Ep. 308 | When EdTech Goes Wrong Witth Betzabé Orenos

Today’s episode is sponsored by WeVideo, the interactive video platform for educators. With WeVideo, you can easily assign projects, collaborate in real-time, and embed interactive questions into your videos to boost classroom engagement. Meet students where they are and develop crucial 21st-century skills. Try WeVideo today at wevideo.com/education.Are you relying on lesson plans created a decade ago because starting over feels overwhelming? Holding onto legacy templates might be holding your students back more than you realize.In this episode I chat with Dustin Rimmey, a 21-year classroom veteran and academic interventionist. He shares why he dumped two decades of teaching resources to launch a total Year Zero curriculum reset. Learn how to feed your district curriculum map into simple AI models, automate differentiation, translate complex primary sources, and build engaging learning pathways for every student without burning out.What We Cover:The Legacy Trap: Why 20-year-old lesson plans fail modern high schoolers.The AI Curriculum Reset: How to train AI models on your district scope and sequence.Instant Differentiation: Using AI extensions like Brisk to level and translate complex texts in seconds.Student Choice and Privacy: Creating flexible off-ramps for students who prefer non-AI assignments.Teacher Self-Care: A fast sheet pan dinner strategy to keep you fueled during high-energy prep nights.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesConnect With Dustin RimmeyRimmey’s Website: www.teachersplaiground.comRimmey On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustin-rimmey-83982226/Rimmey On Instagram: www.instagram.com/teachersplAIgroundRimmey On X: www.twitter.com/JustRimmey

This episode is sponsored by TWT Audio, creators of durable classroom headsets designed by educators to survive real student use. Stop wasting your school budget replacing cheap headphones every year and head to TWTAudio.com to hear the difference.Ever watched a video link break right as you hit play during a presentation? Join me for a lighthearted episode with Betzabé Orenos, a 25-year classroom veteran as we break down real-world classroom bloopers, live presentation disasters, and how to stay adaptable when technology collapses. We cover practical recovery tips, student-led learning, and why Team Corn Tortilla reigns supreme.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Betzabé OrenosBetzabé Orenos is an educator and instructional coach with 20+ years of experience in teaching, professional development, and technology integration. A Google for Education Certified Innovator, Trainer, Coach, and AI Fellow, as well as a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, she helps educators use emerging technology and AI to create meaningful, human-centered learning experiences.Connect With Betzabé OrenosBetzabé On X: https://x.com/betzydboBetzabé On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betsyorenos/Betzabé On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betzabe.orenos

Today’s episode is sponsored by WeVideo, the interactive video platform for educators. With WeVideo, you can easily assign projects, collaborate in real-time, and embed interactive questions into your videos to boost classroom engagement. Meet students where they are and develop crucial 21st-century skills. Try WeVideo today at wevideo.com/education.Running a podcast while working full-time in a school sounds like an incredible project until the reality of a weekly grind kicks in and leaves you exhausted. In this episode, I chat with Steve Martinez and Sophie Youngs from Under The Hat Podcast to pull back the curtain on how to streamline the processes.Inside the episode, you will discover:Why releasing four episodes a week while working a school job is a fast track to severe burnout.How dividing clear roles between co-hosts transforms your workflow and keeps the show sustainable.The exact tech setup using Podpage, Riverside, and Notion AI to automate guest onboarding and social media copy.How focusing on short-form social media clips can drive 80% of your audience growth with half the effort.Stop letting your potential side project turn into a second full-time job. Learn how to streamline your recording routine, take back your weekends, and build an educational platform that actually lasts.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Under The Hat"Under the Hat" is the destination to discuss what's top of mind in education. Join Steve and Sophie as they explore pedagogy, challenges, leadership, and success stories. In the "Under the Hat" podcast, Steve and Sophie listens to what is working and what is not in education. Tune in for a series of energized conversations that digs into the thoughts and minds of the teaching profession.Connect With Under The HatUnder The Hat Website: https://www.underhatpod.com/Under The Hat On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ddHrxq588VbQVUGJc49wW?si=89e771cc97eb4f7fUnder The Hat Podcast On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UndertheHatPodcastUnder The Hat On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/under_the_hat_pod/Under The Hat On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@underthehatpod

