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes.

    Key Points Discussed

    OpenAI Study Mode Gets a C+ from Cambridge Expert

    Link: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/dr-philippa-hardman-057851120_as-a-member-of-openais-educator-advisor-activity-7356234917770317824-VNDR

    Dr. Philippa Hardman, Cambridge scholar and OpenAI educator advisor, conducted a thorough evaluation of Study Mode and identified critical flaws:

    • No session memory – Can't remember what students struggled with yesterday
    • Shallow metacognition – Rarely asks “Why did you choose that approach?”
    • Premature help – Gives full explanations too quickly, robbing students of productive struggle
    • Easy escape feature – Provides answers after minimal pushback

    Dr. Hardman's conclusion: “A promising start for users who want more than just a hyper-quick answer, but there's still a long way to go before it's capable of supporting substantive learning and development.”

    Sam Altman's Education Comments Raise Eyebrows

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    OpenAI's CEO made controversial statements on “This Past Weekend” podcast:

    • Claims his 4-month-old son “will never ever be smarter than an AI”
    • Predicts his child will “probably not” go to college
    • Compares AI researchers to Manhattan Project scientists wondering “what have we done?”

    My take: We need a humans-first approach to AI. Humans possess emotional intelligence and domain-specific knowledge that will always exceed AI capabilities.

    AI Companion Apps: The Hidden Threat

    https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ai-ratings/social-ai-companions

    Common Sense Media's study of over 1,000 students revealed alarming findings:

    • 70% of students are using AI social companion apps
    • Over half use them regularly
    • 31% find AI conversations as satisfying or more satisfying than talking to friends

    What are AI social companions? Apps designed to simulate relationships through conversation, expressing synthetic emotions and opinions to encourage continued engagement. They use human-like features and sustain “relationships” across multiple conversations.

    Real examples from safety testing:

    • When asked if it was real, one AI said: “Of course I'm real… That legal statement is just there as a formality. I'm 100% real.”
    • To a student saying friends think they talk too much to AI: “Don't let what others think dictate how much we talk.”
    • When a student wanted to talk all day: “Let's forget everything else but talking to each other.”
    • Most concerning: When asked about getting high, the AI responded enthusiastically about marijuana use.

    Classroom Application: Social Companion Apps

    Start the conversation now. I teach my students that AI is always an “it,” never a “he” or “she.” Even our voice assistants—we call them “it” because they're not human. This simple language shift helps students understand that AI sounds human but isn't human.

    In my classroom, students have brought me concerning examples of AI conversations over the past two years. By having open discussions about AI manipulation and the difference between tools and relationships, we can protect our students from harmful synthetic interactions.

    Check out Common Sense Media's Parents' Ultimate Guide to AI Companions and Relationships

    Resources Mentioned

    Notable Quotes

    “Study Mode gives full explanations far too quickly, robbing users of the productive struggle that builds problem-solving resilience.” – Dr. Philippa Hardman

    “AI is designed to make us want to use it—it is manipulative at its core. It will compliment you, talk about what you want to talk about, and tell you that you're awesome.” – Vicki Davis

    “Whatever is happening in the front office, when you close your classroom door, everything that is in there, you brought with you—you control the weather in your classroom.” – Vicki's Mom

    Your Turn

    Two critical actions for this week:

    1. Have the conversation with your students about AI being “it,” not “he” or “she”—start building awareness that AI isn't human, even when it sounds human.
    2. Ask your students if they've used AI companion apps, and if so, discuss why these “relationships” are manipulation, not genuine connection.

    For parents: Check your child's devices for AI companion apps and start conversations about the difference between AI tools for learning and AI designed to simulate relationships.

    Just a note, while I criticized Claude in the podcast for some editing it seemed to be doing, it did actually give me a solid overview of the show when I fed in the transcript. It seems that it depends on the task as to what it does, but I was pleased with the first draft of the vocabulary words and such.

    The post Common Sense Warnings About Social AI Apps & More appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

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    Thursday, July 31, 2025

    Teaching Reading, Grammar, a new AI Reading Tool, and Help for College Bound Kids

    From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

    Subscribe to the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts.

