AI isn’t just reshaping education—it’s calling the whole system into question.

Are we using it to spark innovation and amplify student voices, or just speeding up the same tired assignments we've been recycling for decades?

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma sit down with Alana Winnick—EdTech Director, podcast host, author of The Generative Age, and low-key superhero—to talk about what real transformation in education looks like when AI is in the hands of students, not just staff.

Alana’s doing the kind of work that makes you stop and say, “Wait... third graders are doing what now?” From kids building custom chatbots to students running PD for teachers, this episode is a wake-up call for anyone still clinging to the old playbook.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

📚 Why “If it’s AI-able, it’s not a good assignment” should be every teacher’s new mantra

📚 How eight-year-olds are giving TED-style talks using AI as their co-pilot

📚 The jaw-dropping AI moment that stopped Alana in her tracks—and what it says about bias in machine learning

📚 What it really looks like to put students in the driver’s seat of innovation

📚 How ignoring AI access in schools is creating a brand new digital divide—and why it matters more than you think

📚 Alana’s game-changing advice for schools: stop making AI a separate initiative

Rebecca’s AI Tip of the Week:

Turn your student-facing chatbot into your teaching assistant.

Whether it’s writing prompts, research questions, or guiding feedback—it’s time to think beyond teacher tools and start building AI experiences for students.

Alana doesn’t hold back—and honestly, neither do we.

🎧 Tune in and get inspired. This one hits all the right nerves.

AI promises to revolutionize education—but are we ready to face the tough ethical questions it raises?

In this unmissable episode of AmpED to 11, Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma sit down with international keynote speaker and education visionary Ken Shelton for a real, raw conversation about equity, ethics, and AI in education.

Ken pulls back the curtain on hidden biases in AI systems, explains why culturally responsive teaching isn't optional, and shows how AI can amplify student empowerment—if we use it wisely.

Buckle up as Ken reveals uncomfortable truths and transformative strategies to ensure AI serves everyone, not just a privileged few.

AI is evolving at breakneck speed. Every week, a new breakthrough drops that makes us rethink everything—how we work, how we learn, and how we interact with the world. But here’s the real question: Are we racing toward a future where AI makes life easier, or are we sleepwalking into a world where human connection becomes a luxury?

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma sit down with Claire Zau, AI Lead and Partner at GSV Ventures, to pull back the curtain on where AI is really taking us. From AI agents that can use your computer for you (yeah, that’s happening) to the education system’s desperate struggle to keep up, this conversation is packed with insights, tough questions, and a few “oh, sh*t” moments about the future of AI and learning.

Claire isn’t just an AI expert—she’s at the epicenter of where AI and education collide. She’s got a front-row seat to the biggest trends, the hidden dangers, and the uncomfortable truths about what happens when AI gets smarter than we are at, well… everything.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🤖 AI agents are here—can they really replace human work? Spoiler: They’re already booking flights, sending emails, and making decisions for us.

🤖 The AI divide is real. Will only the privileged get human tutors, real teachers, and live customer service, while the rest of us are stuck with chatbots?

🤖 AI-powered tutoring is missing something HUGE. Why most AI education tools aren’t even close to replicating what great teachers do.

🤖 AI literacy isn’t just about knowing how to use ChatGPT. It’s about understanding who’s programming our kids—and what that means for the next generation.

🤖 Are we losing the ability to be bored? Claire breaks down why constant AI-driven stimulation might be rewiring our brains—and not in a good way.

🤖 What’s next for AI in education? The crazy tech shifts Claire is watching—and why they might change everything.

Rebecca’s AI Tip of the Week:

Want to make ChatGPT actually useful? Stop starting from scratch every time. Learn how to customize its memory so it remembers your preferences, adapts to your style, and stops recommending things you don’t care about. Because AI should work for you, not the other way around.

This is not just another “AI is cool” conversation. This is where the future of AI and education is heading—whether we’re ready for it or not.

🎧 Buckle up and tune in—this one’s a wild ride!

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma sit down with Alex Kotran, CEO & Co-founder of the AI Education Project (AIEDU), to tackle a pressing issue: the AI literacy gap in schools and what it means for the next generation.

Most students graduate without a basic understanding of how AI works—even as it influences job markets, decision-making, and daily life. Meanwhile, many teachers feel unprepared to integrate AI into the classroom, and underserved communities risk being left even further behind.

Alex shares how his journey—starting in political organizing and later transitioning into AI policy and governance—led him to an alarming realization: schools weren’t teaching students about AI at all. His solution? AIEDU, an initiative focused on making AI literacy accessible to all students—not just the privileged few.

Key Takeaways:

🚨 Why AI literacy isn’t just about coding—it’s about critical thinking, ethics, and understanding AI’s role in society.

🚨 The dangers of leaving AI education out of the curriculum—especially for underserved communities.

🚨 How schools can start integrating AI without massive budgets or advanced tech resources.

🚨 The real-world skills students actually need to succeed in an AI-driven world.

Rebecca’s AI Tip of the Week:

Looking to streamline your event planning? Apple Invites is a new AI-powered tool that helps iPhone users create and manage custom event invitations, track RSVPs, and even build collaborative music playlists. Plus, attendees can share photos and videos in a shared album—making event coordination smoother than ever.

This conversation is a wake-up call for educators, policymakers, and business leaders—if AI is shaping the future, we need to ensure every student has the tools to navigate it.

🎧 Tune in for an eye-opening discussion on the future of AI education—and what we need to do before it’s too late.

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma sit down with Dr. Michael Connor, CEO & Founder of Agile Evolutionary Group, to explore how AI is transforming education, leadership, and strategic change.

