Rachelle Dené Poth, a Spanish and STEAM teacher from the Pittsburgh suburbs, and truly does all things education. She’s an award-winning EdTech advocate, author, world-renowned presenter, thought leader, PD coach, EdTech consultant – and she even holds a law degree! Rachelle found time to sit down with Elana Leoni, CEO of Leoni Consulting Group, to discuss a wide variety of topics, including the pandemic's effect on EdTech, the human side of artificial intelligence, and what product developers should know about their market.
The Pandemic Changed Our Relationship With EdTech
Rachelle saw COVID's local and global impact on both her classroom in Oakmont, PA and her international network of educators.
"It didn't matter how much experience you had with teaching and/or using technology in the classroom. It was so sudden that there was no amount of preparation for that."
Her biggest jolt came a month into lockdown, when she heard a colleague predict at least two more years of disruption.
"It was like a loud, annoying, I-never-set-this wake-up call that pushed teachers to either start using technology or to think about the methods that they were using in their classroom. And to make some changes."
She saw schools scramble to DEPLOY the many EdTech tools at their disposal and make a concerted effort toward bringing families into the loop now that the school day was happening at home. The "new normal" changed things enough to make the "old normal" feel strange two years later.
"It took a little bit of time to transition and find a way to merge what I had changed about my practice from virtual teaching, and what I liked about my pre-COVID experience. But even throughout that year and into this one, I was still continuing to make changes and tweaks. I'm sure many other people can say the same thing."
AI Can Actually Help SEL
As Rachelle notes, there are a lot of misconceptions out there about artificial intelligence (AI) in education. Rachelle often writes about it, because it fascinates her and because many don't understand what it is or how it's used.
"Artificial intelligence becomes smarter over time; it can sort and process a lot of information. In our everyday lives, and even in education, there are tools that have AI built into them that enable teachers, and students as well, to do a lot of different things.EdTech and with any type of thing like artificial intelligence, we always have to look at the positives and negatives. In education, we need opportunities to learn about AI and how it impacts us and the work that we do, but also help students to understand what it means for them, not just now, but in the future for school, for work, for daily life."
Rachelle is all about the positives, such as having a game-based learning tool to assess students' knowledge or work habits so that she can start a conversation with data already in hand.
"It can notice patterns, if they're getting them correct or incorrect, and it can chart their own personalized learning path as they go, which saves the teacher time."
We might not always link the cold precision of technology to the holistic warmth of social-emotional learning, yet Rachelle explains how AI can build personalized scaffolds for each student.
"We can see trends based on what students turn in, or it's really personalizing it for each student, then we can have the conversation. They're getting that feedback. They're getting the practice that they need, and self-awareness because they start to see, 'Now I'm getting it right.' And it's building their confidence and learning, too."
EdTech Should Identify And Fill A Need.
Rachelle is an educator who loves EdTech, yet she knows that it's about far more than the bells and whistles. So she offers some advice for those in the industry who develop these products.
"Sometimes these tools are not being created by educators. Sometimes it's parents, because they saw a need, or it's somebody who has a business component of it. So they're trying to make that transition or add onto it. But I think the key is having a space to communicate and asking teachers for what they need. If it's something that can really facilitate things for teachers so that they can have more time with students, or enables teachers to communicate better with families, then I think definitely you want to go for it, because the idea is constantly improving on what we're doing and using our classrooms."
Rachelle offers some direction based on trends she’s been seeing in education over the past few years:
“A lot of teachers started to look for some of those tools to amplify student voice and to facilitate those collaborations and communication, whether or not it's just between teacher and student, or if it was more toward teacher and parent to have that space… I think teachers are definitely more interested, overall, in ongoing learning, and willing to take risks more than they were before."
What We Talked About
Use this to jump to parts of the conversation you want to listen to more closely
[00:41] Introducing Rachelle Dené Poth
[04:48] Rachelle's unique path into the world of education and EdTech
[09:55] What keeps her in the classroom
"In the classroom, there's an opportunity to make something happen every single day to change things up, to be my authentic self, to connect with students, to use my love of languages for good, to help others, it's just that connection that enables me to share what I love, but also to learn from the students in that space where every day is different and exciting."
[11:21] What the pandemic did to EdTech in the classroom
[16:47] What "getting back to normal" looks like
"You have this interruption that happened where now you got to change everything. You had all these free options. You had different ways to learn and connect with students. And then you're like, 'Which one is the right way?' And that was a struggle."
[21:22] EdTech trends emerging from the pandemic
“A lot of teachers started to look for some of those tools to amplify student voice and to facilitate those collaborations and communication, whether or not it's just between teacher and student, or if it was more toward teacher and parent to have that space."
“Social-emotional learning and looking for ways to help students to build those skills, to prepare for the future or to deal with challenges and stress like we've all experienced – I think teachers are definitely more interested, overall, in that ongoing learning, and willing to take risks more than they were before."
[26:07] How the pandemic brought a focus to SEL and student mental health
"For so long, people were afraid to talk about mental health, or didn't know how to address it, or activities like check-ins with students. Those topics have become so integrated in conversation on a daily basis and people are really looking for ideas and strategies."
[29:22] Artificial intelligence in the classroom
"The thing about AI is, when it's working or doing what it's supposed to be doing, you don't know. It's just happening."
"Based tools now that have the AI built into them, as students respond, it can see how they're doing. And it can notice patterns, if they're getting them correct or incorrect, and it can chart their own personalized learning path as they go, which saves the teacher time."