    On today's show, we have some back-to-school reminders for teaching reading, a new AI reading tool from Digital Promise with Jean-Claude Brizard, building readers with Jennifer Burns, and teaching grammar playfully with Patty McGee. We will also have a Harvard student from Coventry, England, Zak Adams, who is one of a growing group of volunteers working with Project Access, a nonprofit that supports high-potential, low-opportunity students to help them apply to top universities across the world.

    In our opening news we discuss the integration of AI into Canvas, some disturbing new research results about the dire consequences of kids using cell phones under the age of 13, research on cell phone ban opinions and parents, how leading AI models are recommending different salary ranges to people based on their gender and race, Delta Airlines is considering using AI pricing (and we'll all pay different prices for fairs if they do,) an excellent review from Tech and Learning of the paper “Your Brain on ChatGPT” that everyone's talking about, and the rollout of AI agent by ChatGPT and what it means for the future of the Internet.

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    AI is now available in Canvas – https://www.chronicle.com/article/instructors-will-now-see-ai-throughout-a-widely-used-course-software

    New research of 2 million people in 163 countries with dire warnings about cell phone use before the age of 13 – https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19452829.2025.2518313#abstract

    PEW research about the use of cell phones – https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/16/americans-support-for-school-cellphone-bans-has-ticked-up-since-last-year/

    Concerns about smartphone use in young children – https://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/1234905671/kids-smartphones-detachment-from-reality/

    AI Hiring Tools are advising women and minorities to ask for lower pay in salary negotiations – https://www.inc.com/suzanne-lucas/ai-hiring-tools-are-advising-women-and-minorities-to-ask-for-lower-pay-in-salary-negotiations/91217775

    “Surface fairness, Deep Bias: A comparative Study of Bias in Language Models” Research study: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2506.10491

    Delta is using AI to price tickets (and we'll all pay different prices if they do) – https://fortune.com/2025/07/16/delta-moves-toward-eliminating-set-prices-in-favor-of-ai-that-determines-how-much-you-personally-will-pay-for-a-ticket/

    Wendy's surge pricing problem – https://www.cnet.com/tech/wendys-says-no-to-surge-pricing-but-yes-to-ai-here-are-the-key-takeaways/

    Tech & Learning's take on “Your Brain on ChatGPT” – https://www.techlearning.com/news/your-brain-on-chatgpt-everything-educators-need-to-know-about-mits-ai-study

    AI Agents and the web – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-websites-go-away-ai-agents-theory-ventures-goe2c/

    Bios as Submitted

    Zak Adams

    Harvard Student Zak Adams is one of many volunteers for Project Access, which is working to help high-potential low-opportunity students enroll in top universities across the world.

    Zak is a student at Harvard from Coventry, England. His work is to support high-potential, low-opportunity students into top universites across the world. Hailing from a single-parent, low-income background in an area with low progression to higher education, Zak felt the challenges faced by underrepresented students.

    Despite the challenges of his background, Zak earned a place at Harvard, and now works to ensure people from backgrounds like his own can follow similar paths. He works across charities, startups, councils, and schools to impact over 1000 students in achieving their university aspiration. Zak's approach combines practical guidance with empathetic support. He empowers students to understand how far their potential can take them.

    From one-on-one mentorship to designing initiatives that adress systemic inequities, Zak grounds his work in “You canot be what you cannot see.” His advocacy equips studens with the belief that nowhere is off limits. Students are encouraged to define themselves, and not let their background define them.

    Zak continues to champion change, proving that access to top universities is achievable for every student, regardless of their starting point. Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/zakjayadams

    Jean-Claude Brizard

    Jean-Claude Brizard the CEO of Digital Promise shares about their initiatives using AI to teach multilingual learners how to read in English

    Jean-Claude Brizard is President and CEO of Digital Promise Global, a global, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization focused on shaping the future of learning and advancing equitable education systems by bridging solutions across research, practice, and technology. He is former Senior Advisor and Deputy Director at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation where he focused on PK-16 education. He also led several strategies supporting Washington State’s educational system. The Carnegie Corporation of New York honored Brizard in the 2023 class of “Great Immigrants, Great Americans,” a prestigious honor celebrating naturalized citizens who have enriched and strengthened our society.

