Like every year, I exuberantly celebrate America’s birthday. I’d say times are tough here in the US, but that seems to be true everywhere in the world. So, I won’t complain. I will enjoy the love of America as all of my international friends love their homeland.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke4gRMowvQg]

 

This one–Chris Stapleton–10 Million views since Super Bowl 2023:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcs6HLKz_aQ]

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4OsP4BsATw]

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4kJ9sMDhaY]

 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ds3MvMUdNk]

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Every month, subscribers to our newsletter get a free/discounted resource to help their tech teaching.

July 2-5th

Buy the K-8 curriculum; get the 59-page Hour of Code bundle for $.99

Perfect if you’re doing Hour of Code to teach coding, programming, and problem solving to your K8 students. Here’s what you do:

• buy the K-12 Tech Curriculum, the K-8 curriculum, the K-8 student workbooks, or the K-5 Curriculum (on the curriculum page)
• once it’s in your basket, add the Hour of Code bundle. It’ll show up in your basket for $.99 instead of $.9.99

What’s in the Hour of Code bundle?

30 K-8 coding activities, organized by grade

138 images

aligned with ISTE and Common Core

lots of options to differentiate for student needs

Questions? Ask Jacqui Murray at askatechteacher at gmail dot com.

You’ve been teaching for five years and love what you’re doing. You consider yourself darn lucky to be working with colleagues that are friends and a boss who always puts your needs first. Most of the teachers at your school have been there years — even decades — and you have no doubt that, too, will be you. So, you don’t bother to keep your resume up-to-date or expand your teaching skills other than what is required for your position. In short, you found the square hole that fits your square peg.

Until the day that changes. There are dozens of reasons, from new bosses who want to shake things up to your husband gets a job in a different state. The only good news: Your boss told you already, giving you time to job hunt for the new school year. For many schools, if they’re going to make staffing changes, early Spring is when they start looking for the new people. For you as a job hunting educator, this becomes the best time of year to find a job.

Digital portfolio sites

Rather than a two-page printed document that can be lost and serves only one user, a digital portfolio posts your resume online, in an easy-to-understand format. This makes it more available, transparent, robust, and quickly updated. This tells future bosses you can use technology as a tool and can give you an edge in a competitive job market. It organizes your qualifications, evidence, and background in one easy-to-reach online location. Interested parties can check it without bothering you and decide if the fit is good. You do nothing — which can save the disappoint of sending out a resume and getting nothing but silence back.

Here are suggestions for digital portfolio sites:

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A lot of teacher-authors read my WordDreams blog. In this monthly column, I share the most popular post from the past month. I last published on this topic on my ed blog in 2017. A lot has changed since then so it’s time for an update:

When I teach professional development classes, by far the topic that surprises attendees the most is the legal use of online images. And they’re not alone. On my blog, in teacher-author forums, and in the virtual meetings I moderate, there is much confusion about what can be grabbed for free from online sites and what must be cited with a linkback, credit, author’s name, public domain reference, or specific permission from the creator. When I receive guest posts that include pictures, many contributors tell me the photo can be used because they include the linkback.

That’s not always true. In fact, the answer to the question…

“What online images can I use?”

typically starts with…

It depends…

To try to understand this topic in a five-minute blog post or thirty-minute webinar is a prescription for failure. It is too big. Instead, I’ll summarize the top topics and if your interest is piqued, dig deeper.

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Summer is a great time to reset your personal pedagogy to an education-friendly mindset and catch up on what’s been changing in the ed world while you were teaching eight ten hours a day. My X friends gave me great suggestions, but first:

A comment on the selections: I did get more than I could list so I avoided books with hot-button subjects teachers are divided on and focused on positive and uplifting reading. Yes, there is a lot wrong with education around the world but I wanted a selection of books that would send me — and you —  back to teaching in the fall with a can-do attitude for how to accomplish miracles with your next class of students.

Having said that, here’s a granular list of teacher-approved books to keep you busy this summer:

What Great Teachers Do Differently

by Todd Whitaker

What are the beliefs and behaviors that set great teachers apart? In this internationally renowned bestseller, Todd Whitaker reveals 19 keys to becoming more effective in the classroom.

This essential third edition features new sections on why it’s about more than relationships, how to focus on a consistent, engaging learning environment, and the importance of choosing the right mode―business, parent, child―to improve your classroom management.

Perfect for educators at any level of experience, for independent reading or for schoolwide book studies, this practical book will leave you feeling inspired and ready to do the things that matter most for the people who matter most―your students.