Today’s episode is sponsored by WeVideo, the interactive video platform for educators. With WeVideo, you can easily assign projects, collaborate in real-time, and embed interactive questions into your videos to boost classroom engagement. Meet students where they are and develop crucial 21st-century skills. Try WeVideo today at wevideo.com/education.Why do traditional speech assignments make middle schoolers freeze up and read off slides like robots? In this episode I’m joined by Tambra Clark, District Technology Innovation Facilitator. She reveals how swapping oral presentations for student-led podcasting fixes public speaking anxiety, improves grammar, and builds real articulation.Learn how to launch a classroom audio show using basic equipment, guide students through self-critiques, and set up simple privacy boundaries that protect kids while giving their voices a real audience.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Tambra ClarkTambra Clark is the Technology Integration Facilitator for Birmingham City Schools, supporting innovation district-wide. An Apple Distinguished Educator and EdSurge Voices of Change Fellow, she focuses on student agency through digital media and emerging technologies. Currently a doctoral student in Educational and Organizational Leadership at Samford University, she specializes in the ethical integration of AI in K-12. She also serves as the K-12 Outreach Board Chair for Birmingham Women in Technology.Connect With Tambra ClarkTambra On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tambra-clark-ed-s-941a398a/

This episode is sponsored by TWT Audio, creators of durable classroom headsets designed by educators to survive real student use. Stop wasting your school budget replacing cheap headphones every year and head to TWTAudio.com to hear the difference.In this episode, I’m joined by former school board member Jon Arguello to break down how sensory disconnects impact student engagement and academic outcomes. We dive into the reality of competing with smartphones, navigating district-level policies, and using TWT’s dynamic audio gear to create focus in noisy learning environments. Buen provecho!Key TakeawaysHow sensory isolation using low-cost headsets can recreate a 1-on-1 teaching environment in a 30-student room.Why district tech spending often misses basic physical needs like student hearing and focus.Strategies for using dynamic headsets to support ESL learners and student podcasters.Navigating phone bans and distraction management in secondary schools.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Jon ArguelloJon H. Arguello, J.D. is a leader in the education world who has been at the forefront of modern education policy. Today he helps districts solve complex problems by matching them with manufacturers and companies that can efficiently and effectively address gaps in technology, security, and the delivery of education. He is a former school board member in Central Florida and testified before the Florida Senate on education.Connect With JonJon On LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/jonarguello

Today’s episode is sponsored by WeVideo, the interactive video platform for educators. With WeVideo, you can easily assign projects, collaborate in real-time, and embed interactive questions into your videos to boost classroom engagement. Meet students where they are and develop crucial 21st-century skills. Try WeVideo today at wevideo.com/education.Remember being told comic books did not count as real reading? That same rigid mindset is still shutting down student engagement in classrooms today. In this episode, Dr. Sawsan Jaber walks us through her revolutionary human centered framework designed to transform instructional practice. Learn the exact Name, Notice, and Interrupt process that moves learning from cold mechanics into heart, mind, and global community connection. Stop accidentally deflating student curiosity and start building a culture where every learner feels seen.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Dr. Sawsan JaberDr. Sawsan Jaber, NBCT, is an award-winning global educator, keynote speaker, and founder of Dr. Sawsan Jaber Consulting. With over 20 years of experience in leadership and equity strategy, she created the Human-Centered Pedagogy Framework to reimagine teaching around dignity, agency, and social change. A university professor and coauthor of the bestselling book Pedagogies of Voice, Dr. Jaber equips educators to dismantle systemic barriers and build inclusive, humanizing classrooms where every student thrives.Connect With Dr. Sawsan JaberDr. Sawsan Jaber’s Website: https://drsawsanjaber.comDr. Sawsan Jaber On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sjeducate/?hl=enDr. Sawsan Jaber On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sawsan-jaber-nbct-5835ab242/