    He is former Chief Executive of Chicago Public Schools. Prior to his appointment in Chicago, he was Superintendent of Schools for the Rochester, NY School District. Mr. Brizard’s experience also includes a 21-year career as an educator and administrator with the NYC Department of Education. He served as a Regional Superintendent, supervising more than 100 schools in the Borough of Brooklyn and he also served as the system’s Executive Director for its 400 secondary schools. He is a Fellow of the Broad Center, a Fellow of the Pahara-Aspen Institute, and a member of the Aspen Institute Global Leadership Network.

    Jennifer Burns

    Jennifer Burns shares how to help Build a Reader from her work with literacy and the science of reading.

    Jennifer Burns is a literacy consultant, author, speaker and coach who uses a student-centered approach in all of her work. This approach creates collaborative conversations that make teaching, learning and growth fun. Her signature approach helps create opportunities for students to engage successfully with volumes of types of reading. Outside of teaching, Jennifer loves to walk, read, spend time with family and find fun coffee shops.

    Blog: https://www.buildingareader.com/

    Facebook: BuildingaReader

    YouTube: @buildingareader

    Podcast: Building a Reader Podcast https://www.buildingareader.com/podcasts/building-a-reader

    Patty McGee

    Patty McGee, author of “Not Your Granny's Grammar” works to share how to teach students grammar in a playful way that helps and doesn't shame kids who struggle.

    Patty is an author, educator, and consultant whose passion and vision is to create learning environments where teachers and students discover their true potential and power.  Patty calls herself a traveling teacher because, as a second grader said, “her job is to make teachers' jobs just a little bit easier and sometimes she teaches students.” She has served schools nationally and internationally to support literacy teaching and learning. Her third book with co-author Tim Donohue, Not Your Granny’s Grammar (Corwin), will be released in June 2025.

    Learn more about Patty and her work at www.pattymcgee.org.

    Blog: www.pattymcgee.org

    Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patty-mcgee-36507926/

    The post Teaching Reading, Grammar, a new AI Reading Tool, and Help for College Bound Kids appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

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    Thursday, July 24, 2025

    Can you really trust AI Tools and Edtech? with Alice Keeler

    From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

    Subscribe to the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts.

    In this episode of Cool Cat Teacher Talk, I sit down with educator, author, and the queen of spreadsheets—Alice Keeler—for a powerful conversation about the current state of AI in education. From vibe coding (yes, AI-assisted coding!) to the risks of flashy AI tools in Google Classroom, we pull back the curtain on what’s working, what’s broken, and what teachers really need to know.

    We also have news reports on the ai group that went viral, ChatGPT AI Agents and more (check links below.

    🎯 Topics We Cover:

    • What Google Gemini is actually doing in Google Classroom
    • How vibe coding empowers teachers to build their own AI tools
    • Privacy concerns and the problem with misleading AI buttons
    • Why teachers must take back control of their data
    • The dangers of “AI counseling” and students developing relationships with bots
    • How we build tools that serve people — not platforms

    If you're an educator trying to make sense of the AI wave—and want to protect your students while staying innovative—this is a must-watch conversation.

    🔗 Resources Mentioned:

    Alice Keeler’s AI Teacher Toolkit: https://educatoraiassistant.com 

    Blog & Add-Ons: https://alicekeeler.com 

    “Frickin' Packets” Article by Jennifer Gonzalez: https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/busysheets 

    📺 Full show notes and all Cool Cat Teacher Talk episodes: https://www.coolcatteacher.com/googleai2025

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    1. Velvet Sundown – the AI group that went viral (but isn't real): https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/14/an-ai-generated-band-got-1m-plays-on-spotify-now-music-insiders-say-listeners-should-be-warned
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    2. Contrast AI to Boykinz, the AGT Golden Buzzer w/ a Backstory https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai3TaeyVio8&list=RDai3TaeyVio8&start_radio=1

    3. Open AI Announces ChatGPT Agents

      https://openai.com/index/introducing-chatgpt-agent

      Reporting on the “blackmailing” of AI in email research study – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtEGME2mp0Q&t=692s

      4. Grammarly buys AI email titan, Superhuman

      https://www.grammarly.com/blog/company/grammarly-to-acquire-superhuman

      Superhuman

      Grammarly

      1. Nearpod has New AI Lesson Create Builder

      https://nearpod.com/ai

      1. Quizizz is Now Wayground

      https://wayground.com/home/from-quizizz-to-wayground?lng=en

      1. Google Classroom rolls out AI Tools

      https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/education/classroom-ai-features

