Shifting Schools: Conversations for K12 Educators – Details, episodes & analysis

How do you move forward with AI in schools when staff confidence is all over the place?

Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman address one of the most persistent leadership challenges in AI literacy implementation. Within the same faculty, some educators are experimenting confidently with tools and workflows while others feel intimidated, skeptical, or frustrated by rapid change.

Jeff and Tricia frame the issue through a mindset-first lens and introduce practical leadership moves grounded in BAKE: balance, adaptability, knowledge sharing, and empathy. The conversation begins with a simple leadership truth: confidence grows through a beginner's stance, repetition, and low-stakes practice, not perfection on day one. Tricia shares a "pumpkin patch" analogy for learning something new and models how leaders can normalize experimentation and productive struggle for staff.

From there, the episode explores how leaders can reduce anxiety and build confidence by "level setting" foundational understanding of how AI works. When teachers grasp what is happening under the hood, they are more willing to engage, ask better questions, and try new workflows.

A central theme is personalization. Confidence increases when educators connect AI learning to what they already love about teaching, then use AI to enhance that strength rather than asking teachers to adopt tools for their own sake. The hosts also highlight the importance of playful, low-stakes experimentation outside of school contexts, from recipe support to pop-culture research challenges, as a way to learn tool boundaries without the pressure of classroom performance.

The episode closes with a clear leadership stance: sustained learning matters. AI capabilities are changing quickly, so professional learning cannot be treated as a one-time training. Adaptability requires ongoing documentation of experiments, time-stamped learning, and renewed emphasis on media literacy as AI becomes more persuasive and more embedded in everyday life.

If you are leading AI literacy in a school or district and trying to support both early adopters and hesitant educators, this episode offers a grounded approach to building momentum without fracturing culture.

In this episode, you will hear about leading AI literacy when teacher confidence varies widely, progress over perfection and the beginner's stance, differentiated professional learning for AI, foundational understanding of how AI works, low-stakes experimentation that increases staff buy-in, balancing voices of early adopters and skeptics, adaptability as AI tools evolve, and mindset-first change management through the BAKE Framework.

Explore the BAKE resources and multiple ways to engage, including a four-week email series, PLC slide decks, a live cohort, and school-wide implementation:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

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00:00
Welcome and Series Context
Jeff frames the third and final BAKE episode and names the core leadership question about uneven staff confidence.

01:30
Why Confidence Gaps Are Normal When Learning Something New
Using the beginner's stance and the pumpkin patch example to normalize discomfort and learning curves.

03:30
Progress Over Perfection in Teaching and Leadership
Why educators often expect mastery too quickly and how modeling learning matters.

05:30
The Leadership Challenge of Mixed AI Confidence
High flyers, hesitant staff, and the tension leaders feel managing both groups.

08:00
Level Setting: How Understanding AI Builds Confidence
Why explaining how AI works reduces fear and increases willingness to engage.

10:30
Passion-Based Entry Points for AI Learning
Connecting AI use to what educators already love doing in their work.

13:00
Playful, Low-Stakes AI Experiments
Using non-school examples to explore AI without pressure or risk.

15:30
Pop Culture as a Confidence Builder
The Taylor Swift research experiment and why interest drives learning.

18:00
Abundance of Information and Better Questions
Why confidence grows when educators move from answers to inquiry.

20:00
Empathy First: Leading With BAKE
Starting with empathy before tools, expertise, or expectations.

21:45
Knowledge Sharing Inside and Outside the Classroom
Why sharing personal AI use builds collective confidence.

23:15
Adaptability in a Fast-Changing AI Landscape
Why AI learning must be ongoing, time-stamped, and revisited.

25:15
Balance: Creating Space for All Voices
Supporting both skeptics and early adopters through reciprocal dialogue.

27:15
Key Takeaways and Next Steps
Mindset-first leadership, community, and how schools can engage further with BAKE.

AI literacy in the classroom looks like students practicing judgment, sense-making, and self-awareness while working alongside AI, not replacing thinking with tools. It emphasizes mindset before mechanics.

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht and Tricia Friedman frame AI literacy through the BAKE Mindset:

• Balance – Knowing when AI helps and when it doesn't

• Adaptability – Updating learning practices as tools change

• Knowledge Sharing – Making thinking visible and collective

• Empathy – Designing learning with student experience in mind

AI changes how research starts and what counts as learning.

Instead of:

• Finding information

• Rewriting sources

• Formatting citations

Students now practice:

• Comparing perspectives

• Identifying bias and heuristics

• Deciding what matters and why

Research becomes an exercise in judgment, not retrieval.

The episode traces this shift historically—from card catalogs to microfiche to Google—and positions AI tools as the next evolution rather than a rupture.

The conversation highlights several skills that remain human-led:

• Judgment – Evaluating ideas, not accepting outputs

• Question Formation – Using AI to clarify what to ask next

• Bias Awareness – Recognizing anchoring and confirmation effects

• Metacognition – Noticing learning gaps and strengths

AI supports these skills but does not perform them on a learner's behalf.