Take Control of the Noisy Class: Chaos to Calm in 15 Seconds

by Rob Plevin

You’ll discover:

• The simple six-step plan to minimise & deal with classroom behaviour problems
• How to gain trust & respect from tough, hard-to-reach students
• How to put an end to power struggles & confrontation
• How to have students follow your instructions… with no need to repeat yourself
• The crucial importance of consistency (and how to achieve it)
• Quick and easy ways to raise engagement and enjoyment in your lessons
• The ‘Clean Slate’ – a step by step method you can use to ‘start over’ with that particularly difficult group of students who won’t do anything you say.

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Legal Risks and Obligations for Schools Using AI Tutors

AI tutors are quickly changing how students learn, offering personalized support across different subjects and formats. But as these tools become more common in schools, serious questions about their legal impact arise. 

Who is responsible if an AI gives bad advice or shares sensitive student data? What happens when these systems enter specialized areas like medical training or behavioral support? 

Many educators and administrators feel unprepared to manage these legal and ethical challenges effectively. Schools must now balance innovation with compliance, oversight, and long-term accountability. 

This article will explore the legal risks and obligations schools face when integrating AI tutors into education.

Data Privacy and Student Protection

AI tutors collect personal data, often without students realizing its full extent. Schools must protect this information according to local and international data privacy laws. Regulations like FERPA and GDPR define how data must be handled. 

NC State University notes that FERPA applies to all U.S. schools that receive federal funding, covering student education records. It protects how schools collect, use, and share personal information about students and their families. On the other hand, GDPR applies to institutions within the European Economic Area (EEA) and any outside group handling EEA citizens’ data. 

Failure to comply with these laws can lead to serious legal consequences. Schools should only work with vendors who meet strict security standards. Students and parents deserve transparency about how data is used and stored. 

Encryption, limited access, and regular audits help maintain data security across platforms. Schools must ensure consent is properly obtained before collecting sensitive student information. These steps help prevent breaches and maintain trust in digital learning environments.

How does AI affect student data security during remote learning?

AI tools used for remote learning pose additional risks in terms of data privacy. Online learning environments often involve more data exchanges between students and servers. Schools must ensure AI platforms follow secure authentication processes and comply with online learning data protection guidelines.

Liability for AI-Driven Advice and Errors

AI tutors can make mistakes that negatively affect student learning outcomes. Incorrect answers or misleading feedback may create confusion or lower academic performance. If students rely on flawed guidance, schools may face legal accountability. 

A University of Pennsylvania study from 2024 found that students using AI for math prep scored lower. Those who used generative AI performed worse on exams than students who didn’t rely on it. The data suggests AI may interrupt real learning when used as a primary tool. Overdependence on AI guidance could damage understanding and weaken long-term academic outcomes.

This shows that it is important to position AI as a tool, not a teacher. Educators should monitor AI use and correct any issues promptly. Contracts with providers must clarify who is responsible for harmful outcomes. 

Clear disclaimers should explain AI’s limits and potential for occasional errors. Teachers should train students to verify AI information with real sources. These actions reduce risks and reinforce the role of human oversight.

How can AI tutors affect long-term academic performance?

Over-reliance on AI could lead to gaps in fundamental skills, as students may not critically engage with the material. Schools should monitor student performance regularly to identify learning disruptions. Combining AI with traditional educational methods ensures a well-rounded approach to student development.

AI’s Role in Complex Educational Fields

AI tutors play an important role in helping students navigate complex topics. These tools break down difficult material into interactive, engaging formats that enhance learning. For example, in subjects like pharmacology, students rely on accurate, up-to-date information. Addiction medicine, in particular, benefits from realistic case simulations that reflect real-world treatment challenges. 

As opioid addiction remains a global health concern, medications like Suboxone are commonly discussed in training programs. Suboxone is widely used to manage opioid dependence, but it has been linked to serious side effects. 

According to TorHoerman Law, some users have reported severe dental issues, including permanent tooth decay. These complications have become the focus of lawsuits, with claims that manufacturers failed to provide adequate warnings. The lawsuits seek compensation for patients who suffered harmful side effects due to insufficient information. 

Suboxone lawsuits highlight the critical need for transparency in medication risk disclosure. AI tutors can help students explore both the therapeutic use and legal controversies surrounding such medications. Medical programs must prevent students from receiving outdated or incomplete information by ensuring ongoing content review. AI should support and enhance the expertise of medical educators, not replace them.

How can AI simulate real-world medical challenges?

AI can create interactive, scenario-based learning tools that simulate medical situations like diagnosing diseases or managing treatments. These systems allow students to explore various paths in problem-solving, mimicking the uncertainty and complexity of real-world medical practice. Constant content reviews ensure AI stays relevant to current medical knowledge.