[39:33] Specific EdTech tools that incorporate AI in student learning
"I always like to get them to test things out. I want to get their feedback, because that's really important to get the students' responses to tools we're using, to methods, because we need that feedback, too."
[46:54] Rachelle's advice for EdTech professionals and leaders
[52:00] How Rachelle puts pep in her step
[54:52] How people can get in touch with Rachelle
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
SEL and AI
CASEL, Elana recommends this nonprofit organization that produces a lot of free resources, research-based materials on social-emotional learning
Peekapak, Rachelle recommends this preK-8 curriculum for its social-emotional learning resources
EVERFI, Rachelle recommends this equity-focused initiative for its social-emotional learning resources
Buncee, Rachelle recommends this web-based creativity tool with its focus on the five core competencies
AIClub, Rachelle recommends this site for its K-12 artificial intelligence resources
Tools
Microsoft Teams, suite of online collaboration apps mentioned by Rachelle when discussing how school communities have stayed connected remotely
Canvas, learning management system (LMS) mentioned by Rachelle when discussing how school communities have stayed connected remotely
Socrates, artificial intelligence tool that Rachelle used with students
CoSpaces, augmented and virtual reality tool that Rachelle used with students
Terms
AR/VR, shorthand for augmented and virtual reality, some of the STEAM technologies that Rachelle teaches
SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals, a set of 17 initiatives by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs; Rachelle mentions these as the subject of a student tech project
SAMR, Ruben Puentedura's tech integration model for effective online learning; Elana mentions this in the context of setting instructional goals
Communities
EdCamps, small educator conferences with participant-driven learning; in the discussion about what AI does, Elana refers to this model as a human version of how data can be aggregated
THRIVEinEDU on Facebook, Facebook community that grew out of Rachelle's THRIVEinEDU podcast
People
"Using Social and Emotional Learning to Amplify Student Voice: A Conversation With Serena Robinett”, Elana refers to this All Things Marketing and Education podcast reflecting on the need for educator voices in EdTech
"How to Build Communities That Matter in Education: A Conversation with Porter Palmer", Elana refers to this All Things Marketing and Education podcast reflecting on communities
Steve Dembo, STEAM/CSAI educator and advocate, referenced by Elana as an expert in the field
Recommended Media
I, Robot (film), 2004 American science fiction thriller that shaped Rachelle's early misconceptions about artificial intelligence
Teach Like a Pirate: Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator by Dave Burgess, 2012 book that sparked Rachelle's interest in books about education
Mary Higgins Clark, prolific mystery author whose novels Rachelle used to read
John Grisham, prolific crime-and-legal-system author whose novels Rachelle used to read
All Things Rachelle
"AI for the Future of Education", Rachelle's 1/8/18 article for Getting Smart
"Teaching About AI", Rachelle's 1/6/19 article for Getting Smart
"Preparing for the Future", Rachelle's 9/3/19 article for Getting Smart
"Increasing Role of AI", Rachelle's 7/2/20 article for Getting Smart
"Teaching AI to All Students", Rachelle's 5/30/22 article for Getting Smart
THRIVEinEDU, Rachelle’s podcast about emerging education trends and topics
Get in touch with Rachelle: Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin | Website
Elana Leoni, Host
Elana Leoni has dedicated the majority of her career to improving K-12 education. Prior to founding LCG, she spent eight years leading the marketing and community strategy for the George Lucas Educational Foundation where she grew Edutopia’s social media presence exponentially to reach over 20 million education change-makers every month.
Rachelle Dene Poth, Guest
Rachelle Dené Poth is an EdTech consultant, presenter, attorney, author, and teacher. She teaches Spanish and STEAM: What’s nExT in Emerging Technology at Riverview Junior Senior High School in Oakmont, PA. Rachelle earned a Juris Doctor degree from Duquesne University School of Law, a Master’s in Instructional Technology, and is currently pursuing a second doctorate, focused on Educational Technology. An ISTE Certified Educator and a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, she is a past-president of the ISTE Teacher Education Network and has served on the Leadership team of the Mobile Learning Network for five years. Rachelle received the ISTE Making It Happen Award in 2019, as well as several Presidential gold and silver awards for her volunteer service to education. She was named one of 30 K-12 IT Influencers for 2021. In 2017, Rachelle was selected as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year by PAECT (the Pennsylvania Association for Educational Communications in Technology, the PA affiliate of ISTE) and by the NSBA as one of the "20 to Watch" educators. Since 2019, Rachelle has written seven books. Her newest, Things I Wish [...] Knew, includes the voices of 50 educators from around the world. She has also contributed to eight other books related to education. She presents regularly at state, national, and international conferences, and provides professional development and coaching for educators. Rachelle is a columnist for Getting Smart and a blogger for Defined Learning and NEO LMS. Her podcast is ThriveinEDU, and she hosts a PBL Podcast by Defined Learning on the BAM Radio Network. Rachelle is also a host of ThriveinEDU Live and leads a community of educators on Facebook.
About All Things Marketing and Education
What if marketing was judged solely by the level of value it brings to its audience? Welcome to All Things Marketing and Education, a podcast that lives at the intersection of marketing and you guessed it, education. Each week, Elana Leoni, CEO of Leoni Consulting Group, highlights innovative social media marketing, community-building, and content marketing strategies that can significantly increase reach, relationships, and revenue.
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