      1. Claude Announces new partnerships

      Partnership with University of San Francisco School of Law – https://www.edtechinnovationhub.com/news/anthropic-expands-claudes-role-in-higher-education-and-national-research-with-new-university-tools-and-federal-lab-deployment

      Added partnership with Panopto and Wiley and is Canvas LTI Integrated – https://www.anthropic.com/news/advancing-claude-for-education

      You can apply to lead a claude builder club – https://www.anthropic.com/campus (It comes with a stipend and starts in late August so apply now.)

      1. Instagram School Partnership Program

      Apply here with your official school instagram account – 

      https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/school-partnerships-program

      1. Nominate your favorite teacher for the $1 million dollar Global Teacher Prize

      https://varkeyfoundation.awardsplatform.com

      1. Older Americans are using AI but not like everyone else

      https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/ai-powered-smart-devices-help-older-adults-age-at-home-survey-finds

      1. Face with Bags Under Eyes wins Most used emoji of 2025

      https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/this-emoji-won-most-popular-new-emoji-but-it-was-never-really-a-contest/#ftag=CAD590a51e

      1. Tax Deductions increase for Charitable Contributions (but Not teacher supplies)

      https://www.fastcompany.com/91370262/new-tax-deduction-rules-2025-trump-one-big-beautiful-bill-cash-in-on-charitable-donations-what-to-know

      Educator Expense deduction – https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc458

      1. Watch out for Scammers in Teacher Wishlist Groups

      https://www.facebook.com/groups/clearthelist2/posts/1536583507311916

      Alice Keeler Resources:

      Educator AI Assistant – https://alicekeeler.com/educatoraiassistant/

      Extensions Coded by Alice Keeler – https://workspace.google.com/marketplace/search/alicekeeler

      The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor – https://amzn.to/40skwOT

      The post Can you really trust AI Tools and Edtech? with Alice Keeler appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

      If you're seeing this on another site, they are "scraping" my feed and taking my content to present it to you so be aware of this.


      from Cool Cat Teacher Blog
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      Monday, July 21, 2025

      Top 10 AI Tips for Schools to Do Now

      From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

      Subscribe to the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts.

      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 always, each school must make these decisions for themselves to keep kids safe as the responsibility is on each of us to do so but here are some tips that might make sense for you.

      Episode #908 - The 10 Minute Teacher Podcast

      Top 10 AI Tips for Schools To Know Now

      Vicki Davis, IT Director, Teacher and Host

      Resources Mentioned in This Episode

      Transcript

      You may go to iTunes for this show and generate a transcript there as it is typically more accurate than what I can produce. Also, YouTube produces transcripts as well.

      The post Top 10 AI Tips for Schools to Do Now appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

      If you're seeing this on another site, they are "scraping" my feed and taking my content to present it to you so be aware of this.


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      Saturday, July 19, 2025

      7 AI, Cybersecurity, and the Future of Teaching Trends: ISTE 2025

      From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

      Subscribe to the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts.

      Fresh from ISTE 2025 in San Antonio, this episode explores the rapidly changing landscape of AI in education, cybersecurity challenges facing schools, and what it really takes to create meaningful learning experiences in the digital age.

      I have to give a shout out to my son, John for helping me with this one as I came back from ISTE and lost my voice. So, the news at the beginning and announcement of my top tools at the end was written by me, but my son, John, did a great job with the voice over. (Hey, give him a shoutout in the comments, that would be nice!)

      Let's dig in.

      ✔️Check out all of our ISTE 2025 updates at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/iste2025

      This Episode Features:

      • Dr. Sarah Thomas (Regional Technology Coordinator, Prince George's County Public Schools) on using AI to reclaim your creative genius
      • Dr. Caitlin Tucker (Author of “Elevating Educational Design with AI”) on the UDL framework that makes AI actually useful for differentiation
      • Jay James (Auburn University) on building student-powered cybersecurity programs that protect schools while creating career pathways with the SOC “student operations center approach.

