In the context of teaching and learning, what it means to stay deeply human, intellectually honest, and pedagogically creative in a world increasingly shaped by machines.

• CourseHero
• How do we do school now that AI is here?
• Psychological safety for students. See Jethro’s article.
• Panels with students
• Guiderails, buy in, ideas.
• Student Success Council.
• Move from product to process.
• Hitting the wall. How to restrain.
• Just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t make it cool.
• The water usage is fake…
• AI Literacy as it’s own literacy.
• 4 phase AI scaffolding process
• It’s like you’re teaching them to drive a new car.
• An AI Porsche experience

About Michael Angelone

As an English professor at American River College, Michael Angelone views composition and literary studies through a philosophy rooted in critical thinking, process-driven writing, and student-centered learning. His teaching approach reflects his commitment to preparing students to engage meaningfully with complex texts and contemporary cultural issues, balancing traditional literary rigor with forward-thinking andragogy.

Outside the classroom, he serves as advisor to the American River Review 2.0, mentoring students as they curate, edit, and publish a nationally recognized literary and multimedia journal. Additionally, his role on the editorial board of Ad Lumen Press allows him to champion diverse, emerging literary voices, guiding manuscripts from selection to publication while collaborating closely with authors to tell their stories.

As an Advisory Committee member of the Borchard Foundation Center on Literary Arts, he contributes strategic insights to programs that foster cross-cultural literary exchange, artist residencies, and literary fellowships, further enriching the literary community across the Americas.

His leadership as Vice President of the Los Rios College Federation of Teachers (LRCFT 2279) centers on faculty advocacy, fair labor practices, and educational equity. He actively works to ensure fair compensation, address full time/adjunct faculty disparities, and promote inclusive faculty development and mentorship, reflecting his belief that the quality of education directly correlates with faculty support and equity.

A proud delegate to CA Boys State (1997), his early experience in civic leadership and governance shaped his lifelong dedication to advocacy, leadership, and educational excellence. In each role—as professor, advisor, union leader, and literary advocate—he remains committed to advancing innovation, equity, and engagement in higher education and literary arts.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by Renaissance and IXL.

Learn more about Renaissance:

As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.

This week, we're sharing a special episode from The Learning Experience powered by CAST, part of the Be Podcast Network.

You'll hear from Matt Winters, a leader from the Utah State Board of Education, discussing how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of teaching and learning. The conversation explores Utah’s statewide approach to AI, what it means for educators and students, and how schools can balance innovation with responsibility. The episode offers practical insights and big-picture thinking for anyone curious about the role of AI in education. This episode is brought to you by ReadSpeaker. Learn more about how ReadSpeaker aligns with UDL.

Transcript

Resources:

• USBE Artificial Intelligence
• ReadSpeaker and UDL

Listen and subscribe to The Learning Experience powered by CAST: https://www.cast.org/connect/learning-experience-podcast

In this episode of Artificial Intelligence Real Talk, host Jethro Jones sits down with IT and cybersecurity expert Sam Bourgeois to explore how AI is transforming education—and the important questions schools must ask before diving in.

Key Topics:

• AI as an equalizer for students with disabilities – Both Jethro and Sam share personal stories of how AI tools have helped their neurodivergent children communicate and learn in ways previously impossible, introducing the concept of "cognitive equity."
• Rethinking learning objectives – The conversation challenges educators to ask: What are we really measuring? If AI helps a student achieve the true learning goal, does it matter how they got there?
• Personalized instruction at scale – From customizing math problems to match student interests to creating AI tutors based on a teacher's expertise, the hosts discuss AI's potential to individualize learning without burning out teachers.
• Data privacy and risk management – Sam brings his cybersecurity lens to the discussion, raising concerns about student data collection, profiling, the right to be forgotten, and what happens when ed-tech companies get breached or acquired.
• The irreplaceable human element – Despite AI's capabilities, both agree that authentic human connection in teaching cannot be replaced—and that's where educators should focus their energy.

Takeaway: Schools should embrace AI's potential to enhance learning while remaining vigilant about data privacy, asking the right questions, and keeping the focus on what truly benefits students.

We’re thrilled to be sponsored by IXL.

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.