This year-in-review episode looks back at how AI reshaped conversations about teaching and learning, and moved from curiosity to classroom reality. This episode reflects on what educators learned about moving beyond compliance toward mastery, why students often follow rules better than they innovate, and how AI can support feedback, reflection, and trust. The conversation surfaces lessons about systemic thinking, place-conscious learning, and digital portfolios that show growth—offering a clearer, more grounded path forward for teaching in an AI-shaped future.

Related Channel: ISTE Radio | Podcast

Listen to all 2025 Mic Drop Episodes

Related ISTE Books: Today’s Learners, Tomorrow’s Leaders | Get the Book-Putting Out Fires | The National Park Classroom | Edtech for Multilingual Learners | What the Tech? | AI for School Leaders |

Available at ISTE.org

Imagine a world where educators can boost their productivity, task management, and overall well-being with the aid of an AI assistant. In this groundbreaking book, an experienced school leader offers practical strategies for leveraging AI to support a more efficient and effective way to work. The 62 strategies in this book will help leaders – including those with limited technical knowledge – use AI tools to address critical aspects of leadership in education, such as collaborative decision-making, building relationships and trust, personalized professional learning, data analysis and improvement, and parent and community engagement.

Follow on Twitter: @ISTEofficial @mrhooker @Rdene915 @jonHarper70bd @shellthief @hyphenatic @bamradionetwork

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Resources: AI for School Leaders | Hacking GenAI in Education: Conversation Starters

Vickie Echols brings over 30 years of experience as a K-12 principal, curriculum coordinator, university educator, and consultant, empowering school leaders to focus on what matters most: their students, their teams, and their own well-being.

In her latest book, AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighten Your Workload and Focus on What Matters (ISTE, 2024), Vickie shares actionable strategies to harness AI for greater efficiency, balance, and clarity in school leadership—perfect for navigating today’s fast-paced educational landscape. Rooted in real-world challenges and opportunities, Vickie’s expertise bridges education, technology, mental health, and leadership, inspiring leaders to thrive while transforming schools into places where everyone can succeed.

In this episode of Learning Unleashed, Carl Hooker and Rochelle Dene Poth discuss the latest trends in education technology, including the metaverse, AI, and immersive learning experiences. They share insights from the ISTE conference, highlighting global interactions and the importance of networking among educators. Rochelle also introduces her new book, 'What the Tech?', which explores emerging technologies and their implications for education.

Follow on Twitter: @ISTEofficial @mrhooker @Rdene915 @jonHarper70bd @shellthief @hyphenatic @bamradionetwork
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Resources: What the Tech? | Hacking GenAI in Education: Conversation Starters

Rachelle Dene Poth is an accomplished edtech consultant, presenter, author, blogger and teacher. She currently teaches Spanish and a course on emerging tech that covers AR/VR, artificial intelligence, coding, gaming, digital citizenship, video animation and more. She presents regularly at conferences on technology and ways to drive student learning. Poth is the president of the ISTE Teacher Education Network and serves on the leadership team for the ISTE Mobile Learning Network. At ISTE19, she received the Making IT Happen Award and a Presidential Gold Award for volunteer service to education. She’s a Buncee Ambassador, Edmodo Certified Trainer, Nearpod Certified Educator and PioNear, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Google Certified Educator Levels I and II. Poth is the author of In Other Words: Quotes That Push Our Thinking, The Future Is Now: Looking Back to Move Ahead and Unconventional Ways to THRIVE in EDU. She’s a contributing author to Education Write Now, Volume 3; several volumes of the Edumatch book Snapshot in Education; and the ISTE book Gamify Literacy. Poth is a regular blogger for Getting Smart and DefinedSTEM.