Dr. Connor isn’t just following AI trends—he’s engineering the future. His Agile Diagnostic and AI Platform is redefining how school leaders approach data-driven decision-making, inclusion, and student empowerment. He breaks down the 22nd Century Education Model, explains how AI can close achievement gaps, and shares what superintendents and education leaders need to do now to stay ahead.

Michael also takes us inside his biggest AI 'aha' moments, from recommender systems to how AI helped an entire district redefine literacy benchmarks. Plus, he shares his AI wish list—what’s missing, what’s next, and how we can push AI further in education.

Rebecca’s AI Tip of the Week

AI isn’t just about hype—it’s about how you use it. This week, Rebecca shares why AI needs to be treated like a strategic partner rather than a gimmick. She breaks down:

✅ How to use AI as a project manager to streamline workflows

✅ Why clarity in AI prompts matters—and how to get better results

✅ How AI research tools like Google Deep Research can revolutionize the way we work

🎧 Tune in for a bold, no-nonsense conversation on how AI can truly revolutionize learning—if we use it the right way.

Pushing AI to the Limits: Innovation, Education, and the Future with Special Guest Michael Yates

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma are joined by Michael Yates, a leader at Teach for America’s Reinvention Lab, who is redefining what AI can do in education. Mike isn’t just talking about AI—he’s pushing it to its limits, experimenting beyond traditional classrooms, and challenging the way we think about its role in learning.

Mike shares how AI is being used in unexpected ways, from university sports teams to creative industries, and why the real power of AI isn’t in maintaining the status quo but in breaking it. He discusses the AI tools he swears by, including PlayLab AI, School AI, and Canva’s AI Suite, and why Microsoft Copilot went from a tool he dismissed to an essential part of his workflow. He also reflects on his "Apollo 11 moment", when AI helped a struggling student jump three reading levels in a single year, completely changing his view on its potential. Throughout the episode, Mike calls out what’s wrong with today’s AI conversations and shares his vision for how education can move forward by focusing on real solutions rather than hype.

Rebecca’s AI Tip of the Week

AI can be a game-changer, but only if you use it the right way. Rebecca shares why you should stop treating AI like a gimmick and start using it like a project manager. By giving AI clear direction, letting it help prioritize tasks, and integrating it into daily workflows, you can turn it into a powerful assistant that actually improves productivity and effectiveness.

Tune in for an eye-opening discussion on where AI is headed and how we can ensure it drives real change in education.

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma are joined by Dan Fitzpatrick, also known as The AI Educator. Dan is a bestselling author, Forbes contributor, and a leading expert on AI in education. He takes us through his latest book, Infinite Education, which provides a strategic roadmap for schools looking to embrace AI effectively and future-proof their teaching strategies. Dan shares how educators can leverage AI to empower students, enhance classroom experiences, and prepare for a rapidly changing landscape.

In true AmpED to 11 style, we put Dan through our signature 11 questions—exploring everything from his journey into AI to the practical ways teachers can integrate these tools into their daily workflows. Dan offers invaluable insights into how AI can act as a partner in the learning process, providing support without replacing the human touch.

Dan’s approach is both strategic and practical, offering a clear vision of how AI can transform education for the better.

AI News of the Week

Brett and Rebecca dive into the latest developments in AI, including Google's Deep Research tool and its potential to revolutionize how educators and students approach research. They also explore OpenAI’s new "Tasks" feature, which brings automated reminders and planning assistance into everyday workflows.

Top AI Tool of the Week

This week's AI tool is ChatGPT Tasks, a new feature that allows users to schedule automated reminders and recurring actions directly within ChatGPT. Whether it’s setting daily task lists, organizing lesson plans, or sending gentle reminders, ChatGPT Tasks is an exciting step towards AI-powered personal assistants in education.

Tune in for valuable insights on the evolving role of AI in education and actionable strategies you can start using today to stay ahead of the curve.

AI in the Classroom: Project Cafe and the Future of Teacher Feedback with Special Guest David Adams

In this episode of AmpED to 11, hosts Brett Roer and Rebecca Bultsma are joined by David Adams, CEO of the Urban Assembly. David takes us through his innovative work with Project Cafe, an AI-powered platform transforming the way teachers receive feedback. This tool provides real-time insights into classroom dynamics, helping educators refine their teaching strategies, improve student engagement, and create a more impactful learning environment.

In true AmpED to 11 style, we put David through our signature 11 questions—exploring everything from his experience in education innovation to his thoughts on the future of AI in the classroom. David shares how AI is not just a tool, but a catalyst for more meaningful teacher-student interactions, and how Project Cafe is empowering educators to make data-driven decisions without losing the human touch.

David's perspective is both practical and visionary, offering actionable insights into how AI will continue to shape the future of education.

AI News of the Week

Brett and Rebecca dive into some intriguing AI news this week! First up, OpenAI's latest developments, including their ChatGPT Pro plan and the Sora text-to-video model, both of which are causing a stir in the AI world. They also talk about how AI is becoming more interactive, like the ChatGPT voice feature, and how it’s being used to bring some fun and practical applications into our everyday lives, such as voice-driven experiences for kids.

Top AI Tool of the Week

This week's AI tool is Google NotebookLM – a fantastic tool for educators and researchers. It allows users to integrate multiple sources into a notebook and interact with them through AI-generated conversations. It’s a powerful way to quickly synthesize information and make sense of complex documents.

Tune in for valuable insights on the future of AI in education, along with tips and tools you can use right now to stay ahead of the curve.