7 AI, Cybersecurity, and the Way forward for Educating Developments: ISTE 2025

Recent from ISTE 2025 in San Antonio, this episode explores the quickly altering panorama of AI in schooling, cybersecurity challenges dealing with faculties, and what it actually takes to create significant studying experiences within the digital age.

I’ve to provide a shout out to my son, John for serving to me with this one as I got here again from ISTE and misplaced my voice. So, the information at first and announcement of my prime instruments on the finish was written by me, however my son, John, did an awesome job with the voice over. (Hey, give him a shoutout within the feedback, that might be good!)

Let’s dig in.

✔️Try all of our ISTE 2025 updates at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/iste2025

This Episode Options:

• Dr. Sarah Thomas (Regional Know-how Coordinator, Prince George’s County Public Faculties) on utilizing AI to reclaim your artistic genius
• Dr. Caitlin Tucker (Writer of “Elevating Instructional Design with AI”) on the UDL framework that makes AI really helpful for differentiation
• Jay James (Auburn College) on constructing student-powered cybersecurity applications that defend faculties whereas creating profession pathways with the SOC “scholar operations middle method.

Watch on YouTube

Take heed to the Audio on the Podcast

Subject 1: AI Updates: The Good, The Difficult, and The Sensible

A number of main AI developments emerged simply earlier than and through ISTE 2025. Microsoft launched Copilot for Faculties for ages 13 and up, whereas Google made Gemini obtainable to all ages and rolled out over 30 AI instruments for Google Classroom. Nevertheless, these advances include implementation challenges—notably round monitoring, the place solely IT directors can overview scholar chats in lots of techniques.

Key Developments:

• Microsoft Copilot for Faculties: Now obtainable for ages 13+, with the flexibility to create age-based teams
• Google Gemini: Launched for all ages with new classroom integration options
• AI Rubric Conversion: Google’s new device converts your current rubrics into Google Classroom format
• Monitoring Problem: Solely IT directors can view scholar chats, creating oversight difficulties for academics

Apple took a notably totally different method, transferring most of their AI technique to 2026. So, Apple faculties will simply have to determine different choices, for now. We give a full roundup on the present.

The NPU Structure in new PC’s: Microsoft’s new Neural Processing Models (NPUs) allow Small Language Fashions (SLMs) to run regionally on units with out cloud connectivity, addressing privateness considerations whereas sustaining AI performance and offloading AI processing to the native machine as an alternative of the cloud.

✔️Try all of our ISTE 2025 updates at https://www.coolcatteacher.com/iste2025

Subject 2: AI as a Creativity Amplifier with Dr. Sarah Thomas

Dr. Sarah Thomas, founding father of EduMatch and regional know-how coordinator for Prince George’s County Public Faculties, provides a refreshing perspective on AI integration that strikes past fear-based adoption.

Transferring From Productiveness to Creativity

“AI, when you use it for productiveness, then that truly frees up your time so that you simply’re capable of really shine and commit your individual area and creativity to your zone of genius.”

Dr. Thomas describes sensible purposes like utilizing AI to transform spoken presentation run-throughs into bullet-point speaker notes:

“I created the slides myself. I created the content material myself, however I went and I did a run by way of of how I used to be going to current it, and I spoke to the AI, and I used to be identical to, when you may simply give me this again in bullet level format so I may plug it in on my speaker notes.”

The Security-First Method

In relation to scholar use, Thomas emphasizes the essential significance of privateness and verification:

“We undoubtedly have to mannequin with our college students on tips on how to use it ethically, and tips on how to additionally use it with the intention to maximize their output. So not simply to run it by way of, copy and paste, regardless of the output is.”

Her recommendation for educators beginning their AI journey is obvious:

“Security first, undoubtedly security first. And on the flip facet of that, additionally evaluating the output… even when it does 80% of the work, that is 20% that eyeballs on it.”

College students as AI Writing Tutors

Sarah shares examples of scholars utilizing AI successfully:

“College students have been utilizing it as a writing tutor, however they’d create their essay after which they’d ask the AI to assist in giving them suggestions, assist poke holes in and issues of that nature.”

Subject 3: Do AI Lesson Planners Measure Up? with Dr. Catlin Tucker

Dr. Catlin Tucker, bestselling writer and worldwide coach, tackles one in every of schooling’s largest AI misconceptions: that generic lesson plan turbines are adequate for high quality instruction. Along with her experience in UDL, she holds up a light-weight to look at the standard of AI lesson and what we will do about it as educators.

The Drawback with One-Measurement-Matches-All AI

Dr. Tucker’s new e book “Elevating Instructional Design with AI” emerged from concern about social media posts celebrating AI instruments that “spits out a lesson, or it spits out a whole unit.”

“It isn’t spitting out a brand new and improved lesson. It is spitting out the identical one measurement matches all instructor led experiences that educators have been utilizing endlessly, and I might argue to not nice outcomes.”

