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Episode 12 Four AI Resources for Christian Educators
38 Plays2 months ago
In this episode I share four trusted AI resources for Christian educators to grow in wisdom and confidence, because the pace of change is not slowing down. I also covered brief AI news, including Anthropic’s latest model update and a three year initiative to provide free AI literacy training to six million U.S. educators. My four resources are the ChatEdu podcast, Ditch That Textbook by Matt Miller, the Shake Up Learning Show by Casey Bell, and the Teacher Edition Podcast CyberSense AI series by Jenny Copeland. I encouraged you to pick one resource and make a simple four week learning plan. I also invited you to try an AI prompt to build that plan.
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Transcript
Introduction to AI in Christian Education
00:00:00
Speaker
you looked and looked for resources for Christian educators when it comes to AI and still felt like mostly you were just finding scattered tips, hype, or voices that don't really understand your classroom? What are some of the best resources available today for Christian educators who want to grow in wisdom and confidence in using AI and using AI in the classroom?
00:00:16
Speaker
If those are questions that you have been asking, that you have been dealing with, that you have been wrestling with, then you are in the right place. Join us today as we explore four AI resources for Christian educators that I believe are worth your time.
00:00:38
Speaker
Welcome to the Christian Educators AI Guide podcast where we take practical, biblically grounded steps to use AI with wisdom and confidence. I'm your host, Rob Almey, and today I am glad that you are here with us. We are talking about some very practical things
Navigating Rapid AI Changes
00:00:52
Speaker
today. Sometimes in the Christian Educators AI Guide podcast we talk about some very heady things, some theological things, but today...
00:00:59
Speaker
We're talking about some real practical resources that you can use to increase your competence when it comes to AI. Not another shiny tool, not one more headline, not one more hot take, but we are talking about trusted resources that can help Christian educators keep learning in a world that, quite frankly, is moving very fast, faster than any of us can keep up with. One of the challenges with the ai is that it changes so quickly.
00:01:21
Speaker
And when things move so quickly, many of us teachers, educators, we don't have the time to keep up. We don't need necessarily more information. We need wise guides who can curate the information, tell us what's most important, tell us what we can use most practically.
00:01:36
Speaker
But before we get into our big question for today, today before we cover some ah of these resources, let's first catch up on some AI news.
Latest AI Developments in Education
00:01:49
Speaker
In this segment of our show, we focus on some of the latest news in AI and why it matters to Christian educators. Most times I share with you a general bit of ai news and then specifically drill down into some AI and education news. In general AI development news, Anthropic has released their latest model cloud, Opus 4.7, a stronger frontier AI model with improvements in complex, multi-step work, and higher resolution image understanding. It's what we call multi-modal so that you can upload images to it.
00:02:20
Speaker
Anthropic says this new release shows gains in instruction following long-running tasks and multimodal work. In plain language, that means the tools are continuing to get more capable. They're getting better. As we often say in the AI world, at any point in time in the present, AI is...
00:02:34
Speaker
as the worst that it will ever be. It's only going to get better. And so this particular tool is more useful and in some ways more convincing. Why this matters for us as Christian educators, the pace of change is not slowing down. That means Christian educators need to need to do two things at the same time. They need to exercise discernment and they must be continual learners. If the tools are improving this quickly, we cannot afford to rely on what we learned even six months ago and assume we are caught up. We can't afford to just go to one professional development session and say, I'm good when it comes to AI. This is one more reminder that wise educators need trusted voices helping them interpret what is happening. And that's exactly what we're talking about in the big question for today's show as I share four resources that can help to guide you. Let's now move to talking about some specific education AI development stories. Google and ISTE plus ASCD have launched a three-year initiative to provide free AI literacy training to 6 million U.S. educators.
00:03:27
Speaker
The partnership is designed to give K-12 educators and higher education faculty practical AI training, short, flexible modules, micro-credentials focused on responsible classroom use. This is significant because it's not just another AI product launch. It's a nationwide professional learning effort aimed at helping educators build actual AI fluency.
00:03:46
Speaker
The training meant to help teachers understand the technology, use it more responsibly, and apply it in ways that support instruction rather than just chasing novelty. For us as Christian educators, we should pay attention because this gets at one of the biggest needs in our schools right now, not just access to AI tools. It's one thing for the school to supply AI tools.
00:04:04
Speaker
But then it's another thing to help our educators, to help our teachers use those tools wisely, to provide them access to wise training. So if educators are going to guide students faithfully to use AI with wisdom and discernment from a biblical worldview, then teachers and educators need formation themselves.
