AI is moving quickly into schools, and reactions range from cautious to enthusiastic.

What does it mean to teach AI before it teaches us?

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Lisa March, president and founder of Partner in Publishing, sits down with Jeff Riley, Executive Director of Day of AI, to explore how schools can approach artificial intelligence with intention and responsibility.

Jeff shares the mission behind Day of AI, a research-led, movement-minded organization focused on empowering students to become informed creators and thoughtful leaders in an AI-shaped world. Together, Lisa and Jeff discuss what districts are asking for as AI enters classrooms, why trusted guidance matters, and how open communication between educators, administrators, parents, students, and vendors is essential to getting it right.

The conversation covers developing AI policy, addressing privacy and safety concerns, and teaching students to be healthy skeptics who understand both the power and limitations of prediction-based systems.

This episode is essential listening for educators, district leaders, and EdTech partners who want to lead AI education responsibly and keep students at the center of the conversation.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

0:40: Meet Jeff Riley and Day of AI

4:20: Digital Natives & Digital Immigrants

5:40: AI for a Better World

7:30: Learning About AI From a Trusted Source

11:00: Privacy & Safety with AI

12:40: Raising Healthy Skeptics of AI

16:30: Parents Can't Be Out of the Loop

27:30: AI Literacy

29:30: Teaching Critical Thinking First

31:20: Research-Led, Movement-Minded

33:00: Personalizing Instruction with AI

36:50: For Parents and Schools: How to Get Involved with Day of AI

Resources:

Jeff Riley

Day of AI

Day of AI: Curriculum & Resources

Day of AI: Family Resources

Day of AI: For School Leaders

Lisa March

Partner in Publishing

Blog: How to Adopt AI Without Falling Behind

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Lisa March, President and Founder of Partner in Publishing, sits down with Kim Canning, Vice President of University Partnerships at Kaplan, for a timely conversation about access, affordability, and what it really means to be student-centered in admissions preparation.

Kim shares how Kaplan's mission of leveling the playing field through access shows up in practice, from breaking down socioeconomic barriers to rethinking how test prep is delivered at scale. The conversation explores Kaplan's All Access License, a model designed to make high-quality admissions prep available to all students, not just those who can afford it.

Together, Lisa and Kim unpack how strong university partnerships are built by listening first: aligning with institutional priorities, supporting employability readiness through skills courses, and extending value beyond enrollment to alumni. Kim also walks through a powerful case study with Hampton University, highlighting how integrated test prep and skills development can help graduates become confident, critical thinkers.

Whether you're an institutional leader, EdTech innovator, or university partner thinking about equity in admissions, this episode offers practical insight into how access-driven design and collaboration can open doors for students at every stage of their academic journey.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

0:40: Meet Kim Canning, VP of University Partnerships at Kaplan

2:23: The DNA of Kaplan: Leveling the Playing Field and Providing Access

6:45: Breaking Socioeconomic Barriers: Making Test Prep Affordable for ALL Students

9:00: Introducing the Kaplan All Access License

12:02: Working with University Partners on Their Priorities

16:47: Fostering Employability Readiness with Skills Courses

17:30: Case Study: Hampton University Graduates Critical Thinkers

21:30: What Does It Mean to Be Student-Centered?

25:30: Endless Ways of Partnering with Schools for Test Preparation

26:57: Supporting Alumni Through University Partnerships

28:30: How Schools Get Started with Kaplan

31:06: Creative Ways Big Institutions Partner with Kaplan

Resources:

Kim Canning

Kaplan

The Kaplan All Access License

Blog: Unlocking Potential: A First-Generation College Student's Journey to Medical School

Blog: Beyond Limits: How One Student Is Redefining Her Future & Pursuing Law School

Blog: Equipping the Next Generation for Success: How Delaware State University Is Driving Better Outcomes

Lisa March

Partner in Publishing

What if the most powerful chemistry lessons were the ones students couldn't see, but could feel in their everyday lives?

In this episode of EdTech Elevated, host Elaine Villanueva Bernal, Ph.D. Chemist of the University of California, Long Beach, is joined by Dr. Ashley Evanoski-Cole, Ph.D. Chemist of Westfield State University, who believes that tiny, invisible interactions can spark big learning breakthroughs.

Together, Elaine and Ashley explore how chemistry comes alive when it's connected to the world students already care about, from the air we breathe and the food we cook to exercise, weather, and even baking. They dive into how tools like REAL CHEM and interactive simulations help students visualize abstract concepts, collaborate more confidently, and move past common barriers like math anxiety.

The conversation also touches on the role of mentorship in chemistry education, the power of group learning, and how thoughtfully designed explorations and checkpoints can help students build both conceptual understanding and confidence. Along the way, Elaine and Ashley share practical examples of how stoichiometry becomes a kitchen lesson, atmospheric chemistry becomes personal, and learning shifts from memorization to meaning.

Whether you're teaching general chemistry, designing courseware, or looking for ways to help students see themselves in STEM, this episode is a reminder that when chemistry feels real, students lean in.

Sponsored by Partner in Publishing: https://partnerinpublishing.com/

Bookmarks:

0:34: Meet Dr. Ashley Evanoski-Cole and Dr. Elaine Villanueva Bernal

2:43: Atmospheric Chemistry: The Invisible Science of the Air

5:15: Teaching General Chemistry with REAL CHEM

7:10: PHET Simulations: Connecting Things We Can't See to Things We Care About

9:10: Teaching Group Activities with REAL CHEM

11:15: Real-Life Chemical Connections to Food, Weather, and Exercise

14:25: Mentorship in Chemistry Education

16:12: Getting Past the Fear of Math in Learning Chemistry

18:41: How Stoichiometry Becomes a Baking Lesson

22:03: Diving Deeper into REAL CHEM's Explorations & Checkpoints

23:45: Q&A Lightning Round: Chemistry Favorites

Resources:

Elaine Villanueva Bernal Biography, Research, and Publications

Elaine Villanueva Bernal LinkedIn

Elaine Villanueva Bernal on Instagram @theconnectedchemist

Ashley Evanoski-Cole Biography, Research, and Publications

Ashley Evanoski-Cole LinkedIn

REAL CHEM

Lisa March

Partner in Publishing