Discover five AI tools for teachers—Eduaide, Diffit, NotebookLM, Claude, and Curipod—that support lesson planning, differentiation, assessment, and interactive learning. Learn how artificial intelligence in education can strengthen instruction when used appropriately.

5 AI Tools to Support Teaching and Learning

In this episode of Planning Period, Thomas Hummel, co-founder of Eduaide.AI, walks through a practical, classroom-ready use of Eduaide Version 3.

Planning Period 01: Using AI to Create a Bell-Ringer Activity for the Start of Class

Transform YouTube videos into rigorous, interactive lessons with Eduaide’s new integration. Learn how to design active viewing experiences rooted in cognitive science and multimedia learning research.

Use YouTube Videos to Create Instructional Materials on Eduaide

Eduaide Version 3 reflects a classroom-first approach to AI in education. Built by teachers and shaped by learning science, this update focuses on clarity, instructional alignment, and practical support for real classroom work.

The Best Parts of the Eduaide’s Version 3 Update 

In this reflective essay, public school teacher Thomas Hummel looks back at what society left behind in 2025 as artificial intelligence reshaped content, education, and our idea of expertise. From the moment human-made content stopped being the default, to the peak of private school pricing built on artificial exclusivity, to the quiet arrival of artificial general intelligence, the piece explores how AI has permanently changed how we learn, who we trust, and how we make sense of the world.

Here Are Some Things We're Leaving in 2025 (Whether You Like It, Know It, or Not)

As the 2025-26 school year begins, America’s schools are at a crossroads. Teacher shortages are leaving classrooms empty, student achievement has hit the lowest levels in nearly two decades, and children’s health and well-being are in steady decline. At the same time, fear of AI has paralyzed many districts, widening the gap between schools that innovate and schools that fall behind. This article offers a teacher’s perspective on what’s really happening in our schools, why small fixes won’t be enough, and what bold leadership must do to move education from survival mode to a system where students and teachers can thrive.

Settling into the 25-26 School Year

Discover how teachers can use Eduaide.Ai to prepare for back-to-school with practical classroom tools like Ice Breakers, Tic Tac Toe review games, Syllabus Starter templates, Venn Diagrams, and Metacognitive Questions. See real examples of how these AI-powered teaching tools save time, spark creativity, and support both new and experienced educators as they kick off the school yea

Eduaide.Ai Tools I’m Using to Kick Off the School Year

Practical back-to-school do’s and don’ts for teachers, from building strong student relationships to avoiding burnout. A must-read for educators starting the new school year.

Do's and Don'ts For Back to School

In an era defined by AI tools and instant information access, what role should memory play in education?

In Praise of Memory

A deep dive into the 2024 LLMs-in-education taxonomy by Wang et al., this essay challenges the reductive framing of teaching and learning as automatable tasks. It asks: What pictures of education do we adopt when we let performance become the measure of understanding?

Revisiting a Taxonomy of LLMs for Education Applications

Or, why free resources and generative AI won’t teach us what matters unless we do the harder work.

Abundance and Understanding: Lessons from Open Education for the Age of AI

Turn any topic, standard, or objective into a structured graphic organizer—instantly.

New - The Graphic Organizers Workspace

A Talk from Johns Hopkins AI Synergy Summit

When Language Goes on Holiday - Learning Myths, AI, and Fragile Understanding

Why the Future of Education Still Depends on the Teacher. Or, What Georgia’s Teachers Taught Me About Designing for Learning

The Tools Are Not the Innovation

Elevated error rates in o3 and o4-mini • Why our language for AI failure reveals more about us than the models • How metaphors obscure the mechanics of machine error.

What We Talk About When We Talk About Hallucinations

Prompting Isn’t Pedagogy 

This article is a practical end-of-year survival guide for teachers looking to boost engagement, reduce burnout, and make the most of the final weeks of school. Explore how AI tools like Eduaide, Curipod, and Gimkit can help you create instant review games, deliver meaningful feedback, and keep students motivated—all while making your job easier. Perfect for educators seeking fresh ideas, test prep strategies, and human connection during the toughest stretch of the year.