AI as a co-learner means:

• Students remain responsible for decisions

• AI offers scaffolding, variation, or clarification

• Learning paths stay human-directed

This mirrors patterns already familiar in education, including IEPs, 504 plans, and differentiated instruction.

AI literacy intersects with social-emotional learning by strengthening:

• Self-awareness of strengths and gaps

• Confidence in asking questions

• Comfort with uncertainty and revision

As students work with AI, they gain clearer insight into how they learn—not just what they produce.

• Classroom teachers rethinking research and assessment

• School leaders shaping AI literacy strategy

• Instructional coaches and curriculum designers

• Educators focused on mindset, SEL, and learning design

This episode is part of the BAKE Mindset series from Shifting Schools.

Ready to learn more:

https://www.shiftingschools.com/

Do you love the way this show is edited and produced?

If you are looking for an amazing producer, learn more about connecting with our very own, Sagheer M.

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What if our pets are communicating complex ideas—and technology is finally catching up? In this episode of the Shifting Schools Podcast, cognitive scientist and FluentPet founder Leo Trottier joins us to explore how breakthroughs in animal cognition, inter-species communication, and speech-button interfaces are reshaping the way humans understand pets.

Trottier unpacks the science behind communication-enhancing tools for animals, drawing from research in cognitive psychology, comparative cognition, and linguistics to explain how dogs and cats may be expressing needs, feelings, and even intentions. He also discusses how this emerging field could deepen human–animal bonds, strengthen empathy, and influence the future of animal welfare and education.

Listeners will learn:

• How cognitive science informs FluentPet's design

• What behavioral research reveals about dogs' communicative abilities

• Why emotional connection with animals supports childhood empathy development

• The ethical and rights-based implications of interspecies dialogue

• How next-generation technology could expand communication across species

Perfect for educators, future-focused parents, animal lovers, and anyone curious about the intersection of science, empathy, and emerging technology.

Thank you to our show sponsor for making episodes like these possible.

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In this podcast episode, the creators of Professor AI, an AI startup supporting students with AP exams, discuss their journey and the development of their app. The founders, who are 11th graders in high school, explain how they came up with the idea and the importance of founder-market fit. They also discuss the challenges of AI hallucinations and how they overcame them by using open-source textbooks and integrating with Wolfram Alpha. The founders highlight the support they received from Microsoft and their participation in an accelerator program. They emphasize their goal of providing access to educational resources for all students. Pradyu Kandala and Abhay Chebium discuss their AI-powered education platform,

Professor AI, which aims to provide personalized tutoring and grading support for AP students. They address concerns about cheating and emphasize that the AI is designed to help students learn rather than replace teachers. The platform explains concepts in different ways and provides reliable sources for further study. They also highlight the importance of feedback from educators to fine-tune the platform and invite teachers to sign up for the waitlist and support their endeavor.

Takeaways

Professor AI is an AI startup created by two 11th graders to support students with AP exams.
The founders identified a need for an AI system to help students with their AP coursework and exams.
The founders received support from Microsoft and are participating in an accelerator program to further develop their startup. Professor AI is an AI-powered education platform that offers personalized tutoring and grading support for AP students.

Learn more about Professor AI today:

https://www.professorai.co/

Thanks to our amazing sponsors for making the show possible

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Imagine students grappling with AI-crafted ethical dilemmas. They're not just learning about sustainability – they're learning how to question, research, and discern credible information. It's about nurturing critical thinking and responsible info consumption – the core of information literacy

🌎 Want to dig into our free guide 'Generative AI and Earth Day'?

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Our special guest this week is Zach, the host of the incredible podcast 'We The Children'

Zachary Fox-DeVol, or Zach, is a curious 12-year-old with a passion for the environment and a mind eager to learn more about our planet. In June 2020, during a summer writing project, Zach ventured into the world of podcasting and created "Rule Of The Bark" . This unique podcast, told from a dog's perspective, provides humorous interviews and helpful tips on raising dogs.

Zooming ahead to December 2021, Zach's interest took a serious turn toward climate change. This led to 'We The Children,' where, at 12 years old, he dives into climate discussions and solutions from a youthful viewpoint. The podcast illuminates how kids like him care deeply about Earth's future and their actions' pivotal role in shaping a sustainable planet.

In the summer of 2023, Zach was honored to join an Australian Radio Station as a US Ambassador, engaging in enlightening interviews on Funky Kids Radio. Additionally, he's taken up speaking engagements at schools and clubs, advocating for the environment, recycling, and composting among kids. 

When he's not busy pondering our planet or podcasting, he enjoys working on magic tricks, playing chess, mastering the Rubik's cube, and spending time with his pets—a dog named Ewok and a cat named Pax. 