Compliance with Accessibility and Inclusion Laws

Partners for Youth with Disabilities states that schools must ensure AI tutors are usable by students with disabilities. Laws like the ADA mandate equal access to digital educational content. Since 1990, the ADA has helped universities improve access for students with disabilities. Title II of the ADA requires public colleges to make services and programs fully accessible. 

AI platforms should support screen readers and offer flexible input options. Captions and keyboard navigation features help students with visual or motor impairments. Accessibility audits should be performed regularly to identify and fix potential issues. Inclusive design benefits not only disabled students but the entire learning community. 

Schools risk legal action if AI systems exclude or disadvantage specific groups. Vendors must demonstrate that their tools meet official accessibility standards and guidelines. Prioritizing access creates a better learning experience for every student enrolled.

How can schools test the accessibility of AI tools?

Schools should perform usability tests with diverse student groups, including those with disabilities, to assess AI tools’ effectiveness. Feedback from students with different needs can help identify accessibility gaps. Partnering with accessibility experts or consultants ensures that AI platforms meet necessary inclusivity standards.

Handling Intellectual Property and Content Ownership

AI tutors often use third-party content, raising intellectual property concerns. The University of South Florida mentions that the content often includes text and images taken without the creators’ permission or awareness. As of April 2024, multiple lawsuits challenge AI platforms for using unlicensed content in training. These cases argue that using creators’ work without consent violates existing copyright protections.

Schools must clarify who owns the rights to AI-generated educational materials. Proper licensing agreements protect schools from copyright infringement claims. 

AI vendors should disclose sources and permissions for all content used. Teachers and students need guidance on using AI outputs responsibly. Schools should educate stakeholders about plagiarism and proper attribution practices. 

Clear policies prevent the unauthorized sharing or reproduction of protected materials. Intellectual property disputes can cause costly legal problems and reputational damage. Managing these issues proactively safeguards schools and promotes the ethical use of AI.

How can schools protect their own educational content when using AI?

Schools should register copyrights for original educational content they create and upload to AI systems. Clear terms of use agreements with AI vendors can help protect school-created materials. This ensures that any content generated within the platform remains the intellectual property of the school.

Navigating AI tutors in schools requires a proactive and comprehensive legal strategy. Prioritizing strong data privacy protocols protects student information from potential misuse. Schools need clear agreements outlining liability with AI vendors to avoid future conflicts. 

Regular monitoring of AI’s impact helps ensure it supports rather than disrupts learning goals. Meeting accessibility requirements guarantees that all students benefit equally from AI tools. Managing intellectual property rights is essential for ethical and lawful AI use. These legal steps create a safe, fair, and effective digital learning environment. 

–image credit Deposit Photos

–Image credit Pexels 

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Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and author of the tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days. You can find her resources at Structured Learning.

I get a lot of questions from readers about what tech ed resources I use in my classroom. I take time every summer to review them with you. Some are edited and/or written by members of the Ask a Tech Teacher crew. Others, by tech teachers who work with the same publisher I do. All of them, I’ve found, are well-suited to the task of scaling and differentiating tech skills for age groups, scaffolding learning year-to-year, offering inclusive solutions to the issue of tech tools–taking into account the perspectives of stakeholders, with appropriate metrics to ensure learning is organic and granular.

Today: K-12 Technology Curriculum

Overview

The K-12 Technology Curriculum is Common Core and ISTE aligned, and outlines what should be taught when so students have the necessary scaffolding to use tech for grade level state standards and school curriculum. You can purchase just the teacher manuals or student workbooks to serve a 1:1 environment, Google Classroom, and hybrid teaching situations.

Each grade-level PDF or print book (both are available) is between 175 and 252 pages and includes lesson plans, assessments, domain-specific vocabulary, problem-solving tips, Big Idea, Essential Question,  options if primary tech tools not available, posters, reproducibles, samples, tips, enrichments, entry and exit tickets, and teacher preparation. Lessons build on each other kindergarten through 5th grade. Middle School and High School are designed for semester or quarter grading periods typical of those grade levels with topics like programming, robotics, writing an ebook, and community service with tech.

Most (all?) grade levels include keyboarding, digital citizenship, problem solving, digital tools for the classroom, and coding.

The curriculum is used worldwide by public and private schools and homeschoolers.

Who needs this

Tech teachers, tech coordinators, library media specialists, curriculum specialists

Classroom grade level teachers if your tech teacher doesn’t cover basic tech skills.

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In the past six months, I’ve posted dozens of topics ranging from tech ed trends to how-tos, problem solving, and pedagogic discussions. I like to step back a few times a year and determine what readers are most interested in. WordPress makes that easy with their statistics.