Finishing Strong: How I Use AI to Stay Creative (and Sane) at the End of the Year

Brandon joins the Learning Stack to explore why curiosity is not enough, what most people get wrong about progressive and classical education, and how stories, songs, riddles, and emotion shape cognition. They discuss why the trivium isn’t built for children, how literacy rewires the brain, and what’s missing in the way we teach science, history, and language.

Learning Stack Ep. 005 TL;DL - Brandon Hendrickson on Wonder, Storytelling, and the Forgotten Tools of Learning

This post explores the reality of teacher burnout in 2025, offering a candid, firsthand perspective on the emotional, physical, and systemic challenges educators face—and what it takes to keep going in a profession stretched to its limits.

Teacher Burnout in 2025: A Perspective from the “Trenches”

Dr. Katie Davis joined The Learning Stack this week to help us peel back the layers of how digital technologies shape youth learning, identity, and development. Drawing from two decades of research—and a former life as an elementary teacher—Katie offered more than cautionary tales about screen time. She gave us a framework for thinking more deeply, and more humanely, about how young people actually live and grow in digital spaces.

Learning Stack Ep. 004 TL;DL - Katie Davis on Kids, Screens, Self-regulation, and Boredom in the Digital Age

Discover how music can transform your classroom discussions and student engagement. As education evolves beyond traditional written assessments, this post explores how background music can foster deeper student engagement, encourage participation, and create a safe, supportive environment for learning.

The Power of Music in the Evolving Classroom

What should a teacher, policymaker, or concerned parent take away from a conversation with someone who’s still in it, not just theorizing from afar, but actively navigating the sharp turns and slow churn of a public school classroom?

That’s what this episode with Dylan Kane delivers. Kane isn’t a guru or a consultant; he’s a seventh-grade math teacher in Leadville, Colorado, and the author of Five Twelve Thirteen, a math education blog that’s part praxis journal, part reflection, part cognitive science lab notebook.

And here’s the thing: he’s thoughtful in the ways that matter, not just about what works, but why it works. And just as importantly, where and when it doesn’t.

Learning Stack Ep. 003 TL;DL - Dylan Kane on Pre-Teaching, Fads, Working Memory, and Conceptual Understanding 

Regan Gurung and John Dunlosky are shaping how today’s educators think about learning science, effective studying, and the craft of teaching.

In this conversation, they join Thomas to explore why strong research makes for better teaching, how to identify the most effective study strategies, and what it really takes to improve student success.

Regan Gurung & John Dunlosky on Effective Learning Strategies, Student Success, and the Science of Studying (Ep. 002)

AI's impact on education is already visible in classrooms worldwide. Many educators and parents wonder: Will AI replace the work of teachers?

Will AI Replace Teachers? No—But It Will Redefine Teaching

This article examines the research behind worked examples and their role in supporting student learning. It discusses when and how they are most effective in the classroom, considering both their advantages and limitations. Additionally, it explores how Eduaide.AI’s Worked Example tool can help teachers create structured examples more efficiently. Practical strategies for using worked examples across different subject areas are also included.

Worked Examples: Manage Cognitive Load and Simplify Complex Concepts

Announcing Eduaide's latest planning tools that help teachers integrate research-backed strategies like UDL, UbD, and PBL. Save time while delivering high-quality, differentiated instruction tailored to every learner’s needs.

A More Comprehensive Suite of Planning Tools

Has PowerPoint Made Us Worse Instructional Designers?

Richard Mayer on Multimedia Learning, Transfer, and the Future of Educational Psychology (Ep. 001)

Good teaching is not about following a model rigidly—it’s about using the model to meet your instructional goals.

5E Lesson Planning: Benefits, Boundaries, and Implementation

A practical look at using AI in teaching, highlighting its role in curriculum support, feedback, and ethical considerations for student engagement.

 What I Use AI for, and What I Don’t

Gathering around the Thanksgiving table often sparks spirited discussions, and this year, AI is likely to be a hot topic. For educators passionate about the future of teaching, it’s a chance to confront common myths and misconceptions about AI’s role in the classroom.

Thanksgiving Tech Talks: Myths & Healthy Skepticism About AI

The art and science of creating effective rubrics that clarify expectations and support both assessment and instruction.