Zach's "Production Team" includes his Kindergarten/Second-grade teacher and friend, Clare Marder, making his podcasting journey a collaborative and educational experience.

https://www.instagram.com/we_the_children_podcast/

x - @WeTheChildrenP1

Ready to learn more about his show?

https://www.wethechildrenpodcast.com/

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In this episode, Jeff Utecht interviews Pete Huang from The Neuron, a daily newsletter that explores AI. They discuss the origin of The Neuron and how it started as an experiment with AI-generated content. They also explore the landscape of AI and its potential impact on various industries. Pete shares his insights on the future of AI, including the use of customizable GPTs. He also explains how AI is leveraged within The Neuron, particularly in automating repetitive tasks. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the role of AI in education and its potential benefits and challenges. The conversation explores the impact of AI on education and the need to prepare students for the future. It discusses changes in the classroom experience, the reevaluation of the purpose of education, and the importance of core skills. The uncertainty of future job skills is highlighted, along with the human touch in communication and the value of voice and persona. Pete Huang shares his journey to AI and provides insights into the current state of AI chatbots.

Takeaways

The Neuron started as an experiment with AI-generated content and has evolved into a daily newsletter.

The landscape of AI is constantly changing, with advancements in video generation models and image models.

AI can be leveraged to automate repetitive tasks and improve quality control in content creation.

AI has the potential to transform education, but the importance of human expertise and domain knowledge remains crucial. 

Preparing students for the future requires reevaluating the purpose of education and finding a balance between practical skills and generalist education.

Core skills such as communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving remain important in the AI era.

Learn more about our Guest

Pete is the founder of The Neuron, a daily newsletter tracking the latest in AI read by 400,000 people every day. He's an investor, consultant and speaker on all things AI in business. Prior to this, Pete was a strategy leader at notable tech startups and a consultant at McKinsey. He has a graduate degree in computer science from Northwestern University.

https://www.theneurondaily.com/

https://twitter.com/nonmayorpete

Connect with Jeff and Tricia:

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In this conversation, Jeff Utecht interviews Tyler Rablin about his new book, 'Hacking Student Motivation.' They discuss the importance of feedback and assessment in motivating students, the impact of grades and assessment on student motivation, and the need for change in education. Tyler shares his experiences working with students in rural agricultural communities and the challenges they face in finding motivation in school. He also explains the concept of learning progressions and how they can replace rubrics to support student learning. The conversation concludes with Tyler expressing his excitement about the release of his book and the positive feedback he has received.

Takeaways

Feedback is a powerful tool for motivating students and should be broadened to include anything that helps students gauge their progress towards a goal.

Motivation is closely tied to student belief in their ability to succeed. It is crucial to provide evidence of success and create a supportive learning environment.

Learning progressions can be a more effective alternative to rubrics, as they break down learning goals into manageable steps and allow students to see their progress.

Ready to explore the book?

https://www.tylerrablin.com/book

Connect with Tyler online:

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Learn more about our special guest:

Dr. Elsa Friis, head of mental health at Alongside, a clinician-powered AI tool can discuss the dire need for mental health services in the school setting, particularly as schools continue to be understaffed and our students need more support now than ever before. By offering tools like Alongside, which utilizes generative AI developed by clinicians and backed by research, schools around the country have been able to support their student population with personalized conversations to address anxiety, depression, relationship challenges and more, providing equitable support for every child.

As a licensed psychologist and global public health practitioner, I am passionate about improving the well-being of others through cognitive, behavioral, and relational strategies; and systemic interventions to address social determinants of health (e.g. structural racism, poverty, education and access to services). I have a background in utilizing community based participatory research approaches to develop and evaluate family-based interventions for child mental health in Kenya. My program of research focuses on developing novel technology and care models to support mental health intervention delivery by non-professionals (e.g. religious leaders) as well as trained mental health professions to expand access to evidence-based care.

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Dan White, CEO of Filament Games, discusses the future of learning games and the importance of game-based learning pedagogy. He emphasizes the shift towards focusing on skills and conceptual understandings rather than didactic knowledge transfer. White believes that game-based experiences should prepare students for the real world by imparting useful practices and higher-order thinking skills. He also highlights the impact of automation and AI on the workforce and the need to revisit what is worth teaching and learning. White shares insights on building collaborative partnerships and the power of play in improving people's lives. 

Takeaways

The future of learning games lies in focusing on skills and conceptual understandings rather than didactic knowledge transfer.

Game-based experiences should prepare students for the real world by imparting useful practices and higher-order thinking skills.

The rise of automation and AI calls for a reevaluation of what is worth teaching and learning.

Ready to learn more about Dan and FIlament Games?

www.filamentgames.com

@filamentgames

IG: @filamentgames

Dan is the co-founder and CEO of Filament Games. Dan believes that good gameplay and good learning are complementary rather than oppositional forces. An alumnus of Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Dan earned an M.S. in Education Technology under seminal learning game scholars Drs. Kurt Squire and James Paul Gee. Prior to founding Filament, Dan worked as a teacher, an instructional designer, and a game developer. Dan's passions include learning games, sustainability, mindfulness, and modernizing institutional education.

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