The Prompting Actuality

Catlin emphasizes that efficient AI use requires refined understanding:

“In case you generate a lesson from an AI powered schooling device, then you definately virtually at all times have to enter an AI chat bot… Then you need to know tips on how to immediate it so that you’re making a lesson that’s differentiated, that supply college students company and significant selections.”

Common Design for Studying Framework

Catlin’s method facilities on systematic design:

“Assume huge, get excited in regards to the prospects. Begin small… perhaps the very first thing you are doing is working with the AI to create assemble particular choices or selections, proper? Actually honoring scholar company.”

She warns towards superficial alternative implementation:

“A mistake for positive is we’re giving college students a alternative, however they’re simply type of like random selections, proper? They are not related.”

Academics as Architects, Not Info Deliverers

Tucker challenges educators to reframe their position:

“We’re architects after which we’re facilitators, and in that position as facilitators, we’re working facet by facet with college students leaning into this human work that I can not do listening, observing, organically, responding to college students wants, being compassionate, constructing relationships.”

Her imaginative and prescient for significant alternative extends past easy choices:

“Why does each child want to put in writing an argumentative essay on the identical immediate? Why do not you design your individual immediate with AI?”

The Station Rotation Mannequin: Dr. Tucker’s framework permits academics to work with small teams whereas different college students have interaction in self-directed studying, creating alternatives for differentiated instruction that AI instruments typically miss.

Subject 4: Cybersecurity Training By Actual-World Expertise with Jay James from Auburn College

Jay James, Cybersecurity Operations Lead at Auburn College, addresses the essential cybersecurity workforce scarcity (400,000 jobs) by way of an modern scholar program that gives genuine studying whereas defending the college. This additionally helps because the rising wants of cybersecurity on campuses have gotten challenged. He integrates Microsoft Safety Copilot and different AI instruments to assist his college students study and troubleshoot whereas beneath the supervision of those that are skilled and do that day-after-day. This can be a nice instance of a win win program!

Deciding on College students: Ardour Over Prior Information

“Those that do the most effective are those which are passionate, those which are curious, those that actually wish to do it. And once they are available, they’ve that aptitude. It is very easy to show them and get them up to the mark.”

James recruits throughout disciplines:

“We do not restrict it to only the School of Engineering, although plenty of our college students come from there. We recruit from the School of Enterprise, we open it to all the schools.”

Why Faculties Are Targets

Instructional establishments face distinctive cybersecurity challenges:

“They’ve plenty of information that attackers are desirous about. We’re taking a look at that analysis information… they’re simply good taking part in grounds to check out new assaults.”

AI in Cybersecurity: Combating Hearth with Hearth

“AI is nice and it is nice for us, but in addition it is nice for the attacker. They’re doing their assaults sooner, higher and so they talent. So the one manner that we will compete towards that’s combating fireplace with fireplace.”

James describes modern AI integration:

“A few of our college students really immediate IT Safety Copilot to ask, hey, are you able to be a mentor but in addition a coach whereas I work on these incidents? So in actual time, whereas they’re working by way of incidents or studying about alerts, safety Copilot is teaching them.”

Constructing SOC Applications

For establishments contemplating comparable applications:

“Begin with the place you’re… you are going to should promote this to somebody… we do not give college students sufficient credit score. They’re additionally college students on the college, so that they have to seek out all of those agreements of what they are going to and won’t do.”

See Microsoft’s Article on Scholar SOCs and what Jay James is doing to dig deeper.

Subject 5: The Human Factor – Why AI Cannot Change Educating Relationships

Throughout each AI dialogue I’ve recorded for ISTE 2025, a robust theme has emerged: the irreplaceable worth of human connection in schooling.

I shared the story of a scholar I taught two years in the past who nonetheless calls me for all times recommendation. One of the best factor I taught him? How one can present as much as class on time (in accordance with him.)

This exemplifies what Dr. Tucker meant when she mentioned academics are “architects of studying experiences.” We design not simply classes however life-changing moments that no AI can replicate that usually prolong far past lecturers into life classes that may solely be taught by one other dwelling human being.

Based mostly on convention buzz, a number of instruments emerged as educator favorites:

1. Brisk – Chrome extension utilizing AI for instructor suggestions and e mail writing
2. Snorkl – Graphics device for math and language academics with instantaneous suggestions options
3. Suno – Music creation device, now with customized lyrics (elementary academics utilizing it to create music from scholar poems)
4. Google Veo 3 – New video device with voice and dialog era
5. Google Pocket book LM – Obtainable for all ages with interactive podcast options
6. Microsoft One Word will get AI upgrades

Professional Tip: Earlier than implementing any device, create a take a look at scholar account and attempt to “break it” – take a look at profanity filters, inappropriate requests, and edge circumstances your college students will inevitably uncover.

