EdTech Bites Podcast

This episode is sponsored by TWT Audio. Are your students dealing with broken headsets, poor audio quality, or unreliable microphones at moments that matter most? TWT Audio was built for educators, by educators, designing headsets specifically for real classroom environments, durable enough to last, and comfortable for all-day use. With over 5 million headsets and headphones sold, schools trust TWT because they just work, delivering consistent performance while simplifying technology.Instead of replacing cheap headsets year after year, invest in a solution that schools nationwide trust every day.TWT Audio — hear the difference.AI isn’t going away but the way schools are handling it might be doing more harm than good. In this episode, I chat with Annie Kim Sytsma from Michigan Virtual to unpack what’s really happening inside schools right now. From districts banning AI to others fully embracing it, the reality is messy and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.We dive into:Why banning AI is no longer realisticHow teachers are redesigning assignments to outsmart shortcutsWhat students are actually doing with AI (hint: it’s changing)How to build transparency instead of fear in your classroomIf you’ve been unsure how to approach AI with your students or feel like you're already behind, this episode gives you practical, honest strategies you can start using immediately. Buen provecho!Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout AnnieAnnie Kim Sytsma serves schools across the state of Michigan as an AI Strategist with Michigan Virtual. With over 13 years of experience in education and dual Master’s degrees in Educational Technology and Instructional Design, she brings a balanced, ethical, and thoughtful approach to integrating AI in teaching and learning. Her background as an English and Psychology teacher, District Technology Specialist, District Intervention Coordinator, and school administrator gives her deep instructional and systemic insight into how intentionally designed technology can transform education. Annie focuses on creating learning experiences that harness AI to deepen thinking, strengthen metacognition, and expand student agency while supporting responsible engagement with emerging technologies.Connect With Annie Kim SytsmaAnnie On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annie-kim-sytsma-64a3306/

This episode is sponsored by TWT Audio. Are your students dealing with broken headsets, poor audio quality, or unreliable microphones at moments that matter most? TWT Audio was built for educators, by educators, designing headsets specifically for real classroom environments, durable enough to last, and comfortable for all-day use. With over 5 million headsets and headphones sold, schools trust TWT because they just work, delivering consistent performance while simplifying technology.Instead of replacing cheap headsets year after year, invest in a solution that schools nationwide trust every day.TWT Audio — hear the difference.AI literacy is more than prompts and chatbots. In this episode, we unpack what educators and school leaders are getting wrong about AI in education. Learn how to improve AI usage, align technology decisions with campus goals, and avoid costly edtech mistakes. If your district is overwhelmed with tools and unclear direction, this conversation will help you simplify, focus, and lead with purpose.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Ken SheltonKen Shelton is a multi award winning educator, author, speaker, and consultant. He has worked in education for well over 20 years. His work includes teaching middle school technology, keynote speaking, leading professional development, and providing consulting support to many education systems around the world. He is the co-author of the best selling book “The Promises and Perils of AI in Education: Ethics and Equity have Entered the Chat.” He can found online at kennethshelton.net and on many of the social media platforms.Connect With Ken SheltonKen Shelton’s Website: https://kennethshelton.net/Ken Shelton On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenashelton/Ken Shelton On X: https://x.com/k_sheltonKen Shelton On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kshelton

This episode is sponsored by TWT Audio. Are your students dealing with broken headsets, poor audio quality, or unreliable microphones at moments that matter most? TWT Audio was built for educators, by educators, designing headsets specifically for real classroom environments, durable enough to last, and comfortable for all-day use. With over 5 million headsets and headphones sold, schools trust TWT because they just work, delivering consistent performance while simplifying technology.Instead of replacing cheap headsets year after year, invest in a solution that schools nationwide trust every day.TWT Audio — hear the difference.What happens when one educator builds over 100 custom AI tools and realizes the real problem isn’t access, it’s adoption? In this episode, I chat with Eric Curts to discuss his world of Gemini Gems and how educators can stop reinventing the wheel every day. This conversation explores how AI can actually save time if we rethink how we use it.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Eric CurtsEric has been in education for 34 years, and currently serves as a Technology Integration Specialist for SPARCC in North Canton, Ohio. Eric's areas of expertise include artificial intelligence, Google tools, assistive tech, and creative ways to use technology in teaching and learning. Eric runs the websites ControlAltAchieve.com and EduGems.ai where all of his edtech resources can be found.Connect With Eric CurtsEric’s Website: https://www.controlaltachieve.com/Eric’s EduGems Website: http://edugems.ai/Eric On X: https://twitter.com/ericcurtsEric On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericcurts/Eric On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ericcurts.bsky.social

This episode is sponsored by Teq. One of the biggest challenges in schools right now is capacity. Educators are asked to do more, often with new tools, and very little support. Teq helps by combining classroom technology like SMART Boards and STEM resources with professional learning that respects educators’ time and reality. It’s support that makes technology usable, not overwhelming.Learn more at Teq.com.In this episode, Jen Casa-Todd and I dive into a topic every educator experiences—but rarely talks about openly: embarrassing classroom moments. We get a bit vulnerable and discuss some of our most cringe-worthy classroom moments and what we did to turn that embarrassment into empowerment. We’ve all had (or will have) them so let’s talk about them and use them to our advantage. This is one episode you won’t want to miss. Buen provecho!Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout JenJennifer Casa-Todd is a wife, mom, educator, former Literacy Consultant, and the author of several books focusing on Digital Leadership. Jennifer was the recipient of the YSCPC Teaching Excellence Award (2023), and recipient of the ISTE Digital Citizenship Network Award (2020). She is a Google Educator Group leader, a Google Certified Innovator, and a board member for the Canadian Library Association. Jennifer has a Masters in Education with a specialization in Curriculum and Technology. Jennifer can currently be found supporting pre-service teachers at Lakehead University (Ontario). She has been a presenter, featured speaker, and keynote speaker at conferences across Canada and around the world.Connect With JenJen’s Website: https://jcasatodd.com/Jen On X: https://x.com/JCasaToddJen On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcasatodd/Jen On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/jcasatodd.bsky.socialJen On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifercasa-todd/

This episode is sponsored by TWT Audio. TWT Audio was built for educators, by educators, designing headsets specifically for real classroom environments, durable enough to last, and comfortable for all-day use. With over 5 million headsets and headphones sold, schools trust TWT because they just work, delivering consistent performance while simplifying technology.Instead of replacing cheap headsets year after year, invest in a solution that schools nationwide trust every day.TWT Audio — hear the difference.If you’ve ever dealt with broken headphones during testing season, you already know the chaos. In this episode, I sit down with a Alan Sherbourne, VP of marketing at TWT Audio to break down the real cost of low-quality classroom audio. We explore why schools keep replacing headsets year after year, how poor audio impacts student performance, and how durability, clarity, and thoughtful design can completely change the game. If you’re preparing for testing season or planning next year’s tech purchases, this episode is a must-listen.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Alan SherbourneAlan Sherbourne is a former Administrator of Technology and Innovation in one of the largest school districts in the nation, where he helped drive impactful, forward thinking initiatives at scale. Above all, he is committed to student success and putting people first in everything he does.Connect With Alan Sherbourne and TWT AudioAlan On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-sherbourneTWT Audio Website: https://www.twtaudio.comTWT Audio On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/twtaudio/TWT Audio On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twtaudioTWT Audio On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twtaudio/TWT Audio On X: https://x.com/TWTAudio/TWT Audio On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TWTAudio