00:04:23
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This kind of national push reminds us that AI literacy is quickly becoming part of basic professional readiness for teachers. which means Christian educators need to keep growing too. Of course, we do so with biblical discernment, not just technical enthusiasm. And that leads us right into our big question for today.
AI as a Wisdom Question
00:04:46
Speaker
So with that bit of news and AI update, let's turn to the big question of today. What are some of the best resources available for Christian educators today when it comes to AI? In this show, I wanted to share with you some of the resources that have been most helpful to me in the hopes that they will be helpful for you. One of the most common things I hear from teachers sounds something like this. I know AI matters, teachers say. I know I need to learn. I just don't know where to start.
00:05:08
Speaker
I don't know who to trust. That's a very honest place to be. And the good news is you don't need to figure it all out by yourself. Scripture tells us in James 1.5 that if anyone lacks wisdom, let them ask of God who gives to all liberally to without reproach.
00:05:24
Speaker
think that verse matters because AI is not just a technology question, right? It's a wisdom question. So today, let me give you four resources that I believe can genuinely help Christian educators grow in their understanding, confidence, and wise practice.
Recommended AI Education Resources
00:05:38
Speaker
One of the first resources that I want to share with you is a podcast called Chat EDU that's hosted by Matt Mervis and Dr. Liz Radde. I appreciate this podcast because it helps educators stay current without feeling like they are drowning in jargon. In fact, the podcast is quite entertaining, believe it or not. Who thought that an educational AI podcast could be entertaining? But Liz and Matt do a great job of keeping you entertained as they share the latest news and updates and use cases and challenge us with different ways to think about AI and education. So the show explores how AI is shaping K-12 education as well as higher education and shaping teacher preparation and leadership development and the wider world of work.
00:06:17
Speaker
What I like here is the breadth of the podcast. If you want to understand not just classroom tricks, But the bigger picture of how AI is changing education, then Chat EDU podcast is a strong resource. It helps you hear how thoughtful educators are processing change in real time.
00:06:31
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This is the kind of podcast that can help a Christian educator avoid being stuck in a local bubble. It helps you hear a little bit of the wider conversation. So why do I recommend it? Well, it helps you stay current.
00:06:42
Speaker
It brings some thoughtful voices together, and it keeps you thinking about AI as an educational issue, not just a classroom gimmick. The second resource that I want to ah share with you is a resource by Matt Miller.
00:06:58
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that is called Ditch That Textbook. Ditch That Textbook is a website as as well as Matt has a weekly newsletter that goes out. Matt has been one of the most consistently practical voices in educational technology for years. And that same practical tone carries onto his AI work. Matt has pivoted nicely from ed tech and he's still ed tech, but he also comments quite profusely on AI. Two books in particular that Matt has written that are worth your attention is AI for Educators,
00:07:29
Speaker
and AI literacy for any class. What I appreciate about Matt is that he's not just speaking down to teachers. He's not speaking like a futurist that's floating 10 feet above the classroom. Either he writes like someone who understands what it's like to teach real students, what it's like to plan real lessons and work inside real time limits. As a Spanish teacher himself who has been inside the classroom and outside the classroom. has provided consultations. He also so has both – not only that on-the-boots knowledge, but he also has that 35,000-foot view of what is happening in ed tech and what is happening particularly for our purposes in AI. So his work is practical. It's hopeful. It's grounded. does not act like AI solves everything, so he takes a good middle approach. you know He's not a a boomer that says AI is going to solve everything and is the end-all and be-all, he's certainly not a doomer that says we need to get rid of screens and education totally.
00:08:17
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He refuses to reduce the conversation to just cheating and fear, though he certainly talks about that. And so that is very helpful. So Christian educators need voices like Matt's because fear alone is not a strategy. We need thoughtful classroom moves and small wins and realistic ways forward that Matt shares in these books, that Matt shares in his newsletter. And so I recommend Matt as a resource because he makes AI feel usable. He makes AI so that it's not overwhelming. He gives you concrete ideas that you can use quickly. And he helps teachers think about both productivity and student formation. And beyond the books, his blog post newsletter and his broader Ditch That textbook content are full, chock full of useful ideas.
00:08:55
Speaker
Next resource that I want to share with you is a podcast and a learning community. And it is led by an educator named Casey Bell. Casey Bell hosts the Shake Up Learning Show podcast and has long been a trusted voice in educational technology. Her podcast continues to be a great resource for K through 12 educators. who want practical help. She's been in the ed tech world for a while and she too, just like Matt Miller, has transitioned not completely to talking about AI, but definitely her show and her resources have been focusing on AI. So the show includes tech tips, lesson ideas, practical advice, interviews, and has it really a coaching style to each of her episodes. What makes this so valuable is that AI is treated not by Casey as an isolated topic, but a picture, a part of a a bigger conversation really about teaching and learning and workflow and instructional strategy.