Here’s the run-down so far this year:

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Blending Montessori and Technology: Finding the Right Balance in Early Childhood Education

These days, it seems that all toddlers master how to swipe across a screen before they learn to tie their shoes. Technology is everywhere and is not leaving anytime soon. For parents and educators who follow or are interested in the Montessori approach, which emphasizes hands-on activity, self directed learning, and natural curiosity, this article will come in handy. Can the Montessori ideology and technology coexist? Is it possible for children to continue using tablets, phones, etc. without losing that tangible, earthy learning process?

The quick answer is yes. But it takes thoughtfulness, balance, and a profound grasp of why Montessori works in the first place.

What Montessori Is Really About

First and foremost, we must understand a bit more about the Montessori approach and where its heart is. Dr. Maria Montessori’s belief was in child-directed learning. Rather than being told what to learn and how to do it, children find out about their world through materials that are fashioned to meet their needs at various levels of development.

Montessori materials, most commonly known as Montessori toys, are hands-on tools used in many Montessori classrooms. These tools are not noisy or flashy, most of the time these are materials made of wood. They’re meant to help develop fine motor skills, improve concentration, problem solving skills, and help a child be self sufficient. While these materials can be entertaining, that is more of a bonus than their main purpose. For example a knobbed cylinder or a bead chain, each material has a unique function that guides a child to master a skill through repetition and exploration.

Technology should compliment and never replace these moments of learning. (more…)

The College Interview is intimidating and usually only applies to the Ivy League schools. If you’re considering the US Naval Academy, it’s called a Blue and Gold Interview. They will put you through a rigorous test of thinking on your feet, fast, and without ‘umms’.

Here’s what you should know:

The B&G (Blue and Gold) Interview is one of several opportunities for the Naval Academy to insure they appoint candidates who will make it through the next nine years.

[caption id="attachment_2361" align="alignright" width="246"] Questions your B&G Officer may ask[/caption]

Few colleges invest the time and money in a personal in-home interview. For the Naval Academy, it’s a mandatory step, and an important nod in the approval process. The BGO (Blue and Gold Officer) knows you better than any other person involved in the selection process. His/Her opinion of you will weigh heavily as they review your application. Make sure by the time of this interview, you have developed a good rapport with yours. You chatted with him/her at several Academy Nights, emailed him/her at critical junctures in the application process, and updated him/her on your progress.

Here’s how it went for my daughter:

He arranges a coffee meeting at a local restaurant. You decide to wear khaki pants and a  collared shirt—conservative, respectful, but not a tie-and-jacket-pretentiousness. His questions remind you of those at the Congressional Interview—why do you want to attend the Naval Academy? What will you do if they don’t select you? Nothing tricky. By now, you’ve passed the Naval Academy’s physical test so he commends you on that. His lone suggestion reminds you to continue increasing your SAT scores, currently at 1350. He suggests a review course. Your time restraints make this difficult: Although it’s senior year, you have eight classes (including four APs). You’ve dropped the violin lessons, practice time reserved for Orchestra at school (where you are the Concertmaster) and the Youth Symphony Sunday sessions (where you are 1st violin). You know  yourself. If you overload your schedule, you implode. You’ve learned this from Freshman Year experiences. You do commit to taking advantage of the free Princeton Review SAT course offered at school for IB (International Baccalaureate) applicants.

All in all, a stress-free interview. It ends with you returning home to study Calculus. You send a thank-you note to your BGO, and sign it “Go Navy Beat Army!” You start checking the CIS website to see when it shows up as completed. Not yet, but it’s only been six hours….

–Taken from Building a Midshipman 

This series delves into making the military part of college-career choices. All the links are there but some for future dates:

• 5 Must-do Skills to Accomplish During High School
• 5 Popular Excuses for Not Going to USNA
• 9 Secrets for Getting into a Service Academy
• 11 Ways to Become a Navy Officer and a Gentleman
• Apply for a Military Academy
• Average USNA Candidate
• ASVAB or a Service Academy? You Decide.
• College Bound: Take Inventory
• Didn’t get into a Military Academy? Try NAPS
• Goal Setting for a Fourteen-year-old
• Is a Military Academy Right for You?
• Leadership Traits Found in USNA Midshipmen
• Preparing for the College Interview
• OCS–an option
• STEM at USNA
• Successful USNA Graduates
• What Happens After USNA Graduation
• Why the USNA?
• You’re a Freshman and Interest in USNA
• You’re a Sophomore and Interested in USNA
• You’re a Junior and Interested in USNA
• You’re a Senior and Interested in USNA
• You Know You’re a Plebe if…

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