Using Technology to Enhance Classroom Culture

95% of teens have smartphones, and half report being online "almost constantly" — a 24% increase in just a decade. The knee-jerk reaction? "Less screen time." But what if that's the wrong approach? Instead of "How do we reduce screen time?" perhaps we should be asking: "How do we transform screen time into something valuable?" At our tech schools across America, we've discovered that deliberate screen time can actually double learning speed. The data proves it: Our Brownsville school took kids from the 31st percentile to the 86th in just one year. The 5 Elements of Transformative Screen Time 1. Creation Over Consumption Our 3rd graders don't watch YouTube - they: • Produce news broadcasts • Build business plans with ChatGPT • Program self-driving cars and drones • Create school ambassador presentations 2. AI-Powered Personalization Every student gets a custom AI tutor that: • Adapts to their exact level • Adjusts material in real-time • Identifies knowledge gaps instantly • Tracks genuine mastery (not memorization) 3. Strategic Time Limits The secret is just 2 hours of focused tech learning daily. The rest is hands-on projects and real-world skills. This isn't theory—we've proven it across 10+ schools. 4. Building Status Through Contribution Research shows teens desperately need to feel competent and valuable. We transform passive scrolling into active creation, where students build real confidence through meaningful digital contributions. 5. Adult-Guided Innovation Parents and teachers don't just monitor—they collaborate: • Join coding projects • Review business plans • Guide content creation • Shape tech habits actively What have our results been? Students are more engaged, learning faster, and developing skills they'll actually use. The digital world isn't going away anytime soon. Traditional schools use tech to deliver the same old lectures. We use it to unleash potential. The challenge isn't screen time itself. It's teaching kids to use technology as a tool for growth instead of an escape from boredom. Because the next generation of entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators won't come from less screen time. They'll come from better screen time.

Chatting solo with a bot? That’s so 2024. Yet so many AI #edtech tools encourage just that: a student alone with a device, reminiscent of the “personalized learning” days of yesteryear where where kids sat in front of computers. But can AI enhance not just individual learning, but the social dynamics that make great classrooms work? Curipod is proving it can. Rather than replacing social interactions, it amplifies it through Nordic pedagogy that celebrates student voice, agency, peer learning and collaborative activities. Now serving 12 million students, Curipod is building compelling evidence across the globe of how AI can transform classroom dynamics while delivering concrete learning gains, from Texas (where 6th graders meeting grade level standards jump from 46% to 84%) to Indonesia (where student mastery rates rose from 21% to 89%). This transformation is one of the lead stories in this month’s Wire, the monthly Reach Capital update that Valentina Suarez Gutierrez and I write. Other highlights include Steve Kupfer’s tipsheet for sales discovery calls, Emily Oster’s pointers for telling stories with data, and photos from our Roadrunners events in SF and NY. Link in the comments — and subscribe today.

Ever feel like new tech in education is just thrown at us without a plan? Let’s change that. AI isn’t just about shiny tools, it’s about transforming how we teach and how students learn. A large number of people on this side of LinkedIn are in the boat with me. We are all trying to spread the word about AI to inform teachers and professionals. It’s why I participated in the #AIFestivus event. People, and students, won’t know what to do with AI unless we tell them what it is and what it can/can’t do. So I share stories and ideas here so hopefully others can benefit. Last year, I heard a story of a teacher who introduced an AI tool in their classroom to help students brainstorm ideas for their writing assignments. At first, they hesitated, “Isn’t this cheating?” they asked. But when the teacher reframed it as a “collaboration tool,” they started coming up with ideas they’d never considered before. So many of my students get stuck in starting writing. They have no idea where to start or how to start. A partner in crime (AI) can help with that. This is the power of thoughtful tech integration: AI doesn’t do the thinking for students; it opens new pathways to deeper learning. Here’s what worked for me: 1. Start small: Choose one tool and experiment with a specific task. For example, try Diffit for Teachers to simplify reading material for students with different abilities, or create stories that are related to their interests. 2. Model curiosity: Show students how to ask great questions and dig deeper when using AI. Modeling these interactions will be key to student success. If they see how to use it correctly and ethically, they will make better decisions about its use in the future. 3. Make it collaborative: Use AI to enhance teamwork, like brainstorming solutions to a real-world problem. AI helps me “think outside my own box,” and lean into ideas I never would’ve had before. AI is an enabler, not a replacement. It enhances critical thinking, creativity, and engagement when used with strong pedagogy, which is why pedagogy should be our main focus with any tech tool. Have you tried AI in your classroom or workplace? Are you even allowed? What’s been your biggest win, or your biggest challenge? Let’s swap ideas and move the conversation forward. Comment below or message me. I’d love to learn from you, too! 😊 #AIinEducation #AIEnhancement #FutureofLearning #Pedagogy #Teaching #AlwaysLearning