Subject 7: Instagram’s College Security Partnership – A Recreation Changer for Digital Wellbeing

In a big announcement at ISTE, Instagram unveiled a partnership particularly designed to fight one in every of faculties’ most persistent digital challenges: cyberbullying and dangerous social media conduct.

👉 Apply right here: https://about.instagram.com/weblog/bulletins/school-partnerships-program

The Instagram College Program Options:

• Official College Account Verification: Solely verified faculty accounts can entry enhanced reporting options (so the varsity instagram account MUST be the one to use.)
• Quick-Monitor Reporting: Stories of struggle pages, bullying, and dangerous content material obtain precedence overview
• Direct Communication Channel: Faculties get a devoted pathway to Instagram’s security group
• Preventive Sources: Entry to digital citizenship supplies and mother or father schooling sources

How one can Apply:

1. You could apply utilizing your faculty’s official Instagram account (not private principal or instructor accounts)
2. Full the verification course of by way of Instagram’s schooling portal
3. Designate approved employees members who can submit stories
4. Implement the offered coaching supplies for employees and college students

Why This Issues: With college students reporting that a lot of school-related harassment occurs on social media platforms outdoors faculty hours, this partnership supplies faculties with instruments to handle points that affect the educational setting, even once they originate on-line.

Implementation Timeline: Apply instantly. The verification course of can take a number of weeks, so early software is essential.

Transferring Ahead: Sensible Implementation

The episode’s key takeaway facilities on considerate, safety-first implementation. Whether or not utilizing AI for productiveness and creativity (Thomas), differentiated lesson design (Tucker), or cybersecurity coaching (James), success requires:

• Testing instruments completely earlier than scholar use
• Sustaining human oversight and verification
• Specializing in significant alternative and genuine studying experiences
• Preserving the relational basis of schooling

As we navigate this AI-enhanced instructional panorama, these knowledgeable voices remind us that essentially the most highly effective know-how is just as efficient because the considerate people who implement it.

Take heed to the total episode: Obtainable wherever you get podcasts
Present notes and sources: coolcatteacher.com
Join with visitors (listed below are their bios as submitted)

Jay James

Jay James is a cybersecurity skilled and know-how educator who presently serves because the Cybersecurity Operations Lead at Auburn College. On this position he leads the cybersecurity scholar employee program, the place college students achieve hands-on studying by way of real-world experiences that additionally assist defend the college. This system blends safety operations and mentorship to provide college students sensible, high-impact publicity. It additionally integrates AI instruments into their every day workflows, getting ready them to navigate the evolving tech panorama. Jay additionally serves as an adjunct college member and cybersecurity teacher at a number of establishments, additional supporting scholar development out and in of the classroom. By this method, he’s growing cybersecurity professionals who’re job-ready and mission-driven from day one.

Weblog: https://leadershipjay.com/

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/leadershipjay/

Dr. Sarah Thomas

Sarah Thomas, PhD is the founding father of EduMatch, a company that empowers educators to make international connections throughout frequent areas of curiosity.  She has spoken and offered internationally, participated within the Technical Working Group to refresh the 2017 ISTE Requirements for Educators, and is a recipient of the ISTE Making IT Occur award.  Sarah is a co-author of the ISTE digital fairness sequence, Closing the Hole, the winner of the 2023 Maryland Society for Instructional Know-how Excellent Chief Utilizing Know-how award, and the 2023 Chief of the Yr as designated by the American Consortium for Fairness in Training.

Weblog: www.EduMatch.org

Fb: www.fb.com/teams/edumatchfam

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-jane-thomas/

Podcast: EduMatch Tweet & Speak https://open.spotify.com/present/57CTSLSXGcuQbk14AiiYWD

Dr. Catlin Tucker

Dr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling writer, worldwide coach, and keynote speaker. She was named Trainer of the Yr in 2010 in Sonoma County, the place she taught for 16 years. Catlin earned her grasp’s in schooling on the College of California at Santa Barbara and her doctorate in studying applied sciences from Pepperdine College. She delivered her first TEDx Speak, Training Reimagined: Scholar-led Studying, in June 2024.  Catlin has revealed eleven books, together with The Station Rotation & UDL, Elevating Instructional Design with AI, The Shift to Scholar-led, and The Full Information to Blended Studying. She hosts The Steadiness podcast and is energetic on X @Catlin_Tucker and Instagram @CatlinTucker. You possibly can find out about Catlin’s work on her web site,

CatlinTucker.com. Weblog: https://catlintucker.com/

Twitter: https://x.com/catlin_tucker?lang=en

Fb: https://www.fb.com/DrCatlinTucker

Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-catlin-tucker-7033b531/

Podcast: The Steadiness with Dr. Catlin Tucker https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-balance-by-dr-catlin-tucker/id1485751335

How are you implementing AI in your classroom? What challenges have you ever encountered? Share your experiences within the feedback under.