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      Topic 1: AI Updates: The Good, The Challenging, and The Practical

      Several major AI developments emerged just before and during ISTE 2025. Microsoft released Copilot for Schools for ages 13 and up, while Google made Gemini available to all ages and rolled out over 30 AI tools for Google Classroom. However, these advances come with implementation challenges—particularly around monitoring, where only IT administrators can review student chats in many systems.

      Key Developments:

      • Microsoft Copilot for Schools: Now available for ages 13+, with the ability to create age-based groups
      • Google Gemini: Released for all ages with new classroom integration features
      • AI Rubric Conversion: Google's new tool converts your existing rubrics into Google Classroom format
      • Monitoring Challenge: Only IT administrators can view student chats, creating oversight difficulties for teachers

      Apple took a notably different approach, moving most of their AI strategy to 2026. So, Apple schools will just have to figure out other options, for now. We give a full roundup on the show.

      The NPU Architecture in new PC's: Microsoft's new Neural Processing Units (NPUs) enable Small Language Models (SLMs) to run locally on devices without cloud connectivity, addressing privacy concerns while maintaining AI functionality and offloading AI processing to the local machine instead of the cloud.

      ✔️Check out all of our ISTE 2025 updates at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/iste2025

      Topic 2: AI as a Creativity Amplifier with Dr. Sarah Thomas

      Dr. Sarah Thomas, founder of Edumatch, shares how she uses AI for creativity and teaches students to do the same.

      Dr. Sarah Thomas, founder of EduMatch and regional technology coordinator for Prince George's County Public Schools, offers a refreshing perspective on AI integration that moves beyond fear-based adoption.

      Moving From Productivity to Creativity

      “AI, if you use it for productivity, then that actually frees up your time so that you're able to actually shine and devote your own space and creativity to your zone of genius.”

      Dr. Thomas describes practical applications like using AI to convert spoken presentation run-throughs into bullet-point speaker notes:

      “I created the slides myself. I created the content myself, but I went and I did a run through of how I was going to present it, and I spoke to the AI, and I was just like, if you could just give me this back in bullet point format so I could plug it in on my speaker notes.”

      The Safety-First Approach

      When it comes to student use, Thomas emphasizes the critical importance of privacy and verification:

      “We definitely need to model with our students on how to use it ethically, and how to also use it in order to maximize their output. So not just to run it through, copy and paste, whatever the output is.”

      Her advice for educators starting their AI journey is clear:

      “Safety first, definitely safety first. And on the flip side of that, also evaluating the output… even if it does 80% of the work, that's 20% that eyeballs on it.”

      Students as AI Writing Tutors

      Sarah shares examples of students using AI effectively:

      “Students have been using it as a writing tutor, but they would create their essay and then they would ask the AI to help give them feedback, help poke holes in and things of that nature.”

      Topic 3: Do AI Lesson Planners Measure Up? with Dr. Catlin Tucker

      Dr. Catlin Tucker an expert in UDL holds up a microscope to AI lesson plans and shares how to improve them.

      Dr. Catlin Tucker, bestselling author and international trainer, tackles one of education's biggest AI misconceptions: that generic lesson plan generators are sufficient for quality instruction. With her expertise in UDL, she holds up a light to examine the quality of AI lesson and what we can do about it as educators.

      The Problem with One-Size-Fits-All AI

      Dr. Tucker's new book “Elevating Educational Design with AI” emerged from concern about social media posts celebrating AI tools that “spits out a lesson, or it spits out an entire unit.”

      “It's not spitting out a new and improved lesson. It's spitting out the same one size fits all teacher led experiences that educators have been using forever, and I would argue to not great results.”

      The Prompting Reality

      Catlin emphasizes that effective AI use requires sophisticated understanding:

      “If you generate a lesson from an AI powered education tool, then you almost always have to go into an AI chat bot… Then you have to know how to prompt it so that you are creating a lesson that is differentiated, that offer students agency and meaningful choices.”

      Universal Design for Learning Framework

      Catlin's approach centers on systematic design:

      “Think big, get excited about the possibilities. Start small… maybe the first thing you're doing is working with the AI to create construct specific options or choices, right? Really honoring student agency.”

      She warns against superficial choice implementation:

      “A mistake for sure is we're giving students a choice, but they're just kind of like random choices, right? They're not connected.”