00:09:42
Speaker
That matters because you know AI is not supposed to just live in its little corner, but it's to be woven into the broader framework of teaching well. So Casey Bell does a strong job of making ideas feel approachable.
00:09:53
Speaker
Some educators need a deep policy conversation. Others just need someone to say, here's a practical way to start. She's good at both of those things. And her broader community and resource creates an on-ramp for educators who learn best through our ongoing support, just not one-off episodes. And so you can take all that Casey offers, and she offers a lot for free, and you can use that and go leaps and bounds beyond where you are as an educator. But if you want to take the next step and dive deeper, go even further, then you can join join her ah community, which is very affordable.
00:10:23
Speaker
Why I recommend this resource and why I recommend Casey is that she's practical. She's teacher friendly. She connects AI to everyday instructional life. Her wider ecosystem gives educators room to keep growing.
00:10:34
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Last resource that I want to share with you for this show is called the Teacher Edition Podcast with Jenny Copeland. This one is especially worth mentioning because it's intentionally aimed at Christian school educators. Now, Chat EDU, Matt Miller, Casey Bell, They are more aimed at just educators in general, whether that be ah public school teachers or or Christian schools or secular private schools. But with this particular resource, Jenny Copeland and the Teacher Edition podcast, it's a podcast that is specifically aimed for Christian educators. This podcast is fun, it's encouraging, it's biblical, and it's practical. Now, this podcast is more than just about technology. It's more than just about AI, but I highly recommend it for Christian educators because all of the topics that Jenny covers are are of interest and can help you grow as an educator. But when it does come to AI, Jenny has done a series as part of this podcast that I think is generally helpful for Christian educators who are trying to gain their footing. It's called her Cyber Sense AI series, and it's a series of episodes where she talks about myths, misconceptions, mindset when it comes to AI, student use of AI, practical applications, and how how educators and Christian educators specifically can think more clearly about AI.
00:11:46
Speaker
One thing I especially appreciate is that Jenny pushes educators to see AI as an assistant and a starting point and not the final product, not a replacement for human thinking. I think that's exactly the kind of framing that we as Christian educators need because if we're to guide students well, we need to ourselves think clearly first as I have said previously.
00:12:03
Speaker
Why I commend this resource to you is it's directly aimed at Christian educators. It's practical. It's biblical. It's encouraging. And it offers a solid getting starting path that I'm going to mention later on in our show for teachers who might feel behind, for teachers who might feel like I need a place to start, for teachers that might feel like they are being overwhelmed.
00:12:24
Speaker
And so why these four resources matter, let me step back for a minute here. What all four of these resources have in common is this. They help educators keep learning.
00:12:34
Speaker
That might not sound flashy, but it's deeply important. See, AI is not a topic that you read one article, attend one PD session, listen to one episode of a podcast, and then you're done forever. The tools are constantly changing. Policies are constantly changing. The pressures are constantly changing. The classroom questions change. That means that that we need rhythms of learning. And if you're a Christian educator, the ongoing learning should help you do at least three things. One, understand the technology better.
00:13:02
Speaker
Two, think biblically and ethically about it. And three, lead students with more wisdom and less panic. I think many Christian educators have felt something like this. You hear about a new AI tool. You see educators online talking like everybody already understand it. You feel like everybody is so far ahead and you feel like and wonder if you are behind. Then you go searching for help and you end up finding either hype or fear. You know, you hear boomers or doomers or you hear technical language that just makes you feel all discombobulated, feeling disconnected from real classrooms.
00:13:33
Speaker
That's ah exactly why resources like this podcast or the four resources that I've shared matter. Sometimes what a teacher needs most is not another app. Sometimes what a teacher needs most is just some wisdom, a wise guide. That's hope these four resources can become, for you, that wise guide.
00:13:51
Speaker
This leads us to the next segment of the Christian Educators AI Guide Podcast, which features features our tool and resource spotlight.
