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Tom Vander Ark

@tomvanderark.bsky.social
609 followers 861 following 600 posts

Education, Learning & Development

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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
How school districts are creating microschools, featuring Indiana Microschool Collaborative www.edweek.org/policy-polit...
edweek.org
Microschools Are Spreading. Some School Districts Have Opened Their Own
Districts see the small learning communities as an alternative for families that may otherwise leave.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
One Map, Every Framework: The Shared Architecture Behind School Transformation www.gettingsmart.com/2026/09/14/o... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
One Map, Every Framework: The Shared Architecture Behind School Transformation
16 school transformation frameworks. One shared architecture. Discover the 7 questions uniting every redesign effort and how a common map accelerates change.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
What Makes Dual Enrollment Actually Work: Intentional, Coherent Design and Equitable Access www.gettingsmart.com/2026/09/11/b... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
What Makes Dual Enrollment Actually Work: Intentional, Coherent Design & Equitable Access
What makes dual enrollment actually work? Explore the design principles behind equitable, coherent college pathways for every student.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Kennedy Davis and Taylor Shead on building an EdTech company www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/this... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Shaping an EdTech Company From the Inside | Kennedy Davis & Taylor Shead
Kennedy Davis reveals what real student co-design looks like, and why it should reshape how every edtech company builds products.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Beyond the Shiny Object: How to Assess Your System’s True Innovation Readiness www.gettingsmart.com/2026/08/24/b... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Beyond the Shiny Object: How to Assess Your System's True Innovation Readiness
Discover the 5 C's and 8 Archetypes framework to assess your school system's true readiness for innovation before launching large-scale change.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Antonio Parés on How Can Public Schools Benefit from the Education Freedom Tax Credit www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/how-... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
How Can Public Schools Benefit from the Education Freedom Tax Credit? | Antonio Parés
Antonio Parés breaks down the Education Freedom Tax Credit and why public schools can't afford to wait until 2027 to act.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Core Plus Explore: How Embedded Career Relevance Improves Engagement in Foundational Courses www.gettingsmart.com/2026/08/27/c... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Core Plus Explore: How Embedded Career Relevance Improves Engagement in Foundational Courses
Edmentum and Roadtrip Nation embed career exploration inside core courses so students see why what they learn matters, and who they can become.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
What If Every Graduate Left School with a Credential That Actually Meant Something? A Conversation with YouScience CEO Edson Barton www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/what... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
What If Every Graduate Left School with a Credential That Actually Meant Something? | Edson Barton
Edson Barton of YouScience unpacks Utah's stackable credential mandate and why aptitude-based pathways are reshaping K-12 workforce readiness.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Reach University President Joe Ross on degree programs for aspiring teachers www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/joe-... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
How Is One University Turning "Dead-End Jobs" Into Degrees for Aspiring Teachers? | Joe Ross
How Reach University turns jobs into degrees through affordable teacher apprenticeships that strengthen local workforce pipelines.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Exploring Policy From the Ground Up: Illuminations from the Da Vinci Network www.gettingsmart.com/2026/08/04/e... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Exploring Policy From the Ground Up: Illuminations from the Da Vinci Network
Da Vinci Schools show how learner-centered design and smart policy navigation can create transformative schools for at-promise youth.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
The Microschool Mindset: Why Small Thinking Is the Biggest Shift in Education www.gettingsmart.com/2026/08/03/t...
gettingsmart.com
The Microschool Mindset: Why Small Thinking Is the Biggest Shift in Education
The microschool mindset isn't about size. It's a design philosophy any school can adopt to put learners, not systems, at the center of education.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Fund What Pays: 5 Actions for States to Get Results from Workforce Funding assets.arnoldventures.org/uploads/PDFs...
assets.arnoldventures.org
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Schools Are Testing the Past: How Assessment Must Evolve for Writing, Speaking, and Listening in the AI Age www.gettingsmart.com/2026/07/24/s... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Schools Are Testing the Past: How Assessment Must Evolve for Writing, Speaking, and Listening in the AI Age
AI hasn't erased human competence in writing and communication. It has moved it. Here's how schools must redesign assessment to keep up.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
David Dimmett talks to 3 seniors at the KC STEM Alliance Senior Showcase in Kansas City learning-together.cohostpodcasting.com/episodes/hay... @pltworg.bsky.social
learning-together.cohostpodcasting.com
Hayden, Heidi, & Eymi - Special Edition @ KC STEM Alliance Senior Showcase
David has a conversation with three seniors at the KC STEM Alliance Senior Showcase in Kansas City. Students discuss the real-world problems they c...