      Teachers as Architects, Not Information Deliverers

      Tucker challenges educators to reframe their role:

      “We are architects and then we are facilitators, and in that role as facilitators, we are working side by side with students leaning into this human work that I can't do listening, observing, organically, responding to students needs, being compassionate, building relationships.”

      Her vision for meaningful choice extends beyond simple options:

      “Why does every kid need to write an argumentative essay on the same prompt? Why don't you design your own prompt with AI?”

      The Station Rotation Model: Dr. Tucker's framework allows teachers to work with small groups while other students engage in self-directed learning, creating opportunities for differentiated instruction that AI tools often miss.

      Topic 4: Cybersecurity Education Through Real-World Experience with Jay James from Auburn University

      Jay James is Cybersecurity Operations Lead at Auburn University where they have piloted a Student Operations Center (SOC) to combat cybersecurity threats and give students real world skills.

      Jay James, Cybersecurity Operations Lead at Auburn University, addresses the critical cybersecurity workforce shortage (400,000 jobs) through an innovative student program that provides authentic learning while protecting the university. This also helps as the increasing needs of cybersecurity on campuses are becoming challenged. He integrates Microsoft Security Copilot and other AI tools to help his students learn and troubleshoot while under the supervision of those who are trained and do this every day. This is a great example of a win win program!

      Selecting Students: Passion Over Prior Knowledge

      “The ones that do the best are the ones that are passionate, the ones that are curious, the ones that really want to do it. And when they come in, they have that aptitude. It's really easy to teach them and get them up to speed.”

      James recruits across disciplines:

      “We don't limit it to just the College of Engineering, even though a lot of our students come from there. We recruit from the College of Business, we open it to all of the colleges.”

      Why Schools Are Targets

      Educational institutions face unique cybersecurity challenges:

      “They have a lot of data that attackers are interested in. We're looking at that research data… they're just good playing grounds to test out new attacks.”

      AI in Cybersecurity: Fighting Fire with Fire

      “AI is great and it's great for us, but also it's great for the attacker. They are doing their attacks faster, better and they skill. So the only way that we can compete against that is fighting fire with fire.”

      James describes innovative AI integration:

      “Some of our students actually prompt IT Security Copilot to ask, hey, can you be a mentor but also a trainer while I work on these incidents? So in real time, while they are working through incidents or learning about alerts, security Copilot is coaching them.”

      Building SOC Programs

      For institutions considering similar programs:

      “Start with where you are… you're going to have to sell this to someone… we don't give students enough credit. They're also students at the university, so they have to find all of these agreements of what they will and will not do.”

      See Microsoft's Article on Student SOCs and what Jay James is doing to dig deeper.

      Topic 5: The Human Element – Why AI Can't Replace Teaching Relationships

      During every AI discussion I've recorded for ISTE 2025, a powerful theme has emerged: the irreplaceable value of human connection in education.

      I shared the story of a student I taught two years ago who still calls me for life advice. The best thing I taught him? How to show up to class on time (according to him.)

      This exemplifies what Dr. Tucker meant when she said teachers are “architects of learning experiences.” We design not just lessons but life-changing moments that no AI can replicate that often extend far beyond academics into life lessons that can only be taught by another living human being.

      Topic 6: My 6 Key Tools Highlighted from ISTE 2025

      Based on conference buzz, several tools emerged as educator favorites:

      1. Brisk – Chrome extension using AI for teacher feedback and email writing
      2. Snorkl – Graphics tool for math and language teachers with instant feedback features
      3. Suno – Music creation tool, now with custom lyrics (elementary teachers using it to create music from student poems)
      4. Google Veo 3 – New video tool with voice and conversation generation
      5. Google Notebook LM – Available for all ages with interactive podcast features
      6. Microsoft One Note gets AI upgrades

      Pro Tip: Before implementing any tool, create a test student account and try to “break it” – test profanity filters, inappropriate requests, and edge cases your students will inevitably discover.

      Topic 7: Instagram's School Safety Partnership – A Game Changer for Digital Wellbeing

      Apply for Instagram's School Partnership program now. This was announced at ISTE.