Rubrics Done Right: A Teacher’s Guide to Visible Learning

his time of year can be a challenging one for teachers. The holidays bring up a mix of emotions—not only within ourselves but also in the students sitting in front of us. Our classrooms are filled with diverse beliefs, traditions, and economic realities, and the holiday season often highlights those differences in poignant ways.

Navigating the Holidays as a Teacher: Building Empathy and Connection

This article explores five key distinctions that define our platform: we reject one-size-fits-all solutions, respect teacher autonomy, protect privacy, prioritize usability, and offer comprehensive instructional design capabilities rather than simple lesson generation.

What Eduaide.Ai Isn't

Explore key differences between gamification and game-based learning, and discover creative ways to engage students using these powerful strategies.

Using Gamification in the Classroom

By strategically integrating game-based reviews, we can turn competitive activities into powerful tools for long-term retention and meaningful connections.

Best Practices and Tips for Using Jeopardy Games in the Classroom

Just a few thoughts on the key challenges in American education, including student wellness, staffing shortages, and the need for a clear vision that connects educational research to practice.

An Early School Year Reflection

"Education is a people business" is about connecting with students, supporting their emotional needs, and being a trusted presence in their lives. Despite technological advancements, it's these human connections that truly make a lasting impact in the classroom.

Education is a People Business

When used appropriately this adaptable format helps reinforce key concepts, engage students of all ages, and makes lesson review fun. With simple tools like PowerPoint or online templates, creating a customized Jeopardy game is easy and effective for any subject.

Using Jeopardy in the Classroom

Practical advice on using rewards to motivate students while gradually encouraging intrinsic motivation. Additionally, it highlights the importance of meeting students' basic needs, like food security, to create a supportive environment where all students can thrive.

Positive Reinforcement & Addressing Student Hunger

Amid AI's rapid rise in education, teachers face a flood of tools promising transformation but often missing the mark. We need an evidence-based teaching tool that empowers educators, elevates quality, and ensures AI enhances rather than replaces the craft of teaching.

Riding the AI Wave in Education: Why the Method Matters More Than the Media

Connecting with students early in the school year can make a significant difference in the classroom atmosphere and how students engage. Despite evolving challenges—whether it’s technology, diverse learning needs, or changing cultural norms—one principle stays true: meaningful teacher-student relationships are essential for effective learning. Eduaide.Ai’s Ice Breaker tool can help facilitate those early connections.

Using Eduaide.Ai's Ice Breaker Tool to Start the Year Right

Generative AI tools offer practical opportunities for educators by automating tasks, refining lesson planning, and making evidence-based methods more accessible. However, integrating AI into education requires careful consideration of ethical concerns, data privacy, and potential misuse.

Some Reflections on Learning Design and AI

Learn how the Claim Evidence Reasoning (CER) framework helps students build logical, evidence-based arguments across subjects like science, history, and literature.

Tool Explainer: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) 

Discover the top 5 AI tools that educators should explore for the 2024-2025 school year to enhance classroom instruction and support student learning. In this post we'll evaluate how these tools can align with key principles of good teaching and cognitive science, providing practical use cases, benefits, and considerations for each.

5 AI Tools To Explore in 2024-2025 School Year

Discover how to effectively apply Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction to engage students, enhance learning, and ensure retention. This practical guide provides step-by-step examples for each stage, from gaining attention with creative hooks to reinforcing knowledge through real-world applications. Perfect for educators looking to create meaningful, student-centered lessons.

Breaking Down Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction

1. Gaining Attention; 2. Informing Learners of the Objective; 3. Stimulating Recall of Prior Learning; 4. Presenting the Content; 5. Providing Learning Guidance; 6. Eliciting Performance (Practice); 7. Providing Feedback; 8/ Assessing Performance; 9. Enhancing Retention and Transfer

 Introduction to Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction: A Framework for Effective Teaching

Great lesson plans go beyond activities—they provide a clear path to learning. This guide explores key lesson plan designs, from traditional and backwards design to thematic and project-based approaches.

The Art of Lesson Planning: A Breakdown of Key Designs

The 5E lesson plan is a clear and adaptable framework for creating engaging, hands-on lessons. Like all things in education it should be used when appropriate ought not to be taken as a checklist of activities. Used well, it can help students build meaningful connections and keep learning active and purposeful.