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
High school students recently presented their data at a Caltech lab. The research addressed the global challenge of antibiotic resistance. lnkd.in/dTeA-Jdr
lnkd.in
Checking your browser - reCAPTCHA
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
David Dimmett talks with two seniors from the PLTW Engineering program at Wheaton High School in Silver Springs, MD open.spotify.com/episode/0Lgb... @pltworg.bsky.social
open.spotify.com
Rediet and Liam – PLTW Engineering @ Wheaton High School
Learning Together · Episode
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Gersom de Koning on the value of Theater Education www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/gers... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Gersom de Koning on The Relationship Between Theater Education and Gamification
How theater education builds collaboration, confidence, leadership, and deeper learning through drama, creativity, and performance.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
A Hint is Not a Diploma: Consequential Educational Decision Making in the Multimodal AI Era www.gettingsmart.com/2026/07/08/a... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
A Hint is Not a Diploma: Consequential Educational Decision Making in the Multimodal AI Era
Not all educational AI carries equal risk. Discover a consequence-calibrated framework for governing AI in high-stakes school decisions.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Experience Matters: the new language of mobility www.gettingsmart.com/whitepaper/e... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Experience Matters: A Common Language for Talent, Trust, and Economic Mobility
This report from Getting Smart and Education Design Lab proposes a Common Language of Experience—a robust, interoperable framework for evaluating, designing, and articulating experience value across a...
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Chris McNutt on the Power of Empathy Interviews www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/chri... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Chris McNutt on the Power of Empathy Interviews
Explore Getting Smart podcasts featuring conversations with educators, innovators, and leaders reimagining learning for the future. New episodes weekly.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Dave Dimmiett @PLTWorg talks to 3 seniors at the KC STEM Alliance Senior Showcase learning-together.cohostpodcasting.com/episodes/hay... #realworldlearningkc
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Blake Scholl, Founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic, provides a compelling vision of engineering entrepreneurship open.spotify.com/episode/6vAu...
open.spotify.com
America's aerospace rebirth
Possible · Episode
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Coalition Before Consensus: How Trust and Shared Ownership Sustain Transformation www.gettingsmart.com/2026/06/29/c... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Coalition Before Consensus: How Trust and Shared Ownership Sustain Transformation
Coalition beats consensus in district transformation. See how trust, listening, and shared ownership sustain change when momentum gets hard.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Learning Together: a student voice podcast from @pltworg.bsky.social learning-together.cohostpodcasting.com
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
What Should Leadership Look Like in the Age of Generation Alpha? Why Leadership Competencies Are More Important Than Ever www.gettingsmart.com/2026/06/23/w... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
What Should Leadership Look Like in the Age of Generation Alpha? Why Leadership Competencies Are More Important Than Ever
Education leaders must respond to six system shifts with clear vision, adaptive leadership, and future-ready competencies.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Dr. Whitney Oakley on the Guilford Guarantee www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/dr-w... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Dr. Whitney Oakley on the Guilford Guarantee
How Guilford County Schools is guaranteeing every graduate college credit, a credential, or work-based learning experience.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Prepare Your People, Protect Your People: Setting the Stage for Successful Change Management www.gettingsmart.com/2026/06/18/p... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Prepare Your People, Protect Your People: Setting the Stage for Successful Change Management
How do school leaders create conditions for courageous teaching? Jennifer Klein on preparing, protecting, and empowering educators through change.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
Can We Teach Civil Discourse in a Digital Age? A Conversation with Vikki Katz www.gettingsmart.com/2026/03/10/c... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Can We Teach Civil Discourse in a Digital Age? | A Conversation with Vikki Katz
Teaching civil discourse in a digital era helps students build shared evidence, practice dialogue, and navigate social media polarization.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Pathways with Purpose Through Career-Connected Learning: U.S. Chamber Foundation is awarding up to $365K to employer‑led consortia driving stronger K–12 and workforce alignment www.uschamberfoundation.org/education/pa... @uschamber.bsky.social
uschamberfoundation.org
Pathways with Purpose Through Career-Connected Learning
The U.S. Chamber Foundation is awarding up to $365K to employer‑led consortia driving stronger K–12 and workforce alignment. This initiative fuels industry‑designed career pathways and high‑quality wo...
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
World of Work Foundation Apprenticeship Program www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YQ4...
youtube.com
World of Work Foundation Apprenticeship Program
YouTube video by Cajon Valley Union School District
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
Dr. Douglas Yacek on True Engagement in Learning www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/dr-d... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Dr. Douglas Yacek on True Engagement in Learning
Douglas Yacek explores civic education, student engagement, and how authentic teaching can bridge the stimulation gap.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
SANGEET PAUL CHOUDARY offers new guide to consuming AI research platforms.substack.com/p/the-skepti...