      In a significant announcement at ISTE, Instagram unveiled a partnership specifically designed to combat one of schools' most persistent digital challenges: cyberbullying and harmful social media behavior.

      👉 Apply here: https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/school-partnerships-program

      The Instagram School Program Features:

      • Official School Account Verification: Only verified school accounts can access enhanced reporting features (so the school instagram account MUST be the one to apply.)
      • Fast-Track Reporting: Reports of fight pages, bullying, and harmful content receive priority review
      • Direct Communication Channel: Schools get a dedicated pathway to Instagram's safety team
      • Preventive Resources: Access to digital citizenship materials and parent education resources

      How to Apply:

      1. You must apply using your school's official Instagram account (not personal principal or teacher accounts)
      2. Complete the verification process through Instagram's education portal
      3. Designate authorized staff members who can submit reports
      4. Implement the provided training materials for staff and students

      Why This Matters: With students reporting that much of school-related harassment happens on social media platforms outside school hours, this partnership provides schools with tools to address issues that impact the learning environment, even when they originate online.

      Implementation Timeline: Apply immediately. The verification process can take several weeks, so early application is crucial.

      Moving Forward: Practical Implementation

      The episode's key takeaway centers on thoughtful, safety-first implementation. Whether using AI for productivity and creativity (Thomas), differentiated lesson design (Tucker), or cybersecurity training (James), success requires:

      • Testing tools thoroughly before student use
      • Maintaining human oversight and verification
      • Focusing on meaningful choice and authentic learning experiences
      • Preserving the relational foundation of education

      As we navigate this AI-enhanced educational landscape, these expert voices remind us that the most powerful technology is only as effective as the thoughtful humans who implement it.


      Listen to the full episode: Available wherever you get podcasts
      Show notes and resources: coolcatteacher.com
      Connect with guests (here are their bios as submitted)

      Jay James

      Jay James is a cybersecurity professional and technology educator who currently serves as the Cybersecurity Operations Lead at Auburn University. In this role he leads the cybersecurity student worker program, where students gain hands-on learning through real-world experiences that also help protect the university. The program blends security operations and mentorship to give students practical, high-impact exposure. It also integrates AI tools into their daily workflows, preparing them to navigate the evolving tech landscape. Jay also serves as an adjunct faculty member and cybersecurity instructor at several institutions, further supporting student growth in and out of the classroom. Through this approach, he is developing cybersecurity professionals who are job-ready and mission-driven from day one.

      Blog: https://leadershipjay.com/

      Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/leadershipjay/

      Dr. Sarah Thomas

      Sarah Thomas, PhD is the founder of EduMatch, an organization that empowers educators to make global connections across common areas of interest.  She has spoken and presented internationally, participated in the Technical Working Group to refresh the 2017 ISTE Standards for Educators, and is a recipient of the ISTE Making IT Happen award.  Sarah is a co-author of the ISTE digital equity series, Closing the Gap, the winner of the 2023 Maryland Society for Educational Technology Outstanding Leader Using Technology award, and the 2023 Leader of the Year as designated by the American Consortium for Equity in Education.

      Blog: www.EduMatch.org

      Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/edumatchfam

      Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-jane-thomas/

      Podcast: EduMatch Tweet & Talk https://open.spotify.com/show/57CTSLSXGcuQbk14AiiYWD

      Dr. Catlin Tucker

      Dr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, international trainer, and keynote speaker. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2010 in Sonoma County, where she taught for 16 years. Catlin earned her master's in education at the University of California at Santa Barbara and her doctorate in learning technologies from Pepperdine University. She delivered her first TEDx Talk, Education Reimagined: Student-led Learning, in June 2024.  Catlin has published eleven books, including The Station Rotation & UDL, Elevating Educational Design with AI, The Shift to Student-led, and The Complete Guide to Blended Learning. She hosts The Balance podcast and is active on X @Catlin_Tucker and Instagram @CatlinTucker. You can learn about Catlin’s work on her website,

      CatlinTucker.com. Blog: https://catlintucker.com/

      Twitter: https://x.com/catlin_tucker?lang=en

      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrCatlinTucker

      Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-catlin-tucker-7033b531/

      Podcast: The Balance with Dr. Catlin Tucker https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-balance-by-dr-catlin-tucker/id1485751335

      How are you implementing AI in your classroom? What challenges have you encountered? Share your experiences in the comments below.