5E Lesson Planning: A Framework for Deep, Effective Learning

Eduaide's workflow, based on Transactional Alignment, empowers teachers to create customized lessons by breaking down tasks into manageable components, aligning them with evidence-based practices, and using tools like the Enhance button to ensure instructional quality.

The Enhance Button: Better Prompting to Educational AI

The AI gold rush in education brings both promise and pitfalls. This guide helps educators navigate the chaos by asking the right questions—ensuring AI tools enhance autonomy, align with pedagogy, protect privacy, and save time without sacrificing quality.

A Teacher’s Guide to Vetting AI-Based Tools for the Classroom

AI tools like Eduaide.Ai empower teachers to personalize learning by streamlining lesson planning, differentiation, and pacing, ensuring tailored instruction for every student.

Personalized Learning with AI

As an educator, managing tasks like lesson planning, grading, and feedback can be overwhelming, limiting your ability to focus on student engagement and personalized learning. In this post, we explore how AI tools like Eduaide.ai can streamline your workload, allowing you to maintain a student-centered approach while implementing evidence-based practices

Best Practices for Using AI in Your Planning Period

An overview of Eduaide's approach to AI in Education and some thoughts on student facing AI.

On Student Facing AI, Eduaide.Ai's Approach, and Transactional Alignment

At its core, gamification involves integrating game mechanics—such as points, rewards, levels, challenges, and leaderboards—into the learning process. The goal is to create an interactive and engaging environment where students feel motivated to learn, complete tasks, and reach learning objectives.

What is Gamification and Why is it Important?

An overview of the following topics including "How exactly does Eduaide.Ai work?", "How do I know if the content created on Eduaide is correct, aligned with standards, or reflects best practices?" and more about Eduaides data privacy policies.

Getting Started with Eduaide.Ai

Discussion around Eduaide.Ai Version II which introduces significant improvements to the workspace, chat, and saved content. Learn more how these changes aim to enhance user experience and streamline the creation of instructional resources.

Eduaide.Ai Update: September 2023

In engineering effective prompt structures for Large Language Models (LLMs), it is important for the prompter to see the use of a word as it really is instead of inventing the use for the word.

Concept and Object: Prompt and Output

This blog post discusses the universality of education and artificial intelligence (AI) as fields. It explores how people can enter education for various reasons, such as a passion for their subject or a desire to contribute to society. Reflections include the challenge of designing a system that combines both education and AI, drawing inspiration from the idea of bringing potential to fruition in design, as described by Kenya Hara in "Designing Japan."

AI and Education: Universal Fields

This post considers the increasing use of AI systems, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), in education.  The post raises questions about whether AI feedback enhances learning or becomes a crutch. It emphasizes the importance of understanding AI's capabilities and limitations to develop effective policies in education.

Generative Ai and Education: A Tool-Based Approach (Part I)

Some reflections from my appearance on the Coaching Collaborative Podcast. In the episode we discussed the uncomfortable nature of the unknown, how to align Large Language Models (LLMs) with instructional methods, and the different ways we might conceptualize and approach machine/human collaboration at the intersection of generative AI and education.

Ideas, updates, and classroom conversations

Planning Period 01: Using AI to Create a Bell-Ringer Activity for the Start of Class

The Best Parts of the Eduaide’s Version 3 Update

Here Are Some Things We're Leaving in 2025 (Whether You Like It, Know It, or Not)

5 AI Tools to Support Teaching and Learning

Use YouTube Videos to Create Instructional Materials on Eduaide

Here Are Some Things We're Leaving in 2025 (Whether You Like It, Know It, or Not)

Settling into the 25-26 School Year

Eduaide.Ai Tools I’m Using to Kick Off the School Year

Do's and Don'ts For Back to School

In Praise of Memory

Revisiting a Taxonomy of LLMs for Education Applications

Abundance and Understanding: Lessons from Open Education for the Age of AI

New - The Graphic Organizers Workspace

Where Good Ideas Become Great Lessons

Ideas, updates, and classroom conversations

Where Good Ideas Become Great LessonsGreat Lessons

Where Good Ideas Become Great Lessons