00:14:03
Speaker
In this segment of the show, we focus on a tool that you can start exploring or a resource that can strengthen your work as a Christian educator. Today, I want to spotlight a resource rather than a tool. And the featured resource that I want to spotlight today is the Teacher Edition, Cyber Sense Generative AI. 101 episode and series that I mentioned earlier when I mentioned the Teacher Edition podcast by Jenny Copeland. If you're a Christian educator who feels late to the AI conversation, I cannot recommend this series of podcasts. I think it's five or six episodes that will bring you up to speed. They're about 20 minutes each. It's one of the easiest starting points. It's one of the easiest ways to get started that I highly we recommend. So Jenny Copeland does a strong job of lowering the temperature, cutting through all of the myths, and helping educators think about AI as an assistant, not a substitute for human thinking and creativity.
00:14:51
Speaker
See, sometimes the best step is not jumping into a dozen new tools. Sometimes the best step is getting a clear framework. This series can help with that. So I would encourage you to go to YouTube and to Google Teacher Edition podcast, CyberSense, and listen to those particular episodes that Jenny Teacher Edition podcast that can help you get started, that can help you catch up if you feel like you are behind.
Creating an AI Learning Plan
00:15:25
Speaker
That us to our quick tip and prompt of the week. In this segment of the show, I share a tip or prompt you can use tomorrow. So today i want to share with you a quick tip. Pick one AI resource that I have mentioned in this episode this week and make a simple four-week learning plan.
00:15:40
Speaker
Don't pick four resources. Pick one of the resources, one of the podcasts, one of the books, and subscribe to one of them. Read a chapter of the book. Say one of the articles that Matt Milra has written. Whatever it is, listen on the way to work.
00:15:54
Speaker
And take some notes. Try one idea. Growth does not usually happen by trying to swallow the entire AI world in one weekend. In fact, i would highly caution against that.
00:16:06
Speaker
But growth in AI and using AI happens through steady, progressive learning. Let me show you a prompt of the week that might help with some of all this. Paste this into your favorite chatbot, whether that be Gemini, ChatGPT, Microsoft Co-Pilot, Cloud, Grok, whatever it might be.
00:16:23
Speaker
Type this prompt in. You are my professional learning coach for AI and Christian education. I am a Christian school educator who wants to grow in wisdom and confidence with AI without getting overwhelmed. Based on my role, subject area, and grade level, help me build a four-week learning plan using these kinds of resources, podcasts, books, blogs, and teacher communities. For each week, give me one small learning goal. one resource to engage, one reflection question, and one practical action step I can try in my classroom or planning. Keep the plan realistic, encouraging, and focused on wise stewardship rather than hype.
00:16:57
Speaker
That prompt can be super useful for you as you turn from to having good intentions about learning about AI and how it can be of use and help to equip your students as well to having an actual plan where you can learn.
00:17:11
Speaker
That's also a great example of using AI and exploiting AI for its goodness to help you come up with a learning plan. Use its ideas, tweak it, and go ahead.
Guidance and Encouragement for Educators
00:17:24
Speaker
As we near the end of this episode, I want to invite you to join me in a word of prayer. If you'll pray with me, let's pray.
00:17:33
Speaker
Father God, we thank you that you are the source of all wisdom and truth. In a time when technology is moving quickly and many educators feel overwhelmed, we ask you to steady our hearts and guide our minds.
00:17:43
Speaker
Help us to be humble enough to keep learning and discerning enough to test what we hear. Give us wisdom to recognize resources that are helpful, courage to reject what is unfaithful, and joy in growing as teachers or serve students in your name.
00:17:56
Speaker
Protect us from fear, from pride, and from the temptation to treat technology like a savior. Help us instead to receive good tools as gifts, to use them with gratitude and restraint, and to keep our eyes fixed on Christ.
00:18:09
Speaker
Strengthen Christian educators as they prepare students for a world shaped by AI. Make us faithful, thoughtful, and full of grace. And let all of our teaching point beyond ourselves and beyond our tools to Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. We ask all this in his powerful name.
00:18:26
Speaker
Amen. That is going to bring us near to the end of our time together for this episode. As always, if this episode has been helpful to you, I hope you'll go ahead and leave a rating and review wherever it is that you listen to this podcast. Go ahead, like, and subscribe. Go ahead and share it with a colleague that really does help. And here's one more encouragement before we go. keep leaning on educational resources when it comes to AI so that you can sharpen your skills, that you can prepare your students for a world of AI. You don't have to have it all figured out.
00:18:55
Speaker
Take that burden off of yourself. Know that you're not alone. i'll include all these resources mentioned today in the show notes so you can start exploring them for yourself, and I would encourage you to do so. So I'll catch you the next time on the Christian Educators AI Guide podcast. But until then, go and redeem AI for education. Go and redeem AI for the gospel, and may you go in peace.