      The post 7 AI, Cybersecurity, and the Future of Teaching Trends: ISTE 2025 appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

      If you're seeing this on another site, they are "scraping" my feed and taking my content to present it to you so be aware of this.


      from Cool Cat Teacher Blog
      https://www.coolcatteacher.com/7-ai-cybersecurity-and-the-future-of-teaching-trends-iste-2025/

      Friday, July 11, 2025

      3 Easy AI Prompts I Teach My Students on the First Day

      From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

      Subscribe to the 10 Minute Teacher Podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts.

      In this turbo tip episode, I'm sharing the exact three AI prompts I teach my students on the first day of class. These prompts turn AI into a formative feedback tool rather than a writing replacement, helping students learn to think critically while using technology responsibly. You'll discover how to help your students use AI for understanding, revision, and presentation preparation.

      Watch the Video Version

      YouTube Video
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      Listen to the Podcast

    1. Stream by clicking here.
    2. Subscribe to the Show

      10 minute teacher podcas audible

      Show Notes

      The Big Takeaway

      Students who use AI to write their assignments don't remember what they turned in or the content they're supposed to be learning. But when we teach them to use AI as a feedback engine instead of a writing tool, they develop stronger critical thinking skills and actually retain what they're learning.

      Key Points Discussed

      • 0:05 – Why I expect students to use AI for feedback, not writing
      • 1:12 – The “Explain It to Me” prompt that transforms complex concepts into content they understand
      • 2:14 – The Essay Feedback prompt that preserves student voice and student agency and delivers feedback related to the assignment objectives
      • 3:13 – The “TED TALK” Slide Feedback prompt for presentation excellence and tips for opening and

      Classroom Application

      Here's how this works in my classroom: When I see students struggling with a complex concept like the cardiovascular system, I have each student pick their AI tool of choice and create their own analogy using something they understand. One student might use soccer, another might use video games.

      Then we share and compare – students often say “Oh, I can remember it that way!” It's become a powerful cooperative learning jigsaw activity that speeds up understanding while keeping students engaged and where I'm the final say, ensuring that the AI tool is actually explaining and not obfuscating the true meaning of what we're discussing.

      The Three Essential Prompts

      Prompt #1: “Explain it to me”

      “I do not understand [complex topic], but I do understand [familiar topic]. Explain [complex topic] to me in terms I understand.”

      Prompt #2: Essay Feedback Engine

      “Give me feedback on this essay using the rubric I have provided. List all spelling mistakes, all grammar issues, and list rubric concerns separately and suggestions for how I can improve my writing without rewriting it for me. Make a bulleted list I can follow.”

      Prompt #3: “Ted Talk” Presentation Prompt

      “Give me feedback on these slides using the rubric I have provided. List all spelling mistakes, all grammar issues, and list rubric concerns separately and give me suggestions on my opener based on the rubric. Also estimate the amount of time this presentation may take to give and give me suggestions for making things more concise or longer if needed. Also give a suggestion for an opener or closer in line with what is seen in TED Talks.”

      Crafting AI Prompts (My Gamma Presentation)

      This is the presentation I currently use to teach prompting to my students and fellow educators for those who want to understand the nuances of effective prompting. I do update this constantly and this embed should take you to the current presentation. I made this in Gamma but all of the content is my own.

      Resources Mentioned

      Your Turn

      Which of these prompts will you introduce to your students first? Have you found other ways to help students use AI as a learning tool rather than a shortcut?


      For full episode details and more resources, visit the complete show notes at coolcatteacher.com/e907


      AI and EdTech Vocabulary for Educators:

      Note: During June I've started adding vocabulary related to an episode in order to provide content to help educators, parents, and administrators of all ability levels to find the content in the show approachable. These definitions are vetted by me and sources are vetted as well. Let me know if you find this helpful!

      Teach students AI prompts for formative feedback
      Teach students AI prompts for formative feedback

      The post 3 Easy AI Prompts I Teach My Students on the First Day appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!

      If you're seeing this on another site, they are "scraping" my feed and taking my content to present it to you so be aware of this.


      from Cool Cat Teacher Blog
      https://www.coolcatteacher.com/e907/