This episode is sponsored by TWT Audio, creators of durable classroom headsets designed by educators to survive real student use. Stop wasting your school budget replacing cheap headphones every year and head to TWTAudio.com to hear the difference.In this episode recorded at ISTE 2026, Sharo Dickerson breaks down how district leaders can use custom AI agents to automate support, save time, and coach teachers effectively.Learn how to go beyond basic chatbots and use tools to build targeted, pedagogically grounded AI agents. Sharo shares her exact framework for gathering teacher feedback, building capacity across school sites, and monitoring real-time sentiment so you know when educators need a human touch.Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Sharo DickersonSharo Dickerson serves as the Director of Assessment, Accountability, Research, and School Improvement at Las Cruces Public Schools. With extensive experience in public school education, digital and AI literacy, technology integration, STEM, coaching, professional development, and innovative best practices, she founded INNOVATEed by sharodickerson, an education consultancy dedicated to empowering creativity, leadership, and educational excellence, and serves as its Chief Education Officer. She is a forward-thinking education consultant and leader who supports educational institutions, educators, and learners through active learning, critical thinking, culturally responsive and sustaining practices, creative problem-solving, and meaningful leadership development. Sharo is a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Fellow, Apple Learning Specialist, and Google practitioner. She is also a professional development provider, conference presenter, digital creator, podcast producer, and published co-author.Connect With Sharo DickersonSharo On X: https://x.com/sharodickersonSharo On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsharodickerson/Sharo On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharo-dickerson-1225491a9

Are you setting yourself up for October burnout before the school year even begins? In this annual Beginning of the Year Keynote, I’m breaking down the three massive traps holding educators back and how to fix them with a practical reality check.In this episode, you will learn:Why chasing a perfectionist classroom layout leads straight to early burnout (and what to focus on instead)How to manage an endless teacher to-do list without sacrificing your homelife and personal boundariesSimple strategies to select 2 to 3 educational technology tools with true instructional intentionalityKey takeaways from my 20-plus year K-12 career and a major announcement in my next EdTech career chapterStop letting perfectionism drain your energy. Tune in to build a functional, sustainable approach to the 2026-2027 school year. Buen provecho!Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites

Engagement isn't about flashy tools, it is about the hook. When students feel connected to a topic, they retain more and take ownership of their learning. In this episode, I sit down with Tara Martin to explore how commercial modeling agency secrets can revolutionize literacy and content delivery across any grade level. And you thought Derek Zoolander was the only one who was able to teach you anything about modeling agencies…What you will learn in this episode:The 3-step "Feel It, See It, Want It" engagement frameworkHow short-form video trailers drive library checkouts and deep literacyStrategies to help students turn classroom assignments into real-world creator skillsHow to apply 30-second commercial hooks across non-tested content areasGive this a shot in your classroom this school year and let us know how it goes. Buen provecho!Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbitesAbout Tara MartinTara Martin is a nationally recognized educator, speaker, and author known for inspiring educators to lead with authenticity, courage, and heart. With experience as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and district administrator, she brings practical strategies that ignite engagement, build strong relationships, and create meaningful learning experiences.She is the author of Be REAL: Educate from the Heart and Cannonball In, and the creator of #BookSnaps, a global reading strategy used in classrooms across seventeen countries.Tara challenges educators to embrace innovation, prioritize human connection, and Cannonball In to their full potential.Connect With Tara MartinTara’s Website: https://www.tarammartin.com/Tara On X: https://x.com/TaraMartinEDUTara On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarammartin.real/Tara On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taram.martin.1Tara On Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarammartinreal/

This is it! Episode 300!Hitting episode 300 meant looking in the mirror, literally and figuratively. After nine years, 100 pounds down, and hundreds of conversations, I am opening up about the biggest mistakes I made along the way. From fighting imposter syndrome to dumping the illusion of perfectionism, this episode breaks down three hard truths every content creator and educator needs to hear. Plus, I am sharing why I am cutting the fluff, ditching the endless AI hype, and pivoting back to raw, human centered connection and in person conversations. Grab a smoothie and let us celebrate this major milestone together. Buen provecho!Connect With Gabriel CarrilloEdTech Bites Website: https://edtechbites.comEdTech Bites On Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/edtechbites.bsky.socialEdTech Bites Instagram: https://instagram.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites X: https://twitter.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/edtechbitesEdTech Bites On TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@edtechbitesEdTech Bites YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@edtechbites