platforms.substack.com
The skeptic's guide to consuming AI research with a pinch of salt
Theoretically rigorous studies aren't enough if they study only a part of the picture
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
Maritime 253: Project-Based Learning at Port Scale  www.gettingsmart.com/2026/06/16/m... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Maritime | 253: Project-Based Learning at Port Scale
Explore Maritime 253, a Skills Center transforming Career and Technical Education through real-world industry experiences.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Keri Rodrigues on Parent Power www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/keri... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Keri Rodrigues on Parent Power
Keri Rodrigues of National Parents Union on parent voice, school trust, report cards, safety, AI readiness, and family engagement.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
The Tyranny of College Admissions: Why It’s So Challenging to Have Real Change in K-12 Education www.gettingsmart.com/2026/06/08/t... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
The Tyranny of College Admissions: Why It’s So Challenging to Have Real Change in K-12 Education
College admissions requirements keep K-12 tied to grades and Carnegie units, slowing competency-based and skills-first learning.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Defining Your Philosophy of Education for the AI Age www.gettingsmart.com/2026/06/09/d... @gettingsmart.bsky.social @davidpblross.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Defining Your Philosophy of Education for the AI Age
How a “context audit” with ChatGPT can help educators align AI tools with their teaching philosophy, pedagogy, and classroom goals.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
The Conditions That Make Durable Skills Real: How Schools and Systems Build for Agency, Identity, and Vision www.gettingsmart.com/2026/06/02/t... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
The Conditions That Make Durable Skills Real: How Schools and Systems Build for Agency, Identity, and Vision
How schools build durable skills through authentic work, reflection, relationships, and learner-centered design.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Liza Garonzik on Teaching Conversation www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/liza... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Liza Garonzik on Teaching Conversation
How schools can teach and assess conversation, durable skills, and authentic interaction in an AI-driven world.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Roadtrip Nation Students on Finding Passion www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/road... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Roadtrip Nation Students on Finding Passion
Two Roadtrip Nation learners share how exploring interests, uncertainty, and nonlinear career paths can lead to purpose-driven futures.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
The Conditions That Make Durable Skills Real: How Schools and Systems Build for Agency, Identity, and Vision www.gettingsmart.com/2026/06/02/t... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
The Conditions That Make Durable Skills Real: How Schools and Systems Build for Agency, Identity, and Vision
How schools build durable skills through authentic work, reflection, relationships, and learner-centered design.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Learning Together podcast: @daviddimmett.bsky.social meets with Marston Middle School (San Diego, CA) students for a conversation about @pltworg.bsky.social Gateway classes open.spotify.com/episode/5aKb...
open.spotify.com
Oliver, Alison, Alaina, & Matthew – PLTW Gateway @ Marston Middle School
Learning Together · Episode
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
Roadtrip Nation Students on Finding Passion www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/road... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Roadtrip Nation Students on Finding Passion
Two Roadtrip Nation learners share how exploring interests, uncertainty, and nonlinear career paths can lead to purpose-driven futures.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 28/05/2026
The Tools Are Getting Better. But are we using them to Rethink Schooling? arevolutionineducation.substack.com/p/the-tools-...
arevolutionineducation.substack.com
The Tools Are Getting Better. But are we Using them to Rethink Schooling?
A few years ago I asked whether AI could accelerate a revolution in schooling. And I’m still asking.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
The Formulaic Trap: Why AI Finds Your Assignments Easy www.gettingsmart.com/2026/05/21/t... @gettingsmart.bsky.social @davidpblross.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
The Formulaic Trap: Why AI Finds Your Assignments Easy
AI exposes formulaic assignments by completing them easily, pushing educators to design more human, contextual, inquiry-rich learning.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
www.chalkbeat.org/indiana/2026...
chalkbeat.org
Help wanted: Where Indiana high school students are finding career experience
At some Indiana high schools, students manufacture parts for local industries, learn computer-assisted design to use at after-school internships, and even run a cattle farm. These career experiences w...
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Adel DiOrio on Leading Away From Fragmentation and Towards Coherence www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/adel... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Adel DiOrio on Leading Away From Fragmentation and Towards Coherence
Explore Getting Smart podcasts featuring conversations with educators, innovators, and leaders reimagining learning for the future. New episodes weekly.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Rebecca Wolfe on the “When” of Transformation www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/rebe... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Rebecca Wolfe on the "When" of Transformation
How schools can build bottom-up innovation systems that turn classroom sparks into lasting change for learner success.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
The Ozempic Problem: The Generative AI Norms Forming in Silence, and How Youth and Adults Can Shape Them www.gettingsmart.com/2026/05/12/t... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
The Ozempic Problem: The Generative AI Norms Forming in Silence, and How Youth and Adults Can Shape Them
Insights, ideas, and analysis from Getting Smart on the future of learning, education innovation, and what's possible for students and schools.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Transformation Journey: Lake City Area Schools www.gettingsmart.com/podcast/tran... @gettingsmart.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Transformation Journey: Lake City Area Schools
Explore the journey of Lake City Area Schools and their courageous transformation to redefine educational success.
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Tom Vander Ark @tomvanderark.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Changing Work Flow of Schools www.gettingsmart.com/2026/05/11/c... @gettingsmart.bsky.social @davidpblross.bsky.social
gettingsmart.com
Changing Work Flow of Schools
AI in schools won’t matter until school workflow changes—shifting from fixed instruction to adaptive, personalized learning systems.
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